Little church on the
mountain U
Meile Anqi (Rock of Ages) Christian Church incorporates traditional Lisu elements in its architecture.
By Emily Demuth Ishida and Y. Franklin Ishida Photos by Y. Franklin Ishida
nder the golden rock face of the mountains in the northern Yunnan
province of China nestles a small white church with a tile roof. In the spring more than 200 Lisu worshipers and their international guests, including ELCA Presiding Bishop Eliza- beth 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. Te gospel was first brought 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. Te ELCA first connected with a Lisu community
north of Lijiang aſter 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. Te newly dedicated Meile Anqi (Rock of Ages)
Christian Church is the most recent development. “Tis is the best facility in the province for the people,” He said. Te small complex includes the church building, a community center, a kitchen and outhouses. Its
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Children sing during a three-day vigil held prior to Easter (top photo). Students at the Yulong Bible Training Center prepare to serve the church.
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, preach- ing and other skills to equip them to be lay leaders and evangelists. Tey 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. Tey will rise to meet the challenges of contemporary society that take many newly baptized away from the church. Trough it all, the ELCA is committed to accompanying the Lisu community in their 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.”
Author bios: Franklin Ishida is director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission. Emily Ishida is a freelance writer. They are members of Grace Lutheran Church, Villa Park, Ill.
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