Amity Printing Celebrates Production of 200 Million Bibles

On November 11, 2019, the world's largest Bible printer celebrated the production of 200 million Bibles in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. 

According to Amity Foundation, established in 1988, Amity Printing Company (APC) is a joint venture between the Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies (UBS) and exists to print Bibles. 

The 200 million copies have been printed in more than 130 languages, including 85.48 million for the Chinese church. Meanwhile, the Bible factory established two branches in Ethiopia and Kenya in 2015 and 2019, respectively. During the celebrations, APC's Ethiopian company was inaugurated, marking a new start of its overseas operations.

More than 200 registered Chinese church leaders, government leaders, and overseas guests joined in the event. 

United Bible Society Director General, Mr. Michael Perreau addressed the group saying that he was amazed at the development of Amity Printing in the last decades. He was grateful for the older generation of leaders who pioneered efforts, such as the hard work done by Bishop K.H.Ting and other predecessors, work which laid a cooperative foundation for UBS and Amity Foundation. He expected the Bible printing ministry to reach more believers. 

Rev. Xu Xiaohong, chairman of Three - Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, pointed out that the distribution and interpretation of the Bible was helpful in rooting Christianity in China and realizing Sinicization. 

Bishop Dr. Timothy Chi-pei Kwok from the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui or Hong Kong Anglican Church (Episcopal) recalled the cooperation between the Bible factory and the HK Sheng Kung Hui, wishing the presses to offer service to people in need at home and abroad. 

Christian Wollmann, director of the General Assembly of the Center for Mission and Ecumenism in the North Church of Germany, said that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany has a history of cooperation and foundation. He looked forward to more connections and sharing of resources. 

Representatives from the World Council of Churches, the All-Africa Conference of Churches, and other overseas churches extended congratulations to the Bible ministry through video clips. 

The host also issued awards to the China Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC&TSPM), the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association & Catholic Bishops' College, and the UBS for their long-term support in APC's development. 

Liu Lei, APC's general manager, gave a commemoration gift of the 200 millionth Bible to the Bible Society of South Africa.

On that day, there was also an exhibition of the Chinese Bible as well as Bibles printed by APC. About 300 copies of Bibles were on display, including important Catholic Bibles since the late Ming Dynasty and also Protestant Bibles. 

After the ceremony, a seminar presided over Rev. Wu Wei, president of CCC was held concerning topics including the Chinese Bible and Chinese Society, Chinese Catholicism, Protestantism, theology, culture, overseas exchanges, and Amity's practices.