|
|
|
Former Presbyterian Moderator and missionary to China, Dr Jack Weir, will return there next week to the place of his birth, Shenyang, the principle city of China's North Eastern provinces.
Dr Weir has been invited to attend centenary celebrations at the North Eastern Theological College, and the opening of new buildings. The college was founded by Presbyterians from Ireland and Scotland and Dr Weir was a member of staff between the end of the Second World war and 1950 when most missionaries left the country. Under the Communist authorities churches and other religious establishments were closed.
To meet the communist wish for production the theological students were given courses in animal husbandry and market gardening. With these skills they were able to be useful members of communist society while having the training to keep ministering to the Christian community.
Christian witness remained alive in China throughout the 60's and 70's and the North Eastern Theological College also kept going though it moved to Peking for a time. As the situation eased following the demise of the Red Guard, westerners were again welcomed in China and Dr Weir was a member of the first Official Church delegation to return there in 1983. He again visited China in 1986.
During this visit Dr Weir will also travel to the city of Changchun, 200 miles north of Shenyang, where he was brought up and where his father, Rev Andrew Weir conducted his ministry. He hopes to meet former colleges and friends from his childhood in China and will visit the cemetery where his father, who died in China in 1933, is buried.
During the 30's the Presbyterian Church had nearly 40 missionaries working in China including Dr Weir' mother and father, while today , though the Chinese Church is quite strong, the number of non-nationals is small, the Presbyterian Church having only one person there at present.
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive