From September 7 to 11, 2020, the Shaanxi Provincial CC&TSPM (Christian Council &Three-Self Patriotic Movement) held a training course on social service for laypersons in China’s northwestern Baoji City.
According to the Shaanxi CC&TSPM, the training was organized and run by the Baoji CC&TSPM. One hundred and six church leaders or pastoral staff from 98 churches in the city participated in the course.
Before the training, the Baoji CC&TSPM followed the health regulations for gatherings. Attendees filled in health cards and wrote commitment letters stating that they hadn’t left the city for the past 14 days.
At the Hengtong Business Hotel in Caijiapo, Qishan County, the course "Church Management" was taught by Pastor Qi Hongjun, deputy chairman of Shanxi TSPM, deputy president of Shangxi CC and secretary-general of Shangxi CC&TSPM, Teacher Zhang Wanbao and Rev. Wang Qiong from Baoji City. This was done according to provincial religious policy and their own rich church management experience.
The five-day training course mainly focused on "Social Service of the Church", "Church Management," and "Sinicization of Christianity". The "Social Service of the Church" was taught by Zhang Xueping, Ma Ming and Pan Zhigang, long-term volunteers. Their excellent lectures focused on theories of social service, the content of social service and the skills needed to carry out social service.
The "Sinicization of Christianity" was taught by teacher Zhang Wanbao. He explained the meaning of "Sinicization of Christianity" and how to carry it out.
Ten pastoral staff of the Baoji Christian Lecturer Group gave lectures on the theme of "Church Lampstand, Serving the Society".
The meeting ended with prayers and blessings from Pastor Wang Binghui and Elder Fan Kexiao, the honorary chairman of Baoji TSPM and honorary president of the Baoji CC.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
