History was made on November 17 and 18, 2011 at Wuxi, Jiangsu Province when a small group of Adventist International Institute for Advanced Studies (AIIAS) alumni met together for the very first time. In the last twenty years or more, AIIAS, which offers graduate studies, has graduated more than 60 students from China. Luke Hzieh, a 2010 alumnus, from Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, was the initiator and organizer. AIIAS in collaboration with CHUM and NSD assisted in sponsoring this meeting.
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Dr James Park, professor of applied theology from AIIAS, Dr Verna Wu, education director from CHUM, Dr C Y Phoon, NSD education director, and Dr David Ripley, NSD ministerial secretary, with his wife, Lynn Ripley, NSD Shepherdess coordinator were also present at this inaugural meeting.
The alumni shared their experiences since they graduated with each other, reminisced about the good old days at their alma mater, and more importantly, discussed how they could contribute to training and progress of the church within China. Even though at this first meeting, not many alumni came, but the camaraderie spirit was high. Each felt that the bond of love that they have cultivated since their seminary and graduate school days has really never left them and they were proud to be identified as AIIAS alumni. Two coordinators, Luke Hzieh and Andy Zhang were appointed to plan for the next alumni get-together in 2012 and their hope is to see more of their fellow alumni participate in this next meeting.