Speaking at the celebration of the printing of the 50 millionth bible by the Amity Printing Company (APC), Mr. Ye Xiaowen, Director of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) announced that Bibles printed at APC will be made available at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He underscored what Rev. Cao Shengjie, President of China Christian Council (CCC), said in her speech earlier, that the Olympics is a great opportunity for sharing between Chinese Christians and Christians around the world. The TSPM/CCC is preparing to provide free Bibles and church services during the games to participants.
In his speech at the start of the December 8th celebration, Bishop K. H. Ting recalled that it had been his dream many years ago, when Amity Foundation was established, to have a Bible printing company “of our own”. “It would meet the spiritual needs of the Chinese Christians on one hand and help Amity’s social work on the other,” said Bishop Ting. In 1988, a 10-year joint venture agreement was signed between the Amity Printing Press (now the Amity Development Company) and UBS (United Bible Societies) Publishing Company to establish the Nanjing Amity Printing Company (APC). In his speech Rev. Miller Milloy, General Secretary of UBS, paid tribute to Bishop Ting and the late Dr. Wenzao Han for their vision on insisting that the Chinese should depend on themselves in Bible publishing and printing. The printing plant that was originally designed to produce 600,000 bibles a year is now capable of producing 6 million bibles a year. In 2008, it will have the capacity to double this to 12 million bibles a year.
In fact, the Amity Printing Company is now one of the biggest bible printing presses in the world and one of the thin paper printing experts in
Reflecting on the great leap made by the printing company over the last 20 years, Mr. David Thorne, Asia Pacific Secretary for UBS, said that when he took part in the signing of the first agreement between UBS and Amity, the present outcome was totally unimaginable. “At that time, we thought 10 million bibles in 10 years would have been worth it.” He noted the “incredible historical timing” of the joint venture which started just before Deng Xiaoping made his famous speech in Guangdong in 1986. The shift from a grant to full cooperation has given stability to the project. At the start, the company had to hire and train technicians from the rural areas who at best knew only about tractors. Today, the company can boast of at least 350 employees with some of the best trained technicians in the business. When the printing press moves to its new production facility in 2008, it will be equipped with a British built Timson T32 high-speed web-press, custom-built to the requirements of the Nanjing based printing company.
Sending his congratulatory message to the celebration, the most Revd. Dr. John Chew, Archbishop of the South East Asia Province of the Anglican Church, said that the completion of 50 million copies of the Bible “is truly a public and most commendable witness and testimony of the genuine and fruitful partnership of many Christians and churches both in and outside of China.” Tributes were also paid to the TSPM/CCC, SARA, and the Jiangsu provincial and Nanjing municipal governments for their support and encouragement. The management, staff and workers of the printing company were praised and congratulated for their outstanding performance.
Mr. Qiu Zhonghui, General Secretary of the Amity Foundation and Chair of the Board of the Amity Printing Company, enthused that the work of the printing company serves Chinese Christians, overseas Christians and the social service work of the Amity Foundation. Bishop Ting, quoting 1st Corinthians 13:8 “Love never ends,” proclaimed that the Bible printing ministry provides a way to spread the gospel and the love of Jesus. It opens a door for the exchange between Christians at home and abroad.
Amity and UBS extended their joint venture for another 10 years, to 2018, at a signing ceremony that preceded the celebration. Almost 200 people, including national and provincial officials, Chinese church leaders, representatives of the UBS and churches in Hong Kong and overseas attended the celebration held at Shui Xiu Garden Hotel in Jiangning, in the suburbs of Nanjing. It concluded with a visit to the new premises of the printing company and a symbolic pressing of the start button of the new state of the art printing equipment.
I am so happy to learn of the thousands of Bibles printed by Amity Press. I have been doing some research here in California as to the most popular transulation. So far, it appears that the NIV is very popular. I would like to know what Bible transulation is published most by Amity Printing. Thank you. God bless. Howard Theobald
Happy to hear of you wonderful efforts. My previous email asked what is the most popular transulation printed by Amity Printing. I am doing a study here in California and so far the NIV seems to be most popular. God bless. Howard Theobald
Dear Mr Theoblad, I will first refer you to the comments posted under the article “Printing of 50 Millionth Bible celebrated” (find in ‘Bible in China’ category). Judging from bilingual Bibles printed by the Nanjing Amity Printing Press, RSV is the most common English language version. But to be accurate, you can contact the Press directly at apcexport@amityprinting.com or apc@amityprinting.com. Thank you.
