Churches in Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei, and Liaoning hosted New Year's Eve dinners, showing care for elderly pastors, needy believers, and unbelievers.
On February 9, the Chinese New Year's Eve, 220 individuals, including empty-nest elderly, single-parent families, sanitation workers, families who lost their only child, households enjoying "five guarantees" (on proper food, clothing, medical care, housing and funeral expenses), and migrant workers, gathered at Beimen Church in Zhangzhou, Fujian, to share the New Year's Eve dinner with pastors, staff workers, and their family members.
The 2024 Spring Festival marked the 16th edition of their free New Year's Eve dinner event, growing from an initial 7 or 8 tables to over thirty tables this year. This was also the first time resuming dinner in the church after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Additionally, on the same day, Rev. Huang Lihong and some pastoral workers, along with believers, visited Jiale Nursing Home run by the church, to celebrate Lunar New Year’s Eve with the elderly residents, ushering in the new year together.
On February 10, the first day of the Chinese New Year, the centennial Flower Lane Church in Fuzhou, Fujian, held a New Year worship service. Senior Pastor Chen Lifu delivered a sermon titled "God's Care from the Beginning to the End of the Year," encouraging believers to stay on the right path with goals, have confidence in themselves, and rely on the Lord.
In recent days, churches across Guangdong province have organized diverse themed activities to welcome the Chinese New Year, said Guangdong CC&TSPM.
Each church, based on its own characteristics, created a festive church environment with traditional Chinese cultural elements. They engaged in activities such as decorating with the character "福" (fortune), arranging bonsai flowers, putting up Chinese paper cuts, and hanging lanterns and Chinese knots.
Believers from Dongshan Church in Guangzhou City engaged in Chinese paper-cutting and Spring Festival couplet writing. Zion Church held a carnival, including a charity sale, a chorus by the senior fellowship, instrumental performances, a guitar ensemble, a cheongsam show, dances, and Cantonese opera performances.
Guangzhou CC&TSPM conducted New Year visitation activities for retired pastors and church workers aged 70 and above in varied districts of the city, reported the municipal CC&TSPM.
CC&TSPMs and registered churches throughout Guangdong Province also conducted safety inspections of the venue, activities, and personnel during the Spring Festival.
Churches in Hubei Province also carried out social welfare activities.
On January 31, Saint James’s Church in Yichang City and three communities held a "Three Supports and One Assistance" event (supporting students, the elderly, and the disabled; assisting the underprivileged), purchasing rice and oil valued at nearly 20,000 yuan for 120 impoverished families.
Leaders of CC&TSPMs and churches in Jingzhou City visited and offered supplies to elderly care facilities, families in difficulty, and special groups.
From February 2 to 6, pastoral staff from the Gospel Church in Zhushan County, Shiyan City, delivered oil and rice to families in need, encouraging them to overcome their difficulties.
On February 3, Griffith Church (Rongguang Church) in Wuhan City distributed cooking oil, rice, eggs, and warm shoes and hats to more than 200 households, including 150 individuals facing special difficulties, severe illnesses, and impoverished believers.
On February 9, Rev. Ren Chuanyu and the head of the Liaozhong District Church in Liaoning visited above 60 elderly believers and aged residents at a local nursing home, presenting fine red wine and cleaning supplies for the New Year's Eve dinner, with a total value of more than 3,000 yuan.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
