Located 15 kilometers from the heart of Yingkou City, a modern church in Baicao Village has a simple yet elegant design. The building features white walls, a red roof, and a red cross on its third floor, visible from afar. Inside, the church furnishes brand-new wooden benches, with three LED screens at the front and back, and a piano beside the pulpit. Reflecting its rural setting, the church grows cucumbers in front of the gate, with a lush green rice field lying nearby. This is a Baicao gathering site that has seen both revival and decline and is now experiencing renewed vitality.
The Baicao gathering site once experienced a time of revival, with attendance peaking at around 300 to 400 people. In recent years, due to various reasons, the membership has significantly declined, leaving only 30 to 40 people attending services. In response to this situation, the Yingkou Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CC&TSPM) extended a helping hand, providing support in both hardware and software aspects. The crucial responsibility of reviving the Baicao gathering site was placed on its key co-worker, Tang Suping.
Reviving rural churches is a difficult task. At first, Pastor Tang resisted, wondering if there was a Christian man who could take on the responsibility. Later, she felt that God might commit this task to her, so she obediently accepted it.
The first task she undertook was to renovate the gathering site. At the initial stage, Pastor Tang devoted a significant amount of time and effort, during which there were many touching testimonies. The total cost of the renovation was over 800,000 yuan, supported by Yingkou CC&TSPM and Christians. One believer alone contributed 310,000 yuan.
Rebuilding the external gathering site was not easy, but helping believers grow spiritually was even more challenging. Pastor Tang visited the believers who had drifted away from the church one by one. During her visits, she was always careful, never directly mentioning their departure from the church. Instead, she simply informed them that Yingkou CC&TSPM was coming to help pastor this church and welcomed them to attend services. As a result, some of the lapsed believers returned to the church.
To revive the spiritual lives of the returning believers, Pastor Tang employed the method of teaching the word of God. She first led church members in reading the Bible, setting aside a few hours each day for believers to study the Bible. She also ensured that the Sunday sermons were well preached. For believers in rural churches, having city pastors preach every week was a great blessing. Once these regular activities were on track, Pastor Tang initiated the establishment of a couples' fellowship, through which some men joined the church. After more than a year of effort, the number of people attending Sunday services grew to over 100.
It takes 30 minutes to drive from the downtown of Yingkou to the Baicao gathering site, and Pastor Tang can drive back and forth. This is related to the initiative Chong’en Church in the city takes to motivate church workers to learn to drive, which was spearheaded by Rev. Hou Yujie, president of Liaoning CC, chairman and president of Yingkou CC&TSPM. Hou shared that she often had to drive staff workers to grassroots churches to preach sermons. Previously, she would drive them there, engage in preaching, and then drive them back afterward. Given that staff workers also frequently go to grassroots churches, Hou began encouraging them to learn to drive. Church workers who could drive received a 200 yuan increase in their monthly salary, and those without a license could take leave to learn. If they didn’t obtain their license within the specified time, they could no longer serve as full-time workers. As a result of this initiative, all full-time workers in the Yingkou city churches obtained their driver’s licenses, and most purchased their own cars (some second-hand). The church also has a vehicle, and Tang, who took me to the gathering site, said she was initially nervous about driving, but she became more confident with practice.
During my recent visit to the Yingkou churches, I happened to join an outdoor team-building activity scheduled for Saturday. About 40 to 50 people participated, all traveling by church or personal vehicles driven by the church workers, which made transportation very convenient. Since the following day was Sunday, staff workers in the car discussed the arrangements for Sunday, who would drive to the church to serve, and who could bring others. After the Sunday service, a church worker in the city received a request for help from a grassroots church worker, saying that several believers needed transportation. Vehicles were quickly arranged. When visiting workers came from other places, transportation was also easy to arrange.
Yingkou CC&TSPM also helped two other rural meeting points similar to the Baicao gathering site. In addition to these long-term efforts by dedicated workers to support rural churches, city churches in Yingkou regularly provided material and spiritual assistance to help struggling rural churches regain vitality.
Similar support initiatives for rural churches also exist in other regions. A city church in the Pulandian district of Dalian frequently visits surrounding rural churches, sending pastors on Sundays to give sermons and driving elderly believers who have difficulty traveling to the church. They also provide material support, such as donating air conditioners or offering direct financial assistance. A city church in Linfen, Shanxi, donated funds to help renovate a rural church and sent pastors on Sundays to preach, reviving the church that was on the verge of closing. Putian CC&TSPM in Fujian provided pastors serving rural churches with the same treatment as those serving in city churches, even offering additional subsidies for transportation costs and other expenses.
In recent years, rural populations have been migrating to cities, leaving mostly elderly people in the countryside. With some elderly going to the city to help care for grandchildren and others passing away, the rural population has decreased further. The churches in these areas face the same challenges. The days of church revival are long gone, and many are now facing decline and even closure (some have already closed). In these difficult circumstances, rural churches desperately need external help, and assistance from the municipal CC&TSPM and city churches is one of their few solutions.
