Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Album: Harbin — Contemporary Christian Church
As foreign visitors to Harbin, our North American team looked for a church to attend on Sunday. While the language was different, much of the style of worship was similar to what is practiced the world over.
Click on the first image to display in full-screen mode.
The Hallelujah Church (English name). It is reported to have been built only ten years ago (maybe 2001).
Over the doorway is displayed a picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Inside the front door we were welcomed with a smile. If Christ is the shepherd, all of us are the sheep.
Another picture portrays the Palm Sunday story of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem as the Messiah King.
We arrived about 15 minutes before the start of the service. With the balcony above, perhaps 1500 were gathered.
Like contemporary Christian worship elsewhere, music is often provided by young people on guitars, drums and electronic keyboard.
This group of four singers led the gathered group in a number of rousing worship songs and hymns.
The “praise and worship” time was an enthusiastic expression of praise and thankfulness to God.
Harbin has a tradition of great music. During the service, this excellent choir performed twice.
The woman pastor of the church, gave a 25-minute sermon. Friends with us who knew Chinese were very impressed with the message.
After everyone had left the service, preparations were quickly made to accommodate a wedding ceremony.
After the service, I went looking for the bookstore. Workers were doing constructions work while the service was in progress.
We were much impressed with the variety of approved titles available for sale in the bookstore.
Many of us foreigners bought items as momentos of our visit.
