On the morning of February 24, by convention Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (NJUTS) held the opening service of the 2016 spring semester, welcoming the new term.
Rev. Chen Bin, the associate president, presided the service during which Rev. Wang Aiming, in the same position as Chen, led the prayer for the new semester. Rev. Chen Yilu preached the sermon regarding the brotherly love story between Jonathan and David, encouraging the seminary students to love each other.
Founded in 1952, NJUTS is the only one national Christian seminary in China. Over the past 60 years, the school has cultived about 2000 graduates, most of whom serve on the front line of the Chinese grass-root church across the 32 provinces, playing a significant role in promoting the sound development of churches in the Mainland.
During these 60 years, nearly 2000 students have graduated from NJUTS, 46 of whom resettled overseas while all of the others serve on the first line of the Chinese church, playing a significant role in promoting the sound development of the Chinese church and social stability.
According to its official website, NJUTS has four educational Programs: The four-year full-time undergraduate program enrolls students with education of high school or higher. Its students will attain bachelor's degree after completing and passing all the courses. Students who graduate from seminaries or universities are allowed to apply for the three-year full-time graduate program and they will be awarded graduate diploma, as well be qualified to apply for the degree of Master Divinity. The third program, part-time pastoral postgraduate program enrolls pastors from all over China who have already worked in church for several years. The program lasts for two and half years with four weeks' intensive courses each semester. The students are awarded pastoral-graduate diploma. The last three-year correspondence program takes in students with education from junior high school and they will be given the correspondence certificate.
