English Language Christian Church

[kptan]

Does anyone know of an English language Christian Church near BLCU?

[Brian US]

Don't think you will find a large gathering around BLCU, but there are smaller groups that get together. A quick search on thebeijinger.com comes up with a lot of results, especially if you don't mind traveling a little. Is there a certain church you are looking for (protestant/catholic/ect.)?

One post I found on thebeijnger.com mentions that foreigners cannot have service with locals together. This is the first I have heard and I have several friends that have gone to Chinese speaking services without a problem. Anyone know if this is true?

[roddy]

I'm not sure what the actual rules and laws are, but I'd imagine that a foreign-run service is, being not under the ultimate control of the state, off-limits to Chinese people. You see 'foreign passport holders only' requirements sometimes for this reason. I expect foreigners are welcome at the official Chinese services, as long as they don't expect get up and preach. There are presumably no rules on unofficial prayer meetings and house churches as they are, after all, unofficial, but foreigners turning up may attract attention.

[abcdefg]

Some three years ago I was spending the weekend in a popular "international type" business hotel in Kunming. On Sunday morning I wandered around on one of the “banquet and meetings” floors after breakfast and encountered an informal religious service just beginning in an otherwise unused lecture hall.

A uniformed police officer was stationed at the door by a table where foreigners wishing to attend had to show their passports and be officially signed in on an attendance sheet.

I live in the “Bible Belt” of Texas where there seems to be some kind of church on almost every street corner and every third station on the car radio is a fervent gospel preacher. Not being religious myself, I found this more cautious Chinese approach to the practice of Christian religion rather refreshing.

Controversial topic, of course.

[calamindos]

Does anyone know of an English language Christian Church near BLCU?

Protestant or Caatholic?

Some three years ago I was spending the weekend in a popular "international type" business hotel in Kunming. On Sunday morning I wandered around on one of the “banquet and meetings” floors after breakfast and encountered an informal religious service just beginning in an otherwise unused lecture hall.

A uniformed police officer was stationed at the door by a table where foreigners wishing to attend had to show their passports and be officially signed in on an attendance sheet.

I live in the “Bible Belt” of Texas where there seems to be some kind of church on almost every street corner and every third station on the car radio is a fervent gospel preacher. Not being religious myself, I found this more cautious Chinese approach to the practice of Christian religion rather refreshing.

Controversial topic, of course.

Were Chinese allowed to attend the service freely?

I came accross a few Protestant churches where people had to show their passpport to prove that they were foreigners, as Chinese weren't allowed to attend.

I also found it refreshing that Easterners thought Christianity was a western doctrine that had to have an eye kept on, and Westerners thought that it was an Occidental religion. It's probably just because it's more popular in the west, even if Christianity is an Asian religion

[abcdefg]

Were Chinese allowed to attend the service freely?

I didn't see any attempting to attend, so I don't know if they would have been allowed or not.

[SeekTruthFromFacts]

Back to the original topic: you have two options.

1) International Church

You'd be very welcome at Beijing International Christian Fellowship in Zhongguancun. http://www.bicf.org/congregation/zgc/english-service

* English-language services every Sunday at 9 am and 11 am

* You can walk or cycle from BLCU, but if you're a lazy student, get the subway (Wudaokou>Line 13>Zhichunli>Line 10>Haidian Huangzhuang) or a taxi.

* We're in the basement of an office building, so you *will* need the map at http://www.bicf.org/images/BICFMap/ZGCDirection.pdf

*The main student meeting Fridays@The Oasis, 7.30 pm at the same place

* There are other small groups right in Wudaokou

* There may be special activities people from your home country/region.

* You must bring your passport or other foreign ID, because of local government regulations. But it's enforced by friendly church members, not scary police!

2) Chinese Church

If you want to meet with local Chinese people, try Haidian (government) Church

*English service at 12 pm on Sundays

*At Haidian Book City, but just tell a taxi driver to take you to 海淀基督教堂.

*You can't miss it - look for the big white building that says "Haidian Christian Church" with a huge red cross.

*You may need to arrive early and queue to get a seat, especially at Christmas, etc.

*If you want to meet local people here, you'll need to persevere a bit, because there are far more visitors than regular members. Make sure you go to the welcome meeting.

*They are about to start small groups on Sunday afternoons.

*As Roddy also noted, you don't need ID, but there are limits to your involvement.