The United Church of Canada celebrates the Amity Foundation’s 40th Anniversary with gratitude and deep friendship
This year, The United Church of Canada celebrated its 100th anniversary in a myriad of ways. One particularly meaningful expression was the Church’s decision to invite global ecumenical partners to Canada to celebrate—recognizing that we are a united and uniting church, deeply concerned about the world and committed to global partnerships.
Similarly, when United Church partner Amity Foundation of China celebrated its 40th anniversary under the theme “Love Is Eternal,” it invited global partners from around the world, including the United Church, to join in the celebration.
The Amity Foundation was founded in 1985 with the help of Bishop K. H. Ting, then-president of the China Christian Council. Bishop Ting had a remarkable faith and vision, which he articulated as follows: “Love is, in truth, the ultimate and highest driving force behind the entire universe, all of reality, and existence itself—the supreme principle, the final and highest energy behind all energies.”
From its inception, the Amity Foundation sought to live out love in tangible ways by serving the needs of society, guided by its mission statement: “Abundant Lives, More Justice, and a Better World.” It began with just three staff members. After 40 years, Amity now employs nearly 1,000 staff and was given the highest social organization status in China.
The United Church deeply admires Amity’s vision to embody a love so wide and inclusive that it embraces all of creation and all people—one rooted in faith in the cosmic Christ, who loves the whole world. What especially endeared Amity to our church was Bishop Ting’s vision, grounded in a Christian faith that calls us to “Love in Action.” This theology draws from Matthew 25, where Jesus calls us to serve the most marginalized among us.
In the early days of Amity’s work, when English teachers were urgently needed, many members of our Church volunteered. They often went to remote areas of China where few others would go, to serve those living on the margins of society. We are deeply appreciative of Amity’s commitment to reaching rural communities with educational support and presence.
Those who went were transformed by the experience. One such teacher was Gary MacDonald, who ended up serving in China for 19 years. He once shared that all he had was a chalkboard and a piece of chalk—but that was enough. Though material resources were limited, his spirit was enriched by the love of his students. He was inspired by their courage, their thirst for knowledge, and their commitment to building a better society. Gary was transformed because, in that humble classroom, he witnessed the living Spirit of God.
Every teacher we sent to China through Amity returned home deeply changed—and committed to sharing their experiences in churches and society, helping to build bridges of understanding and goodwill between churches and nations.
Amity’s next phase of work focused on healthcare, orphans, education, emergency relief, poverty alleviation, and community development. The United Church saw what it meant to serve with humility, empower local leadership, and walk in genuine solidarity. Amity’s focus on the social good, rather than on evangelism, demonstrated how to work effectively with government, communities, and local leaders. While challenges have certainly arisen, Amity’s commitment to serving the most marginalized has never wavered.
Also remarkable is the Amity Printing Company, founded in 1986 as a joint venture with the United Bible Societies. As of November 2025, Amity has printed more than 286 million copies of the Bible in over 280 languages, and distributed them to 158 countries worldwide. In a tour, we witnessed the process by which following years of innovation, Amity now produces ultra-thin paper weighing only 19 grams per square meter.
Global ecumenical guests were also invited to visit Amity Foundation facilities in Nanjing, including a nursing home that underwent a major renovation with support from the United Church, through the generosity of donors. We visited the Shanshuiyuan Community Centre, which serves people with intellectual and physical disabilities; a canteen that provides affordable meals for those in need; and the Amity Bakery, which offers vocational training and employment for individuals with learning difficulties.
Throughout these visits, I was profoundly inspired to see how Amity’s work is deeply modeled after Jesus’ ministry. Jesus spread the good news of God’s love through teaching; Amity spreads the Word of God by printing Bibles for the world. Jesus fed the hungry; Amity addresses food insecurity through its canteen ministry, particularly for the elderly. Jesus showed compassion to those neglected by society; Amity does this through senior residences that offer clean, healthy, and supportive living environments. Jesus offered healing to those who suffered; Amity provides healing through elder-care facilities, services for people with dementia, developmental challenges, and disabilities.
Interestingly, Amity has also partnered with major internet companies in China—including Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance (TikTok), Bilibili, and Lingxi—all of which have philanthropic divisions. These partnerships have helped Amity raise funds and increase visibility. For example, a campaign encouraging donations of just one yuan (approximately CAD 20 cents) to support the Amity Bakery attracted two million donors.
There is much the United Church can learn from Amity—especially its ability to innovate, build new partnerships, and continually re-envision how to serve communities humbly, guided by the most powerful force in the universe: love.
We are reminded that to follow Christ is to participate in God’s ongoing work of healing, reconciliation, and abundant life, for all people and for all creation.
Thanks to the generous support of Mission and Service donors, The United Church of Canada has been able to partner with the Amity Foundation, and we hope that relationship will continue to flourish.
—Rev. Won Hur works as the Global Partnership Program Coordinator for Asia in the General Council’s Church in Mission Unit.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.