Jieyang Church of Truth (simplified Chinese: 揭阳真理堂; traditional Chinese: 揭陽真理堂; pinyin: Jiēyáng Zhēnlǐtáng), full name Jieyang Christian Church of Truth, is the oldest and largest Christian church in Jieyang City, China. In addition to gospel preaching, the church has founded the Jieyang Hospital of Truth, Jieyang School of Truth, nursing homes, etc. [1][2][3] [4]
| Jieyang Church of Truth | |
| Address | Linjiang South Road, Rongcheng District, Jieyang, Guangdong |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Denomination | Protestantism |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 29 December 1996 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 43 metres (141 ft) |
| Number of floors | 7 |
| Floor area | 3,500 m2 (38,000 sq ft) |
Since December 1996, the Jieyang Associations of China Christian Council and of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement have been located in the Church of Truth, looking after a total of 83 churches with more than 40,000 believers in the city. [5][2]
History
editIn 1865, Rev. William Ashmore DD, an American missionary of the Northern Baptist Convention in Shantou Queshi Church, hired Elder Chen Yongquan to preach the gospel in Jieyang. The church activities was held in a rented house on the Cross Street of Chenghuang Temple in the county capital town of Rongcheng. Later, as the number of religious believers gradually increased, a chapel with a capacity of about 200 people was built by the Rong River outside the north gate of Rongcheng in 1889. The following year, the Truth Hospital (the predecessor of the current Jieyang People's Hospital) was founded. [6][4] [2] [1]
In 1894, American Pastor Jacob Speicher came to Jieyang to work, and the number of believers grew day by day. In 1899, the church built a new church on the east side of the original chapel, named: "Christian Baptist Church of Truth". Then, with the church as the center, evangelistic activities were expanded to villages throughout Jieyang. After that, "nursing homes" were established to provide care for elderly and helpless believers. [7] [2][4]
In 1906, the church founded the School of Truth. From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, Baita Church, Deqiao Church, Xinheng Church, Quxi Church, Paotai Church and many others were successively built. In 1925, the Lingdong Baptist Convention (岭东浸信大会) established the "Jieyang District Committee" to look after all Baptist churches in Jieyang County. And the committee office was located in the pastor building of the Church of Truth. [6]
In 1958, due to historical reasons, like many other churches across the country, the Church of Truth stopped worship gathering and the buildings were arranged for use by some factories until the end of the Cultural Revolution. [4][2][1]
In 1994, with the efforts of the Municipal Religious Affairs Bureau and other relevant parties, the government returned the church site occupied by the factory to the church. After more than two years of planning, construction and support from churches of Hong Kong and Macao, a new church was built on December 29, 1996 at the original site of the church. [1] [4] [2]
New church buildings
editThe new Church of Truth has a total construction area of 3,500 square meters, with seven floors in the main building of 43 meters in height. There are a worship hall, a small auditorium, and more than 40 rooms of various sizes. The Jieyang Christian Three-Self Patriotic Association and the Jieyang Christian Association and its book and publication service department are located in this church. At present, Jieyang City has 83 churches with more than 40,000 believers under the leadership of these Associations. [1] [2] [4] [5]
Public welfare
editThe church pays great attention to social welfare, from the initial medical and drug donation, literacy classes, and girls' schools, to the establishment of the Truth Hospital, the Truth School, nursing homes and other welfare undertakings. And medical caring teams are often sent to serve in rural mountainous areas. [1] [8] [9] [3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "150年2拆3建的广东省揭阳市真理堂 (Jieyang Church of Truth in Guangdong Province: demolished twice and rebuilt three times in 150 years)". 爱神家园 中国基督教网 (Love God's Home, China Christian Network). 1919.
- ^ a b c d e f g 揭阳基督教会 (Jieyang Christian Church) (30 August 2023). "真理堂简介 (Introduction to the Church of Truth)".
- ^ a b Zhang, Li (丽张) (2018). "女学与社会：多重语境下的近代潮汕女子教育 (Women's Studies and Society: Modern Chaoshan Women's Education in Multiple Contexts)". Journal of Shantou University, Humanities and Social Sciences Edition (汕头大学学报 人文社会科学版) (in Chinese) (8).
- ^ a b c d e f 李慕博 (Li Mubo) (6 August 2012). "广东省揭阳市基督教会真理堂58人受洗归主 (58 people were baptized at the Jieyang Christian Church of Truth, Guangdong Province)". 福音时报 (Gospel Times).
- ^ a b Zhang, John (26 March 2023). "3 Pastors Ordained in Guangdong". China Chirstian Daily.
- ^ a b 李伟烽 (4 November 2008). "礐石有座百年基督教堂 经修缮之后近期重新开放 (There is a century-old Christian church in Queshi, which was recently reopened after renovations.)" (in Simplified Chinese). 大华网《汕头特区晚报》(Dahuanet "Shantou Special Administrative Region Evening News" ). Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Rongcheng Town Local Chronicles Compilation Office (1990). 榕城镇志 (Rongcheng Town Chronicles) (in Chinese). Jieyang: Rongcheng Town Local Chronicles Compilation Office.
- ^ "广东揭阳真理堂组织义诊组到山区教会服务 (Guangdong Jieyang Church of Truth organizes free medical consultation team to serve churches in mountainous areas)". 福音时报 (China Gospel Times). 21 February 2013.
- ^ 王海燕 (Wang Haiyan) (22 January 2018). "近代西方传教士在潮汕揭阳的医疗慈善活动 (Modern Western missionaries' medical charity activities in Jieyang, Chaoshan)". 西部学刊 (Western Journal).