The Grand Opening Ceremony of Bible Ministry Exhibition Held in Washington D.C.

Gu Mengfei, Translated by Liu Song

On September 28^th, 2011, the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Bible Ministry Exhibition of the Protestant Church in China was held in Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. The exhibition which has been prepared for almost two years opened at this moment. This is the second time that China Christian Council (CCC) and Three-Self Patriotic Committee of China  (TSPM) has held the itinerant exhibition in the U.S.A.

Opening Ceremony of the Bible Ministry Exhibition in Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church

At 11 o’clock in the morning, the sun was shining bright and the melody was beautiful. The grand opening ceremony was held with the wholeheartedly blessings of the guests. A great number of friends at home and abroad met together, and the atmosphere was friendly. The delegation of CCC\TSPM, the delegation of State Administration of Religious Affairs, Almost 300 guests attended it including the Local Steering Committee, American churches and their leaders, together with brothers and sisters in Washington D.C.. Distinguished guests from various international Christian organizations in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan all joined it.

Rev. Gao Feng, President of CCC presiding the Opening Ceremony

Mr. Wang Zuo’an greeted the participants of the ceremony

The Opening Ceremony was presided by Rev. Gao Feng, President of CCC.  Mr. Wang Zuo’an, Minister of State Administration of Religious Affairs, PRC (SARA), greeted the participants of ceremony, saying that the exhibition could not have been possible in the United States again without the concerted efforts of many loving members of both Chinese churches and American churches. “(It is) more valuable for the churches of our two countries to build the bridge between our hearts and discuss how to narrate the world in love.” He hopes that the Bible connects churches and that love makes peoples more willing to listen to and learn about one another. “This is what the exhibition is all about.”

Elder Fu Xianwei, Chairperson of National Committee of TSPM delivered a speech

Elder Fu Xianwei, Chairperson of TSPM delivered a speech in which he gave thanks to American churches and friends who supported the exhibition. He also hoped that all visitors are welcome to see and feel the marvelous changes that have taken place in the Chinese churches in the past five years, which bears witness to God’s blessings and grace.

Leaders of different US denominations and organizations of USA gave warm remarks and expressed their best wishes to the Bible Ministry Exhibition including: Dr. Yawei Liu, Director of China Program of the Carter Center, Dr. Lamar Vest, President of American Bible Society, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., the Rev. Dr. John Upton, President of Baptist World Alliance, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, U.S.A., the Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of Christian Church, U.S.A. and Canada, the Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General/CEO of World Evangelical Alliance, Mr. Thomas Kemper, General Secretary of General Board of Global Ministries, the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Dr. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr,. General Presbyter of National Capital Presbyterian Office, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Vestal, Executive Coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Dr. Douglas L. Rutt, Director for International Ministries, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Dr. Eugene Hsu, Former Vice President of General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Society, the Rev. Dr. H.S. Wilson, Executive Director of Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia, the Rev. Robert Cunville, President of United Bible Societies, Mr. David Moyer, Executive Director of Maryland Bible Society, Mr. Myrrl Byler, Director of Mennonite Partners in China, the Rev. Dr. Donna Claycomb Sokol, Pastor of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.

Rev. Geoffrey Black said that it was his honor to attend the Bible Ministry Exhibition, and “the exhibition makes us feel the Church in China is experiencing God’s abundant grace.”

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins said that the Word of God will not be different in spite of the difference of denomination, race or culture, for Christ makes us reconcile with God, and God makes us united.

Mr. Myrrl Byler said that the Bible Ministry Exhibition makes us feel that Chinese Christians love the Bible, no matter male or female, young or adult, in the city or in village, “in spite of differences in culture and language, God’s blessings will be upon us.”

The Choir from the D.C. Chinese Communities also contributed to the ceremony by offering two beautiful hymns.

Mr. Zhang Yesui, Ambassador of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China to U.S.A. attended the Opening Ceremony and was invited to cut the ribbon with Minister Wang Zuo’an, and Chinese and American Church leaders. All guests applauded warmly and bore witness to this historical event.

After the opening ceremony, Rev. Gao Feng guided the guests to tour the exhibition. Red lanterns, beautiful paper-cuttings, Chinese calligraphy and paintings with biblical themes make the exhibition full of Chinese characteristics and atmosphere with the fragrance of Christ. The huge wood-carving on the life of Jesus, and different precious Bible versions, testimonies of the believers, the great achievements of the Bible ministry of the Chinese churches, the colorful church life and Christian arts impressed every visitor. Such words as “Thanks to the lord”, “marvelous”, “unforgettable”, “unbelievable” and “congratulations” filled the space of exhibition.

The Opening Ceremony of the Bible Ministry Exhibition of the Protestant Churches in China was a great success. In the afternoon, the exhibition was opened to the public.

At 3 pm, the Sharing Meeting between Chinese church delegation and American church leaders took place, which was presided by Rev. Kan Baoping, General Secretary of CCC. More than 40 people gathered together to share their friendship and future development of the churches. This testified the tenet of the Bible Ministry Exhibition that “the Bible unites us.”