Recently, I visited three churches in the mountains with several colleagues.
On December 7, the visiting group came to a small village in the mountains of Linfen, Shanxi Province. A small courtyard with only three small rooms is the church of Cao Village. It was learned that this was the village's primary school before the church purchased it to use for worship. Entering the church, I saw some believers chopping wood, some cleaning the rooms, and some washing utensils. They were preparing for the coming Christmas.
Cheng Xinzhen, the Christian in charge of that church, is more than 80 years old and has been serving here for many years. With many villagers leaving the village due to their children getting married or going to school, there are now only about a dozen believers in the church. A period ago, Zhang Lianzhen, a believer in a city, had contacts with relatives in the village, and when she saw the situation of the church, she mobilized her husband and children to come here to help. They renovated the church and added air conditioning and other facilities. Zhang then took on the role of preacher; the number of believers is now more than 20, and even believers from neighboring Puxian County come here to receive the Holy Communion.
Later, the visiting group came to a small village on the side of a road, where the gathering point of Hutaojian is. Then we came to the home of Cui Youshan, which is a host family. There used to be many people when the local coal mines were permitted to be mined, but now most of them go to town or cities for work. They say that although there are only less than ten people attending the gathering here now, they will serve and receive as long as they live here.
Elder Chen of the church in Yaodu District of Linfen asked about a lonely senior man who he had visited before. It is said that the senior man used to be a soldier. Because of the loss of files, he cannot receive the relevant preferential treatment, and he lives in the village alone. Brother Cui and the members of the church often visited him to encourage and enlighten him, and later he also believed in Jesus. Cui reported the condition of that senior man to village officials, and they later sent him to a nursing home on the outskirts of the city to live out his old age. The pastors promised to visit again when they had time.
At noon, the visiting group came to the Jiaokou Church in a small village. It borders Xiangning County and originally had many believers, but due to the loss of believers caused by population decline and its remote location, worship was suspended. Since June, I have taken on the responsibility of helping Jiaokou Church. We would visit this church every third week of every month. In July and August, the staff of Jiaokou Church raised more than 20,000 yuan by themselves to renovate the church (the construction was basically completed in October). Elder Chen handed them the fund of 6,000 yuan donated by the church he was in. Another 1,000 yuan and six attires were also collected through the Fuli Lane activity point, and a choir will also be formed with their help. If weather permits, they will host a joint Christmas worship service in mid-December in conjunction with a meeting point in the city.
After that, the visiting group also went to the Jinzhang Church, located next to Longci Spring, and checked the waterproofing treatment of the church's roof, fire safety, and emergency preparedness before Christmas.
On the way back, the group all agreed that the more remote the churches in the region, the more they should provide support and help, so that all churches can develop in a balanced way and no church should be left behind.
(The author is a staff writer for the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
近日，笔者随同几个同工走访了3个山区教会。
12月7日，一行来到山西临汾的一个小山村，一个仅有三间小房的小院子，就是曹村教会。据了解，这里原来是村里的小学，后来教会购买用作礼拜场所。进入院内，只见几个信徒有的劈柴，有的打扫卫生，有的收拾厨具，正在为即将到来的圣诞节做准备。
教会负责人女基督徒程心珍已经八十多岁了，在这里服侍多年。随着不少村里人因孩子结婚上学等情况离开，现在信徒只有十多人。前一时期，有个城里信徒张连珍与这里有亲戚往来，当看到这里教会的状况，动员丈夫孩子，来这里帮扶。他们翻修房屋，添置空调等设施。随后张担负起讲道牧养，人数目前已达到二十多人，甚至邻近的蒲县的信徒也来这里领受圣餐。
接着来到路旁的一个小村，这里有核桃尖活动点。然后来到崔有山的家里，他们家是接待家庭。原来有煤矿时人不少，现在大部分都进城或外出打工了。他们说虽然现在礼拜不到十个人，但他们只要在这住一天，就要一直服侍接待。
临汾尧都区教会的陈长老问起了以前看望过一个孤老的情况。据说他原来曾当过兵，因档案丢失无法落实相关优惠待遇，蜗居在小山沟，没有亲人。崔弟兄和教会的肢体也常去看望鼓励开导，后来他也信了耶稣。崔还向村镇干部反映了他的情况，后来村里把他送到城郊的一家养老机构，在那里安享晚年。教牧人员表示以后有时间一定再去探访。
