After 17 years of reconstruction, a centennial church in Sichuan Province that was destroyed during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake has been rebuilt on original site.
On May 28, Zhongba Gospel Church in Jiangyou City held an inauguration for the post-earthquake building reconstruction which covers an area of 4.5 mu (0.74 acres) with a construction area of 7,778 square meters (1.92 acres), gathering approximately 1,200 individuals, including pastoral staff, church co-workers, and believers across Sichuan, according to CCC&TSPM.
According to the Gospel Times, the origins of the Gospel Church date back to 1891, when missionaries from the Church Missionary Society arrived in Sichuan to spread the gospel and established churches throughout the western region, with Langzhong as their central base. In 1894, they established the first church in Zhongba (formerly known as Chungpa), which became the predecessor of the Zhongba Gospel Church.
On May 12, 2008, a 8.0 magnitude Wenchuan earthquake which struck Sichuan Province on resulting in over 87,000 deaths and 375,000 injuries. Five years after the earthquake, Jiangyou was home to five meeting points and a church serving more than 5,000 believers. Unfortunately, this historic church was smashed in the disaster, and the other meeting venues were also severely affected. As one of the hardest-hit areas in the earthquake zone, Jiangyou faced one of the most challenging church reconstruction efforts in the region.
After the disaster, five meeting sites in the city were gradually restored, but due to a lack of funding, the Gospel Church remained the only one that could not be rebuilt. Believers initially held services in tents erected on the ruins of the old church, later relocating to temporary venues such as farmhouses and restaurants. Frequent location changes posed significant challenges, particularly for elderly members, who later became discouraged.
During the reconstruction process, Sister Liu was once appointed as the representative of the congregation. She coordinated efforts between government departments and construction sites, overseeing everything from administrative procedures to fundraising. Liu recalled that upon returning to Jiangyou, she initially hesitated to attend church due to the dilapidated state of the old building. However, she eventually resumed participation in services, and the responsibility of leading the reconstruction was entrusted to her. While managing one of the meeting points, she also worked on the church's rebuilding project. Liu expressed gratitude for the support from various organizations and local believers. Despite the difficult circumstances, the congregation contributed over one million yuan toward the reconstruction.
During the thanksgiving service, Rev. Luo Yingfu, director of the Guizhou TSPM, preached on a sermon titled "Glorious Temple." Churches from Deyang, Mianyang, and Jiangyou offered hymns of praise. Rev. Zhang Xiansheng, president of the Sichuan CC, Rev. Huang Rui from Gejiu Church in Yunnan Province, and Rev. Dai Dehua, vice chairperson and vice president of the Chongqing CC&TSPM, along with other guests, delivered speeches.
CCC&TSPM and Henan CC&TSPM, which have provided counterpart assistance to the Jiangyou Christian community, along with other organizations, sent congratulatory letters and telegrams, expressing their gratitude and blessings for the successful completion of Zhongba Gospel Church's post-disaster reconstruction.
