Pastoral staff from Guangdong Province participated in the study of the history of the Chini Church in Guangzhou, Guangdong.
This was the seventh installment of a special series of studies entitled "Learning Regulations from Church History," and it was conducted on June 6 at the Ruiling meeting place affiliated with Chini Church, reported Guangzhou CC&TSPM.
Rev. Wu Zhongwu, senior pastor of Chini Church, provided a review of the history of the church and shared the patriotic deeds of its sages, while Pastor Ye Hailian offered spiritual reflections that were connected with the study session's theme "Imitating the Patriotism of the Sages".
In addition to Rev. Wu's introduction to the history of the church, Pastor Yao Hui made a core speech on the theme of "Mission View and Church View," which focused on the relevant content of "Guangzhou Christian Rules and Regulations."
According to records, the history of Chini Church dates back to the branch church established by the Lutheran Church of Germany in Chinixu in 1914, which means the church has been around for nearly 110 years.
It is also said that the introduction of Christianity into the Huadu district began in 1850. Later, in 1914, the Lutheran Church in Germany established a branch church in Chinixu, taking Lukeng and Taikeng churches as its primary ones and extending its evangelistic activities to Qingyuan City, Panyu District, Conghua District, and Zengcheng District, with the number of believers growing to 700.
During that time, Chini Church set up kindergartens, primary schools, and clinics to improve local education and medical facilities. When the Japanese army invaded South China in 1938, the church was bombed by Japanese military planes, causing the suspension of church affairs. Following the concerted efforts of many parties, the church was rebuilt, with the opening ceremony being held on April 8, 1948. Chinese pastor Song Guangyao presided over the church’s affairs at that time.
Later, in 1979, Chini Church members met in a tile-roofed house on Fuxing Street in Chini Township, with Rev. Song Ziling becoming the first senior pastor after the restoration of the church. Rev. Song supported himself by practicing medicine. In 1985, a new church was rebuilt, which today is known as Chini Church.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
