A village church, established 75 years ago, dedicated its new main building and celebrated its 75th anniversary.
The three-story building, situated at the end of a road in Jiangsu, boasts a pristine white exterior adorned with a tall cross and the inscription "Outang Church."
Inside the church, a prominent cross is embedded in the wall, while vibrant red flowers grace the altar. The roof is adorned with golden and translucent lamps depicting the fish symbol of Jesus. On April 15, during the service, Pastor Ma delivered a sermon titled "The Glory of the New Temple."
Pastor Ma emphasized that this temple represented the presence of God, drawing from the story of the prophet Haggai, which recounts the return of the Israelites from captivity to rebuild the temple.
He stressed that the temple was a place of glory, emphasizing that the altar was not meant for disputes or conflicts but for proclaiming the Word of God. Within the Lord's family, believers should pray for themselves and for the entire community.
Furthermore, he highlighted that this was a temple characterized by love, citing the story of Arnan's field. Ma urged believers to share Christ's love and the gospel with those around them, both in their daily lives and in their ministries and workplaces.
Wu, a female believer responsible for the Outang Church, recounted the process of building the church. Seventy-five years ago, a pastor from Shanghai established a place of worship in the home of a male believer. Faculty and students from North China Theological Seminary occasionally delivered sermons. During the Cultural Revolution, gatherings took place in non-fixed locations. In 1985, when regular gatherings resumed, the church had its own designated meeting place with thirty or forty Christians. Later, during the construction of the new church, a dedicated female believer in her 70s boiled water daily for the construction workers. Male members drove tractors to transport construction materials, while some resided on the construction site for three consecutive months to ensure its safety. Finally, a red brick building with white walls was erected, and the number of Christians grew from thirty to three hundred.
As the new church leader, Wu established a church-building team and searched for a temporary meeting place. Undeterred by reports, she led the believers in cleaning and constructing a temporary transitional house within a week.
Several churches from neighboring counties and cities joined in the celebration, presenting 25 songs and dances.
Following the two-and-a-half-hour celebration, the church arranged an evangelistic music concert featuring Mr. Xianghai, a renowned Christian musician.
At the conclusion of the evangelistic meeting, more than 30 individuals came forward to respond to the call.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
一个75年历史之久的乡村教会新堂落成
4月15日，江苏省藕塘教会新堂落成典礼，更是教会建立75周年感恩庆典。
教堂赫然坐落道路尽头处，三层的建筑物通体纯白，十字架高高矗立，“藕塘基督教堂”几个大字书写壁上。
映入眼帘的首先是讲台墙壁镶嵌的十字架。台上摆满红色的鲜花。堂顶用金色和透明的灯饰雕刻出耶稣鱼的符号，马牧师证道《新殿的荣耀》。
“这是神同在的殿，”马牧师引用哈该先知所讲，以色列人被掳归回重建圣殿的故事。
“这是充满荣耀的殿，”他提醒信徒们，教堂的讲台不是戏台、不是炮台，而是圣台，我们彼此间是团契家人，要谨慎为自己祷告，也要为全群祷告。
“这是充满爱的殿。”阿珥楠禾场的故事让人向往，马牧师劝勉，每个人的生活、事奉、工作的领域要成为充满爱的禾场，带着基督的爱，把祝福恩典带给身边每个。
藕塘教会的负责人吴姊妹历数了藕塘建堂的经过。75年前从上海来的传教士在一位弟兄的家中建立了敬拜的祭坛，偶逢华北神学院的师生过来教导；特殊时期，虽无固定聚会的时间地点，恢复聚会后于1985年冬拥有聚会点，信徒增加到三四十人。之后教会首次兴建新堂，七十多岁的老姊妹天天烧水给施工人员，有弟兄开着拖拉机运输建筑材料，也有人一连三个月住在工地，保障工地和材料安全，终于一栋红砖白墙的教堂落成。它见证了福音从三十人到三百人的倍增。
上一代负责人丁弟兄也将棒交到吴姊妹手中，她成立建堂小组、寻找临时聚会点、被人举报再次寻找，带领信徒一周之内完成临时过渡房的的清扫建设。
来自周边县市的弟兄教会纷纷来此庆贺，献上25个歌舞节目。
除了两个半小时的联欢会，主办方还邀请了著名主内音乐人湘海老师举办音乐赞美布道会。
布道会结尾，30多人上台回应呼召。
75年的乡村教会新堂落成
A village church, established 75 years ago, dedicated its new main building and celebrated its 75th anniversary.
The three-story building, situated at the end of a road in Jiangsu, boasts a pristine white exterior adorned with a tall cross and the inscription "Outang Church."
Inside the church, a prominent cross is embedded in the wall, while vibrant red flowers grace the altar. The roof is adorned with golden and translucent lamps depicting the fish symbol of Jesus. On April 15, during the service, Pastor Ma delivered a sermon titled "The Glory of the New Temple."
Pastor Ma emphasized that this temple represented the presence of God, drawing from the story of the prophet Haggai, which recounts the return of the Israelites from captivity to rebuild the temple.
He stressed that the temple was a place of glory, emphasizing that the altar was not meant for disputes or conflicts but for proclaiming the Word of God. Within the Lord's family, believers should pray for themselves and for the entire community.
Furthermore, he highlighted that this was a temple characterized by love, citing the story of Arnan's field. Ma urged believers to share Christ's love and the gospel with those around them, both in their daily lives and in their ministries and workplaces.
Wu, a female believer responsible for the Outang Church, recounted the process of building the church. Seventy-five years ago, a pastor from Shanghai established a place of worship in the home of a male believer. Faculty and students from North China Theological Seminary occasionally delivered sermons. During the Cultural Revolution, gatherings took place in non-fixed locations. In 1985, when regular gatherings resumed, the church had its own designated meeting place with thirty or forty Christians. Later, during the construction of the new church, a dedicated female believer in her 70s boiled water daily for the construction workers. Male members drove tractors to transport construction materials, while some resided on the construction site for three consecutive months to ensure its safety. Finally, a red brick building with white walls was erected, and the number of Christians grew from thirty to three hundred.
As the new church leader, Wu established a church-building team and searched for a temporary meeting place. Undeterred by reports, she led the believers in cleaning and constructing a temporary transitional house within a week.
Several churches from neighboring counties and cities joined in the celebration, presenting 25 songs and dances.
Following the two-and-a-half-hour celebration, the church arranged an evangelistic music concert featuring Mr. Xianghai, a renowned Christian musician.
At the conclusion of the evangelistic meeting, more than 30 individuals came forward to respond to the call.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
75-Y-O Rural Church Dedicates New Building
