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A portion of your offering to ELCA Mission Support is used by the ELCA churchwide organization to fund global ministry projects, relationships and associated support—including the construction of Meile Anqi Christian Church and evangelism training. |
Under the golden rock face of the mountains in the northern Yunnan province of China is nestled a small white church with a tile roof. More than 200 Lisu worshipers and their international guests, including ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, marched outside the church singing in Chinese: “Come friends, to the little church on the mountain. For the blessing of eternal life is more than silver and gold, for here we meet God.”
Seventy percent of the Lisu people, one of China’s 55 ethnic minorities, are Christian. The gospel was first introduced to them some 100 years ago. Even today the Lisu live and farm in rugged mountain terrain, where some walk for hours to attend worship on Sunday.
The ELCA first connected with a Lisu community north of Lijiang after a 1996 earthquake, helping renovate houses and build schools, said He Wen-qin, director of the Lisu Cultural Association. ELCA support continues today: schoolchildren receive computers; farmers receive goats and walnut seedlings; and churches are built.
The newly dedicated Meile Anqi (Rock of Ages) Christian Church is the most recent development. “This is the best facility in the province for the people,” Wen-qin said. The small complex includes the church building, a community center, a kitchen and outhouses. Its architectural elements both preserve and celebrate the Lisu culture.
In Lijiang, the Yulong County Bible Training Center houses 21 students. Ranging in age from 14 to 26, they study the Bible, music, Christian education, preaching and other skills to equip them to be lay leaders and evangelists. They will serve alongside the current two pastors to meet the needs of some 50 congregations and worship points in the region.
Many of these young church leaders will continue to farm as they work with the church. They will rise to meet the challenges of contemporary society that take many newly baptized away from the church.
Through it all, the ELCA is committed to accompanying the Lisu community in its journey of faith and life.
In her message at the Meile Anqi church dedication, Eaton said, “We depend on you to preach the gospel here. And we promise to you, the Lisu people, that we will preach the gospel back in America. And together we can fulfill the command of Jesus, who told his disciples to go to all the world to tell about the new life we have in Jesus.”
Adapted from Stories of Faith in Action
© 2015 ELCA • ELCA.org • LivingLutheran.com
