An ongoing exhibition in the United States is offering American Christians a rare peek into China's church history, while promoting religious exchanges between the two countries. "A Lamp to My Feet, A Light to My Path--The Bible Ministry Exhibition of the Church in China," is the first such overseas event to be held and traces the course of the Bible's early journey in China, Bible publication and distribution since 1980, Bible ministries for ethnic minority churches and church life. It also displays Christian art works from six galleries.

The exhibition, running from April 27 to June 12 and touring several locations in the United States, is sponsored by the China Christian Council (CCC) and the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches in China (TPSM). It brings together more than 80 local Christian organizations.

"I hope the exhibition will lead to greater dialogue and strengthen friendship between Christians in China and the United States," said Reverend Cao Shengjie, President of the CCC at a press conference in Beijing before leaving for the United States. "It will also help promote a better understanding between the two peoples."

The exhibition's honorary chairpersons include former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He opened the six-day Atlanta exhibition on May 19--the second stop after Los Angeles which attracted 7,000 visitors from April 27 to May 4--along with Reverend Cao. "I have a special affinity for China," said Carter at the Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church.

Carter, who served as U.S. president from 1977 to 1981, first visited China in 1949 as a naval officer, and has since retained an interest in China--as a state lawmaker, a governor and as president.

Reverend Cao said that between 1980 and 2005, more than 40 million copies of the Bible were published and distributed in China. These include ethnic minority language editions, Braille editions and pictorial bibles for children.

Dr. David Sapp, senior pastor of the Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, said the exhibition offers a first-time look at church life in China. It is aimed at fostering friendly exchanges with churches in other countries and strengthening cooperation between churches in China and the United States. More than 2,000 people attended the Atlanta opening of the exhibition.

"It's unbelievable, it's exciting," said Peggy Smith, a Presbyterian from Atlanta in an interview with China's official Xinhua News Agency. Smith's father was born in China in the 1880s, and spent many years there. In 1980, Smith went to Shanghai, trying to find the church where her father worked decades before. She did find it, but all its doors were closed. And then to her surprise, one of the doors opened as someone stepped outside to throw out the garbage. Many changes have taken place since Smith's visit shortly after China adopted the reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s.

Ye Xiaowen, Director General of China's State Administration for Religious Affairs, said 27 years ago, the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said during a meeting with Jimmy Carter that the two principles guiding religious affairs in China were to protect freedom of religious belief and to maintain the independence and self-governance of churches in China.

"These two principles, which are like the two sides of a coin, have ensured the smooth and sound development of the church in China," he said.

It is believed that the Bible came to China in 635 A.D., during the Tang Dynasty. There are an estimated 16 million Christians in China, and the number is growing. The exhibition is due to be displayed in New York from June 5-12.