On October 29, the "2025 Light and Salt Community Service Day," hosted by Beijing CC&TSPM and organized by Gangwashi Church, took place at Gangwashi Church.
According to Beijing CC&TSPM, at the opening of the event, Rev. Du Fengying, senior pastor of Gangwashi Church, highlighted the church's more than 20 years of social service, emphasizing its enduring commitment to "caring for society and serving the public" through active participation in charitable initiatives.
Rev. Liu Cuimin, president of Beijing CC, reflected on the achievements of the program since its launch in 2016, noting that in 2024 alone, churches across the city invested over 3.2 million yuan in social services, directly benefiting more than 16,000 individuals.
The event provided a range of services, including haircuts, traditional Chinese medicine massage, acupuncture, and legal consultations, assisting a total of 132 people.
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.