I am always glad when even one Bible gets into China because there is a VAST hunger. However, I think people need to know that the reason crafty Bishop Ding started this printing company was actually to SLOW DOWN the numbers of Bibles being brought by foreigners into China (and to control the distribution). Bishop Ding is a member of the Communist Party,and head of the Religious Affairs Bureau (which is chief persecutor of the underground Church in China.) The 2 purposes of the press are to fool the foreigners into thinking there are plenty of Bibles, and to make TONS of money!!!! Most of the major denominations have foolishly poured TONS of money into this project. And yet the Bibles are being sold for the equivalent of $5, which is far above the actual cost. So the Chinese Government is making a double profit!!!! In addition, who but the very naive could believe the numbers that this press SAYS that they print? Where is the proof? Even if the number were accurate, remember that it is less than half of one percent of the number of people in China, and also that people usually get more than one Bible in their lifetime!!!! I know for a fact that many of the Bibles are being “sat upon”. I know of 3 distribution centers that are open only one hour per week! And only ONE person can open the Bible store. A person cannot buy more than TWO Bibles!!
c barnes,
thank you very much for your comment.
As you ask yourself, “Where is the proof?” It would be very helpful if you could add here proof for your allegations.
If you’re interested in information about Bishop Ting, you may want to read the recently published biography, “Reconstructing Christianity in China: K. H. Ting and the Chinese Church”, by Philip L. Wickeri.
What information do you have on the cost of producing Bibles?
Bibles published by the Amity Printing Company are sold at different prices, depending on the edition. Some editions cost more, others less than US$ 5. That apart, the Printing Company has never claimed to be a non-profit organisation. Also, the International Bible Societies donate paper in order to keep prices extremely low.
Maybe you could explain how the Chinese government is making a profit from the Bibles printed by the Amity Printing Company.
There are no official restrictions on the opening hours of Bible stores/distribution centers, or on the number of Bibles a person can buy.
So, please come forward with more information. I’m sure we can all profit from a lively exchange of what we know and think.
Oliver Engelen (Amity Hong Kong office)
Dear In Christ,
I am very grateful to write you this letter, requesting you to send me 20 copies of the holy Bible distribute to members of the children department of JAF MINISTRY and other well- wisher in order to boost the spiritual growth of our members.
. This is due to the fact that there are inadequate supplies of Bibles and christian literature books to carry out our educational and evangelical activities effectively.
I am therefore requesting you to send us Bibles to work for the Lord while there is yet time.
I want to end here with much greetings.
please here is my address;
justice akakpo
p.o. box642
ashaiman
ghana
west africa
00233
Most of the children have no Bible and you really need to help us get Bibles for them.
I am very grateful to write you this letter, requesting you to send me 20 copies of the holy Bible distribute to members of the children department of JAF MINISTRY and other well- wisher in order to boost the spiritual growth of our members.
. This is due to the fact that there are inadequate supplies of Bibles and christian literature books to carry out our educational and evangelical activities effectively.
I am therefore requesting you to send us Bibles to work for the Lord while there is yet time.
I want to end here with much greetings
c.o.c
p.o.box34
ashaman
ghana
00233
The Amity Foundation does not sell or distribute Bibles. Requests should be made directly to the Amity Printing Company: http://www.amityprinting.com/ apc@amityprinting.com
Im looking to buy bibles made in china for import to the Philippines
is this possible? kindly email me a t aike_aizon@yahoo.com
bro aike aizon
*Dear Pastor, Please we in the village need your materials have brought
spiritual awareness and a new zeal for God’s work in my life. I gave some
newsletters to Christian friends who had grown cold in faith, and when I
visited them, they all expressed great joy as they have all revived in the
Spirit and are doing well as a result of reading your bibles. These people
are hungry for the Gods word, so kindly send me about 25 King James Giant
Print Center-Column Reference Bible and strong concordance and Thompson
chain reference bible please in my village the Muslim put fire in the bibles
and kill a lot of pastor please we need your prayer please and some Bibles
for new converts who are in need of it badly. I’m very thankful that you
will send them to me. Thank you for the rich teaching of God’s Word that you
have been so faithful to give out. May the Almighty God continue to bless
you? Faith moves the mountain.please if you are willing to send me some then
please here is my address;
widom gboloIn a message dated 3/19/2010 1:04:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, justiceakakpo@gmail.com writes:
*Dear Pastor, Please we in the village need your materials have brought
spiritual awareness and a new zeal for God’s work in my life. I gave some
newsletters to Christian friends who had grown cold in faith, and when I
visited them, they all expressed great joy as they have all revived in the
Spirit and are doing well as a result of reading your bibles. These people
are hungry for the Gods word, so kindly send me about 25 King James Giant
Print Center-Column Reference Bible and strong concordance and Thompson
chain reference bible please in my village the Muslim put fire in the bibles
and kill a lot of pastor please we need your prayer please and some Bibles
for new converts who are in need of it badly. I’m very thankful that you
will send them to me. Thank you for the rich teaching of God’s Word that you
have been so faithful to give out. May the Almighty God continue to bless
you? Faith moves the mountain.please if you are willing to send me some then
please here is my address;
wisdom gbolo
p.o. box642
ashaiman
Ghana
west Africa
00233.please i will be happy to hear from you again .PLEASE REPLY ME
p.o. box642
Ghana
west Africa
00233.please i will be happy to hear from you again .PLEASE REPLY ME