TRAVELING IN CHINA
Shanghai—August 21, 2006
Fuller students, traveling for ten days in three great and historic cities in China, are on a journey of experiencing, learning, and understanding about the church and worship in China. Our visit to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing includes many meetings with the national and local China Christian Councils, local churches, seminaries, and a Bible printing press. Today, our students share impressions from the first destination—Shanghai, one of the bustling economic hubs of China and home to more than 17 million people. Tomorrow, we will report from Hangzhou.
– Fred Messick, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs, Fuller Seminary

Shanghai Christian Jinglin Church
Travis Hardy, Fred Messick, Anny Carr, Allison Ash, Ryan Bailey, Nathan Chau
 

Anny Carr
Master of Divinity student (2007)

Hospitality and relationship in the midst of a huge city—At an American dinner table, we might have four or five different dishes on the table, but here there may be 20 different dishes and each person serves each other. I like the sense of hospitality and generosity and I have felt a warm welcome from our new Chinese friends. Often, a generous and gracious meal— feast, really!—is part of a meeting. Here, food helps establish friendships and relationships around the dinner table.

In between meetings, I had an opportunity to see a little of downtown Shanghai and to do a little shopping. Until then, I hadn’t felt the immense size of the city. But when I walked through some of the crowded stores—many of which were packed with all kinds of merchandise from the floor to the ceiling, I also experienced how packed the walkways were with people. Later, as I looked out across the city from the top of the Oriental Pearl Television and Broadcasting Tower, I could see mile after mile of skyscrapers, as well as building cranes working on new skyscrapers for what appears to be an already full horizon.

 

Travis Hardy
Master of Arts in Worship, Theology and the Arts student (2007)

“Post-denominational” American in China—After adjusting somewhat to Shanghai’s heat and humidity, which hit me like a wall as I walked out of the airport, I have been able to look at some of my own questions about how the church becomes more unified. I have heard in several meetings with church and seminary leaders that Chinese churches are post-denominational. This means that there are no denominational churches in China—no Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, or any of the other denominations of the U.S. and other places of the world. During this visit, I look forward to listening and learning about the post-denominational church in China.

On a personal level, I consider myself to be post-denominational. I attend a non-denominational church in the U.S., and would like to influence ways to build unity. But I also want to maintain relationships with denominations. So I will be listening and learning about China’s experiences – as we meet with pastors, seminary leaders, and fellow seminarians here.


 

Ryan Bailey
Master of Divinity student (2007)

A city of contrasts—Shanghai has such contrasts. On one side of the Huangpu River, which flows through Shanghai, is the Bund with its colonial-era European-style architecture. On the other side are brightly lit new buildings which boldly proclaim Shanghai’s rapid growth and its leadership for the 21st century. Walking through the city’s downtown, I’ve stepped into a marketplace where you are taken back 400 years, and then a few minutes later, walked around the spectacularly futuristic TV Tower.

Shanghai feels foreign and familiar. Meal time can be a very special event with many new foods, yet I can also walk into a Starbucks or a Burger King. We attended church and sang hymns that I’ve known for most of my life. And we worshipped with Christians with whom we have so much in common. While we are thousands of miles away from home, I am often reminded of the song “It’s a Small World After All.”


 

Nathan Chau
Master of Divinity student (2007)

A growing faith in a rapidly developing city—Shanghai is a booming city. Its economy is strongly evidenced in so many ways—the office buildings, the companies that are located here, and the busy marketplace of the city.

I am also interested in speaking with church and seminary leaders about the faith of people in China. So far, in meetings with the China Christian Council and in a visit to the Museum of History of Shanghai City, I was reminded of the struggles and challenges that the church in China has experienced throughout the years. I have a deep heart for China and I am interested in listening and learning of any ways I might pray for the churches in China—which have suffered many struggles of the past decades—as they work to meet the current needs of people, including the youth.

Allison Ash
Master of Divinity student (2007) and Fuller Chapel Director

Worshiping together as one Body in Christ—As Chapel Director at Fuller, I planned this trip to China as a way for students to see worship experiences in a different culture. Sunday in Shanghai provided us an opportunity to attend the Jin Ling Church, a very important church built in 1927, with Methodist roots. Now it is one of the largest churches in Shanghai and has, according to our brief experiences, an outstanding choir and violinists.

I was privileged to share a song with the church. Although we sang in different languages, I was so touched by our unity in Christ. Each member of the congregation sang with such passion and beauty. We are truly one in the Body of Christ. I wore a red t-shirt at church with the Chinese character that means “love,” and I truly felt our common love and fellowship in the Body of Christ.

