In China's northern Shanxi Province, there is a village with a quadrangle church that is in an alley. It has become a local landmark.
Based in the southern suburb of Yaodu District, Linfen City, Elim Church has an office room and conference room in the east of the compound, as well as a reception room and kitchen in the west. There are stainless steel handrails in the corridor, as well as accessibility ramps for the elderly and disabled.
An elderly female believer named Zhang Jiaozhi, who is in charge of the church, guided us to the basement, which is directly beneath the church. The basement, which was once a low-lying pit, was later designed as a dormitory and prayer room for staff workers during gatherings.
A senior female Christian named Zheng Ailian first became a Christian in the church founded over 40 years ago, sharing the gospel in the village and leading some people to Christ. I had just become a pastor and was preaching on a bicycle at the time. Opening her home for three or five believers to gather, Zheng was appointed a deacon.
After Zheng passed away in 2006, Zhang was engaged in church management. During one service in 2007, a nonlocal believer had the idea of purchasing a place, as the church leader intended to rebuild the church. Then, the male believer donated more than 20,000 yuan to buy a yard for the church, with a contribution of 100,000 yuan from Elder Wei Chengen in Linfen.
Besides donating money, believers in the surrounding areas contributed their labor and materials, with the church being completed in 2015. It was named "Elim Church," which meant going from bitter to better.
In regard to her experience of faith, Zhang said that she had been in poor health at first, but the cause of the disease could not be found. And it was useless to worship Buddha and burn incense. After marriage, her husband picked up a Bible by chance when delivering sand. He recommended it to her, as he felt good after reading it. "It is a good book that may be useful to you." So Jiaozhi began to read this wonderful book and made a prayer of confession as she was moved by God's great love. Attending church services, she learned the truth humbly and served willingly, being healed miraculously.
Apart from support from her husband for her ministry, her daughter also participates in a short-term Bible study class and devotes herself to the Lord.
In the past three years of the epidemic, she had organized online Bible studies and prayers, often paying visits to weak believers.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
临汾市尧都区南郊石村有一所四合院教堂——以琳堂。虽坐落在村里的一条小巷，但外观建筑较为独特，成为村里的一道风景。
小院东厢房是办公室、会议室，西厢房是接待室、厨房。廊前安有不锈钢扶手，还有方便老人及残疾人的出入无障碍的斜坡。
负责同工是张娇枝老姊妹带领我们参观了位于教堂正下方的地下室，这里原来是个地势低洼的大坑，在建堂时被改造成了地下室后来被设计成了用于聚会时同工住宿祷告的宿舍。
教会建立至今已有40多年。最早这里是一个叫郑爱莲的老姊妹信主，后来在村里传福音，有了信主的人。那时我也刚做传道，经常骑着自行车来到这里讲道，一开始就在她家里接待，有三五个人。不久之后，老仆人也被按立为执事.
2006年，郑老执事被主接去，张姊妹接手了教会管理的担子。2007年就有了建礼拜堂的计划，一次礼拜结束后，一位外地信徒有了帮助教会购置地基建堂的意愿，随后，这位弟兄奉献了2万多元购买了一个院子用于帮助建堂。临汾的卫承恩长老一下就奉献了十万元。
周边的许多弟兄姊妹被圣灵感动，捐款捐物，有的人投工投料，2015年，教堂终于顺利竣工。教堂取名“以琳堂”，意为“经过苦难进入甘甜”。
谈及自己的信仰经历，娇枝姊妹说起先身体一直不好，患有疾病也查不出病因，多次求神拜佛寻签烧香，但都无济于事。婚后，丈夫在一次拉沙子的路上偶然捡拾到了一本串珠圣经，回来就读了读，后来觉得很好，就给她推荐：“这书上的话很好，说不定对你有用呢”。就这样，娇枝姊妹开始读这本奇妙的圣经，她被神的大爱所感动，认罪做了入门祷告。来到教会后，虚心学道甘心乐意奉献侍奉，身上的疾病也奇妙地痊愈了。
丈夫十分支持她的侍奉，女儿也参加了圣经培训班的短期学习，并甘心为主做工。
疫情三年来，在实地聚会暂停的艰难中，她组织带领线上查经祷告，并经常带领看望劝勉。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/66398
走访基层教会见闻（二）——齐心共建神人喜悦之圣殿
In China's northern Shanxi Province, there is a village with a quadrangle church that is in an alley. It has become a local landmark.
Based in the southern suburb of Yaodu District, Linfen City, Elim Church has an office room and conference room in the east of the compound, as well as a reception room and kitchen in the west. There are stainless steel handrails in the corridor, as well as accessibility ramps for the elderly and disabled.
An elderly female believer named Zhang Jiaozhi, who is in charge of the church, guided us to the basement, which is directly beneath the church. The basement, which was once a low-lying pit, was later designed as a dormitory and prayer room for staff workers during gatherings.
A senior female Christian named Zheng Ailian first became a Christian in the church founded over 40 years ago, sharing the gospel in the village and leading some people to Christ. I had just become a pastor and was preaching on a bicycle at the time. Opening her home for three or five believers to gather, Zheng was appointed a deacon.
After Zheng passed away in 2006, Zhang was engaged in church management. During one service in 2007, a nonlocal believer had the idea of purchasing a place, as the church leader intended to rebuild the church. Then, the male believer donated more than 20,000 yuan to buy a yard for the church, with a contribution of 100,000 yuan from Elder Wei Chengen in Linfen.
Besides donating money, believers in the surrounding areas contributed their labor and materials, with the church being completed in 2015. It was named "Elim Church," which meant going from bitter to better.
In regard to her experience of faith, Zhang said that she had been in poor health at first, but the cause of the disease could not be found. And it was useless to worship Buddha and burn incense. After marriage, her husband picked up a Bible by chance when delivering sand. He recommended it to her, as he felt good after reading it. "It is a good book that may be useful to you." So Jiaozhi began to read this wonderful book and made a prayer of confession as she was moved by God's great love. Attending church services, she learned the truth humbly and served willingly, being healed miraculously.
Apart from support from her husband for her ministry, her daughter also participates in a short-term Bible study class and devotes herself to the Lord.
In the past three years of the epidemic, she had organized online Bible studies and prayers, often paying visits to weak believers.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Approaching Northern Courtyard Church Founded 40 Years Ago
