Shanxi Churches to Resume In-Person Service After 8-Month Lockdown Period

Yaodu District Church in Linfen, China's northern Shanxi Province reopened on September 20, 2020.
Yaodu District Church in Linfen, China's northern Shanxi Province reopened on September 20, 2020. (photo: Provided by Zhang Xiaohua)
By Zhang XiaohuaAugust 8th, 2022

Recently, Yaodu District CC&TSPM in Linfen, Shanxi Province, held a special meeting for the reopening of the church and gathering sites in the district pastoral areas.

Due to the outbreaks of COVID-19 before Christmas last year, all face-to-face services in churches in the district were suspended.

Yaodu District Church live broadcasted the Sunday services and Thursday evening gatherings, as well as whole-day Bible studies for volunteers on Saturdays, meeting the spiritual needs of believers who prayed for the epidemic and the reopening of churches consistently.   

After receiving approval from authorities and implementing measures for fire prevention and epidemic prevention and control, the district church would resume in-person worship first, followed by meeting points, each Sunday service with a different theme. The district church would host a communion service and baptism service on August 7. Main gathering sites will restart the face-to-face services on the second Sunday in August, welcoming the return of believers. To hold services for the ordinations of pastors and elders on August 21, all meeting sites in the district will reopen with fellowship activities resumed. Beginning in September, the district CC&TSPM will proceed to compile orders of worship, sending church staff to lead the services and preach sermons in each venue.

During the meeting, the pastoral staff members were required to do preparatory work, such as self-inspection of fire safety and epidemic response, and the rectification of hidden dangers. They also should do well in the work of temperature measurement, and checking the site code, itinerary code, and health code.

A few days ago, the church has issued a notice, requiring churchgoers to go to the district church to book their places in advance starting from last Friday.

- Translated by Abigail Wu

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