Guangdong Shamian Church held two-day celebrations to observe the 25th anniversary of its reopening(1991). Rev. Lin Zhenwei, senior pastor of St. Peter's Church, North Point (Hong Kong Anglican), was invited to preach in the events hosted on June 17 and 18, 2017.
A sacred music evangelistic meeting conducted on June 18 was part of the celebrations, according to CCC&TSPM. Rev. Lin Enling, senior pastor of Shamian Church, delivered a message on “the prodigal son." Around 30 people followed Jesus. Meanwhile, a praise and worship meeting was held, including performances by children, teenagers, and young people, as well as solos and choruses. Rev. Fan Hong'en, president of Guangdong CCC, exhorted the congregation to imitate their ancestors to build the church.
Built in 1865, the church was set up for foreigners in the British concession of Shamian in Guangzhou by British Anglican, managed by Hong Kong and Guangdong parish. The British pastor gave the sermon in English all the time. After World War II, Chinese government recovered this concession and this church was transferred to be in charge of the Anglican Parish of Southern China. After 1949, it was occupied by the government and China Christian Council took it back in 1980. In 1991 it resumed religious activities, called Shamian Church. It is worthy of mentioning that the intact century-old Christian building is a rare sight in Guangdong.
It is not only committed to evangelism and nurturing believers, but also to charity and social service. In the past over ten years, it has donated more than one million yuan to support charities and children of poor families in the northwest of Guangdong.
Translated by Karen Luo
