Today, there is world-wide panic because of the coronavirus, especially in the epicenter Hubei province, China. However, there are more than two hundred believers in the Zhenli Church in Yangxin county, southeast Hubei province, who are experiencing the peace that Christian faith provides.
Although worship services have been suspended, the church still continues to serve its members. During this time believers feel closer to God and the communication between brothers and sisters is more intimate.
Yangxin county, which is one hundred twenty kilometers from the city of Wuhan, has 161 people who have been infected by the corona-virus. Fortunately, none of the believers or persons in their families have been infected.
On January 23, the church decided to cancel Chinese New Year evangelistic services, Sunday worship, and other gatherings.
After worship services were suspended, the church began an online group in order to nurture and teach believers. Through the group, the believers were able to worship freely by praying, singing hymns, and reading the Bible.
On the second Sunday after the city was closed, the pastor preached a live sermon on WeChat. At present, the church's ministry continues with the pastor preaching on WeChat, assisted by co-workers.
The church also provides encouragement to believers who are at home by sharing spiritual lessons and needed information online. Recently, each day the church shared one video lesson from The Fundamental Doctrine along with some exercises recorded by a senior pastor, and one chapter from the Series About Blessed Family, which was written by a senior pastor. The reaction of believers to the lessons has been quite positive. The church co-workers also recommend videos and materials about spiritual life, Christian growth, testimonies from believers and theology instruction.
Meanwhile, the church encouraged believers to pray for the epidemic, for Wuhan, Hubei province and the whole nation. Some coworkers prayed aloud, and some shared prayers and videos with each other. Concerned believers took turns praying twenty-four hours each day.
Recently, after learning about the Xintiandi group's activities in Wuhan, the church shared information that revealed the truth of this cult organization to various church-based WeChat groups.
The church also strengthened online visits. In addition, elderly and disabled believers were targeted by the church for extra care. Group leaders were asked to give greetings to them every few days and to inquire about their physical condition. A church leader also occasionally greets the special (old, weak, sick, or young) believers by phone.
When Elder Li, the director of the church, greeted an elderly believer by phone, he learned that the believer was seriously ill and needed to stay in the hospital and receive antibiotics. However, because of his old age, the hospital was worried about an accident and asked his relatives to accompany him. But the believer was widowed for many years, and his children could not return home due to the epidemic. After learning about this situation, Elder Li obtained the permission of the community's anti-epidemic commander and went to the hospital to accompany the elderly sister for treatment. Elder Li also shared greetings with the old sister from the church members.
After cities and roads were closed, several co-workers from the church transmitted videos on the Internet on how to make various food dishes like hand-made pasta, desserts and chicken-stewed fish. They posted the photos on how to make the dishes in the WeChat group. This generated interest in cooking and making among believers, with some beginning to learn how to cook from the Internet. This also helped to ease some of the frustration and anxiety of believers forced to remain at home.
-Translated by Heirs Han
疫情中的湖北省阳新县基督真理堂事工和信徒生活小记
今天，全国乃至普世，特别是湖北省亦处在“冠状病毒”的惊涛骇浪之中，然而，在该省东南隅——阳新县真理堂会承载着的两百多名信徒，却有着信仰里的平静安稳。
虽然，教会暂停了实地的聚会，但是教会管理和事工依然井然有序，信徒更加与神亲近，兄弟姊妹交通更加亲密。
阳新县离汉只有一百二十公里的路程。本县有161例“冠状病毒”感染病例，所幸本堂无一信徒和信徒亲人感染。
1月23日，该堂决定，取消了接下来的新春布道会和主日崇拜，以及后续的实地聚会。
为了加强实地聚会停止后对信徒的牧养和教导，教堂建立了本堂信徒群。教会通过信徒群，通知信徒进群参与祷告、唱诗和读经，进行了自由崇拜。
在封城后的第二个主日，本堂牧师就借助微信平台开设了直播间，举行了网上证道崇拜。当前，本堂主日的做法是：以牧师微信平台直播证道为主，以其他教牧同工微信群推出录制的证道语音和文字讲章为辅进行牧会。
同时，本堂抓住信徒蜗居在家的时机，利用网络和网上的基督教资讯，引导和鼓励信徒修灵和装备。近期，本堂分别每天推出了一课《基要信仰》（并有课后习题，由一知深牧者录制）视频资料和一章《蒙福家庭系列》（由一知深牧者写作）文字资料。从一些信徒的回应中，看到了果效。另外，同工在网上也不定时地推荐了一些关于生命成长、见证、神学等方面的影视和文字资料，以供信徒学习。
