Called as "East Hawaii", Sanya is the southernmost city on Hainan Island, famous for its tropic beaches. But there are only two open churches in the city --- Hongsha Church and Yuncun Church (or Fishing Village Church) . The rest are non-public house gatherings.
A church staff of Hongsha Church tells CCD that it was founded by a Singaporean pastor named Chen Zhongyi around the 1940s. At that time, the co-workers heard the Gospel from the mouth of Chen and often attended the Bible study at the missionary's home. As the believers grew, Chen initiated the church. He continued to preach the Gospel there and left the place in the 1950s, entrusting the church where over 100 people attended services to the hands of a brother whose family name was Tan.
It was forced to shut down and demolished in the Cultural Revolution. After China resumed the Freedom of Religion in the 1980s, there were only several believers left. In 1985, supported by the government and believers, a new church that could hold more than 400 was constructed with a total area of 200 m2. A hostel with an area of 54 m2 was also built to receive guests.
A decade and five years later, it was reconstructed. The Sunday attendance reached 500 and Han and Li believers gathered in the main chapel and side chapel.
Currently, it has four preachers, four deacons, two elders and a pastor. They all get paid at least 1500 yuan as the starting salary.
The congregation consists of a large percentage of outsiders and few locals, or many middle-aged people, few seniors and young people. It holds only Sunday services and a meeting on Thursdays because the majority of the believers are migrant workers who have no time on other days.
When it comes to Yucun Church or Fishing Village Church, you need to take a boat to reach it. There's a church building close to it.
It is said that the church has over 200 believers, most of whom are not fishermen. though the church's name is named after fishing. Most of the congregation are Han people. Normally, it holds a Sunday service,a sharing meeting on Friday evenings and two prayer meetings on the mornings of Tuesdays and Fridays.
