Churches in the Liaoning, Shanxi and Guangdong provinces hosted training courses and preaching activities on the localization of Christianity in early August.
The first training class on theological construction and indigenization of Christianity was held in Tai’an County, Anshan City, Liaoning Province, on August 11-12. Heads of gathering sites, pastors, and believers, entered the main building of Shengli Church, following the COVID-19 protocols such as showing health and itinerary codes, scanning venue codes, wearing masks, and having their temperature taken.
Besides the lecture titled “Purify the Altar and Preach the Truth” from Elder Shi Aijun, chairman of Anshan Municipal Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), Rev. Yuan Ming, president of the Anshan Christian Council (CC), gave a speech with the title “God’s Protection” on theology. Rev. Song Liang from Northeast Theological Seminary provided a training course with the theme “Talk About Christians Being Blessing to Others According to the Life of Jacob”.
Taiyuan Municipal CC&TSPM in Shanxi also trained members of the municipal CC&TSPM, pastors, and key volunteers on theological construction and Sinicization of Christianity on August 5.
Yuncheng Municipal CC&TSPM in Shanxi carried out preaching competitions from August 4 to 5, involving the localization of Christianity, resisting heresy, and clearing up the source of moral character, attended by 45 reporters, preachers, members of the municipal CC&TSPM, heads of the county CC&TSPMs. The judging committee of the municipal CC&TSPM scored the preaching from over 30 speakers, who gave lectures from different angles and entry points according to the Bible and the reality of their respective churches, Shanxi Provincial CC&TSPM said.
The preaching team of Guangdong Provincial CC&TSPM on August 6-7 went to churches in Zhongshan City to preach on the Sinicization of Christianity, including a seminar.
During the seminar on the indigenization of Christianity, Rev. Pei Lianshan from Guangdong Union Theological Seminary gave a sermon titled “Explore Possible Way of Sinicizing Christianity”, sharing the church’s exploration in the aspects of the holy word, sacraments, church governance, and social services. Rev. Huang Tianhua introduced the significance of “Sinicization of Biblical Interpretation” and the latest Biblical interpretation results in his lecture with the title “Sinicization of Classical Interpretation: Translation, Interpretation, and Application of the Bible.” Combined with the relationship between Christianity and Chinese culture, Pastor Zheng Zhanchao, deputy secretary general of Zhongshan TSPM, put forward specific practical methods of evangelization in his talk titled “A Brief Discussion on the View of Sin in Traditional Chinese Culture”.
In Zhongshan City on August 7, members of the preaching team gave a sermon titled “How Can Evangelization Cause Trouble All Over the World?” in Yuanfeng Church, “Go And Do Likewise” in Longdu Church, “Ruth And Naomi” in Cannan Church, “Remember Mission to Serve Faithfully” in Taiping Church, “Robust Church” in Sanxiang Church, and “True Godliness” in Liangdu Church.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
