Kunshan's newest church located in Zhouzhuang - the Holy Grace Church - was officially dedicated on June 18 in Jiangsu with about 1100 local believers in attendance.
With white walls and black tiles, the church consists of three areas: a three-storey church building, an annex and a bell tower. Combined with the water-town style known in the area and Christian themes, the church features also features other unique features: the main church can hold 1000 people with the area that looks like an olive leaf or a fishing boat from a commanding view; a fish shape is formed if one looks at the annex and the main church's main form and the "triangle" bell tower symbolizes the faith of trinity.
There are also pillars whose top parts extend upwardly has embellishments designed similar to blooming lilies and inside the buildings had interior wood-style decorations.
Rev. Gu Xumei introduced that the gospel was firstly preached into Zhouzhuang, an ancient county, in 1990 when a village woman received the gospel in her relative's home in Shanghai which led the locals to follow Jesus.
In 1994, they worshipped God in a rented kindergarten and they moved to a storehouse two years later.
Before the dedication, the believers had gathered in a rented chapel since October 10, 1999.
As the time went by, the chapel they originally built in the 1970s couldn't hold the increasing congregation and there were security risks in various parts of the area due to various complications.
After the coordination between Kunshan TSPM and the local authoriies, the church got a land of five mu allocated by the local government and started the new church construction in June 2013.
Rev. Gu added that the church now has one teacher, 40 volunteers and 380 registered believers.
"May we hold on to the pure faith of Christ and work to build a united and harmonious church. May we engage in Christian social service and hold charitable activities to glorify God and edify people as well as establish a good social image of Christianity." Said Gu.
