In charge of a joint choir of more than 50 people from several pastoral areas, Qu is a deacon of a church in Shanxi Province, and he earned the sobriquet "Leader Qu."
Named Qu Guoping, he is 68 years old and currently serves the Jinzhang Church in the fifth pastoral district of Hexi, under Linfen Yaodu District Church.
He has lived in the countryside at the foot of the mountain since he was a child. He used to push a wheelbarrow filled with coal to sell in the city, a round trip of over 15 kilometers. Although he can only earn three yuan, the little Qu was happy to subsidize the family's income, from which he has developed a hard-working and endurance character.
Qu’s faith in the Lord began when he was thirty years old, in the early 1980s. It was his wife who believed in the Lord first. Later, their son became disabled in the legs, so he went to Xiyi Church after his wife to attend services, hoping to get healing. He also sat in on the village’s Wednesday prayer meeting afterward. Qu's heart gradually changed as a result of the Lord, even though he continued to smoke and drink.
Once at work, a rock fell on his back accidentally, which made him fall six to seven meters away. It turned out to be just a small scratch on the back after being sent to the hospital. He affirmed it was a miraculous protection from God and bore witness to the Lord.
After healing from the incident, Qu continued going to church with his wife. At Christmas in the 1990s, he drew the verse from Revelation 3:21, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.” Greatly moving and comforting him, this verse became the motivation for his devotion, and he started his journey of ministry.
Once available, he would preach the gospel in some villages in nearby mountainous areas, following elders in Xiyi Church. Among the steep mountain ridges, they had to climb the mountains and cross the rivers most of the time. Even heavy rains, winds, and snow couldn’t stop the joy in their hearts. In every village they set foot in, the gospel was preached and testified.
He would work as a part-time hard laborer to make a living after every few-day preaching trip. Qu was content, though preaching the gospel not only earned zero but also required prices. Their efforts in preaching were effective, usually with every person in a small village believing in the Lord after a meeting. He also learned to serve under the leadership of an elderly pastor.
Later, Qu paid 5,000 yuan for a closed factory in the village, which he spent another 30,000 yuan to rebuild as a chapel. At that time, the number of believers nearby reached 70 to 80 more.
He lived beside the chapel as a watchman, day and night. In Qu’s thought, watching over the church is not as simple as guarding against theft. Spiritual guards need to be alert at all times and fight spiritual warfare. At that time, quite a few pastors left because of harassment from the cult “Eastern Lightning” and temptations from other private meeting points. Some of their leaders lobbied, offered inducements, and even threatened him many times, but he remained unmoved. Qu and his wife prayed every day, and he remembered God’s promise through scripture many years ago to give him victory in trials. He also strengthened the faith of the congregants with God’s words. There are still 30 to 40 people during daily worship.
Subsequently, he reached out to the district CC&TSPM, asking for help. He was appointed as a deacon, assisting in the work of the fifth pastoral district.
Preaching in the Luliang Mountains is not convenient for pastoral volunteers due to its remote location. Qu takes the yoke and goes to the mountain for every worship service to evangelize and preach sermons. In recent years, people in the mountains tend to move into the city, leaving only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. He is concerned about how to pastor these believers and has also made many suggestions to the church to initiate trainings on evangelism and staff work.
Within the church, in addition to being in charge of Jinzhang Church and assisting the fifth pastoral district, Qu is also responsible for the joint choir. Outside the church, he even has to take care of believers’ weddings and funerals besides daily preaching, communication, visiting, and serving. He is very happy, despite being tired. He said, "While I still have physical strength, I must run with all my heart for the Lord in order to revive the church and save more souls. This is my greatest wish."
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author reported in Linfen, Shanxi.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
屈队长是山西的一名执事，因分管几个牧区的一个50多人组成的联合乐队，人送外号“屈队长”。
“屈队长”名叫屈国平，他今年68岁，现在服侍临汾尧都区教会河西五牧区晋掌教会。
他从小住在山脚下农村，从小就推着独轮车装满一小车煤到城里去卖，往返三十多里。虽然只能挣三元钱，他很高兴能补贴家用，并养成了吃苦能干的品格。
他信主是在三十岁，当时是八十年代初。起初是妻子先信主。后来儿子腿有残疾，就跟着来到西宜教会参加礼拜，想得到医治。后来也会到村里周三的晚祷会旁听。虽然生活上仍抽烟喝酒，但心里渐渐对主有所感动。
一次工作时，一石块意外落在他的背上，使他跌落了六七米远。送到医院后，发现只是悲伤擦破了一点皮，他认定并见证这是神奇妙的保守看顾。
后来他和妻子不断去教会礼拜。在九十年代的一个圣诞节，他抽到了启示录3章21节的经文“得胜的，我要赐他在宝座上与我同坐”。这节经文给他极大的感动和安慰，也成为激励他委身奉献的动力，于是开启了他服侍的新征程。
一有空，他就跟着西宜教会的长老们，前往附近山区的一些村庄传福音。陡峭的山梁，爬山过河。大雨风雪也无法拦阻心中的喜乐。每到一个村庄，传福音作见证。
出去几天，回来他就给人做苦力，打短工维持生活。虽然传福音不仅不挣钱还要贴上钱，他却心满意足。他们当初做工很有果效，经常是聚会一次，一个小村的人都信了主，他也在老牧者的带领下学会了侍奉。
