On October 22, 2016, the foundation stone laying ceremony of Agape Church of Tuqiao, Funing, was held with local church leaders and believers in attendance. The local church has also signed an aided construction contract with the Shanghai Agape Foundation.
Located in Chenliang Town, Funing, the former church, Tuqiao Church, was destroyed to ruins by the 2016 Jiangsu tornado that battered the province on June 23. The disaster pushed down the church's seven houses and five annexes, causing the direct loss of around 1 million yuan. As a result, the congregation of over 300 believers could not attend services together.
Knowing the situation, Rev. Shen Xuebin, the chairman of Shanghai CCC&TSPM, and Elder Chen Zhiming, the secretary, led Shanghai's parish leaders to visit Funing. Then, the Shanghai Agape Foundation decided to assist the new church construction and be in charge of all the expenditures, suggesting a new church name called "Agape Church".
The bent structural church building will have a construction area of 440.72 m2 at the height of 8.7 m.
