With the joint effort of everyone in the nation, the battle against the coronavirus pandemic has reached a milestone, but the situation remains serious. In the face of this challenge, the pastoral team of the church in Linfen city, Yaodu distrct, Shanxi province, has observed the regulation on gathering for worship services.
At the same time, they have strengthened the fire prevention system and done renovations in the church building. At the same time they are preparing online services for the Passion Week and Easter.
During the coronaviur crisis, the church has provided disinfectant for each meeting point so they can keep their facilities sterile. When persons visit the church they need to register and the staff monitor and control who goes in and out of the church. They continue to carry out government regulations regarding the suspension of church activities and keeping the premises sterile.
The staff have also used this special time to deal with some practical problems that have troubled the church for some years. Broken seats have been repaired and changes have been made to make the church more accessible for believers. The renovation has been done by the Yaodu district Christian Council and Three Self Patriotic Movement Committee. They also decided to renovate the platform at the front of the church, as well as restrooms and make the third-floor more handicapped accessible. The building will have a new look when worship resumes. The response of the majority of believers has been very positive. Everyone is praying for the renovation project and people have donated materials, come to the site to make suggestions, and some have even volunteered to help with the work. At present the renovation work is in progress.
In response to the hunger of believers during this period of isolation, the pastoral team of the CC&TSPM opened a "Linfen pastoral" WeChat site after Spring Festival. The church's primary pastoral staff have created short, succinct and easy-to-understand articles like The Daily Light, Daily Scripture, Scripture Study Series, Spiritual Perspective, Caring for Family, Loving Intercession (such as love intercession hotline), and Church Dynamics. Meanwhile, there are special live broadcasts of spiritual studies every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night, and worship in the main church every Sunday. There have been 30 online broadcasts with about 2,000 believers taking part in each service.
On the afternoon of May 23, the pastoral team of the CC&TSPM held a special meeting, deciding to have live broadcasts of sermons from the main church every morning starting from Passion Week. On Friday afternoon of Passion Week, they are going to share The Cross and Seven Words. Easter worship will be broadcast live from the beginning to end.
At the same time, a writing workshop for the five major religious forums was held by the United Front Department of the district committee. Themes include Christian and Chinese filial piety, the evolution of the relationship between Christian politics and religion, the relationship between national law and canons, Christian doctrine and socialist core values, universal churches and Chinese characteristics, Christian love, the significance of Christianity to modern civilization, the concept of Christian harmony for building a harmonious society and Christian social care and charity. More seminars on theological exchanges will be held in a timely manner to promote comprehensive theological construction.
-Translated by Heirs Han
抗击疫情关键时刻，临汾基督教会奋勇做工
经过举国上下的共同努力，疫情防控取得阶段性成果，但防控形势依然严峻。面对挑战，山西临汾尧都区基督教会教牧同工团队一方面继续配合政府相关规定，做好疫情期间宗教场所“两暂停”规定，同时强化消防安全，做好火灾预防。
一方面利用有利时机，进行抓紧进行教堂内实施更新改造。同时安排部署好网络牧养，部署安排受难周及复活节的牧养工作。
在防疫工作中，给各牧区堂点都配备消毒液、喷壶等设施，坚持定期消毒。在城区主堂加强了信息登记，出入消毒措施。同时在“临汾教牧群”下发了通知，继续坚持疫情期间“两暂停”规定，恢复时间，等候上级通知。同时提醒各牧区堂点，针对春季天干物燥多风的实际，做好消防安全防控监督。
同时针对困扰多年的座椅多有破损、无障碍设施短缺等实际问题，区两会研究，决定利用疫情期间，对教会相关设施进行更新改造，具体为改造圣台、堂内地面、三楼地暖及公厕和无障碍设施，力争在疫情结束恢复礼拜时，呈现崭新的面貌。得到了广大信徒的响应，大家为工程改造代祷并捐款捐物，亲临现场提出建议，更有弟兄姊妹自愿投工奉献，目前各项施工正在进行。
