Founded in September 2011, a church is located in the central district of a county in the southeast of Hubei Province. At that time, the number of believers was less than 50. After years of development, it now has more than 300 faithful believers. In December 2017, the top floor (eighth floor) of a residential building was purchased. It is now being renovated and will be put into use as a church in about a year.
The total area of the church is 1,076 square meters, with four walkways and an elevator. The main hall can accommodate more than 500 people. Ancillary areas include a small gathering hall, a training classroom, a prayer room, a choir room, an office, a library, a guest room, a kitchen, a dining room, and a bathroom.
There is a church deacon committee, a pastoral team, and a team for church staff. It also has several functioning departments, including a finance department, security department, ministry department, office management and other departments. The church has 32 volunteers in total. There are one ordained pastor, two elders and one non-ordained church worker. The church also has several co-workers who specialize in finances, fire prevention, epidemic prevention and health affairs. They help to ensure that the church runs smoothly.
At present, the number of believers has reached more than 300 people. Usually, there are more than 200 people worshiping on Sunday.
Apart from the normal daily Sunday Worship, weekly Bible study, prayer meeting, group Bible study and routine visits, the church also does the following work:
First, it warns against evil cults and publicizes national policies and regulations. The church often uses the Sunday Service to explain to believers the characteristics and dangers of heresy.
Second, co-workers care for and help disadvantaged believers. For a long time, the church has focused on taking care of believers who are elderly, frail, seriously ill, disabled, or widowed. They organize visits to help them with sanitation and other matters. At the same time, financial support is provided to the families of believers in, especially difficult circumstances. Over the years, the church has spent more than 100,000 yuan in helping poor believers.
Third, they take care of the special needs of believers. The church provides pre-marital counseling and free weddings for believers who are getting married. They provide counseling and care for believers who have marital problems so as to help them out of their marital difficulties. The church provides free funerals for believers who have died. Sympathy and care is offered to believers whose loved ones have died. It provides hospice care for dying believers and their loved ones. It also provides intercessory prayers for believers or their families with psychological problems. Counseling is available, especially for troubled youth.
Fourth, the church helps other churches in the county who are having difficulties. It has long arranged for pastors, co-workers and leaders of believers to preach on Sunday at five township churches where the ministry is weak.
The church has already donated more than 20,000 yuan to carry out poverty alleviation work in poor areas. It has subsidized more than a dozen poor students and donated more than 30,000 yuan.
When the county was hit by a catastrophic flood in 2016, the church organized a disaster relief team, which helped more than 20 families deeply affected by the disaster and sent more than 10,000 yuan of assistance funds.
In this year's anti-epidemic activities, the church donated more than 10,000 yuan to the people's county hospital and the county's Christian "Two Services" (supporting other churches in the county). In addition, believers personally donated nearly 10,000 yuan to the county's anti-epidemic headquarters.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
湖北一间基层教会的堂务和事工概况
该教会组建于2011年9月，教堂位于鄂东南一县城中心城区小区。当时信徒人数不到50人，经过几年发展，信徒已增至300余人。2017年12月，将小区的楼盘顶层（八楼）买下，装修为教堂，一年后投入使用。
硬件方面：教堂总面积1076平方米，四个步行楼梯通道，一部电梯，主厅能容纳500多人；附属工程有小聚会厅、同工培训教室、祷告室、练唱室、办公室、图书室、客房、厨房餐厅、卫生间。有一部钢琴。
软件方面：设有堂务执事委员会、教牧同工会和同工会，下设了财务组、安全组、教牧部、办公室等各个职能部门，共有义工三十二人；现有牧师一名、长老两名、未按圣职的教会同工一名；同时，配有多名负责财务、安全消防、防疫卫生等事务的专业同工。
当前，信徒已达三百余人，平时主日崇拜也有二百多人。
教内事工方面
该堂平日正常进行主日崇拜、周间查经、祷告聚会、小组查经、例行探访等牧养守望工作外，还做了以下方面的工作：
一是抵制邪教和国家政策法规宣传。该堂常常利用主日证道的时间，向信徒讲解邪教异端组织的特征和危害。
