A church in China’s northern province of Shanxi held a Sunday service to welcome 60 believers back to the church a week after its reopening.
In the service at Yaodu District Church in Linfen City attended by officials of the ethnic and religious affairs bureaus in the city and district on August 14, 60 Christians who return to the church took seats with flowers on their chests under the guidance of receptionists, following the COVID-19 protocols.
Based on Ephesians 4: 1-16, Pastor Zhu Hongli delivered a sermon with the title “Love, Unity, and Establishment”, sharing about the fellowship in love, unity in the Holy Spirit, and gifts to build Christ’s body.
Welcoming the return of believers, Elder Chen Li expressed gratitude to God for the unity of the congregation. Due to historical reasons, some church members left the church to build private meeting points in the 1990s, leading to long-term separation and creating a bad impression in society.
Two representatives used their own experiences to share the journey of returning to the church.
Bibles and notebooks were presented to returnees.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
8月14日，临汾市尧都区基督教两会城区堂在恢复实体礼拜后的第二周举行了隆重的回归感恩礼拜，市区两级统战民宗部门领导出席。当天有60名信徒重新回归。
当天早上，经过防疫登记测温、查看健康码、等例行手续后，来自各地的弟兄姊妹在服侍接待同工的带领下，胸带红花落座，本堂朱红丽传道以以弗所4：1—16的经文做了《相爱、合一、建立》的主题证道，从爱中相交、在圣灵里合一、在恩赐中建立进行分享。
由于历史原因，自上世纪九十年代，个别信徒离开教会，私设聚会点，导致一直长期分开，在社会上造成了不良印象。教会负责同工陈丽长老对弟兄姊妹的回归表示欢迎，为神成全多年的愿望深表感恩，教会的回归工作就是羊群合一的工作。
两位回归代表结合自身经历畅谈了回归的心路历程。
教会还为回归人员赠送了圣经和笔记本等礼物。
(王俊峰弟兄供图）
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/64048
临汾市尧都区基督教两会举行回归感恩礼拜
A church in China’s northern province of Shanxi held a Sunday service to welcome 60 believers back to the church a week after its reopening.
In the service at Yaodu District Church in Linfen City attended by officials of the ethnic and religious affairs bureaus in the city and district on August 14, 60 Christians who return to the church took seats with flowers on their chests under the guidance of receptionists, following the COVID-19 protocols.
Based on Ephesians 4: 1-16, Pastor Zhu Hongli delivered a sermon with the title “Love, Unity, and Establishment”, sharing about the fellowship in love, unity in the Holy Spirit, and gifts to build Christ’s body.
Welcoming the return of believers, Elder Chen Li expressed gratitude to God for the unity of the congregation. Due to historical reasons, some church members left the church to build private meeting points in the 1990s, leading to long-term separation and creating a bad impression in society.
Two representatives used their own experiences to share the journey of returning to the church.
Bibles and notebooks were presented to returnees.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Shanxi Celebrates Believers’ Return to Church
