On January 16, 2024, led by General Secretary Mr. Helge Gaard, a four-person delegation from the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS), visited CCC&TSPM. Rev. Shan Weixiang, residential Vice Chairperson of National TSPM, warmly received the delegates and hosted the meeting. Participants also included Rev. Hao Zhiqiang, who serves as the Associate Secretary General of National TSPM, General Secretary of National Council of YMCAs of China, and Editor-in-Chief of Tianfeng.

On behalf of CCC&TSPM, Rev. Shan Weixiang welcomed the delegation and appreciated NMS for its support to CCC&TSPM’s social service ministry over the years. He hoped to avail ourselves of this exchange to enhance mutual understanding and to leave a good impression on our new friends who visited China for the first time. At the meeting, Rev. Shan mentioned the situation of the Church in China under the current Chinese economic and social background, and elaborated the historical and cultural contexts of the Three-Self Principles of the Church in China, with the emphasis on the purpose and significance of the Chinanization of Christianity.

Representing NMS, Mr. Helge Gade expressed his gratitude to CCC&TSPM for its warm reception. He detailed the development of NMS and the status quo of its global ministries. Mr. Haakon Kessel, leader of the NMS Global, shared NMS’s interpretation of faith and philosophy of ministry. It meant to recognize and respect different backgrounds, to share the gospel, to resist injustice, to eradicate poverty, and to work on becoming a living church. They also fully understood the diversity and distinctiveness among the churches around the world, and especially agreed with the concept of Chinanization of Christianity. With the eagerness to better understand the Church in China, NMS would like to have mutual learning and friendly cooperation with CCC&TSPM so as to grow together in Christ.

During the meeting, Rev. Shan Weixiang and Rev. Hao Zhiqiang responded the questions raised by the NMS delegates. The two sides exchanged ideas over church unity, the challenges for Chinese Christians, the international ministries of the Church in China, and the importance of the indigenizing Christianity.

The delegation also visited Holy Trinity Church and Grace Telling Bookshop.

Translator & editor: Bei Feng