In May, Rev. Erik Burklin, president of China Partner, along with Rev. Hao Wang, visited Shanghai and Hubei.
At the station of CCC&TSPM on May 8, Burklin provided a brief introduction to China Partner, congratulating Rev. Geng Weizhong on his election as the vice president of the China Christian Council (CCC) last year, said CCC&TSPM. Geng shared three major development stages of the Chinese church since the 1950s, emphasizing the current priority of the Chinese church's work—promoting Christianity in the Chinese context.
With two parties sharing views and experiences regarding their respective ministries and the challenges faced by the Chinese church, Burklin expressed that China Partner will continue to support the Chinese church and witness that the Chinese church glorifies God and benefits people.
Following this, they visited Shanghai CC&TSPM. Rev. Burklin first introduced that the organization was founded in 1989 by his father, Dr. Werner Bürklin, who was born in China and was the son of German missionaries (Gustav Bürklin and Lina Pfeifferling) within the China Inland Mission. He noted that over the past 40 years, the organization has organized multiple visits and exchanges with the Chinese church, and the latest visit was paid for Shanghai CC&TSPM in 2019. Rev. Zhang Aili, vice president of Shanghai CC, introduced the current situation of Christianity in Shanghai and the ministry of foreign language services. Burklin expressed his desire to cooperate with the Shanghai church in the future.
After this visit, he held a discussion at the East China Theological Seminary on the same day, reported the college. President Xie Bingguo of the school introduced the seminary's curriculum development, and the enrollment status of the sacred music and theology programs, sharing innovative practices and achievements in the sinicizing Christianity of the seminary.
Rev. Zhu Zhiguo, chairman of Hubei TSPM and president of Zhongnan Theological Seminary, hosted the two guests on May 9-10, said Hubei CC&TSPM. Burklin participated in the evening prayers at the seminary, giving an exhortation in the volunteer training class. In a discussion with members of the provincial CC&TSPM and seminary teachers, Burklin inquired about the situation of teachers, courses, and student sources after the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised the seminary's library for its cultural courses, the publication Heavenly Dew Fund, and its special section on the "Four Histories" (history of the party, of the new China, of reform and opening, and of the development of socialism).
Burklin visited Jingzhou CC&TSPM, touring the chariot and horse array at the Xiongjiazhong National Archaeological Heritage Park on May 11, according to the Jingzhou CC&TSPM.
The next day, the president of China Partner preached a sermon titled "Abide in Christ" at Shashi Church, citing John 15:1-12. He reminded believers to read the Bible more with intercession, manifest the love of Christ, and make good testimonies in the church.
After the Sunday service, Rev. Burklin engaged in discussions with staff workers from Shashi Church on topics such as the sinicization of Christianity, small group ministries, and pastoral care, expressing hope for multifaceted cooperation and exchange with the Jingzhou church in the future.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
