|
|
| From left, Daniel Vestal, CBF Coordinator; Rev. Bao Jiayuan, China Christian Council associate general secretary; Earlene Vestal; Chen Meilin, CCC executive associate general secretary; Brenda Lisenby, a CBF representative in China; President Jimmy Carter; Rev. Cao Shengjie, CCC president; Pat Anderson, CBF Global Missions advocate; Wang Xiuling, deputy director, Christianity Affairs Section, State Administration of Religious Affairs; and John Qu, director of the Global Communication Center of the Evangelical Chinese Fellowship International, visit at the Carter Center in Atlanta. |
ATLANTA – A delegation from the China Christian Council (CCC) met with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship staff and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during a visit to Atlanta Feb. 25.
The CCC is planning a U.S. tour for its China Bible Exhibition that debuted last August in Hong Kong. The exhibition, which shared space in Hong Kong with the Baptist Youth World Alliance, contains artifacts and documents on the history of Bible translation in China.
"The growth of the church in China is truly remarkable," said Daniel Vestal, the Fellowship’s coordinator. "It is post-denominational in nature and indigenous in its witness and ministry. But the fact that the leadership of the China Christian Council visited with a number of representatives of Christian churches in the U.S. is evidence of their desire for our prayers and partnership. CBF was honored to receive and host these Christian brothers and sisters and look forward to strengthening our relationship for the future."
The delegation included Rev. Cao Shengjie, CCC president; Chen Meilin, CCC executive associate general secretary; Rev. Bao Jiayuan, CCC associate general secretary; and Wang Xiuling, deputy director of the Christianity Affairs Section from the State Administration of Religious Affairs.
Brenda Lisenby, a CBF representative working in China, helped arrange the visit, which included time with Carter at the Carter Center.
"They were very interested in meeting with President Carter because of his reputation as a Christian internationally," Lisenby said. "President Carter was very gracious, and he gave his support and endorsement for the exhibition."
The exhibition tells the story of the Bible in China dating back to the 1800s and including the time when churches reopened in China in 1980. The CCC wants the world to know that China is not closed to the Bible. More than 35 million copies of the Bible have been printed in Chinese since 1985, Lisenby said.
The exhibition is tentatively booked for September at the Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles, Calif., with future dates forthcoming for a site yet to be determined in New York.
The Fellowship currently has 14 representatives working in China, all in full cooperation with the CCC.
"I think it’s an important step in furthering our relationship with the CCC," Lisenby said. "This visit solidifies the relationship between CBF and the CCC. They got to know us a little bit better. It helps build trust."
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.