后来本村里有一个有个倒闭的工厂，他花了5000余元购买。另外他花3万修建成礼拜堂，当时周边信主的人达到了七八十人。
他住在旁边，日夜看守教会。他觉得看守教会并非防盗那样简单，属灵的看守需要时时警醒，并要随时打属灵的争战。当时附近有“东方闪电”邪教搅扰，还有其他私设聚会点的拉拢，于是许多传道人被拉跑。一些“头子”多次游说拉拢，利诱甚至威胁，但他不为所动。他和妻子每天祈求祷告，也想起了神多年前应许要使他在试炼中得胜。 他还用神的话语坚固信徒，直到现在每次还有三四十人礼拜。
后来他主动找到区两会，寻求帮助。他也被按立为执事，协助负责第五牧区的工作。
吕梁山区地处边远山区，义工传道每次做工很不方便。他主动担负，每次礼拜上山，牧养福传讲道。近几年山里人陆续进城，只留下老弱病残。他想着如何牧养这些信徒，也多次向教会建议，开展福传和工人培训。
他现在除了负责晋掌教会，协助五牧区工作，还要负责联合乐队工作。除了讲道、谈道、看望、服侍，还要操持信徒家里的红白喜事。虽然疲累，心里却十分高兴。他说：“趁着还有体力，更要尽心竭力为主奔跑，为要让教会复兴，更多灵魂得救。这是我的最大心愿。”
注：本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。
“屈队长”传奇
In charge of a joint choir of more than 50 people from several pastoral areas, Qu is a deacon of a church in Shanxi Province, and he earned the sobriquet "Leader Qu."
Named Qu Guoping, he is 68 years old and currently serves the Jinzhang Church in the fifth pastoral district of Hexi, under Linfen Yaodu District Church.
He has lived in the countryside at the foot of the mountain since he was a child. He used to push a wheelbarrow filled with coal to sell in the city, a round trip of over 15 kilometers. Although he can only earn three yuan, the little Qu was happy to subsidize the family's income, from which he has developed a hard-working and endurance character.
Qu’s faith in the Lord began when he was thirty years old, in the early 1980s. It was his wife who believed in the Lord first. Later, their son became disabled in the legs, so he went to Xiyi Church after his wife to attend services, hoping to get healing. He also sat in on the village’s Wednesday prayer meeting afterward. Qu's heart gradually changed as a result of the Lord, even though he continued to smoke and drink.
Once at work, a rock fell on his back accidentally, which made him fall six to seven meters away. It turned out to be just a small scratch on the back after being sent to the hospital. He affirmed it was a miraculous protection from God and bore witness to the Lord.
After healing from the incident, Qu continued going to church with his wife. At Christmas in the 1990s, he drew the verse from Revelation 3:21, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.” Greatly moving and comforting him, this verse became the motivation for his devotion, and he started his journey of ministry.
Once available, he would preach the gospel in some villages in nearby mountainous areas, following elders in Xiyi Church. Among the steep mountain ridges, they had to climb the mountains and cross the rivers most of the time. Even heavy rains, winds, and snow couldn’t stop the joy in their hearts. In every village they set foot in, the gospel was preached and testified.
He would work as a part-time hard laborer to make a living after every few-day preaching trip. Qu was content, though preaching the gospel not only earned zero but also required prices. Their efforts in preaching were effective, usually with every person in a small village believing in the Lord after a meeting. He also learned to serve under the leadership of an elderly pastor.
Later, Qu paid 5,000 yuan for a closed factory in the village, which he spent another 30,000 yuan to rebuild as a chapel. At that time, the number of believers nearby reached 70 to 80 more.
He lived beside the chapel as a watchman, day and night. In Qu’s thought, watching over the church is not as simple as guarding against theft. Spiritual guards need to be alert at all times and fight spiritual warfare. At that time, quite a few pastors left because of harassment from the cult “Eastern Lightning” and temptations from other private meeting points. Some of their leaders lobbied, offered inducements, and even threatened him many times, but he remained unmoved. Qu and his wife prayed every day, and he remembered God’s promise through scripture many years ago to give him victory in trials. He also strengthened the faith of the congregants with God’s words. There are still 30 to 40 people during daily worship.
Subsequently, he reached out to the district CC&TSPM, asking for help. He was appointed as a deacon, assisting in the work of the fifth pastoral district.
Preaching in the Luliang Mountains is not convenient for pastoral volunteers due to its remote location. Qu takes the yoke and goes to the mountain for every worship service to evangelize and preach sermons. In recent years, people in the mountains tend to move into the city, leaving only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. He is concerned about how to pastor these believers and has also made many suggestions to the church to initiate trainings on evangelism and staff work.
Within the church, in addition to being in charge of Jinzhang Church and assisting the fifth pastoral district, Qu is also responsible for the joint choir. Outside the church, he even has to take care of believers’ weddings and funerals besides daily preaching, communication, visiting, and serving. He is very happy, despite being tired. He said, "While I still have physical strength, I must run with all my heart for the Lord in order to revive the church and save more souls. This is my greatest wish."
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author reported in Linfen, Shanxi.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Born in Mountain, Firm as Mountain: The Story of 'Leader Qu'
