On Jan 14, 2017, Xieqibao Church of Zhenning County, Guizhou, held the dedication ceremony of its new church.
The newly built church has a construction area of more than 132 m2, costing about 180,000 yuan. A believer dedicated his homestead and believers gave a total donation of 96,700 yuan(14055 USD), according to Elder Wang Chengming of the church.
It is said that the former church had been used for nearly 20 years, suffering from a leaking roof with missing tiles when it rained. Therefore, it was impossible for the congregation to attend services. They made an agreement to construct another new church.
Xieqibao is a village of A-Hmao or Big Flowery Miao, an ethnic group in China. Around 1904, some Miao people who accepted the gospel migrated east and settled down in Yushi Stockaded Village of Ziyun Miao and Buyei Autonomous County. In 1957, an elderly Hmong man named Simon Wang moved from there to Xieqibao, who also introduced the gospel. One year later, more Miao people dwelled in the village from other places and Simon preached the gospel to them.
Two years later, they started to held gatherings and services. During the Cultural Revolution, the church was closed and meetings ceased.
Later, the church was reopened and held services in a residential house. With the rise in the number of believers, it decided to build a church after an internal negotiation in 1983. After half a year, the first church with civil construction was completed, covering more than 80 m2 and with the seating capacity of over 50. In 1998, it became ramshackle. A decision to construct a new church was made. In less than six months, they had the second church that served them for about two decades.
Translated By: Karen Luo
