To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Baoding churches in China's northern Hebei Province have suspended all in-person gathering activities, switching over to webcasting services since January 4.
The Baoding Christian Council (CC) issued a notice on its WeChat account, instructing the believers to participate in online Sunday services and Bible study gatherings.
The Baoding CC&TSPM released an announcement to restart the measures of “two suspensions” to protect the believers and pastors and implement the guidelines of the national, provincial and municipal meetings.
From January 4, the document claimed, "all churches in the city were required to implement the measures, which referred to closing the religious places and suspending the collective religious activities." The announcement said no site or individual might open venues or organize group activities before receiving the resumption notice. During the suspension period, the churches could adopt accessible methods to shepherd, care for and guide believers."
They also required those who recently returned from high-risk areas to read and pray at home and observe self-isolation.
"With enough materials for pandemic prevention and control, each church should disinfect all areas, keeping internal doors open and the environment clean and tidy", it said.
The Baoding CC&TSPM called on the congregation to read the Bible at home and pray for the peace of country and the fighting against COVID-19, though in-person gatherings were suspended.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
-Translated by Abigail Wu
为做好疫情防控，自2021年1月4日起，保定市基督教暂停了所有堂点的聚会和活动，转为网络直播的形式。
保定市基督教协会通过微信公众号发出了通知，并告诉信徒如何参与主日崇拜和查经聚会。
《保定市基督教两会关于各堂点重新启动执行“双暂停”措施的通知》说：“为切实保障教牧同工及广大信徒的生命安全和身体健康，深入贯彻国家、省、市疫情防控工作会议精神，全市各堂点将重新启动执行“双暂停”措施（暂停场所对外开放，暂停一切聚集性活动）。从即日起（1月4日）严格落实“双暂停”，聚会恢复时间，另行通知。在未接到恢复聚会通知前，任何堂点和个人不得擅自开放活动场所和组织聚集性活动。在“双暂停”期间，各教会要采取可行的方式做好对信徒的牧养、关怀、疏导工作."
通知说：“近期有中高风险地区回来的弟兄姊妹，请务必不要外出，主动隔离、留家观察，在家读经祷告。”
“各教会要加强对聚会场所的检查，要做好堂点各个区域的消毒工作，保持室内空气的流通及环境的干净整洁，备足疫情防控所需物资。”
协会“呼吁弟兄姊妹，虽暂时不能来教会，但要在家多读经、多祷告，为国为家求平安！守望相助，共度时艰。”
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/portal/article/index/id/54969
为疫情防控 河北省保定市基督教会停止实地开启网络聚会
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Baoding churches in China's northern Hebei Province have suspended all in-person gathering activities, switching over to webcasting services since January 4.
The Baoding Christian Council (CC) issued a notice on its WeChat account, instructing the believers to participate in online Sunday services and Bible study gatherings.
The Baoding CC&TSPM released an announcement to restart the measures of “two suspensions” to protect the believers and pastors and implement the guidelines of the national, provincial and municipal meetings.
From January 4, the document claimed, "all churches in the city were required to implement the measures, which referred to closing the religious places and suspending the collective religious activities." The announcement said no site or individual might open venues or organize group activities before receiving the resumption notice. During the suspension period, the churches could adopt accessible methods to shepherd, care for and guide believers."
They also required those who recently returned from high-risk areas to read and pray at home and observe self-isolation.
"With enough materials for pandemic prevention and control, each church should disinfect all areas, keeping internal doors open and the environment clean and tidy", it said.
The Baoding CC&TSPM called on the congregation to read the Bible at home and pray for the peace of country and the fighting against COVID-19, though in-person gatherings were suspended.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
-Translated by Abigail Wu
Hebei Church Holds Online Services again
