A church in China’s northern province of Shanxi held a Sunday service to welcome 60 believers back to the church a week after its reopening.
In the service at Yaodu District Church in Linfen City attended by officials of the ethnic and religious affairs bureaus in the city and district on August 14, 60 Christians who return to the church took seats with flowers on their chests under the guidance of receptionists, following the COVID-19 protocols.
Based on Ephesians 4: 1-16, Pastor Zhu Hongli delivered a sermon with the title “Love, Unity, and Establishment”, sharing about the fellowship in love, unity in the Holy Spirit, and gifts to build Christ’s body.
Welcoming the return of believers, Elder Chen Li expressed gratitude to God for the unity of the congregation. Due to historical reasons, some church members left the church to build private meeting points in the 1990s, leading to long-term separation and creating a bad impression in society.
Two representatives used their own experiences to share the journey of returning to the church.
Bibles and notebooks were presented to returnees.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
