On January 3, Shiguang Church in Jieyang, Guangdong, held a dedication ceremony for its new building, coinciding with the church's 160th anniversary. Founded in 1866, the historic church underwent an eight-year reconstruction before officially reopening.
During the ceremony, Senior Pastor Huang Xiaoting presented an overview of the church's development, and Elder Tang Zhouyi delivered a financial report on the construction, said Jieyang Municipal CC&TSPM. At the thanksgiving service, Pastor Xu Jieping, president of Jieyang CC, preached a sermon titled "Fully Offered" based on Romans 12:1, encouraging believers to dedicate their lives, time, talents, and resources to service.
Shiguang Church was originally established by British missionary Rev. George Smith and is among the earliest churches in Jieyang to resume religious activities. It was briefly renamed "Rongcheng Church" in 1986 before restoring its original name in 1996.
To meet the needs of a growing congregation, the church began reconstruction in 2017, with the new building completed on December 1, 2024. The facility covers approximately 5,000 square meters and accommodates over 1,000 worshippers. Its design integrates a Sinicized concept with Lingnan architectural aesthetics, incorporating Chinese calligraphy and painting motifs to reflect Jieyang's cultural heritage.
Shiguang Church currently has seven pastoral workers and draws about 700 attendees to its early and evening Sunday services. The church also offers weekday ministries, including youth fellowship, women's fellowship, and prayer meetings.
