Haidian presents 'a sun basking' moment for China’s Christians.
Christmas comes early in 2018 at the Haidian district as churches present Christmas events on the winter evenings of the second weekend in December.
The calm undisrupted evenings had thousands boldly attend concerts to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ in various government approved churches.
China is a country where religion is tightly controlled by government authorities. Millions of Chinese people practice in house and underground churches since Government only allows Chinese who are over 18 years of age to be part of officially sanctioned Christian groups approved by government.
The celebrations which were centered around the real message of Christmas were characterised by Christian hymns and dance with men from different faiths and from different parts of the world gathering together.
The Beijing International Christian fellowship BICF an institution of International Christians who fellowship together, partnered with China's Haidian Christian church a government approved protestant church, to present a concert that boldly spoke to both the Chinese people and the international community in Haidian.
BICF community exists in Beijing’s education district Haidian catering for International students in Beijing and working Christians from various countries. In large cities with international links like Beijing , foreign visitors have established Christian communities which meet in public establishments such as hotels and, sometimes, local churches. These fellowships, however, are typically restricted only to holders of non-Chinese passports. .
At the Haidian central business district , an outstanding architectural structure with a huge cross stands in between tall office buildings.The church which has been in existence for decades serves the Chinese speaking Christian community.
The Nantang a Catholic establishment is a church that has existed since1605 in the 33rd year of the Wanly Emperor of the Ming dynasty.The western structure that exists today was a contribution by the Jesuit missionaries who had been running the church since it was established.
The South Cathedral brought together its international members to a choral concert by Viva Voce a women singing group comprising of women from different countries but living in Beijing.The Catholic church which is a representation of the Christian journey in China is among the authorised Institutions under the category of patriotic Catholic church.
The weekend event was a time to pass the real message of Christmas to those who hardly know it, a platform to evangelise for the evangelicals to the non-Christians , a moment of reflection to the Christians and most importantly a time to come together and appreciate the things that make us human.
Commentaires