Becoming Mark in the New Era

I. Grateful for God’s Provision — The Birth of Mark Fellowship

Mark Fellowship was established in January 2023, emerging from the third session of the Happiness Group evangelistic event hosted by the Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. (CCCGW) in the latter half of 2022. Under God’s guidance, members from the Victorious Happiness Group, the former Christian Church in Clarksburg, and brothers and sisters from Potomac, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and surrounding areas came together with one heart to form this new fellowship. By God’s grace, Mark Fellowship has now celebrated its second anniversary and continues to grow and thrive.

The vision and mission of Mark Fellowship are to spread the gospel widely and lead people to Christ through effective evangelistic platforms such as the Happiness Group. Our fellowship primarily reaches out to seekers — individuals who are eager to know God, pursue truth, and explore the Christian faith. Regardless of age, background, or social status, we warmly welcome anyone who seeks to know the Lord and invites them to join us in the pursuit of truth and the knowledge of Christ.

Currently, the fellowship is led by brothers Si Hai Xu, Kun Zhang, and Xuelong Wang, with Bible study leaders including Pastor Daniel Zhao, Kun Zhang, Si Hai Xu, and Songping Wang. During the seventh session of the Happiness Group in 2024, God raised up even more co-workers to serve. Brothers Mark Lin and Shupeng Ho from Genesis Fellowship were invited to join as Bible study leaders, further strengthening and enriching the spiritual guidance of Mark Fellowship.

II. Grateful for God’s Guidance — The Growth of Mark Fellowship

Looking back over the past two years, we have witnessed God’s amazing work in leading Mark Fellowship from nothing to something, from small to large. Between 2023 and 2024, under the guidance of Pastor Daniel Zhao, eight families — including the families of Si Hai Xu, Kun Zhang, Jiaqi Liu, Hongyan Xu, Peilin Cong, Lifeng Wang, and Grace Wang — faithfully served the Lord. They willingly offered themselves as God’s vessels, using their family homes as places of worship and gathering, actively spreading the gospel in their communities, schools, workplaces, and among friends.

As the evangelistic efforts expanded, the fellowship grew rapidly from an initial group of over 20 people to a large spiritual family of more than 50 members. To better facilitate the growing fellowship, Mark Fellowship established a co-worker team and a regular prayer group. The regular fellowship gathering and Bible study were set on Saturday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Besides participating in the church’s two annual Happiness Group evangelism events, fellowship members also strive to live out the gospel in their daily lives.

Starting in 2025, we felt God's calling to extend our ministry to the Potomac area by moving our weekly gatherings to St. James Episcopal Church. This strategic move aimed to reach more Chinese families in the area, inviting them to church and expanding God's kingdom. Additionally, our co-worker and prayer meetings were rescheduled from Thursday evenings to Tuesday evenings from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, allowing more members to participate.

 

III. Grateful for God’s Leading — The Impact of Mark Fellowship

As a newly formed fellowship, many of our members are newly baptized believers who are still getting to know one another and establishing bonds of trust. To strengthen our spiritual growth and deepen our relationships, we intentionally create opportunities for meaningful interactions. These include testimony sharing during Happiness Group, small group prayer time, potluck meals, and opportunities to serve together in the church. Through these activities, members not only grow closer in everyday life but also build strong spiritual partnerships.

When someone faces difficulties in life, we support and help one another; when someone experiences spiritual weakness, we pray for and encourage one another. This Christ-centered love has taken deep root in Mark Fellowship and continues to bear fruit. We are committed to embodying God’s love in our daily lives, workplaces, and relationships — not only among our church family but also toward those who do not yet know Christ.

We actively invite seekers to join our Happiness Groups, Bible studies, and Sunday services. By opening our homes for gatherings, we create a warm and welcoming space where friends can gradually develop a curiosity and hunger for God’s truth. Our goal is that they will one day open their hearts to Christ.

Furthermore, we leverage both online and in-person platforms to expand our outreach beyond local boundaries, connecting with friends from both China and the U.S.. By doing so, we provide more opportunities for people to hear the gospel, witness God's miraculous work, and ultimately become citizens of God’s kingdom. We firmly believe that God will continue to use Mark Fellowship to accomplish more amazing works — spreading the gospel, transforming lives, and bringing glory to His name.

IV. Grateful for God’s Strength — The Ministry of Mark Fellowship

Mark Fellowship is deeply committed to raising up a strong spiritual army that can take on the sacred mission of evangelism. Our focus is not only on individual spiritual growth but also on the collective spiritual development of the entire fellowship. Pastor Zhao and his wife lead by example, demonstrating a life of devotion and service. The fellowship leaders, brothers Si Hai Xu and Kun Zhang, have humbly stepped up to lead and serve, while brothers take turns leading Bible study and sisters offer heartfelt worship through songs.

During the Happiness Group seasons, members are encouraged to share their personal testimonies, proclaiming the wonders God has done in their lives. These real-life testimonies not only strengthen the faith of believers but also inspire seekers to pursue the truth of the gospel. It is through these powerful testimonies that the message of salvation continues to spread.

In addition to regular gatherings, Mark Fellowship members actively participate in various church ministries, including Stephen Ministry, ushering, kitchen service, and supporting various church events. This spirit of humble service has become a visible testimony of God's grace. In 2025, brothers Xuelong Wang and sister Grace Wang were called by God to serve as church deacons, modeling a heart of joyful and sacrificial service for the entire fellowship.

We thank God for transforming Mark Fellowship into a vibrant, energetic, and spiritually growing family, where each member serves with humility and dedication, making God’s name known in the church and beyond.

V. Grateful for God’s Grace — The Future of Mark Fellowship

Looking back on the past two years, Mark Fellowship has remained committed to the vision of fearing the Lord, following the Lord, and walking with the Lord. In these two years, we have successfully held four seasons of the Happiness Group evangelistic events, witnessing many seekers become believers, and many believers get baptized and become God’s children.

As Mark Fellowship continues to grow, God continues to expand our mission field. On February 1, 2025, our church held the New Year Fellowship and Prayer Gathering at St. James Episcopal Church, with eight fellowships participating, including Martha Fellowship, Living Water Fellowship, Genesis Fellowship, Aijia Fellowship, Unity Young Adult Fellowship, Unity Family Fellowship, Carmel Fellowship, and Mark Fellowship. On that day, we united in prayer, asking God to prosper His church, expand His kingdom, and grant Mark Fellowship a harvest of souls in the new mission field.

We deeply thank the Lord for His guidance and provision. After more than two years of growth and refining, Mark Fellowship has begun to flourish and bear fruit for the Lord. In the Thanksgiving Baptism Service of 2024, nine brothers and sisters were baptized, publicly declaring their faith and becoming children of God. All glory, praise, and thanksgiving belong to our Lord Jehovah!

Looking ahead, starting March 1, 2025, WCCC will launch the eighth Happiness Group session, and Mark Fellowship will continue to uphold its vision of working alongside the Lord and expanding His kingdom. We will actively invite more friends to join our gatherings, so they may come to know God, revere Him, and follow Him, ultimately experiencing the new life of grace and blessing in Christ. We trust that God will continue to lead us, enabling us to spread the gospel far and wide and witness more lives being saved for His kingdom. Amen!

*Special thanks to Sister Wendy Cao for providing a detailed introduction to Mark Fellowship and for sharing photos.