TWO delegations of church leaders and religious affairs officials from China visited Singapore churches and their welfare institutions in March.
Here at the invitation of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, Trinity Theological College and the Bible Society of Singapore from March 15 to 21, they also held talks with Singapore Members of Parliament, civil servants, Christian businessmen, lawyers and professionals, and educationists besides exchanging views and experiences with local church leaders.
The delegations — six from the China Christian Council (CCC) and six from the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) — also visited Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Anglican High School and Pei Hwa Primary School, among others.
They were special guests at the official opening of Trinity Theological College on March 16.
The CCC delegation, led by its Vice-President, the Rev Cao Shengjie, and the SARA team, led by its Deputy Director-General, Mr Wang Zhou An, were impressed by their visits to Bethany Methodist Nursing Home, St Andrew’s Mission Hospital and a few other welfare institutions.
The visitors were hosted to a welcome dinner on March 17, and a lunch on March 19 by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, on behalf of The Methodist Church in Singapore.
Rev Cao, who also received a pewter plaque from the Bishop. — MM picture.