On June 26, the Shenzhuang Christian Activity Site in Cao County, Heze City, Shandong Province, held a dedication ceremony attended by nearly 400 individuals, including church staff and believers from various Christian venues across the county.
During the event, Qin Aijun, director of the Shenzhuang Christian Activity Site, shared a testimony about the site's construction process, said the county's TSPM.
Christianity was introduced to Cao County in 1901 by American Mennonite missionary Rev. Henry Cornelius Bartel and his wife, Nellie Schmidt. In 1905, Bartel founded what later became the China Mennonite Mission Society, which carried out evangelical work in Shandong, Henan, and other regions. In addition to evangelical work, the organization also established schools, orphanages, and publishing houses. After 1937, the church in Cao County gradually adopted the "Three-Self" principles. In 1953, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee was officially established, overseeing 23 meeting points. However, during the Cultural Revolution, churches were demolished and religious activities were suspended. Following the reform and opening up, the church was restored, and by 1985, 22 meeting points had been reestablished.
