Torrential rain has battered southern China since June 23, 2017, killing 33 with 15 missing and around ten million affected as of July 3, according to China's Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
Ningxiang, a county-level city in Hunan Province, has been hit by the worst flood since 1957, according to a report published by Xinhua News Agency on July 7. It is estimated that 56% of the population, or 815,000 people, have been affected in the county. In addition, a local church and three gatherings were badly damaged.
Ningxiang Gospel Church suffered economic losses of roughly 500,000 yuan. Teacher Wu Lanying of the church told Gospel Times that the disaster swamped the chapel, offices, kitchen, toilet and canteen, resulting in partial peeling on the walls, as well as destroying all the electrical devices when the church was flooded. What was worse, nearly ten thousand copies of the Bible and Christian books were damaged by water. The congregation launched a fundraising campaign that has raised donations of more than 30,000 yuan.
Brother Tao Mingjun, the head of Xieleqiao Gathering, hurt his legs when he salvaged some books. While in the hospital, he was still concerned about the water damaged books. After leaving the hospital, Tao hobbled along to the gathering and exposed the wet books to sunshine on the roof. "He is reluctant to throw books away. A copy of the Bible or hymnal is significant to the rural church."Says Rev. Wu Lanying.
Huitang Gathering is a two-story building constructed in 1989, but it has become dangerous due to the flood. Wu states that the solution to provide a secure place to gather has been not decided because reconstruction will cost over one million yuan and, moreover, the local area may be relocated. Garden Gathering was only damaged a little. Mud was washed into the church so some cleaning work was needed.
The other churches in Hunan are said to be little affected by the flood.
Translated by Karen Luo