二是关顾和帮助特殊信徒。该堂长期以来，将年老、体弱、重病、残疾、孤寡的信徒作为重点关顾对象，不定期地组织人员进行探访，帮助他们做一些卫生等事务；同时，对特别困难信徒家庭还给予经济支持。这些年来，该堂在帮扶贫困信徒方面，支出的资金累计达10万元以上。
三是照顾信徒的特殊需要。对进入婚姻的信徒进行婚前辅导，并免费为他们举行婚礼；对婚姻出了问题的信徒进行辅导和关怀，帮助他们走出婚姻困境；为离世的信徒免费举行葬礼，对亲人离世的信徒进行慰问和关怀；为临终的信徒和信徒亲人提供临终关怀，为有心理问题的信徒或信徒家属，特别是为问题青少年提供代祷的同时，开展心理咨询和辅导等。
五是县内困难堂点帮扶。该堂长期安排教牧同工和平信徒领袖，在主日里到讲台事工薄弱的五个乡镇堂点讲道。
社会事工方面
该堂在贫苦地区开展了扶贫工作，已投入资金二万余元，对十几名贫困学生进行了资助，已投入资金三万余元。
在2016年本县遭遇特大洪涝灾害时，该堂组织了救灾小组，共援助受灾家庭20多个，共送去帮扶资金一万多元。
特在今年的抗疫救灾活动中，该堂向该县人民医院和县基督教“两会”（用于支援县内其他堂点）捐赠防护救资等一万多元。另外，信徒个人向该县抗疫救灾指挥部捐款近1万元。
Founded in September 2011, a church is located in the central district of a county in the southeast of Hubei Province. At that time, the number of believers was less than 50. After years of development, it now has more than 300 faithful believers. In December 2017, the top floor (eighth floor) of a residential building was purchased. It is now being renovated and will be put into use as a church in about a year.
The total area of the church is 1,076 square meters, with four walkways and an elevator. The main hall can accommodate more than 500 people. Ancillary areas include a small gathering hall, a training classroom, a prayer room, a choir room, an office, a library, a guest room, a kitchen, a dining room, and a bathroom.
There is a church deacon committee, a pastoral team, and a team for church staff. It also has several functioning departments, including a finance department, security department, ministry department, office management and other departments. The church has 32 volunteers in total. There are one ordained pastor, two elders and one non-ordained church worker. The church also has several co-workers who specialize in finances, fire prevention, epidemic prevention and health affairs. They help to ensure that the church runs smoothly.
At present, the number of believers has reached more than 300 people. Usually, there are more than 200 people worshiping on Sunday.
Apart from the normal daily Sunday Worship, weekly Bible study, prayer meeting, group Bible study and routine visits, the church also does the following work:
First, it warns against evil cults and publicizes national policies and regulations. The church often uses the Sunday Service to explain to believers the characteristics and dangers of heresy.
Second, co-workers care for and help disadvantaged believers. For a long time, the church has focused on taking care of believers who are elderly, frail, seriously ill, disabled, or widowed. They organize visits to help them with sanitation and other matters. At the same time, financial support is provided to the families of believers in, especially difficult circumstances. Over the years, the church has spent more than 100,000 yuan in helping poor believers.
Third, they take care of the special needs of believers. The church provides pre-marital counseling and free weddings for believers who are getting married. They provide counseling and care for believers who have marital problems so as to help them out of their marital difficulties. The church provides free funerals for believers who have died. Sympathy and care is offered to believers whose loved ones have died. It provides hospice care for dying believers and their loved ones. It also provides intercessory prayers for believers or their families with psychological problems. Counseling is available, especially for troubled youth.
Fourth, the church helps other churches in the county who are having difficulties. It has long arranged for pastors, co-workers and leaders of believers to preach on Sunday at five township churches where the ministry is weak.
The church has already donated more than 20,000 yuan to carry out poverty alleviation work in poor areas. It has subsidized more than a dozen poor students and donated more than 30,000 yuan.
When the county was hit by a catastrophic flood in 2016, the church organized a disaster relief team, which helped more than 20 families deeply affected by the disaster and sent more than 10,000 yuan of assistance funds.
In this year's anti-epidemic activities, the church donated more than 10,000 yuan to the people's county hospital and the county's Christian "Two Services" (supporting other churches in the county). In addition, believers personally donated nearly 10,000 yuan to the county's anti-epidemic headquarters.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Overview of a Local Church in Hubei
