As Thanksgiving approached in 2024, the Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington D.C. (CCCGW) celebrated a combined bilingual Sunday worship and baptism service on November 24. The service opened with heartfelt prayers and uplifting songs of praise, creating a reverent and joyful atmosphere. This was followed by a meaningful baptism ceremony, during which nine brothers and sisters publicly declared their faith through baptism.

The newly baptized individuals spanned a wide age range, from a one-year-old boy to a sister in her seventies, reflecting the diversity and inclusivity of God’s kingdom. Most of them came from the Mark Fellowship, which had recently concluded a fruitful seven-week Happiness Group outreach program. Remarkably, all eight seekers who participated in the program decided to follow Christ, with eight receiving baptism during this service and one planning to be baptized next Easter.

The baptized individuals were: Brother Lucas Lin Wang, Sisters Wei Ying Hu, Jessie Guo, Qian Sun, Danna Liu, Hui Liu, LiFen Yao, Emilia Zhou, and Ting Yao. Their testimonies reflected lives transformed by God’s abundant grace.

May the Lord continue to guide and bless them as they grow in faith and become steadfast witnesses for Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thought-Provoking Sermon

Following worship and praise, Pastor David Rim of the English Ministry delivered a sermon titled “The Other Side of the Question” based on Luke 13:1-5. He addressed spiritual doubts that many wrestle with, such as, “Why does God remain silent?”, “Why does He allow suffering?”, and “Why does He seem indifferent to evil?”

Pastor Rim explored the struggles of biblical figures like David, Job, and Habakkuk, who questioned God amid their trials. He also referenced two tragic events mentioned by Jesus: the Galileans killed by Pilate and the 18 people crushed by the collapse of the tower in Siloam. Pastor Rim connected these biblical tragedies to modern-day occurrences, such as attacks on Christians during worship and Sunday school, to highlight the universal questions: "God, where are You?" and "God, what are You doing?"

As Pastor Rim explained, Jesus' response challenges conventional thinking. These tragedies are not punishments for sin but serve as reminders of the universality of sin and the necessity of repentance. Quoting Jesus’ words, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:5), Pastor Rim emphasized the importance of shifting our focus from questioning God’s actions to reflecting on our own lives: "Why am I still alive, able to experience grace and goodness in a broken world?"

He urged the congregation to recognize God’s daily blessings—life, family, church, and the beauty of creation—as manifestations of His abundant grace. Pastor Rim reminded everyone that gratitude is not rooted in what we deserve, but in God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love—the true essence of Thanksgiving.

Welcoming New Members

As the service concluded, the church held a New Members Welcome Ceremony to acknowledge both the newly baptized and three additional members: HaiYing Zheng, Brother Jack D. Snider and Brother Kevin Seo who officially transferred their membership to CCCGW. Prayers were offered for these brothers and sisters, asking for God’s protection and guidance as they continue their journey of faith.

Fellowship and Celebration

The lunch following Sunday worship was filled with warmth and joy, creating a wonderful opportunity for fellowship. This special meal was generously provided by two families: Sister Lifeng Wang, celebrating the second anniversary of her baptism, and Xuelong Wang and Qiaoya Lin, celebrating their son’s first birthday. To mark the occasion, Xuelong and Qiaoya thoughtfully brought two beautiful cakes for their son’s celebration. The lunch featured a delicious lamb dish, and the meal for the entire church was once again lovingly prepared by the Mark Fellowship.