On July 31, Gangwashi Church in Beijing held a thanksgiving and praise service themed "Unity" to mark the 45th anniversary of its reopening, with 445 believers in attendance.
According to the church, the evening service began with the hymn "This Is the Day," followed by a sermon from Senior Pastor Rev. Du Fengying, titled "United in Christ," based on Galatians 3:26–29. Rev. Du emphasized that through baptism, believers are united with the life of Christ, becoming children of God and thus one in Jesus Christ. She went on to reflect on the transformation of Gangwashi Church over her 40 years of faith, tracing its journey from humble beginnings to renewed growth.
Following the sermon, two female believers shared testimonies about their faith journeys and how they came to commit to the church.
Founded by the London Missionary Society in 1863, Gangwashi Church is one of the earliest Protestant churches in Beijing. Initially serving both as a hospital and a place of worship, the church was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion and rebuilt in 1903. It joined the Church of Christ in China in 1922, embracing self-support and integrating church, hospital, and school ministries. Forced to close during the Cultural Revolution, the church resumed worship in 1980, becoming one of the first to reopen in the capital. Today, it has over 5,000 members and holds four Sunday services. It has also welcomed foreign dignitaries, including U.S. President George W. Bush and two Secretaries of State.
