Estimated 50 churches on the mountainside was ruined by a mudslide and landslide caused by a two-mongth lasting downpour. Christians in Fugong County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture are going through hard times. Local pastors call for prayer and help.
Currently the locals feel quite helpless to deal with the natural disasters. The believers whose churches are damaged can no longer worship God as usual, said preacher Di Youtang, the chairman of the local CCC/TSP, in an interview with CCD.
The rain destroyed the roads of the county access to other places as well as the roadway leading from the seat of the prefecture to the county, according to a local Christian called Brother Yang.
It is said that located on the west bank of the Salween River, a two-story church called Laoyan Christian Church was devastated. Under the ground, the church that has a history of a decade also has a basement. Its congregation consisting of about 150 members is doing the cleaning to prepare it for the temporary service place under unknown danger. Meanwhile, the church leaders are searching for a new place.
On April 23, the local Christian organizations called on the whole county to pray for the heavy disaster and informed not to gather in churches when it rained.
He says, "We can't pray to stop raining or for no mudslide because these are the will of God who's in charge of everything... We can only pray that the harm, deaths and injuries as well as the devastation and of houses and churches in the rain season can be minimized ."
Indeed, it turns out to stop raining from that day, says the preacher.
"It's not that God knows nothing about it when we can't do nothing to deal with various natural disasters but that He reminds us in kinds of ways. There is a true God." He replies to the mudslide.
The Christians in Fugong give donation and launch fundraising to build new churches. However, the houses of a large percentage of believers are affected.
He adds, "Our basic requirement is to build simple churches to gather, which is quite good."
The introduction about Christianity in Fugong CountyA century ago, missionaries came into the Grand Canyon of the Salween River and led the local Lisu people to follow Christ.
A pastor of the local CCC/TSPM tells CCD that in the county, there are 360 villages that have a church at least despite their size. Christians take up approximately 70% of the population of Fugong (100,000), what's more, believers account for up to 90% in the rural area and nearly every household believes there in Jesus Christ.
Believers occupy 40% to 50% in the Nu people, who use the Bible and sing hymns in the Lisu languag. However, according to the areas, they diverse in different languages and it's difficult to unify their language.
On Sundays, the locals wear their best costume to worship God in churches.