正午时分，牧长一行又来到了小山村交口教会。它与乡宁县交界，原来也很复兴，但一度因人口减少信徒流失，地处偏远，即将停止礼拜。了解此情后，自6月起，我担负起帮扶交口教会的责任。每月第三个星期都要去带礼拜。七八月份他们自筹2万余元开始修缮教会，十月份基本完工。陈长老把教会的6000元奉献资金递给他们，福利巷活动点也捐款1000元和6套圣服，还将帮助一个圣诗班。若天气许可，他们将与城里的聚会点在12月中旬在这里联合举办一个庆祝圣诞崇拜。
此后还来到了位于龙祠泉旁的晋掌教会，察看了教会的屋顶防水处理，及圣诞节前的消防安全及应急预案准备情况。
返程路上，大家一致认为，越是偏远地区的教会，越要加强扶持帮助，使他们均衡发展，一个也不掉队。
注：本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。
大山深处的福音之光——走访山区教会手记
Recently, I visited three churches in the mountains with several colleagues.
On December 7, the visiting group came to a small village in the mountains of Linfen, Shanxi Province. A small courtyard with only three small rooms is the church of Cao Village. It was learned that this was the village's primary school before the church purchased it to use for worship. Entering the church, I saw some believers chopping wood, some cleaning the rooms, and some washing utensils. They were preparing for the coming Christmas.
Cheng Xinzhen, the Christian in charge of that church, is more than 80 years old and has been serving here for many years. With many villagers leaving the village due to their children getting married or going to school, there are now only about a dozen believers in the church. A period ago, Zhang Lianzhen, a believer in a city, had contacts with relatives in the village, and when she saw the situation of the church, she mobilized her husband and children to come here to help. They renovated the church and added air conditioning and other facilities. Zhang then took on the role of preacher; the number of believers is now more than 20, and even believers from neighboring Puxian County come here to receive the Holy Communion.
Later, the visiting group came to a small village on the side of a road, where the gathering point of Hutaojian is. Then we came to the home of Cui Youshan, which is a host family. There used to be many people when the local coal mines were permitted to be mined, but now most of them go to town or cities for work. They say that although there are only less than ten people attending the gathering here now, they will serve and receive as long as they live here.
Elder Chen of the church in Yaodu District of Linfen asked about a lonely senior man who he had visited before. It is said that the senior man used to be a soldier. Because of the loss of files, he cannot receive the relevant preferential treatment, and he lives in the village alone. Brother Cui and the members of the church often visited him to encourage and enlighten him, and later he also believed in Jesus. Cui reported the condition of that senior man to village officials, and they later sent him to a nursing home on the outskirts of the city to live out his old age. The pastors promised to visit again when they had time.
At noon, the visiting group came to the Jiaokou Church in a small village. It borders Xiangning County and originally had many believers, but due to the loss of believers caused by population decline and its remote location, worship was suspended. Since June, I have taken on the responsibility of helping Jiaokou Church. We would visit this church every third week of every month. In July and August, the staff of Jiaokou Church raised more than 20,000 yuan by themselves to renovate the church (the construction was basically completed in October). Elder Chen handed them the fund of 6,000 yuan donated by the church he was in. Another 1,000 yuan and six attires were also collected through the Fuli Lane activity point, and a choir will also be formed with their help. If weather permits, they will host a joint Christmas worship service in mid-December in conjunction with a meeting point in the city.
After that, the visiting group also went to the Jinzhang Church, located next to Longci Spring, and checked the waterproofing treatment of the church's roof, fire safety, and emergency preparedness before Christmas.
On the way back, the group all agreed that the more remote the churches in the region, the more they should provide support and help, so that all churches can develop in a balanced way and no church should be left behind.
(The author is a staff writer for the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
The Gospel Shines in Mountains: Visits to Three Remote Churches in Shanxi
