Chinese Church leader Elder Xianwei Fu passed away in Shanghai, China at 4:30am on August 20, 2018 at the age 74. Elder Fu was the Chair of the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Church in China, and the Chair of the Board of the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. Elder Fu was also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Vice Director of the Religious and Ethnic Affairs Committee of CPPCC. Elder Fu provided strong leadership to the Church in China, especially in helping the Church to relate to the Government and religious groups internationally.

I represented ABC/ IM to attend the Viewing/ Farewell Service on September 5, and the Memorial Service on September 6, 2018 in Shanghai. The services were attended by Chinese Government officials, church and community leaders, as well as church representatives from overseas. I met and talked to Elder Fu the last time in the China Church Ministry Symposium in Orlando in February 2017. He and his team met with church leaders in the US discussing issues facing the churches in China and in the US. Elder Fu visited ABC/ IM office a few times, and had high regarding of our partnership. Personally I have been deeply blessed by Elder Fu from meeting and listening to him, and observing how he built relations and handled issues in conferences. Elder Fu is highly recognized by the Chinese Government, and Chinese and overseas church leaders for his humble, gentle, and thoughtful spirit. Elder Fu had deep love for the church and strived his best to lead and empower the churches to serve God and the community. Please pray for Elder Fu’s family and the Church of China.