After the completion of the Bible Ministry
Exhibition in Los Angeles, CCC/TSPM delegation visited churches
in San Francisco from May 6 to 11, 2006 and was warmly welcomed
by Chinese Christian Union of San Francisco, Graduate Theological
Union of Berkley, Chinese American Association of Commerce
and Association of San Francisco Chinese Schools, etc.
On May 7th, Rev. Cao Shengjie, Rev. Lin Zhihua, Rev. Mei
Kangjun, Ms. Chen Meilin and Ms. Wang Jiawei went to different
churches to deliver sermons or send greetings, i.e. First
Presbyterian Church at Burlingame, San Francisco Chinese
Alliance Church, Chinese Independent Baptist Church of San
Francisco, St. Gregory of Nyssa and Oakland Chinese Presbyterian
Church. In addition, the delegation also visited Cameron
House, San Francisco Chinese Presbyterian Church, Oakland
Chinese Presbyterian Church and East Bay Alliance, etc.
The delegation was received by Rev. Calvin Wong, Rev. Victor
Chan, Rev. James Shim, etc. and also became acquaintances
with many new friends. We shared the information of our
churches with each other in Christ.
In San Francisco, musicians from the delegation
presented two concerts in Cornerstone Church and Valley
Bible Church. Famous Christian Erhu player Ms. Ma Xiaohui,
dulcimer Player Ms. Pang Boer and Guzheng Player Ms. Feng
Juanjuan played traditional Chinese folk music and hymns
composed by Chinese Christians and received many praises
and honors from the audience.The audience also expressed
their gratitude to the delegation for bringing such beautiful
music. The audience is especially impressed by the Lisu
Christians¡¯ presentation of hymns in their own languages
and typical Lisu dances. All people sang and praised the
Lord together with the same mind.
On May 9, Rev. Cao Shengjie, Rev. Lin Zhihua and Ms. Chen
Meilin paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Swing of California
Diocese of Episcopal Church. Afterwards, the delegation
also visited Graduate Theological Union in Berkley and they
were warmly welcomed by the president and some other staff
members. The president said that GTU was a combination of
seminaries with different denominations which needed mutual
respect and understanding, and GTU also emphasized on the
contextualization of theology. GTU, therefore, shares many
common points with churches in China. He stressed that they
would like to learn from the experiences of churches in
China. The delegation also paid a library tour. The curator
of the library told us that this library was one of the
largest among the seminary libraries in USA.
At the dinner hosted by Chinese American
Association of Commerce, Committee to Promote the Reunification
of China- San Francisco and Association of Chinese Schools,
those overseas Chinese were all very happy to see the development
of churches in China. They wish the reunification of China,
and also hope that Chinese Culture can be carried forward
and Christian morality may make greater contributions to
the society. Each member of the delegation was moved by
their love to China and their love to their hometowns in
China.
