At the end of the Qing Dynasty, foreign missionaries David Hill and John Turner did relief work in China’s northern Linfen City (once called “Pingyang”) and carried out evangelistic activity beginning from Jinci Temple, in Shanxi Province. Hsi Sheng-mo whose birth name was Xi Zizhi, the first local pastor in southern Shanxi, had a legendary repentance experience. He founded opium rehab centers and spread the gospel in more than 80 counties in the surrounding three provinces.
Shansheng Hospital in Linfen healed the wounded and rescued the dying, pioneering modern medical and health services in Linfen.
In the early 1920s, the church in Shanxi initiated the self-reliance movement and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, founded the world-famous Shansi Bible Institute, DE Hoste School, and Chongzhen Girls' School, which trained a large number of students in theology and the liberal arts.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Linfen Church responded to the government’s call and began the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). Despite experiencing the Great Cultural Revolution, the church was protected by God during this difficult time. Starting from 1958, the various Christian denominations in the counties of Linfen area eliminated prejudices and implemented a joint service. After the establishment of the Chinese Christian Council (CCC) in 1980, all the counties affiliated with the city have successively established CC&TSPM offices.
Up to now, there are 14 CC&TSPM organizations in the counties and (city) districts of Linfen, more than 80,000 Christian believers, 3 ordained pastors, 420 pastors, and more than 400 officially registered religious venues.
The Yaodu District Churches initiated the "A Cup of Water" charity organization to raise funds to help orphans, widows, and poor disabled people. The Disability Fellowship not only serves disabled groups, but also often goes to nursing homes to do voluntary service, which has been praised by the community. During the coronavirus pandemic this year, churches in all counties and cities devoted themselves to the front line of pandemic prevention actively, donating a total of more than 600,000 yuan.
The churches have increased the number of buildings and purchased more land. They have built new churches and renovated others with funds they have provided themselves. Church facilities have been updated and needed hardware has been improved.
The churches are also continuously bringing in theological students to update their pastoral teams and gradually improve work of the churches.
In worship services and retreats, pastors integrate Bible teaching and Chinese traditional culture, citing short stories, epigrams, and maxims from Chinese culture. The Yaodu District CC&TSPM hung calligraphy in churches and held calligraphy, painting and paper-cutting art exhibitions. They also organized reading salons, and opened Boya Tea Clubs. Especially during the pandemic this year, they ingeniously hung over 30 Christian paintings in Chinese and Western styles in the stairway and corridor when they decorated the churches. At the same time, the church actively unearthed the history of the church in Linfen and put together a documentary stage play called "Hsi Shengmo".
- Translated by Abigail Wu
临汾市基督教会三自爱国运动七十年发展历程简单回顾
清朝末年由外国传教士李修善、德治安在平阳赈灾从铁佛寺开始传教。晋南第一位本土牧师席胜魔悔改蒙召经历充满传奇色彩，他创办的天招局戒烟土传福音遍及周边三省80余县；临汾善胜医院救死扶伤，首开临汾现代医疗卫生事业之先河。
上世纪二十年代初晋公会率先发起自立和三自爱国运动，创办了闻名于世的洪洞道学院和普润中学、崇真女校，培养了一大批社会和神学人才。
建国以后，临汾基督教会响应号召三自运动。虽经过“文化大革命”冲击，但教会历经劫难蒙神保守。1958年以后，临汾地区各县基督教各宗派消除成见，实现了联合礼拜。1980年中国基督教协会成立后，我市各县（市）相继成立了两会。
截至目前，全市共有县、（市）区基督教两会机构 14 个，基督教信徒 8万余人，牧师 3人；传道员 420人，正式登记的宗教活动场所 400余所。
尧都区基督教会倡导发起“一杯水”慈善公益资金，经常扶助孤儿寡母、贫困残疾群体。残障团契不仅服侍残疾群体，还经常前往敬老院义务爱心服务，受到社会一直称赞。在今年新冠肺炎疫情期间，各县市教会，积极行动投身于防疫一线，捐款捐物累计60万余元。
房产得以不断落实，自筹资金新建翻修教堂，活动点逐步更新改造，硬件设施不断改善。
同时不断引进神学生，增加新鲜血液，逐步提升待遇人。
在讲经布道中，融合中华传统文化，将圣经教训与中华优秀文化融合在讲台侍奉、培灵聚会中，注重引入中国元素的小故事、警句、格言。尧都区两会通过在教堂悬挂书法作品，进行书画剪纸艺术展览，组织读书沙龙，开办博雅茶艺社等形式。尤其是今年疫情期间，利用教会装修的时机，别出心裁，将楼梯走廊悬挂了三十余幅中西风格的基督教绘画作品。同时，教会积极发掘了临汾教会历史，编排了纪实舞台剧《席胜魔》。
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/53446
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, foreign missionaries David Hill and John Turner did relief work in China’s northern Linfen City (once called “Pingyang”) and carried out evangelistic activity beginning from Jinci Temple, in Shanxi Province. Hsi Sheng-mo whose birth name was Xi Zizhi, the first local pastor in southern Shanxi, had a legendary repentance experience. He founded opium rehab centers and spread the gospel in more than 80 counties in the surrounding three provinces.
Shansheng Hospital in Linfen healed the wounded and rescued the dying, pioneering modern medical and health services in Linfen.
In the early 1920s, the church in Shanxi initiated the self-reliance movement and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, founded the world-famous Shansi Bible Institute, DE Hoste School, and Chongzhen Girls' School, which trained a large number of students in theology and the liberal arts.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Linfen Church responded to the government’s call and began the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). Despite experiencing the Great Cultural Revolution, the church was protected by God during this difficult time. Starting from 1958, the various Christian denominations in the counties of Linfen area eliminated prejudices and implemented a joint service. After the establishment of the Chinese Christian Council (CCC) in 1980, all the counties affiliated with the city have successively established CC&TSPM offices.
Up to now, there are 14 CC&TSPM organizations in the counties and (city) districts of Linfen, more than 80,000 Christian believers, 3 ordained pastors, 420 pastors, and more than 400 officially registered religious venues.
The Yaodu District Churches initiated the "A Cup of Water" charity organization to raise funds to help orphans, widows, and poor disabled people. The Disability Fellowship not only serves disabled groups, but also often goes to nursing homes to do voluntary service, which has been praised by the community. During the coronavirus pandemic this year, churches in all counties and cities devoted themselves to the front line of pandemic prevention actively, donating a total of more than 600,000 yuan.
The churches have increased the number of buildings and purchased more land. They have built new churches and renovated others with funds they have provided themselves. Church facilities have been updated and needed hardware has been improved.
The churches are also continuously bringing in theological students to update their pastoral teams and gradually improve work of the churches.
In worship services and retreats, pastors integrate Bible teaching and Chinese traditional culture, citing short stories, epigrams, and maxims from Chinese culture. The Yaodu District CC&TSPM hung calligraphy in churches and held calligraphy, painting and paper-cutting art exhibitions. They also organized reading salons, and opened Boya Tea Clubs. Especially during the pandemic this year, they ingeniously hung over 30 Christian paintings in Chinese and Western styles in the stairway and corridor when they decorated the churches. At the same time, the church actively unearthed the history of the church in Linfen and put together a documentary stage play called "Hsi Shengmo".
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Review of 70 Years' Linfen TSPM
