At 1:30 p.m. on October 25, 2024, a dedication ceremony was held at the Yong’en Church in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Rev. Hu Qiuqiu, director of Pudong New Area CC&TSPM, officiated the service. Rev. Yu Guangzhi, president of Shanghai CC, gave a sermon, and Rev. Xu Lei, vice director and secretary general of Pudong New Area CC&TSPM and senior pastor of Yong’en Church, led the prayer. Rev. Tian Feng, vice director of Pudong New Area CC&TSPM, read the Scripture.

Quoting John 13:34-35, Rev. Yu Guangzhi shared a message titled “A New Commandment”. Rev. Yu noted that the church did not merely refer to the external form as an architectural building. More importantly, it meant the love amongst one another, the unity in Christ, the spirit to serve the society, the life to live out the word of the Lord, and the testimonies of its members. Rev. Yu exhorted all pastoral staff and church members to love one another, be with one heart and one mind, and build a good church of Christ.

Choirs from Yong’en Church and Hong’en Church performed hymns respectively, including O Happy Souls, United Let Us Rise, The Holy City, and Hallelujah. The thanksgiving service of church dedication ended in the singing of I Love Chinese Church Song.

Yong’en Church is located at No. 190, Pingjiaqiao Road, Qiantan, Putong New Area, Shanghai. The laying of the foundation stone was conducted in January 2017, and the construction project was completed in October 2018. The church officially opened on October 25, 2024.

The new church covers an area of 2,027 square meters, with its construction area reaching 2,675 square meters. The main chapel can accommodate 600 people, while the side chapel can provide another 200 seats. Designed by Abalos+Sentkiewicz AS+, an international architecture office, the church building is shaped like a giant white cobblestone. As a new representative church building in Shanghai, it also features a sailing ark, perfectly blending into its surroundings. 

Translator & editor: Bei Feng