On February 22, I visited Hanyuan Church in Ningqiang County, Hanzhong City, China's northern Shaanxi Province, nestled within the Qinling-Daba Mountains.
The Pearl of the Qinling-Daba Mountains
Ningqiang County, situated between the Qinling Mountains to the north and the Bashan Mountains to the south, lies at the intersection of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces. Serving as a vital gateway, it is a key passage connecting Northwest and Southwest China. The county is also the source of the Han River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River, and is renowned as the "Pearl of Shu Roads" and "The Premier City Along the Three Thousand-Mile Han River." Additionally, it is the birthplace of Qiang ethnic culture.
Surrounded by mountains, Ningqiang County is home to the three-story-high Hanyuan Church. Upon entering the main hall of the church, visitors are first met with rows of red benches and a brown backdrop behind the pulpit. At the center stands a hollow cross, flanked by four large red Chinese characters reading "God Loves the World" ("神爱世人"). Under the pulpit, prayer mats and piano stands remain in place, reflecting the congregation's faith lives.
A pastor of the church introduced that the current building was renovated during the pandemic. Before the renovation, there was not even a space for kneeling and prayer in front of the pulpit. Dust filled the air, and the lack of soundproofing made it difficult to hear even face-to-face conversations.
It is learned that the church was established in the 1990s by a middle-aged woman from Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. After marrying and relocating to Ningqiang County, she engaged in business while also sharing the gospel. Initially, a small group of elderly believers gathered at her home. As the congregation grew, they purchased a small house next to the current church site, eventually constructing the present church building.
However, as the church developed, factions were formed, and even frequent conflicts occurred among the congregation due to poor management. Many believers left, leaving the church into disorder and at the risk of closure. In September 2019, Pastor Yang and his wife, who had been serving in other churches, accepted the assignment to pastor this mountain church.
Hard-Pressed on Every Side, but Not Crushed
Though preparing himself mentally, Pastor Yang was still disheartened by the scene before him. The church roof leaked when it rained, the ground was covered in dust, the offering box was empty, and the church's finances were deeply in debt. The congregation was scattered with weak spiritual lives. These issues clouded the church like the surrounding mountains, weighing heavily on the pastor.
"After God's calling, we cannot come only when we want to and leave when we don't. Therefore, we must commit ourselves to serve, even if it means giving our lives on the pulpit." With such commitment, Yang embarked on his journey of ministry in the remote mountains.
Despite the church's debts, he decided to conduct a full renovation during the pandemic. The sound-absorbing panels were installed, the roof was reinforced, new flooring was laid, the walls were painted, and the church's unreasonable layout was improved. The rarely used third floor was transformed into an office space for pastoral staff, making the best use of every space in the building.
When it came to church management, Yang admitted that he chose to "recognize no relatives." "Serving God is serving God. Personal relationships should not interfere in church affairs, and there should be no cliques or factions," he emphasized. For this reason, he reclaimed all church keys, reassigned them to the appropriate individuals, and dissolved the previously established small groups.
For congregants who had left the church for various reasons, he led the church staff in visiting them one by one, sincerely telling them, "The church is not what it used to be. In the past, the church was in disorder for different reasons, causing harm to both the church and its members. But now, please come back and see the changes. If after two months you find that the church remains the same as before, we will never force you to stay." Through this approach, many believers returned.
When Pastor Yang first arrived, the offering box was nearly empty. On Thanksgiving Day that year, he exhorted the believers to be grateful to the Lord. Following the sermon, he placed 500 yuan into the offering box and explained the significance of offerings. Over time, more and more believers developed an awareness of giving.
Yang intentionally guided the congregation in practicing their prayer by assigning individuals to intercede and teaching them how to pray. Initially, believers hardly knew how to pray, and it was near silence during intercession during public prayers. Therefore, the church launched a 40-day prayer ministry during the pandemic, dedicating one hour each day to worship, prayer, and thematic Bible study. This consistent practice gradually strengthened the believers' spiritual lives, and their prayers became powerful gradually. Some even experienced God's healing through prayer. Today, the congregation prays fervently. During prayer meetings, they even can't stop praying until the leader calls for it.
In addition, church staff regularly visit Christians in need, offering care and support. "Visitation is not just about providing care; it is also an opportunity to share the gospel," Yang noted. "Sometimes, when we share the gospel with bedridden believers, their family members listen attentively alongside them."
Keep Moving Forward in Hope
Today, the church has grown from just over 20 members to more than 200, with believers continuously maturing in their spiritual lives. Even in the pastor's absence, church staff are now able to manage various ministries independently. "I used to feel that I couldn't be spiritually nourished at church, so I didn't want to come. But after Pastor Yang arrived, I truly experienced God's love through sermons," Sister Wang, a core church co-worker, shared with gratitude.
"Last year, we guided the congregation in reading through the Bible twice. This year, we plan to have everyone hand-copy the Scriptures, hoping it will help them better engage with God's word and gain a deeper understanding of biblical truths," Yang explained as he took out the specially prepared copybooks for the church members.
Surrounded by mountains, transportation is extremely inconvenient. Many congregants travel long distances to attend services every Sunday, and without meals provided by the church, they may have to return home hungry. To better serve believers and conduct more ministries, as well as training sessions, the church began constructing an annex building a few years ago. However, due to financial limits, donations have fallen far short of the required costs. As a result, Yang frequently visits other churches to raise funds. Currently, the church still faces a funding gap of approximately 700,000 yuan.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
