what to expect. “Since Christianity came from the West, people always associate the church with a Western style,” said He Wenqin, director of the Lisu Cultural Center. “T ere had been no eff ort or thought to build churches in a style consistent with Lisu tradition. We are grateful that the ELCA leaders asked that the building refl ect the style and tradi- tion of Lisu people’s dwelling. T is is what we have wanted, but [it] never was realized in the past.” T e Nov. 22 dedication service


for the new church was a grand occasion. Not only were there as many regular congregation mem- bers as could be there—considering the several hour trek some have to make—but also many young adults who are part of a regional church training program. “T e old church was small and


now the whole community is glad to have this new church,” said Qiao Guangwei, a church elder and the local program coordinator. T at sentiment was echoed by


Xiong Su-ma, who at 77 has been a Christian for 10 years: “T is all is very, very good. With the help of God, we have a much better church and I can live happily.” Songs—hymns learned from the


early missionary period as well as newer ones refl ecting contemporary Lisu Christian sensibilities—rang throughout the worship. At the end of the service, the


congregation erupted with the con- temporary Chinese Christian song “Praise the Lord, Alleluia!” T en they stood for a loud recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. “T is new church is splendid,”


said Qiao Weiling, one of the young adult trainees. “It is more solid than the old building, and it truly refl ects our culture in a new way.” He Wenqin said the new Lisu-


looking church gives people “a strong sense of identity … as Christian believers but also as Lisu persons. T is is so signifi cant and a benefi t to the protection and heri- tage of the Lisu culture.” 


A new creation


Feng Wen-guang mar- ried a Christian woman without fully realizing what that meant for their lives together. She was gone a lot for church activities. So he tried to get her to stop attending church and didn’t allow their child to go. But his wife persisted. “I started to wonder why she kept on going to church,” he said. “I thought to myself, there must be something better, something that always made her joyful.” Two weeks before Easter 1997,


Feng Wen-guang


said. “And so when the pastor asked who wanted to seek baptism, I raised my hand.” Several weeks later, he and others walked 40 minutes to a river to be baptized. Now as the chief elder


Feng decided to fi nd out. “There were some 500 people in church, so harmonious, so peaceful,” he recalled. “I had to ask seriously, there must be a God.” The pastor that day preached on 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. “I had been a bad person in my life, and I wanted to change to be a new person,” Feng


of the Lijiang City Yulong County Christian Council, Feng oversees the work of 54 congregations with more than 5,000 members. “When the local council was formed in 1999, we had 106 members in 27 congrega- tions and meeting points,” he said. “Though we have only two full-time pastors, we have many evangelists and a gospel team of 40 who help everywhere, including making visits to members.” In Feng, a new creation has taken


place. And in the local church scene, especially among the Lisu ethnic minority people, a new creation continues to happen.


NOTICE: MOVING SERVICES


Skip Higgins 225-937-0700 (Cell)


“Moving Lutheran clergy to new ministries since 1982.” • Clergy discounts


www.customovers.com ● higginskip@aol.com •Only one survey/ 3 estimates


• Full value protection plans • Internet satellite tracking


CUSTOM MOVERS - FHWA Lic. # MC370752 * Certain Restrictions Apply.


February 2014 37 • Major van lines represented • $200/Day late pick-up/late delivery penalty* • 24/7 cell phone contact to assure your peace of mind


Author bio: Ishida is program direc- tor for Asia Pacific with ELCA Global Mission.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52