On July 2, Dongguan Church in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, resumed worship services, drawing over 1,600 believers. This marked the first gathering at the church since services were suspended at the end of 2019, a hiatus that lasted over five years.
Dongguan Church was originally established in 1889 by Rev. John Ross, a missionary with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Known then as the "Fengtian Dongguan Presbyterian Church" or "Dongguan Christian Church," it was part of the Shendong Diocese. With a history spanning over 130 years, the church is widely regarded as the oldest, largest, and most influential Protestant church in both Shenyang and Liaoning Province. It also holds significance as the cradle of Christianity for Koreans in China and on the Korean Peninsula.
Rev. Zhang Penghuan, chairperson of Shenyang Municipal Christian Council, delivered a sermon titled "Be a Peacemaker," encouraging believers to embody peace and love as they resumed communal worship. Following the message, the congregation sang the hymn "Love Song" in unison, expressing the shared sentiment of the church community: "Love comes from God, love is God…"
After the service, worshippers joyfully gathered in the church square, exchanging warm greetings, sharing reflections, and expressing how much they had missed the fellowship over the past five years. Many captured the occasion with photographs, commemorating the historic moment.
Currently, the church has resumed services on Wednesdays only. The timeline for the full resumption of Sunday worship will be announced at a later date.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times, and the author reported in Shenyang, Liaoning.)
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
