The True Jesus Church is a Christian Church that originated in China during the Pentecostal movement in the early twentieth century. The TJC is currently one of the largest Christian groups in China and Taiwan, as well as the largest Chinese Pentecostal church and the largest independent church in the world.
Video True Jesus Church
History
The TJC emerged independently alongside other indigenous Christian groups of that period such as the Little Flock, the Jesus Family and The Christian Tabernacle
Established in 1917, the church's early adherents in Hebei and Shandong were influenced by certain charismatic practices of the Apostolic Faith Mission in China, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, especially faith healing, baptism of the Holy Spirit, footwashing, Sabbath keeping and Oneness Pentecostal theology.
The TJC was founded by Paul Wei (Wei Enbo, 1877-1919) in 1917,. Its early leaders included Lin-Shen Chang (1863--?), who convinced Wei that the church should maintain a seventh-day Sabbath, and Barnabas Zhang (1882-c.1960), who eventually left the group in 1929 and established a rival movement in Hong Kong.
By 1949, the membership grew to around 120,000 in seven hundred churches and today there are officially 1.5 million members in fifty eight countries.
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Current organization
Auckland
In Auckland there are only two churches, Auckland and East Auckland. Even though the number of churches are small, there are many church members.
Mainland China
In mainland China most of the True Jesus Church congregations are members of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, and usually meet on Saturdays in TSPM church buildings as separate sabbatarian sub-congregations. However, since TJC practices such as healing and tongues are "frowned upon" in the TSPM other congregations are independent Chinese house churches.
Taiwan and the United States
Outside China member churches of the TJC look to the central synod of the TJC in California. In 1967 TJC church leaders from outside mainland China met for the first World Delegates Conference in Taiwan, and an international headquarters was established in Taichung, Taiwan, where a seminary was opened. The headquarters was subsequently moved to California in 1985.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, True Jesus Church congregations were established as a result of immigration patterns in the 1960s and 1970s, coming largely from Malaysia and Hong Kong, the latter especially from Ap Chau. This would result in a number of congregations being established throughout the country, particularly in Northern England and Scotland, such as Leicester, Newcastle, Sunderland, Elgin, and Edinburgh.
Beliefs
Practices
The church practices baptism for both adults and infants, with holy communion. Speaking in tongues is practiced and usually occurs while in prayer.
The Church believes that the sacraments must fulfill three requirements according to the Scripture. Firstly, they must have been performed by Jesus Christ himself as an example. Secondly, the sacraments must be directly related to one's salvation, eternal life, entering the Heavenly Kingdom, and having a part with Jesus. Lastly, they must be of the sacraments which Jesus Christ instructed the disciples to perform as well. There are ten essential doctrines and beliefs that the True Jesus Church believe in order to worship God correctly. According to them, one must speak in tongues as evidence of having the Holy Spirit The mode of baptism also determines salvation. The correct mode should be with the head facing down (in the manner of Jesus' death) and only in natural ("living") water.
References
External links
- True Jesus Church (Official Website)
- True Jesus Church China General Assembly
- True Jesus Church United States General Assembly
- True Jesus Church United Kingdom General Assembly
Source of article : Wikipedia
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