Much has been written about the cross- and church-demolition campaign in Zhejiang province over the past couple of years. What doesn’t make the news (outside of China), however, are stories about new churches being built. This article, originally published on the mainland site Gospel Times, reports on the building of a megachurch in Fuzhou. The building is new; however, the church has been there for more than 100 years.
New Megachurch Building Built in Fuzhou—with Century-Old History
The newest addition to the Huaxiang (Flower Lane) Church in Fuzhou, Fujian is set to open at the end of the year for its 20,000 parishioners.
Construction on the church began in 2005 as part of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the church. It was the first Methodist church built within the walled city of Fuzhou. In 1915, Western missionaries appointed by the Methodist Episcopal Church purchased the field on which the church currently stands and donated it to the congregation. A local pastor was given the task of organizing the church.
Eventually the church was dedicated in the spring of that same year with facilities that included a reading room, a library, and two kindergartens for boys and girls. In that same year, the first baptism service was held in September.
Currently the church stands in the center of the city and covers 4546.8 square meters with a gothic-style tower that rises 16 meters. In September 2003, the church regained control over the kindergartens from the local authorities. By 2015, the congregation had grown to 6,500, with 11 ministries and 1000 volunteers serving the needs of the parishioners.
There are also fellowships for different ages and occupations. Social services are provided by the church; these include visiting and aiding the disabled and the elderly, providing aid for the poor, and conducting disaster relief efforts, bazaars, and free medical clinics. These are done to fulfill their creed to become the light and salt of the society.
The church's construction project covers 7,500 square meters with two basement floors and a structure that can handle an excellent pipe organ.
Original article: 福州花巷堂正建立新堂 教会已有百年历史 (Gospel Times)
English translation: New Megachurch Building Built in Fuzhou, With Century-Old History (China Christian Daily)
Adapted and reposted with permission.
Image credit: China Christian Daily
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