On July 19, 2018, a new church was dedicated in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, marked as the first reconstruction church in the city, according to CCC&TSPM. Pastoral workers, deacons, and believers from the city's 22 churches witnessed the good news.
Over two decades ago, the dedication ceremony of the old sanctuary of Jiujiawan Church was held. Rev. Zhang Ling of the church recalled its founding, development, and reconstruction.
Rev. Li Qinfeng who represented the Urumqi CCC sent a Bible verse plaque to the church.
The earliest document of the Christian preaching activities in Xinjiang before 19th century goes back to the first half of 6th century. In this long historical periods, the main preaching mode was through Nestorianism in Xinjiang area. From 1892 to 1938, missionaries sent out by Swedish Covenant Missionary Church converted over 300 local Turki to Christians and founded the first Turki church.
The China Inland Mission was the first preaching group that entered Xinjiang, and its main work was done in Urumqi area of the east by north Xinjiang. SIn 1876, 16 years earlier than Swedish missionaries, Dr. Lansdell from the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Royal Geographical Society, and George Park from the CIM entered Xinjiang, to investigate provincial-widely, and give out or sell Christian reading materials along their patrols. In 1905, CIM sent Mr. Hu Jingjie to build a preaching station at the capital DiHua (today's Urumqi).