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Abigail Wu
在距营口市中心15公里远的白草村坐落着一座现代化的教堂，教堂整体风格简洁大方，白色的墙体搭配着红色的屋顶，立于三楼屋顶的红色十字架让人远远就可以望见。教堂内摆列着崭新的木质长椅，前后共安置了三个LED显示屏，讲台旁还置放着一架钢琴。这间教堂还具有着农村特色，教堂门口种植着黄瓜，教堂旁边是一片绿油油的稻田。这就是白草聚会点，一个经历过复兴、衰落，如今再次焕发生机的教会。
白草聚会点曾经有过复兴的时刻，顶峰时聚会人数有三四百人。近年来，因为诸多原因，教会人数大幅减少，以致只剩下三四十人前来聚会。面对这种情况，营口市基督教两会向他们伸出了援手，在硬件和软件两个方面给予帮助，而振兴白草聚会点的重任放在了核心同工唐素萍身上。
振兴农村教会，这是一个苦差，唐传道起初对此抗拒，心想是否有弟兄同工可以来担当，后面觉得这个就是神给自己的托付吧，就顺从地接受了。
首先摆在她面前的工作是翻新聚会场所。起步阶段，唐传道投入了大量的时间和精力，这期间也有不少感人的见证故事。整个聚会场所的翻新共花费了80多万元，这里有营口市基督教两会的帮扶；也有弟兄姐妹的奉献，其中一位信徒就奉献了31万元。
重建外在的聚会场所是不易的，复兴信徒的灵命则是更加艰难的事情。唐传道逐一地探访那些流失的信徒。探访的过程中，她还要小心谨慎，从不直接提对方远离教会的事情；只是告诉他们市基督教两会要来帮助牧养这间教会，欢迎他们过来聚会。因此，一些流失的信徒返回了教会。
为复兴流失信徒的灵命，唐传道采用了最基础、本质的方法——教导神的话语。她先带领大家读经，周间每天拿出几个小时的时间大家聚集在教堂读经。接着就是抓好主日讲台，宣讲神的话语。对于农村教会的信徒们来说，可以每周都有市里的牧者前来证道，这是很大的福气。当这些常规活动步入正轨后，唐传道又推动建立了夫妻团契，一些弟兄因着这个团契加入到了教会。经过一年多的努力，参加主日聚会的人数已增长到100多人。
从营口市区到白草聚会点驾车需要30分钟，唐传道可以自由地开车往返；这跟她所在的营口市区的崇恩堂推动同工学开车有关。教会全职同工学开车是由侯玉洁牧师推动的。侯牧师分享说，她经常需要带着同工下到基层教会讲道，以前是她开车载着同工到基层教会；然后由她来讲道，讲道结束后她还要开车带同工返程。考虑到同工们也经常需要到基层做工，侯牧师就开始推动大家学驾驶。会开车的同工每月工资涨200元，没驾照的同工可以请假去学习；在规定期限拿不到驾照无法继续担任教会的全职同工。在教会的推动下，营口市区教会的全职同工全部拿到了驾照，大多数同工自家买了轿车（有的是二手车），教会也有公车。开车带着笔者到白草聚会点的唐传道说，起初开车很紧张，开着开着就熟练了。
笔者在走访营口教会时，正好赶上了他们教会定在周六的外出团建活动。这个活动共有四五十人参加，都是由教会同工开着教会的车或者自家车，行动很方便。因为第二天就是主日，笔者所在车上的同工就在交谈着周日的安排，谁开车到哪个教会服侍，谁可以开着带着谁。周日聚会结束后，市区一位教会同工接到一位基层同工的求助，说那边有几位信徒需要帮送一下，这边立即就给安排了车辆。教会若有外来的同工，接待车辆也很容易安排。
营口市基督教两会还帮助了跟白草聚会点情况类似的另外两个农村聚会点。除了这种花费大力气派专人长期来帮扶农村教会的举措，营口市区的教会还常规性地给予农村教会在物质上和属灵上的帮扶，以帮助走向衰落的农村教会重新焕发生机。
在其他地区也有类似于营口地区这样的对农村教会的帮扶行动。大连普兰店区的一间市区教会，就经常到周边的农村教会走访。在主日派讲员下去帮助牧养，开车接行动不便的老人到教会聚会，也在物质上对农村教会进行帮助。比如给有的农村教会赠送空调，有时也直接给予资金支持。山西临汾的市区教会也捐献资金帮助一农村教会进行了翻新，并且派牧者主日过去帮助牧养，使这间濒临关门的教会重新有了生机。福建莆田基督教两会给在农村教会服侍的牧者与在市区服侍的牧者同样的待遇，还额外补贴交通费等费用……
近些年来，农村人口不断涌入城市，留在农村的绝大多数是老年人；加上有的老人到城里帮子女带孩子，有的老年人离世，农村人口就更少了。身处其中的教会面临着同样的问题，曾经的复兴已经远去，面临的是逐渐走向衰落直至关门的景况（已经有关门的了）。困境中的农村教会急需外力的帮助，市基督教两会以及市区教会的帮助便他们目前的出路之一。
一间没落的乡村教会重新焕发了生机
Located 15 kilometers from the heart of Yingkou City, a modern church in Baicao Village has a simple yet elegant design. The building features white walls, a red roof, and a red cross on its third floor, visible from afar. Inside, the church furnishes brand-new wooden benches, with three LED screens at the front and back, and a piano beside the pulpit. Reflecting its rural setting, the church grows cucumbers in front of the gate, with a lush green rice field lying nearby. This is a Baicao gathering site that has seen both revival and decline and is now experiencing renewed vitality.
