It’s said that the numbers of Christians in China will come up with or surpass American by 2025, making China the most populous nation in Christians. “The national policy will not be affected by the increasing number of one particular religious masses.” says Rev Fenghao.
Fenghao, Chairman of Guangzhou TSPM, talks about the number of Christians, Constructing Church Buildings in Qufu--the hometown of ancient Confucius in a interview conducted recently, beside the topics of Science and Bible, Religion and Wars, etc.
Rev. Feng introduced in detail about the increasing number of Christians, in the Capital city of Guangdong Province, and the shepherd ministry in this rapidly developing city. Besides, he talks about the “rational distribution of religious spaces”, “Clergy staff team building” and “Clergy staff education improving”, as the three points and direction of Christianity in Guangzhou.
Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong, located in the south China, is home to a surprisingly large number of Christian churches, many boasting over 100 years of history.
Rev. Fenghao has been serving as the Chairman of Guangzhou TSPM since 2001. He had graduated in Jinling Union Theological Seminary in 1985 and came back to Guangzhou, served as a preacher in Xi’An church.
Below is the Script of the interview published on Feb 16:
Q: It’s said that the numbers of Christians in China will come up with or surpass American by 2025, thus China will rank the most populous country in Christian. Do you agree with it that more Christians in China will do good to the China-US relations?
Feng: The national policy will not be affected by the increasing number of one particular religious masses. As a socialist country having its own foreign policy, China’s international relations will not be affected by the change of one particular religious masses. I believe that by 2025 China will be more inclusive to religions with the country’s reform and opening up turning to be more in-depth. Those will do good to Christianity itself, bringing more favorable factors, I think.
Q: Recently two Confucians scholar renewed the call to ban churches in Qufu, insisting that Qufu is the birthplace of Confucius, the “Holy City to Chinese nation”. This has triggered heated debate. What’s your opinion as to building a big church in Qufu?
Feng: It’s no wrong if Christians there in Qufu are builing church with the approve of local government. It’s also understood that some one call to ban churches there. While I think the Confucian scholar, being a member of Shandong CPPCC, is inappropriate to do like that. We’re living in a pluralistic world, and it’s good to accommodate different cultures. Of course there is a long way to go for we Chinese to accept a foreign religion, Christianity. That’s why for Christianity in China, one of the most important thing is to be localized. While as a public servant being a member of CPPCC, I think he should do something to understand and accommodate, instead of lead triggering unnecessary disputes.
To be continued.
Translated by Eliana W.
