On the evening of June 29, a small group activity took place at a female believer's home.
In the eastern part of Yaodu District, Linfen City, southern Shanxi, pastors and staff workers from district CC&TSPMs, as well as pastoral areas and urban meeting points, gathered together, filling the originally spacious living room to capacity.
At 8 pm, Rev. Huang Hailin made a prayer, followed by several sisters in Christ sharing their testimonies. Particularly moving was the experience of a Christian woman whose child had just finished the college entrance exam and went through the process of checking scores and filling out the application. Another sister in Christ shared her growth experiences from participating in a book club and serving in the ministry.
Next, a female believer shared the topic, outline, and main content of last Sunday's sermon. Combining this with her own experiences and insights, she provided spiritual enlightenment that deepened others’ understanding of the sermon.
Following this, the group studied the course related to the Holy Spirit from the new edition of the Shorter Catechism (or Yao Dao Wen Da), revised by CC&TSPM. They discussed some topics, such as “Why is the body of a Christian the temple of the Holy Spirit?” “What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit of God?” “What are the manifestations of being filled with the Holy Spirit? ” and "How should we understand the revelation of the Holy Spirit?”
Deacon Ma Sanping, the group leader, then introduced the rough situation of the group, which was established in 2014. After Ma bought a house in the community where believers lived, he began forming the cell group. Later, Pastors Huang Hailin and Geng Fuqin, a married couple, also moved in and served together in unity. Now, each event attracts over twenty participants, sometimes more than thirty, with the majority being around forty years old.
Previously, believers left directly after the sermon from the pastor sent by Yaodu District Church. Now, considering the large number of young people, the group encourages them to fully utilize their gifts and participate in serving. This has cultivated a batch of young core members.
Here, before worship service, the host family prepares rice soup and meals in advance. After the meal, they immediately start praise and worship. Sometimes, they even hold love feasts. Besides the Friday activities, the group organizes outings and barbecues during holidays for further communication and bonding. If a member moves to another place, the group organizes visits, praying for each other in times of difficulty.
In the future, they plan to establish new groups and continue training more workers for God. The group conducts democratic elections and implements a rotational leadership system, with each term lasting three years. They also plan to engage in paired assistance activities with weaker churches.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
6月29日黄昏时分，一场小组活动在位于晋南临汾市尧都区东城的一个女基督徒家正在进行。
来自区基督教两会及各牧场和城区堂点的牧长和负责同工聚集在一起，原本较为宽敞的居室座无虚席。
晚上八时，黄海林牧师代祷后，有几位女信徒轮流分享了自己的蒙恩见证。一个是孩子参加完高考，和孩子一起经历查分报志愿的心路历程；还有一位姊妹结合自己参加的读书会以及自己在服侍中的成长经历来分享。
之后，一位女教会成员分享了上个主日教会证道的题目、大纲、主要内容；并结合自己的经历、感受分享了属灵亮光。接着，大家一起讨论，对主日的证道有了更深认识。
此后大家学习了基督教全国两会最新修订编写的《要道问答》系列问题里有关圣灵的相关课程。诸如：为什么基督徒的身体是圣灵的殿？什么是神的灵充满？圣灵充满有什么表现？如何理解圣灵的启示？
此后负责人马三平执事介绍了小组的基本情况，说小组成立于2014年。马执事在此购房后，见到小区有信徒，于是开始组建细胞小组。后来教会的黄海林牧师和耿福琴牧师夫妻也在此居住，他们加入一起侍奉。现在每次活动有二十多人，最多时有三十多人，而且平均年龄在四十岁左右的居多。
以往的聚会形式是：教会派人来讲，大家听完讲道然后各奔东西。如今，针对年青人多的特点，小组鼓励年轻人充分发挥恩赐，参与服侍。这样就培养了一批年轻骨干。
这里，每次到了礼拜时间，接待家庭就提前熬好米汤，准备饭菜。大家来到这里首先吃饭，吃了饭就直接敬拜赞美，有时还举办一些爱筵。除了周五活动，小组利用节假日组织踏青烧烤活动，为进一步交流沟通。有的组员搬到了外地，小组就组织前去看望；有困难和难处，大家互相代祷。
今后他们还考虑拓展小组，继续培养更多的神的工人。小组内进行民主选举，实行轮值负责制，每期三年；还将开展与薄弱堂点对口帮扶活动。
注：本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。
这个小组活动何以有如此的吸引力？——一次小组活动侧记
On the evening of June 29, a small group activity took place at a female believer's home.
In the eastern part of Yaodu District, Linfen City, southern Shanxi, pastors and staff workers from district CC&TSPMs, as well as pastoral areas and urban meeting points, gathered together, filling the originally spacious living room to capacity.
At 8 pm, Rev. Huang Hailin made a prayer, followed by several sisters in Christ sharing their testimonies. Particularly moving was the experience of a Christian woman whose child had just finished the college entrance exam and went through the process of checking scores and filling out the application. Another sister in Christ shared her growth experiences from participating in a book club and serving in the ministry.
Next, a female believer shared the topic, outline, and main content of last Sunday's sermon. Combining this with her own experiences and insights, she provided spiritual enlightenment that deepened others’ understanding of the sermon.
Following this, the group studied the course related to the Holy Spirit from the new edition of the Shorter Catechism (or Yao Dao Wen Da), revised by CC&TSPM. They discussed some topics, such as “Why is the body of a Christian the temple of the Holy Spirit?” “What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit of God?” “What are the manifestations of being filled with the Holy Spirit? ” and "How should we understand the revelation of the Holy Spirit?”
Deacon Ma Sanping, the group leader, then introduced the rough situation of the group, which was established in 2014. After Ma bought a house in the community where believers lived, he began forming the cell group. Later, Pastors Huang Hailin and Geng Fuqin, a married couple, also moved in and served together in unity. Now, each event attracts over twenty participants, sometimes more than thirty, with the majority being around forty years old.
Previously, believers left directly after the sermon from the pastor sent by Yaodu District Church. Now, considering the large number of young people, the group encourages them to fully utilize their gifts and participate in serving. This has cultivated a batch of young core members.
Here, before worship service, the host family prepares rice soup and meals in advance. After the meal, they immediately start praise and worship. Sometimes, they even hold love feasts. Besides the Friday activities, the group organizes outings and barbecues during holidays for further communication and bonding. If a member moves to another place, the group organizes visits, praying for each other in times of difficulty.
In the future, they plan to establish new groups and continue training more workers for God. The group conducts democratic elections and implements a rotational leadership system, with each term lasting three years. They also plan to engage in paired assistance activities with weaker churches.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Small Group in Northern Church Gathers at Home
