Local churches in Shanxi have been participating in the flood relief work caused by the recent heavy rainfall.
The Hejin section of Fenhe River in Hejin city, southwestern Shanxi Province has faced the largest flood in 57 years due to continuous rainfall, Xinhua News Agency reported on October 9. The water flow in the Fenhe, a major tributary of the Yellow River, reached 900 cubic meters per second, more than 20 times the usual rate, according to China Daily. Because of a breach in the Hejin section, local forces were focusing on rescue efforts.
As of October 14, the floods had disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents from 76 counties, with more than 120,000 people evacuated and 238,460 hectares of crops damaged. More than 19,500 houses collapsed, according to the provincial department of emergency management.
Many rural churches in Shanxi Province were damaged by continuous heavy rainfall which caused floods and other disasters.
On October 12, Gospel Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, contacted a female co-worker of a church in Hejin City. The female believer with the surname of Yuan said that due to the breach, the river flooded tens of thousands of acres of farmland. A few Christians were relocated and some believers’ crops were also destroyed. Entering a state of emergency last Sunday, church members constructed high flood control dams around the church gate, offering prayers for the safety of the church.
"Sewer overflows occurred at the entrance of the church, but serious damage was averted." Yuan said that the old church had been flooded up to the window sills. "The danger is more serious than before and we have worked hard to fight the flood. Control measures have succeeded and God has answered our prayers."
Yuan, the person in charge of a local church’s nursing home, added that they had prepared for the relocation of the home, but that the threat then receded. “The water level has dropped now.”
She said that many manpower and material resources had been invested in disaster reduction and Hejin churches also participated in local flood-fighting efforts. For example, the Hejin Municipal CC&TSPM donated four water pumps and four tents to the civil affairs bureau for local flood-fighting and drainage. Churches also organized believers to send food, water, gloves, and rain ponchos to volunteers.
While it rained, Lianchi Church in Hejin City sent 300 ponchos and 240 pairs of gloves to the volunteers on the river dam, which was very appreciated. Members of a choir and believers from Wujiaguan Village delivered meals to volunteers in Chengguan Village. In addition, believers of Wujiaguan Village, Fanjiapo Village and Mijiawan Village sent rice and cakes to villagers guarding the dams.
Yuan also sent photos of believer from Zhanqian Road Church, who delivered meals to relief workers. In addition, 20 helmet lights, 100 raincoats, 40 pairs of boots, and a bag of gloves were sent to flood workers in Yangcun Township. In the past few days, food was also distributed at the disaster relief site on Yongxing Road. “Many believers sent cakes and rice soup here”.
A local male Christian individually distributed love materials worth more than 10,000 yuan this Monday, she said.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
新闻链接：据央视新闻消息，10月9日，受近期连续降雨和上游汾河来水影响，山西汾河运城段迎来了近40年最大洪峰，水流量达到每秒1000立方米左右。山西汾河河津段出现一决口，当地正集中力量抢险。
据10月10日山西省应急管理厅消息，山西近期严重洪涝灾害已致全省11个市76个县（市、区）175.71万人受灾，12.01万人紧急转移安置，284.96万亩农作物受灾，1.7万余间房屋倒塌。
10月12日，福音时报联系到了河津当地教会同工原姊妹，她告诉福音时报，此次决口，河水漫过了很多庄稼地，有几十万亩地被水淹了，教会也有少数信徒搬迁，也有信徒庄稼地被毁。教会则从礼拜天开始进入紧急状态，教堂大门两边堆了高高的防洪坝，弟兄姐妹一齐为教堂的安全祷告。
“教堂门口下水道水上溢，但终究没漫上来”，原姊妹说，以前的老教堂之前也被水淹过，水都到了窗台下，“虽然这次洪水更大，但因为防洪措施做得好，从上到下都努力抗洪，神也垂听了我们的祷告。”
原姊妹是当地教会养老院的负责人，她说养老院本来已经做好搬迁准备，但有惊无险，“现在水已经下降。”
