On May 23, nearly 1,000 local Christians and 40
North American and Japanese Christians gathered in the brand new church
in Rugao, China, to officially open the church. Rugao is where the
Christian Reformed Church sent it's first overseas missionaries in
1920. Those missionaries had to flee before the Communist takeover
in 1950. For the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of
those early missionaries, it was a moving service to see such testimony
of God's faithfulness. God is good!
Rugao: Grand Opening
The Construction of the New Church in Rugao
The Rugao church in Rugao, China was built on the foundations of the work done by early CRC missionaries in China. Currently, 500 people meet each week at Evangelist Lu's home. Christian Reformed World Missions is helping this group of believers construct a much-needed church for the area. When it is finished, it will be the only recognized church for a 45-km radius.
- Download Banner article on Rugao (PDF: 5pgs/220k)
The new church in Rugao, China. The first worship service was held in the new church on Christmas day, 2003.
Ground breaking for the church building in Rugao was on July 9, 2002. Women of the church did more than watch!
Kurt Selles of Beijing, grandson of missionaires to the Rugao area, does much more in Rugao than just attend ground-breaking ceremonies.
These women are excited about the idea of having a 1,000-seat sanctuary to worship in. Currently, the 500+ people who come to church each week have to cram into Evangelist Lu's home.
Albert Hamstra, CRWM's program director for Asia, lends at hand at the July 9 ground-breaking ceremony. On the left (white shirt) is Evangelist Lu.
Construction Begins of the Rugao
Church
Progress in the Construction of the Rugao Church
