By Chen Meilin, China Advisor to the Hour of Power
Recently, Crystal Cathedral received two special guests from Beijing, China: Mr. Song Han, the Chief Editor of China Religion Journal; and Mr. Yuanpeng Shi, Deputy Editor of Religious Culture Publishing House. They came to visit and hear about the Hour of Power broadcast ministry. Mr. Han shared that this was his second visit to the Crystal Cathedral, having met Dr. Schuller in 2002 at a special memorial service where Dr. Schuller prayed for world peace and, specifically, for the victims of 9/11. Mr. Han remarked that he keeps a picture taken with Dr. Schuller as a reminder of this memorable meeting.
First-time visitor, Mr. Shi, said he had heard so much about Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power from Ye Xiaowen, Minister of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, who was a guest speaker at the Crystal Cathedral in October 2005 during China Sunday.
Mr. Han and Mr. Shi both remarked that they had been deeply touched by Dr. Schuller's special relationship with the people in China, which began with Dr. Schuller's uncle Henry Beltman, who built the first Reformed Church in Xiamen, China. Dr. Schuller has continued this love for China, visiting China often and lecturing at universities and other public gatherings, and preaching at a number of churches in China. Dr. Schuller also supported the first China Bible Ministry Exhibition in the U.S., which was held at Crystal Cathedral in 2006. Both Han and Shi graduated from Beijing University where Dr. Schuller has visited and lectured in 2001.
Though the Hour of Power program is not yet shown in China, people in China know Dr. Schuller well, and his possibility thinking has impacted Christians and non-Christians through various websites, books, and other publications. "Possibility thinking not only benefits the churches but also all the people in China," said Mr. Han and Mr. Shi. "Possibility thinking inspires people in China who are suffering from being laid off, facing financial crises, and losing confidence in life. It is an important encouragement! We wish that we could introduce Dr. Schuller's possibility thinking through our magazine and our publication."