她介绍说，当地抗洪力度大，投入了很多人力物力。河津教会也积极参与到当地的抗洪工作中，其中河津市基督教两会给民政局捐赠4台水泵，4顶账棚，用于当地抗洪排水。教会也组织为一线防汛的志愿者送去食物、水、手套、雨披等物资。
下雨时，市基督教会莲池堂就为河坝上的志愿者送去300雨披，240双手套，很受欢迎。荣耀诗班和吴家关村的弟兄姐妹晚上为城关村送饭，此外，吴家关村弟兄姐妹给坝上送去大米和油饼，樊家坡、米家湾村的信徒也自发地为本村守坝的村民送饭。
原姊妹还发来了另一教堂——站前路基督教堂的弟兄姐妹当天下午为救灾人员送饭的照片，此外为阳村抗洪一线送去照明头灯20个，雨衣100件，雨鞋40双，手套一包。这几天，他们还在永兴路救灾现场发放食品，“好多信徒送来油饼和米汤”。
原姊妹说，当地有一个弟兄，11日一天就个人性地分发了一万多元的爱心物资。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/58504
山西河津教会积极参与抗洪救灾工作 为志愿者送去饭食、雨披等
Local churches in Shanxi have been participating in the flood relief work caused by the recent heavy rainfall.
The Hejin section of Fenhe River in Hejin city, southwestern Shanxi Province has faced the largest flood in 57 years due to continuous rainfall, Xinhua News Agency reported on October 9. The water flow in the Fenhe, a major tributary of the Yellow River, reached 900 cubic meters per second, more than 20 times the usual rate, according to China Daily. Because of a breach in the Hejin section, local forces were focusing on rescue efforts.
As of October 14, the floods had disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents from 76 counties, with more than 120,000 people evacuated and 238,460 hectares of crops damaged. More than 19,500 houses collapsed, according to the provincial department of emergency management.
Many rural churches in Shanxi Province were damaged by continuous heavy rainfall which caused floods and other disasters.
On October 12, Gospel Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, contacted a female co-worker of a church in Hejin City. The female believer with the surname of Yuan said that due to the breach, the river flooded tens of thousands of acres of farmland. A few Christians were relocated and some believers’ crops were also destroyed. Entering a state of emergency last Sunday, church members constructed high flood control dams around the church gate, offering prayers for the safety of the church.
"Sewer overflows occurred at the entrance of the church, but serious damage was averted." Yuan said that the old church had been flooded up to the window sills. "The danger is more serious than before and we have worked hard to fight the flood. Control measures have succeeded and God has answered our prayers."
Yuan, the person in charge of a local church’s nursing home, added that they had prepared for the relocation of the home, but that the threat then receded. “The water level has dropped now.”
She said that many manpower and material resources had been invested in disaster reduction and Hejin churches also participated in local flood-fighting efforts. For example, the Hejin Municipal CC&TSPM donated four water pumps and four tents to the civil affairs bureau for local flood-fighting and drainage. Churches also organized believers to send food, water, gloves, and rain ponchos to volunteers.
While it rained, Lianchi Church in Hejin City sent 300 ponchos and 240 pairs of gloves to the volunteers on the river dam, which was very appreciated. Members of a choir and believers from Wujiaguan Village delivered meals to volunteers in Chengguan Village. In addition, believers of Wujiaguan Village, Fanjiapo Village and Mijiawan Village sent rice and cakes to villagers guarding the dams.
Yuan also sent photos of believer from Zhanqian Road Church, who delivered meals to relief workers. In addition, 20 helmet lights, 100 raincoats, 40 pairs of boots, and a bag of gloves were sent to flood workers in Yangcun Township. In the past few days, food was also distributed at the disaster relief site on Yongxing Road. “Many believers sent cakes and rice soup here”.
A local male Christian individually distributed love materials worth more than 10,000 yuan this Monday, she said.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Shanxi Churches Provide Meals, Materials for Fighting Against Flood
