Whenever I think of the Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C., my heart is first moved to thank God for His faithful guidance and overflowing grace. Warmth wells up within me, and a stream of treasured memories comes gently flowing back.

Our church was founded in 1958 and is now in its sixty-seventh year. For sixty of those years—a full jiazi, or sixty-year cycle—our Lih family has had the privilege of worshiping and growing here. Today, our family spans three generations with fourteen members in all. Except for one year, from 1970 to 1971, when my husband, Minxing, took our family to Taiwan while serving as a visiting professor, we have never left this church.

The Lord blessed us with two sons and a daughter, each of whom, in time, came to belong to the name of the Lord Jesus and grew up within the church. In their teenage years, they formed deep and lasting friendships with many brothers and sisters their age—bonds that remain close to this day. I still remember my eldest son, while in college, saying, “I don’t need to join a fraternity, because I’ve already been part of the best fellowship in the world.”

In the early days, there was not always a dedicated youth pastor to guide the ministry, yet parents were deeply committed to nurturing their children. Young people also had opportunities to develop self-governance and leadership skills, fostering a personal and intimate relationship with God. They created a true sense of belonging to the church—not merely attending because their parents did, but recognizing it as their spiritual home. It is heartening to see that today, several of these young people who were raised here have become devoted deacons, ministry co-workers, and even courageous workers in the mission field. This truly highlights the importance of children’s and youth ministry.

Personally, over the years, participating in family ministry, youth teaching, Chinese school, and other church activities has allowed me to meet many kind and God-loving sisters in Christ. They have never treated me as an “elderly lady” older than themselves; instead, they have welcomed me to grow alongside them in the Lord, to serve together, learn together, rejoice together, and share. Being part of this fellowship has made me feel much younger at heart and has filled me with the sweet blessing of unity in the Lord.

As we reflect on CCCGW, it truly is a blessed church, full of love and open arms. May God continue to watch over and protect us. In recent years, under the faithful guidance of Pastor Zhao, Pastor Rim, and their wives, all our ministries have advanced smoothly. May we not only love the church but also care for the Lord’s servants, so that our church, the oldest Chinese church in Maryland, may continue to shine as a golden lampstand in the community, bearing witness to God’s greatness and proclaiming His salvation.

Finally, I would like to share one of my favorite Bible verses as an encouragement to all:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16–18