At the end of the Qing Dynasty, foreign missionaries David Hill and John Turner did relief work in China’s northern Linfen City (once called “Pingyang”) and carried out evangelistic activity beginning from Jinci Temple, in Shanxi Province. Hsi Sheng-mo whose birth name was Xi Zizhi, the first local pastor in southern Shanxi, had a legendary repentance experience. He founded opium rehab centers and spread the gospel in more than 80 counties in the surrounding three provinces.
Shansheng Hospital in Linfen healed the wounded and rescued the dying, pioneering modern medical and health services in Linfen.
In the early 1920s, the church in Shanxi initiated the self-reliance movement and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, founded the world-famous Shansi Bible Institute, DE Hoste School, and Chongzhen Girls' School, which trained a large number of students in theology and the liberal arts.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Linfen Church responded to the government’s call and began the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). Despite experiencing the Great Cultural Revolution, the church was protected by God during this difficult time. Starting from 1958, the various Christian denominations in the counties of Linfen area eliminated prejudices and implemented a joint service. After the establishment of the Chinese Christian Council (CCC) in 1980, all the counties affiliated with the city have successively established CC&TSPM offices.
Up to now, there are 14 CC&TSPM organizations in the counties and (city) districts of Linfen, more than 80,000 Christian believers, 3 ordained pastors, 420 pastors, and more than 400 officially registered religious venues.
The Yaodu District Churches initiated the "A Cup of Water" charity organization to raise funds to help orphans, widows, and poor disabled people. The Disability Fellowship not only serves disabled groups, but also often goes to nursing homes to do voluntary service, which has been praised by the community. During the coronavirus pandemic this year, churches in all counties and cities devoted themselves to the front line of pandemic prevention actively, donating a total of more than 600,000 yuan.
The churches have increased the number of buildings and purchased more land. They have built new churches and renovated others with funds they have provided themselves. Church facilities have been updated and needed hardware has been improved.
The churches are also continuously bringing in theological students to update their pastoral teams and gradually improve work of the churches.
In worship services and retreats, pastors integrate Bible teaching and Chinese traditional culture, citing short stories, epigrams, and maxims from Chinese culture. The Yaodu District CC&TSPM hung calligraphy in churches and held calligraphy, painting and paper-cutting art exhibitions. They also organized reading salons, and opened Boya Tea Clubs. Especially during the pandemic this year, they ingeniously hung over 30 Christian paintings in Chinese and Western styles in the stairway and corridor when they decorated the churches. At the same time, the church actively unearthed the history of the church in Linfen and put together a documentary stage play called "Hsi Shengmo".
- Translated by Abigail Wu
