One of Foshan's major Catholic actors who assisted in the development of the Church in Foshan has passed away May 8 at the age of 106.
Rev. Xue Guanlin was born in 1910 in Shenzhen and converted to Christianity when he turned 16. His conversion allowed him to study in a seminary under the Assemblies of God for two years thanks to the recommendations of a US missionary couple. He immediately began his service after graduating. According to his daughter Xue Kenming in an article she wrote about her father's life, "After graduation, he left Hong Kong to follow the steps of Dr. John Sung Shang Chieh and serve in Mainland China. He was sent to preach in places like Foshan, Nanhai, Sanshui, Qingyuan, Shaoguan and Qujiang, etc."
When the Second Sino-Japanese War occurred, Rev. Xue worked in the Shaoguan Orphanage from 1943 to 1947 before resuming his church service in 1947 to 1966. However, he was stopped during the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and resumed in 1979.
Added in the said article by Xue kenming, "My father catched the chance to share them the word of the Bible when the members visited him in our home a month before his departing."
The memorial service held in Rev. Xue's honor was presided by the chairman of the local TSPM in May 13.