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This church at northern Yunnan was finally built
and dedicated in early 2000 with donations from members, Singapore and HongKong supporters and even an amount of 80,000 yuans
from the local religious bureau who even helped the church to secure the landsite for the building.
The whole process
took them a long 3 years. The initial pastor who started the project couldn't handle the pressure of the financial needs,
felt discouraged and left the church. Later, the local leadership took over and began to share the need about finishing the
project. During the time, the 700 over members kept the faith and continue to meet every Sunday in a borrowed abandoned chinese
temple.
It took them lots of tears and years to finish the work. At the time of the dedication service, the church was
beautifully erected complete with another section for Bible Training Centre. With each challenge they have encountered, the
church members became stronger in our faith. Many members were not discouraged but oftentimes ridiculed by local unbelievers
when the fund were not coming in; "What happened, has your God forgotten about your church and you? Maybe He doesn't care
for you anymore"!
We became a part of the church when we visited them in 1999 as they worship in the packed abandoned
temple. They shared the needs and presented the appeal and asked that we pray for them and help them as soon as we can. At
that time because the building works stopped for at least a year because of the lack of fund, the deterioration begins to
show.
Thank God as we responded to the needs and helped to raise the fund today hundreds and thousands of the believers
in the area are able to worship God freely and faithfully.
Even after the building was built, there was another difficulty
regarding the approval for Pastor Lim to go and speak at the dedication of the building. The approval for Pastor Lim to go
was only given 2 weeks before the date of the dedication and Pastor was informed only one week before the date! Thank God
Pastor Lim manage to re-schedule his meetings, apply for visa and go. Praise God, the dedication was indeed a success, giving
Glory to God.
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