PC(USA) China Network

July 6-Augst 3, 2009

Join Presbyterian elder, Claire Gibbs from Melbourne FL, and other volunteers as she returns for a second summer with Amity in China to work intensively with Chinese English teachers on their speaking and listening. 

Claire wrote about last summer in China: 

“The welcoming handshakes from our hosts, shared laughter over a meal, the wide-eyed curious looks from children, our teacher-students’ eager smiles - the SEP was all of this, and more. I came to China as an ambassador for my country and for my Christian faith, to be part of the east-west bridge that is making the world smaller every day. What I found, in this most ancient and also very modern country, were some of the most gracious people I’ve met, anywhere. In short, my time in Chuzhou (Anhui) was a far richer experience than any tour guide could ever provide. I am grateful - God bless Amity!”   

Contact Claire at 321-729-0707, e-mail: claire_gibbs@mailhost.org

Learn more and get application materials at the red link above.

The ERRC Summer Teaching Program is a credited university English teaching program, predominantly for graduate and post-graduate students to improve their oral English.

Our objectives for the program are:

• To be a witness for Christ in China as a competent and caring teacher
  
• To gain cross-cultural sensitivity through living in as well as working in university campuses
  
• To develop a deeper understanding of China, of China ministry and a heart for the Chinese people
  
• To prepare and discern prayerfully for possible longer term ministry commitments to China
  

The China Christian Council/Three Self Movement has just concluded the second year of a three year cycle working on their oral English with Chinese church leaders.  The Rev. Bao Jiayuan, Associate General Secretary of the CCC/TSPM, oversees this six week program held in the church conference center in Huangshan (near China’s famous 'Yellow' mountains). Leaders from Chinese churches, seminaries and regional Christian council offices apply to participate and Bao recruits native English speakers from overseas to work with them. Younger church leaders come from all over China to become more able to convey the good news and share the exciting work of the church in China to English speaking visitors. Teachers from overseas have come from various denominations in the United States. In 2008, the teachers involved were Debbie Pallatto-Fontaine (UCC), lead teacher, and Presbyterians Hugh & Teena Anderson,  May Chung, and Hugh & Anne Wire. 

The Presbyterian Heritage Continues:

The Outreach Foundation Trip to China October 8-21, 2009

 October 8          leave USA

October 9          arrive Beijing

Oct 10-12          sightseeing/church visits/reception by State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA)

Oct 13-14          Shanghai: meet with National China Christian Council

Oct 15-16          Nanjing: dedication of new campus of Nanjing Theological Seminary, visit Jiangsu Provincial Christian Council and Provincial Bible School, Amity Printing Press, missionaries Don and Wei Hong Snow

Oct 17-19*         Shandong Province: Jinan (Shandong Theological Seminary), Weifang (Shadyside Hospital)

Oct 20              Final day in Shanghai or Beijing (depending on international carrier)

Oct 21              Return home

If you are interested in how you can be part of The Outreach Foundation’s work in China, you have options!  Contact our China Mission Specialist, Peter Lim: peterllim@yahoo.com; Jefferson Ritchie, Associate Director for Mission: jeff@theoutreachfoundation.org; or go to our website and follow the links to China: www.theoutreachfoundation.org.

Classroom teachers are encouraged to join a special team of experienced K-12 teachers this summer in a pilot program to explore with Chinese peers ways to improve classroom teaching within the constraints of China’s educational system.

For more information on this new peer to peer English teaching program contact Hugh Wire, former Amity volunteer teacher, 510-854-8958, hughwire@yahoo.com.  Find more details at the website of the Pacific Network for Mission Education using the red link above.