同时，教会动员带领信徒为疫情代求。为武汉、湖北和全国代祷。有的同工、信徒进行语音祷告，有的推出书写的祷文，也有的转发他人的祷告文和视频。有代祷负担的信徒轮班进行全天候的24小时守望祷告。
近期，本堂在了解到“新天地”邪教在湖北武汉的活动情况后，将揭露该异端邪教组织的相关资料转载到教会各个微信群，抵制该邪教。
教会同时也加强网上探访。并且，将年长和多病体弱的信徒纳入重点关顾对象，要求各小组长隔几天进行电话问候，以了解这类信徒身体状况。教会主要负责人还不定期地对那些特殊（老弱病残或灵命幼小的）信徒进行电话问候。期间，本堂堂务主任李长老在电话问候一老年信徒时，得知该信徒生了重病，需要在医院留观和输液，但因其老纪大，医院担心发生意外，要求有亲属陪护。然而，该信徒丧偶多年，加上孩子们因疫情在外地回不了家。李长老得知这一情况后，取得所在社区抗疫指挥人员的许可，亲自上医院陪这位老年姊妹接受治疗。李长老并自掏腰包以教会的名义，为该老年姊妹购买了一大堆慰问品。
封城封巷后，教会几位同工自发地将网络里关于手工制作面食甜点、炖鸡烧鱼等视频传到本堂信徒微信群和个人朋友圈里，并将自己动手学习制作的菜肴和美食照片晒到本堂信徒微信群里，引起了一些信徒的兴趣，部分信徒也跟着开始从网络上学习厨艺。这也缓解了信徒因蜗居家中带来的烦燥和焦虑。
Today, there is world-wide panic because of the coronavirus, especially in the epicenter Hubei province, China. However, there are more than two hundred believers in the Zhenli Church in Yangxin county, southeast Hubei province, who are experiencing the peace that Christian faith provides.
Although worship services have been suspended, the church still continues to serve its members. During this time believers feel closer to God and the communication between brothers and sisters is more intimate.
Yangxin county, which is one hundred twenty kilometers from the city of Wuhan, has 161 people who have been infected by the corona-virus. Fortunately, none of the believers or persons in their families have been infected.
On January 23, the church decided to cancel Chinese New Year evangelistic services, Sunday worship, and other gatherings.
After worship services were suspended, the church began an online group in order to nurture and teach believers. Through the group, the believers were able to worship freely by praying, singing hymns, and reading the Bible.
On the second Sunday after the city was closed, the pastor preached a live sermon on WeChat. At present, the church's ministry continues with the pastor preaching on WeChat, assisted by co-workers.
The church also provides encouragement to believers who are at home by sharing spiritual lessons and needed information online. Recently, each day the church shared one video lesson from The Fundamental Doctrine along with some exercises recorded by a senior pastor, and one chapter from the Series About Blessed Family, which was written by a senior pastor. The reaction of believers to the lessons has been quite positive. The church co-workers also recommend videos and materials about spiritual life, Christian growth, testimonies from believers and theology instruction.
Meanwhile, the church encouraged believers to pray for the epidemic, for Wuhan, Hubei province and the whole nation. Some coworkers prayed aloud, and some shared prayers and videos with each other. Concerned believers took turns praying twenty-four hours each day.
Recently, after learning about the Xintiandi group's activities in Wuhan, the church shared information that revealed the truth of this cult organization to various church-based WeChat groups.
The church also strengthened online visits. In addition, elderly and disabled believers were targeted by the church for extra care. Group leaders were asked to give greetings to them every few days and to inquire about their physical condition. A church leader also occasionally greets the special (old, weak, sick, or young) believers by phone.
When Elder Li, the director of the church, greeted an elderly believer by phone, he learned that the believer was seriously ill and needed to stay in the hospital and receive antibiotics. However, because of his old age, the hospital was worried about an accident and asked his relatives to accompany him. But the believer was widowed for many years, and his children could not return home due to the epidemic. After learning about this situation, Elder Li obtained the permission of the community's anti-epidemic commander and went to the hospital to accompany the elderly sister for treatment. Elder Li also shared greetings with the old sister from the church members.
After cities and roads were closed, several co-workers from the church transmitted videos on the Internet on how to make various food dishes like hand-made pasta, desserts and chicken-stewed fish. They posted the photos on how to make the dishes in the WeChat group. This generated interest in cooking and making among believers, with some beginning to learn how to cook from the Internet. This also helped to ease some of the frustration and anxiety of believers forced to remain at home.
-Translated by Heirs Han
Church Congreation in Hubei Province: We Still Have Peace
