One In Christ Church Holds Lunar New Year Celebration

 One In Christ Church celebrated the Lunar New Year  Jan. 25, alongside church members and visitors, hosting a wide assortment of traditional Chinese activities for the community to participate in and enjoy fellowship with one another.  

An exploration of the holiday’s traditional activities, the event included solving biblical riddles, practicing the art of calligraphy, constructing dumplings and playing Mahjong, a classic game in Chinese households.  

“So many cultures celebrate in different ways,” sophomore Taylor Zealand said. “Sometimes they’re more quiet in their faith or more loud and I think it’s cool to learn about that.”  

This year, Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 29, marking the beginning of the year based on the lunar calendar. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the traditional Chinese calendar is used for religious reasons; however, it is also used for agricultural purposes and marking various festivals as well.  

This holiday is considered one of the most notable within Chinese culture.  

The overarching themes of blessings and gratitude are the foundations of the holiday. The festival also recognizes  the end of winter and the beginning of spring. One way these positive sentiments are expressed is through giving and receiving red envelopes. These envelopes usually contain money, representing prosperity in the coming year.  

A year and a half ago, Jennifer Wang started attending One In Christ Church at her cousin’s recommendation. Today, she participates on the worship team through singing and playing the keyboard, as well as assisting with a Bible study. Wang also serves in the Chinese Student Christian Association.  

“I’m so amazed … people can worship God in different language(s),” Wang said. “We can just … reflect God’s image. That’s why we want to … really get to know a lot of people. We see God’s image reflected on … other people.”  

The heart behind this message is displayed through the congregation’s deeply rooted community. Within this gathering, Wang has found others in a similar season of life as her, who are able to hold her accountable and encourage her in her walk with Christ.  

Having been adopted at an early age, senior Jenna Bradfield cherishes the intimate feel of One In Christ Church’s Chinese community.  

“… Experiencing Chinese culture in a setting that also encourages faith has been really impactful to me because God heard the desires of my heart and gave me just what I wanted,” Bradfield said. “That has meant a lot to me to see how faithful God is, not just in the grand scheme of the world, but also to my own little problems. He hears and he cares.”  

Ever since Lynchburg Chinese Christian Church and Freedom Baptist Church merged  to create one diverse body in May 2023, the goal of the ministry aimed to transcend culture and language, unifying a unique body for the Kingdom of God.  

“Oftentimes because the concept of God is so intertwined in American culture, it can be easy to just think that God is America’s God,” Bradfield said. “But, God knows no country or cultural bounds. He speaks to everyone and welcomes all people.”  

 One In Christ Church is, “ … a body of Christians from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds united for the purpose of worshipping God through Christ, edifying the saints, and evangelizing the nations,” according to its website.  

The church’s main worship service begins at 10:45 a.m., but a prayer service also starts at 8:30 a.m. and Sunday school begins at 9:30 a.m.. To find out more about One In Christ Church, visit their website at https://www.oic-church.com/ or visit them in person at 1595 Turkey Foot Rd, in Forest.  

Hagen is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion.