The Beimen Church in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province was formerly a family gathering place. During the Easter celebration in 2001, the believers rented a 60 square meter office in a glass factory as a gathering place. Pastor Huang Lihong, Elder Li Mingxi and more than a dozen believers studied the Scripture, prayed and preached the Gospel. Each year the number of people attending grew to 60-70.
In 2003, God led them to find a grain warehouse in Nankeng, Zhangzhou, as a new gathering place, which became a fixed place for establishing the church. On March 17, 2003, the Bureau of Religious Affairs at Xiangcheng District officially approved the establishment of "Zhangzhou Xiangcheng District Christian Beimen Chapel". This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the church.
In 2005, the old city was renovated by the Zhangzhou Municipal Government. With the approval of the government, the construction of the new hall began in September 2010, was completed in 2016, and was launched on October 6, 2017. The total construction area of the new hall is 10,429.32 square meters, which can accommodate about 5,000 people to worship at the same time. Now the church has become a new landmark of modern architecture in the city of Zhangzhou.
Over the years, Beimen Christian Church has organized many charitable activities such as poverty alleviation, disaster relief and free medical consultation. The church has done a lot of work in providing spiritual care for dying patients, concern and support for the vulnerable, counselling to the lost youth, and providing comfort and care to the depressed.
Beimen Church is open to the society all the year-round, advocating the concept of "Church without walls." The elderly eagerly wait for the church to have a meal together. The love the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve that is presided over and led by the pastor, and the staff of the church’s catering department prepares sumptuous delicacies. On New Year's Eve, men and women, old and young gather together, enjoy meals and communicate with each other in the Lord.
The church’s pastors pay attention to hospital visits, which also includes special care for terminal patients so that the world can experience the service of love. The Jiale Home for the Elderly, founded by Beimen church, is about to open. It will also become the first institution established by the Zhangzhou Church to care for the elderly.
The church pays attention to the promotion of social welfare activities. To support the Beimen church, the "Duojia Volunteer Service Centre" was organized, following government regulations, to strengthen society, carry forward the spirit of mutual aid and care, and care for the vulnerable. The Duojia Volunteer Team has given care and health to the local people and been recognized and praised by people in the community.
People who come to church are treated equally regardless of religion, so the doors of Beimen Christian Church are open every day to everyone. They can drink water, read books, chat and play table tennis for free in the church.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
