Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington District of Columbia

Have you ever heard of a church born from a Bible study group? The Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. has just such a story. Right here, where we stand, began a spiritual journey. In 1957, a handful of Chinese students, led by Ted Choy, started meeting. They gathered in the office of International Students, Inc. on Calvert Street for Bible study. This small group blossomed into something bigger. On August 31, 1958, the Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington held its first Mandarin worship service. About twenty people attended this landmark event. The Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. quickly outgrew its original space. They relocated to a larger facility at 5709 16th Street, N.W. Officially incorporated as “Chinese Mandarin Church,” the church welcomed Rev. Moses Chow as its first pastor. This non-denominational Protestant church relied on the Bible for guidance. It remained financially independent through the generosity of its members. Rev. Chow led the church until 1969, when he transitioned to become Director of Ambassadors for Christ. Rev. Fred Cheung then became the second pastor of the Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. He spearheaded a building project, which led to the purchase of the Piney Branch Road location. The sanctuary was completed in March 1971. The church was then renamed “Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C.” The church continued to grow over the next fifty years. It held firm to its biblical foundation. Its mission became “biblical, prayerful, unified, and sending.” In 1972, the Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington expanded its reach. It launched an overseas mission ministry and held annual Missions Conferences. These supported overseas missions and short-term trips. The church’s local evangelism led to a branch in Germantown in 2004, which later became independent. Another branch followed in Clarksburg, Maryland, in 2008. The Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. also focused on ministry for Chinese students at nearby universities. In 2011, the church purchased two houses and an empty lot next to the church. This enabled future expansion. The Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018. Renovations included a new entrance ramp, more parking, and an electric stairway chair lift. The church’s leadership consists of an Elder Board and an Official Board. Today, Rev. Daniel Zhao serves as the Chinese Pastor and Rev. David Rim as the English Pastor. The Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington, D.C. continues to welcome everyone to join its spiritual family.