An international ministry serving the Church in China reported that some 10,000 worshippers last week attended the dedication of the largest newly built church in a city located on the eastern seaboard of China.
In an unconfirmed report issued by Mission Network News, Colo.-based China Partner said police in Hangzhou, Zhejiang had their hands full to control the masses, of which some 10,000 had "crowded into every space available" in the new church designed to hold up to 5,000 people.
"While many un-registered churches face incredible hardship in China, a registered church is celebrating a beginning," MNN stated in their May 10 report.
According to the mission news agency, China Partner President Erik Burklin witnessed the historic occasion as a special guest from overseas along with his father Werner Burklin, who founded China Partner in 1989 to help the Church in China fulfill the Great Commission by training emerging Christian leaders.
MNN reports that next month, a teaching team of China Partner will return to Hangzhou to conduct seminars at the theological seminary in the city. Due to the enormous growth of churches all across China, young emerging Christian leaders and pastors have to be trained to take on the ministry responsibilities presently being vacated by old pastors, the agency stated.
Since 1991 China Partner has conducted over 40 such short term training seminars in 16 theological institutions across the country. Among other activities, China Partner is also involved with legally shipping theological books and Bibles into China; helping to construct churches and other social facilities; and supporting Bible school students from impoverished areas in China.
According to China Partner, the organisation is unique in that it works with the registered churches and seminaries in China. It is perhaps one of the few organizations whose work is done in the open and with the approval of the China Christian Council.
Anthony Chiu
Christian Today Correspondent
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