With the blessings of God, ministries of Chinese churches ¡°take root downward and bear fruit upward¡± (2 Kings 19:30). Taking a broad view of Chinese churches, we can see the abundant grace of God. We have achieved much new development, no matter in the aspects of Reconstruction of Theological Thinking, pastoral work in churches, theological education, personnel training, or in the aspects of publication, social service and overseas relations. Up to now, there are 16 million believers, more than 55 thousand churches and meeting points, about 2700 pastors (associate pastors included), 27 thousand pastoral personnel (pastors, associate pastors, elders and preachers), 18 seminaries and Bible schools, and several training centers in China.


Pastor Ordination, Beijing, January 5, 1992

The initiation of the movement of Reconstruction of Theological Thinking in the conference held in Jinan 1998 made it clear that the development Chinese churches should not concern only about the quantity of believers, churches and meeting points or the younger age of believers, neither the size of church buildings, but also the quality of the churches. The development of churches must keep the same pace with that of the society and churches must have their own theological thinking.


Bishop Consecration, Shanghai, 1988

What God bestowed to us is always ¡®far more than we can ask or imagine¡¯ (Ephesians 3:20). In June 2004, CCC/TSPM reclaimed the premises of the Holy Trinity Church in Shanghai and formally started using the new office building beside it. In August 2004, CCC/TSPM successfully held the ¡®Exhibition of Bible Ministry in China¡¯ in Hong Kong.


President Cao presenting a copy of Bible
to Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR,
the Hon.Tung Chee Hwa on the Opening Ceremony
for "The Exhibition of Bible Ministry of
the Churches in China" Hongkong, August 2004

Doubtlessly, churches in China now are facing with challenges as well. Especially in the countryside, due to the deficiency of well trained pastoral workers, heretical teachings made some serious impact. However, under the guidance of God, we are willing to develop and improve the ministries of Chinese churches, to let the churches advance together with the time, to ¡®be the light and salt¡¯ on the earth and to glorify our Heavenly Father.