The Baicao gathering site once experienced a time of revival, with attendance peaking at around 300 to 400 people. In recent years, due to various reasons, the membership has significantly declined, leaving only 30 to 40 people attending services. In response to this situation, the Yingkou Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CC&TSPM) extended a helping hand, providing support in both hardware and software aspects. The crucial responsibility of reviving the Baicao gathering site was placed on its key co-worker, Tang Suping.
Reviving rural churches is a difficult task. At first, Pastor Tang resisted, wondering if there was a Christian man who could take on the responsibility. Later, she felt that God might commit this task to her, so she obediently accepted it.
The first task she undertook was to renovate the gathering site. At the initial stage, Pastor Tang devoted a significant amount of time and effort, during which there were many touching testimonies. The total cost of the renovation was over 800,000 yuan, supported by Yingkou CC&TSPM and Christians. One believer alone contributed 310,000 yuan.
Rebuilding the external gathering site was not easy, but helping believers grow spiritually was even more challenging. Pastor Tang visited the believers who had drifted away from the church one by one. During her visits, she was always careful, never directly mentioning their departure from the church. Instead, she simply informed them that Yingkou CC&TSPM was coming to help pastor this church and welcomed them to attend services. As a result, some of the lapsed believers returned to the church.
To revive the spiritual lives of the returning believers, Pastor Tang employed the method of teaching the word of God. She first led church members in reading the Bible, setting aside a few hours each day for believers to study the Bible. She also ensured that the Sunday sermons were well preached. For believers in rural churches, having city pastors preach every week was a great blessing. Once these regular activities were on track, Pastor Tang initiated the establishment of a couples' fellowship, through which some men joined the church. After more than a year of effort, the number of people attending Sunday services grew to over 100.
It takes 30 minutes to drive from the downtown of Yingkou to the Baicao gathering site, and Pastor Tang can drive back and forth. This is related to the initiative Chong’en Church in the city takes to motivate church workers to learn to drive, which was spearheaded by Rev. Hou Yujie, president of Liaoning CC, chairman and president of Yingkou CC&TSPM. Hou shared that she often had to drive staff workers to grassroots churches to preach sermons. Previously, she would drive them there, engage in preaching, and then drive them back afterward. Given that staff workers also frequently go to grassroots churches, Hou began encouraging them to learn to drive. Church workers who could drive received a 200 yuan increase in their monthly salary, and those without a license could take leave to learn. If they didn’t obtain their license within the specified time, they could no longer serve as full-time workers. As a result of this initiative, all full-time workers in the Yingkou city churches obtained their driver’s licenses, and most purchased their own cars (some second-hand). The church also has a vehicle, and Tang, who took me to the gathering site, said she was initially nervous about driving, but she became more confident with practice.
During my recent visit to the Yingkou churches, I happened to join an outdoor team-building activity scheduled for Saturday. About 40 to 50 people participated, all traveling by church or personal vehicles driven by the church workers, which made transportation very convenient. Since the following day was Sunday, staff workers in the car discussed the arrangements for Sunday, who would drive to the church to serve, and who could bring others. After the Sunday service, a church worker in the city received a request for help from a grassroots church worker, saying that several believers needed transportation. Vehicles were quickly arranged. When visiting workers came from other places, transportation was also easy to arrange.
Yingkou CC&TSPM also helped two other rural meeting points similar to the Baicao gathering site. In addition to these long-term efforts by dedicated workers to support rural churches, city churches in Yingkou regularly provided material and spiritual assistance to help struggling rural churches regain vitality.
Similar support initiatives for rural churches also exist in other regions. A city church in the Pulandian district of Dalian frequently visits surrounding rural churches, sending pastors on Sundays to give sermons and driving elderly believers who have difficulty traveling to the church. They also provide material support, such as donating air conditioners or offering direct financial assistance. A city church in Linfen, Shanxi, donated funds to help renovate a rural church and sent pastors on Sundays to preach, reviving the church that was on the verge of closing. Putian CC&TSPM in Fujian provided pastors serving rural churches with the same treatment as those serving in city churches, even offering additional subsidies for transportation costs and other expenses.
In recent years, rural populations have been migrating to cities, leaving mostly elderly people in the countryside. With some elderly going to the city to help care for grandchildren and others passing away, the rural population has decreased further. The churches in these areas face the same challenges. The days of church revival are long gone, and many are now facing decline and even closure (some have already closed). In these difficult circumstances, rural churches desperately need external help, and assistance from the municipal CC&TSPM and city churches is one of their few solutions.
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Abigail Wu
Declining Rural Church Restores Vitality With Urban Support
