On July 27, Gangwashi Church in Beijing conducted a baptism service, during which 33 seekers received baptism.
According to the church, the candidates had completed a year-long catechumenate, attended six systematic baptismal classes, and successfully passed a baptismal interview confirming their understanding of the faith. The group included individuals ranging in age from 20 to over 80. Baptisms were administered through sprinkling, immersion, and confirmation.
At the conclusion of the service, the church presented each newly baptized with a Bible and a rose as gifts.
The church is also scheduled to hold a Thanksgiving and Praise Service on July 31 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of its reopening. Congregants are invited to attend and bring their family and friends to join in the celebration.
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.