针对全民隔离期间的信众灵里的渴慕需求，两会教牧组自春节过后开辟了“临汾教牧”微信平台，安排主要教牧同工精心制作，开设每日亮光、每日圣言、研经系列、属灵视角、关心家人、爱心代祷、教会动态，编写短小精悍、通俗易懂的文章；同时每周二、四、六晚上有专题灵修分享直播，每个主日在主堂现场直播崇拜。截至目前已直播三十次，每次直播收看人数达一两千人。也开设了爱心代祷热线电话。
3月23日下午，两会教牧组召开了专题会议，决定从受难周开始每天上午在主堂进行相关主题内容证道直播，周五（受难日）下午，安排同工分享“十架七言”进行直播。复活节崇拜全程直播。
同时还就区委统战部将要举办的五大宗教论坛的论文撰写工作安排部署，要求教牧同工围绕基督徒与中国孝道、基督教政教关系之演变、国法与教规的关系、基督教教义与社会主义核心价值观、普世教会与中国特色、基督教的爱观、基督教对现代文明的意义、基督教的和谐观对构建和谐社会的意义、基督教的社会关怀与慈善等方面内容写论文。教会也将适时举办神学思想交流研讨，以全面推进神学思想建设。
With the joint effort of everyone in the nation, the battle against the coronavirus pandemic has reached a milestone, but the situation remains serious. In the face of this challenge, the pastoral team of the church in Linfen city, Yaodu distrct, Shanxi province, has observed the regulation on gathering for worship services.
At the same time, they have strengthened the fire prevention system and done renovations in the church building. At the same time they are preparing online services for the Passion Week and Easter.
During the coronaviur crisis, the church has provided disinfectant for each meeting point so they can keep their facilities sterile. When persons visit the church they need to register and the staff monitor and control who goes in and out of the church. They continue to carry out government regulations regarding the suspension of church activities and keeping the premises sterile.
The staff have also used this special time to deal with some practical problems that have troubled the church for some years. Broken seats have been repaired and changes have been made to make the church more accessible for believers. The renovation has been done by the Yaodu district Christian Council and Three Self Patriotic Movement Committee. They also decided to renovate the platform at the front of the church, as well as restrooms and make the third-floor more handicapped accessible. The building will have a new look when worship resumes. The response of the majority of believers has been very positive. Everyone is praying for the renovation project and people have donated materials, come to the site to make suggestions, and some have even volunteered to help with the work. At present the renovation work is in progress.
In response to the hunger of believers during this period of isolation, the pastoral team of the CC&TSPM opened a "Linfen pastoral" WeChat site after Spring Festival. The church's primary pastoral staff have created short, succinct and easy-to-understand articles like The Daily Light, Daily Scripture, Scripture Study Series, Spiritual Perspective, Caring for Family, Loving Intercession (such as love intercession hotline), and Church Dynamics. Meanwhile, there are special live broadcasts of spiritual studies every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night, and worship in the main church every Sunday. There have been 30 online broadcasts with about 2,000 believers taking part in each service.
On the afternoon of May 23, the pastoral team of the CC&TSPM held a special meeting, deciding to have live broadcasts of sermons from the main church every morning starting from Passion Week. On Friday afternoon of Passion Week, they are going to share The Cross and Seven Words. Easter worship will be broadcast live from the beginning to end.
At the same time, a writing workshop for the five major religious forums was held by the United Front Department of the district committee. Themes include Christian and Chinese filial piety, the evolution of the relationship between Christian politics and religion, the relationship between national law and canons, Christian doctrine and socialist core values, universal churches and Chinese characteristics, Christian love, the significance of Christianity to modern civilization, the concept of Christian harmony for building a harmonious society and Christian social care and charity. More seminars on theological exchanges will be held in a timely manner to promote comprehensive theological construction.
-Translated by Heirs Han
Shanxi Church Bravely Serves During Fighting Coronavirus
