A church in China’s northern Shanxi Province held a memorial service for a female pastor who died at the age of 83.
On August 13, nearly 100 people tearfully bid farewell to Pastor Chai Yumei, in Dongyi Village, Yaodu District, Linfen City.
Early in the morning, the worship team of Yaodu Church played gongs, drums, and trumpets. Then they performed cross-talk, three and a half sentences (a type of Chinese free talk), solo singing, dances, and other programs, which focused on advocating family harmony, honoring parents, and promoting harmony.
Some local believers presented hymns, one of which was written by Chai and named ‘To Honor Father and Mother’. The song lyrics said that believers needed to take care of their father and mother while they live. They should prepare food and drink for their parents and ask if they feel cold in winter and if hot in summer, bringing joy to God who would grant them blessing and longevity.
Then Wang Shuai preached a sermon with the title of “There Is No One to Resurrect with Tears”, saying that there was no sorrow for Christian death because they had hope rather than without expectations and that death was not the end but the hope of resurrection. He stated that when a Christian died he returned to heaven to enjoy eternal happiness in the arms of the Lord, so he should be full of joy instead of being sad when they passed away. The pastor encouraged church members to follow her example in loving God and people, glorifying Him, helping people, and witnessing Christ.
Then, Deacon Chai Xifeng, her eldest daughter, recalled her mother's life: Chai Yumei was born in August 1940 in a poor peasant family in Di Village, Zhaocheng County (now Hongdong County in Linfen City), and died at the age of 83. With five sons and daughters, her parents couldn’t afford to raise all but had to give Chai to a couple who could not give birth. Afterward, that couple took her to flee from famine to Dongyi District of Linfen County (now Yaodu District). Later she was given up and adopted as a daughter by an elderly person with no family. At seventeen she married her husband giving birth to three children. Baptized in 1989, she became a pastor in 1990 after she attended the city's first seminar for pastors. Since then she had devoted herself to preaching in many villages on the west of the Fenhe River. Having influenced many people’s lives with her experience, she attracted them to believe in God. Taught by her words and deeds, her two daughters, Xifeng and Xuefeng, became church deacons who are responsible for several church ministries.
- Translated by Stella He
中国北部山西省一教堂为女信徒举行追思礼拜。
8月13日，在临汾市尧都区汾河西岸的东宜村，近百人含泪送别教会传道人柴玉梅姊妹。（==summary）
一大早，尧都区教会圣乐队敲起了锣鼓，吹起洋号，声震四野。接着他们表演快板、三句半、独唱、小舞蹈等节目，内容多以倡导家庭和睦、孝敬父母、 促进和谐等方面内容。
本村活动点的几名弟兄姊妹献唱了诗歌，其中有一首是老人生前亲自编写的一首诗歌《要孝敬爹和娘》。其中讲到：孝敬爹和娘，趁他（她）在世上，应给他（她）吃喝穿，冬天问寒冷，夏天问风凉，这样做神喜悦，得福寿绵长。
接着王帅传道以《从来没人醒来哀哭》为题进行证道分享，从基督徒离世不会忧伤，因为心怀盼望，不是毫无指望；基督徒离世不是了结，而是有复活的盼望；基督徒离世，是回归天家，在主怀抱永享福乐；基督徒离世不应忧伤，而是充满喜乐几个方面劝勉众弟兄姊妹要效法姊妹爱神爱人，荣神益人，见证基督。
此后老人的长女柴希凤执事追忆了母亲的一生：柴玉梅老姊妹于1940年8月出生在赵城县堤村（现山西临汾洪洞县）一个贫寒农家，享年83岁。自幼弟兄姊妹五人，因亲生父母无力抚养送给一对无法生养的夫妻为女，后一家三口逃荒来到临汾县（现尧都区）东宜，后又过继给一孤寡老人为义女。直到十七岁与丈夫结婚，生儿养女三人。1989年受洗归主，1990年参加了全市第一批传道人学习班，成为传道人。从此她委身奉献，多次前往汾河以西各村讲道聚会。以生命影响生命，吸引了许多人归主名下。在她的言传身教下，她的两个女儿希凤、雪凤都成为教会执事，担负多项教会服侍。
临汾尧都区基督教会送别柴玉梅老姊妹荣归天家
A church in China’s northern Shanxi Province held a memorial service for a female pastor who died at the age of 83.
On August 13, nearly 100 people tearfully bid farewell to Pastor Chai Yumei, in Dongyi Village, Yaodu District, Linfen City.
Early in the morning, the worship team of Yaodu Church played gongs, drums, and trumpets. Then they performed cross-talk, three and a half sentences (a type of Chinese free talk), solo singing, dances, and other programs, which focused on advocating family harmony, honoring parents, and promoting harmony.
Some local believers presented hymns, one of which was written by Chai and named ‘To Honor Father and Mother’. The song lyrics said that believers needed to take care of their father and mother while they live. They should prepare food and drink for their parents and ask if they feel cold in winter and if hot in summer, bringing joy to God who would grant them blessing and longevity.
Then Wang Shuai preached a sermon with the title of “There Is No One to Resurrect with Tears”, saying that there was no sorrow for Christian death because they had hope rather than without expectations and that death was not the end but the hope of resurrection. He stated that when a Christian died he returned to heaven to enjoy eternal happiness in the arms of the Lord, so he should be full of joy instead of being sad when they passed away. The pastor encouraged church members to follow her example in loving God and people, glorifying Him, helping people, and witnessing Christ.
Then, Deacon Chai Xifeng, her eldest daughter, recalled her mother's life: Chai Yumei was born in August 1940 in a poor peasant family in Di Village, Zhaocheng County (now Hongdong County in Linfen City), and died at the age of 83. With five sons and daughters, her parents couldn’t afford to raise all but had to give Chai to a couple who could not give birth. Afterward, that couple took her to flee from famine to Dongyi District of Linfen County (now Yaodu District). Later she was given up and adopted as a daughter by an elderly person with no family. At seventeen she married her husband giving birth to three children. Baptized in 1989, she became a pastor in 1990 after she attended the city's first seminar for pastors. Since then she had devoted herself to preaching in many villages on the west of the Fenhe River. Having influenced many people’s lives with her experience, she attracted them to believe in God. Taught by her words and deeds, her two daughters, Xifeng and Xuefeng, became church deacons who are responsible for several church ministries.
- Translated by Stella He
Shanxi Church Holds Memorial Service for Female Pastor Who Dies at 83
