Located in a Church-Themed Park-to-be, Largest Gospel Church of Zhangjiajie Be Completed Soon

Gospel Church in Zhangjiajie, Hunan
Gospel Church in Zhangjiajie, Hunan (photo: Rev. Chen)
By Yi YangMarch 21st, 2016

Recently the Gospel Church,the largest church in the northwest area of Hunan,located in Zhangjiajie City, has finished its renovation lasting one year.Its sanctuary, meeting rooms and training center have taken on an entirely new look.

In addition, the local government plans to build a church-themed park which will include the church for its long history and beautiful environment. 

Rev. Tian Aijie from the said church tells CCD that there're about 80 registered churches and more than 30,000 believers in Zhangjiajie, who are mainly ethnic minorities including Tujia, Miao and Bai peoples. Nearly every village or town in rural areas has one church at least. 

Zhangjiajie's first Middle School sits beside the church, where foreign missionaries used to teach English. 

Tracing Back the History of Gospel there, we know that in 1906, after preached into Zhangjiajie, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission bought a land here and built an integrated church building-Gospel Church-used for worship, education, medical and health care and charity, called as one of the eight scenes in Dayong county(the former of Zhangjiajie).The church developed during the period starting from 1910 to 1933 and believers increased to over 1000. Its social service ministry was on the upswing.

In the winter of 1943, the church was removed due to political convulsions and reconstructed in 1935.

In 1966 it was closed and torn down the second time. The church property was occupied for 45 years.

It wasn't until 1985 that the church restarted congregation with only over 20 members. The number of the congregation grew to over 800 in 1995.

The Gospel Church rebuilt its sanctuary in 1995. Until 1998 the new church building was finished, covering an construction area of 3036.73 square meters.
It began exterior decorating in 2009, which lasted a year. Now the church has become the local landmark.

Rev. Tian says  local church will work to recover the church hospital to promote its aged ministry. 

related articles
LATEST FROM Church & Ministries