A Sunday service was hosted in a village church in China’s northeastern Liaoning Province which has its own concert band and folk band.
Elder Liu Li, leader of Lingshan Church in the Lishan District, Anshan City, was invited by Datun Church in the Qianshan District to preach a sermon titled “Offer Spiritual Sacrifices Acceptable to God” on September 18. Based on 1 Peter 2:4-5, he encouraged the congregation to offer their hearts, praise, first fruits, tithes, one-seventh of their time, their whole selves, and their whole lives.
After several relocations, Datun Church was built covering a construction area of 2,500 square meters (0.618 acres) and a floor area of 1,200 square meters (0.296 acres). In the sanctuary on the second floor, there is a piano, electronic organ, drum set, audio equipment, LED display, electric fan, heating, and pews. With an office room, library, conference room, and canteen, it is a comprehensive rural church.
It is said that it is well-known for believers’ worship through singing, dancing, and instrumental playing.
According to Xu Liping, head of the church, in addition to the choir, they have their own wind band with more than 20 musicians and a folk band with more than 20 singers. Some are "all-rounders" mastering both Western music and folk music. There are kinds of Western and ethnic instruments, some purchased by the church and some by believers themselves.
Every year during Christmas, Easter, and Autumn Harvest Festival, church members come on stage to present dances, hymns, and sacred music. Busy harvesting vegetables, fruits, and grains, some Christians spare their time to rehearse programs to celebrate the Autumn Harvest Festival on October 2nd.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author reported in Anshan, Liaoning Province.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
