Silverdale lifts up chinaconnect

Chinaconnect was the subject of a fundraising celebration at Silverdale Lutheran Church on Sunday, Oct. 16, where youth told about their visitation to Nanchang and other venues in China this past summer.

Young Silverdale Lutheran members Anjali Chakrabarthy and Lina McGuire shared with others from the congregation and community who may never see Nanchang, half a world away. The two were among about 30 who visited China under the leadership of the Rev. Steven Ray of the Southwestern Washington Synod, executive director of the nonprofit with a mission of increasing one-to-one relationships through mission.

On Sunday, Silverdale Lutheran's pastor, the Rev. Jonathan Sansgaard, said of the young cross-cultural visitors here and there, "They are the present; they are the right now."

Pastor Sansgaard recalled a member of his congregation, a Navy hospital chief, who after learning about chinaconnect said that no war plan could ever hold the long-term peaceful power of grassroots relationship-building.

Ray said the mission of chinaconnect is growing to not just include mission visits and providing English instructors, but also in the area of serving orphanages with children with special needs.

American music expert Steve Eulberg provided music on dulcimers.

To learn more about chinaconnect, visit http://chinaconnectonline.org.

Pictured: The Rev. Stephen Ray presents a China service award to, from left to right, Anjali Chakrabarthy, Lina McGuire and the Rev. Jonathan Sansgaard of Silverdale Lutheran Church on Oct. 16 in Silverdale.