A church in the Shanxi province in northern China ordained a pastor and 17 deacons.
On August 21, three weeks after Yaodu District Church in Linfen City resumed its on-site services, the ordination of pastors and the appointment of deacons were held after the Sunder service.
Before the worship, churchgoers entered having their itinerary code and health code checked with registration.
Zhang Xiaohua, the elder of the church, delivered a sermon with the title of "Follow in the Footsteps of the Lord and Learn to Be a Good Shepherd", saying Jesus had left a beautiful example. He shared that it was Jesus’ beautiful footprint that he was walking through all cities and villages, He had provided abundant supply by teaching, preaching, and healing", and that He had a pastor’s heart with spiritual concerns as He had compassion on the people when seeing them. Zhang exhorted worshippers to live a life worthy of the calling they have received and to make up their minds to imitate the Lord, follow Him, and obey the Lord’s command to reap His harvest. Just as the apostle Paul taught Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself approved to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth", the elder encouraged the congregation to look up onto the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ and learn to be a good shepherd.
During the ceremony, pastors and deacons accepted the laying on of hands after they shared their understanding of the office to which they have been called.
Born in 1977, the newly promoted Rev. Duan Yanqing entered the church ministry in 1992, followed by her studies at Jinling Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. After earning a master's degree, she has been serving in the office of Yaodu District CC&TSPM, responsible for the southeast parish of the city. The 17 deacons were recommended by churches and fellowship groups in the city in recent years.
- Translated by Livingstones Shi
