Recently a property dispute in a house church of Henan triggered misunderstanding between some believers and a host family, causing a crisis of trust.
The issue started with an agreement of a family. There are three sons and a deceased son who died several years ago. Last summer their mother, a devoted Christian, passed away at 101, leaving the last wish that they should serve God for the generations to come.
Four months after her death, Brother Liu, the youngest son, dedicated an ancestral homestead covering more than 200 m2 or 0.0494 acre to the church according to his mother's will. A church consisting of some bungalows was constructed on the land.
The third eldest son and Liu have built houses near the church. Under the principle that space should be used effectively, there is no space between the church's wall and the wall of Liu's house. The elder brother who serves in the church thinks that Liu was selfish to do this, fearing that he would possess the church building and even the homestead someday. He became angrier for this to the extent that he could hardly eat.
To sooth the brother's anger, Liu proposed to make an agreement that declares that the house is available to church as long as the church stays here; Once the church moves away, the house property will belong to the descendants of the three brothers.
However, some church members interpreted the agreement differently, holding that "some years" refer to three to five years or eight to ten years. Since the house of Liu started to discuss dividing up their house property even before the church construction was not completed, they thought that the family would push the church to be relocated in ten years while the church building was built at the cost of donations from the congregation. It was suggested that the church purchase the land so that nobody would get involved in the issue. Nonetheless, no one was willing to be the church's legal representative to sign the contract.
Actually Brother Liu, who has inherited the ministry of her mother and opened his house for gatherings, has led the church into revival from desolation after decades' efforts. Serving in the church as a leader, he is also a key co-worker of about 100 local churches in the parish. As an advocate for church revolution and the transformation of the house church, he has initiated many revolutions. Similar to many faithful servants of God, he gave up opportunities to work in the city and gives priority to the work of God's house. At the age of over 60, he can't afford to build a bungalow, who is not ashamed of this.
The situation of Brother Liu and his church is not the exception in China but a common problem during the transition of the Chinese traditional house church.
The contradiction between the church leader and laypersons or distrust between the host family and the congregation is impossible to be avoided due to the lack of a perfect administrative system in the church.
I believe that the solution to the problem might be like this: first of all, guide the church to study the biblical truth; then lead the life of the congregation to maturity; then, improve the church administration.
So the basic foundation of a healthy church or the essential part of church management by church leaders lies in a trust relationship between the congregation and the church staff and unity between churches.
Translated by Karen Luo
