China Sunday School Association Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Taiwan
In the100th anniversary celebration of CSSA held in Taiwn, many coworkers and shepherds came, including ex-general secretary of CSSA Chen Jinhong, , director of Taiwan CCL Cai Zhongmei, director of CSSA Gui Jianhua, Pastor Lin Fengquan, ex-director of CSSA Xie Ximing and Pastor Xue Kongqi from Hong Kong CCL, with Pastor Zhang Deqian preaching the word.
In 1907 church leaders from the east and west gathered in Shanghai to comemerate the 100th anniversary of Morrison's coming to China. Feeling the lack of Sunday School education in China, church leaders decided to establish China Sunday School Association. Three years later, the first Sunday School textbook got published, used by 70% China churches at that time. I00 years later in Taiwan, pastor Xue Kongqi calls on all the participants to follow the way of CSSA founders with a thankful heart. He hopes that a far-sighted united decision would be reached to lead Chinese churches to root more deeply in God's words.
According to pastor Cai Zhongmei, in the 1947 meeting CSSA held in Shanghai, when the teacher asked those who had attended Sunday School to raise hands, 80% people handed up. " I believe the extension of Sunday School education contributes a lot to maintenance of church after China turned red." Pastor Cai says in her speech. "Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord but they will not find it." Pastor Cai quotes Amos to encourage CSSA to see the needs of modern people and imitate Joshua's faith in God.
General secretary of presbyterian church pastor Zhang Deqian says education and evangelization can be compared to eagle's two wings depending on each other. Churches cannot concentrate on evangelization but ignore the education. In the crooked times that publications appear everywhere corrupting people's minds, CSSA is responsible for making innovations to publish suitable textbooks to let people come to the Lord so as to have a fruitful life in Chirst.
The celebration concluded with hymn singing of CSSA choir and benison by pastor Xie Ximing.