I have many impressions about the people we are meeting, but one characteristic that I experience time and again is their perseverance to serve Jesus Christ. One brother comes to mind especially, who has been a preacher for more than 50 years, serves as senior pastor for a large congregation with the assistance of only two other clergy members, yet is involved in many areas of service to his community. He is not only a brother in Christ, but a model of Christ for his congregation–and to each of us visiting from the U.S.

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TRAVELING IN CHINA
Hangzhou—August 22, 2006
Our report today is filed from the city of Hangzhou, sometimes called China’s most beautiful city. Known for the charming scenery in its West Lake, as well as its bountiful harvests of tea, silk markets, and much more, Hangzhou is also home to vibrant churches and Christians. Five Fuller students— Travis Hardy, Amy Carr, Allison Ash, Ryan Bailey, and Nathan Chau—are traveling for ten days in three great and historic cities in China. They met in Hangzhou with provincial and municipal Christian councils, local pastors and churches, a seminary and a church-related senior care facility. The following stories and pictures describe our visits and our ongoing journey to experience, learn and understand about the church and worship in China. Tomorrow, we will report from Nanjing.
– Fred Messick, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs, Fuller Seminary

The Fuller Seminary student team visits the Drum Tower Church, Hangzhou


Sunday Evening Worship at the Drum Tower Church—Located in an historic area of Hangzhou, the beautiful Drum Tower Church has a traditional Chinese-style chapel as well as a large modern sanctuary which holds more than 1,000 congregation members. At the well-attended Sunday evening service, Nathan Chau, Master of Divinity student, accompanied Allison Ash, Fuller Chapel Director and Master of Divinity student, in leading the congregation in music, including a widely-known Chinese folk song, “For God So Loved the World.”

Rev. Sun Xi-pei and Fred Messick

Speaking with Rev. Xi-pei—We met with Rev. Sun Xi-pei, who is pastor of the Sicheng Church in Hangzhou as well as Vice President of the China Christian Council and President of the Zhejiang Province Christian Council. A third-generation Christian pastor who has served more than 50 years as a pastor in China, Rev. Sun shared from his vast experiences and vision for the future.
 

Rev. Enoch Wang and Fred Messick

Zhejiang Seminary—The team met with Rev. Enoch Wang, Dean of Theological Studies at Zhejiang Seminary. This important seminary has nearly 200 students from throughout the Zhejiang Province. While they are students, many will preach regularly in countryside churches which do not have full-time pastors.

Fall semester begins next month at Zhejiang Seminary, and students will attend classes as part of a either a three-year theology degree program or a one-year intensive lay workers training program. Lay workers are well-prepared for their important role in Chinese churches.

Dean Wang and others took us on a tour of the campus—the residential area, library, classrooms, and their chapel, where seminary students lead daily chapel services along with faculty support.

Allison Ash

Hangzhou Christian Senior Home—We visited this home for seniors, operated by the Hangzhou Christian Council and located just north of the city. We met with many of the 125 seniors at the home—most in their 80s and 90s—and were delighted with the respect, kindness, and compassion shown toward the seniors as well as our visiting group. Rev. Zhang, administrator of the home, took us on a tour of the home and introduced us to many of the residents and staff.
 

Anny Carr and Allison Ash

Western food—An evening out for pizza at our first Western-style meal on the trip!

Fred Messick, Travis Hardy, Allison Ash, Nathan Chau, Anny Carr, and Ryan Bailey

West Lake District—We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the West Lake, a popular park and recreation area surrounding a serene lake. It’s easy to see why this is one of China’s most popular attractions—with large areas of lotus flowers, willow trees, charming and classical walking bridges, and traditional boats on the lake.

Ryan Bailey and Daniel Ma, our dear friend and translator

Chongyi Church—Ryan Bailey shared greetings to more than 1,000 young people, mostly in their 20s, at the Tuesday evening youth service at the Chongyi Church. Allison Ash, Nathan Chau, and Anny Carr led two songs: “How Great is Our God” and the Chinese folk song “For God So Loved the World.” Following the service, we met with the Senior Pastor, Rev. Joseph Gu, and the General Secretary of the Hangzhou City Christian Council, Rev. Lou. The Chongyi Church, which opened in May of 2005, is China’s largest church building and has a membership of 4,500 people. As Rev. Gu shared, the Chongyi Church has a special focus on youth as its young pastoral staff works to address their needs and interests—including an emphasis on the use of music and multimedia in its worship services.