On November 23, 2014, I walked into CCCGW for the first time. Just like this year’s Thanksgiving service, there was also a baptism, in which my family was invited by a sister to attend her baptism ceremony at the church.

The sister and I met through a university’s network, before she moved to Maryland from another state to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland. Like many students new to the area, she did not know where to live and reached out for help. I remember that I drove her around in the College Park area and found her an apartment close to campus. She was not a Christian at the time but got to know that I am, so a year later, when she decided to get baptized, she naturally invited me to celebrate her baptism at her church, which now has become my spiritual home for the past 11 years. Isn’t our God amazing?

But don’t just take my word for it. This Thanksgiving we had 8 brothers and sisters who were baptized at our church and shared their own amazing journey in Christ:

”Thanks be to my Heavenly Father, who chose and had mercy on my father on earth, working powerfully in his heart, leading him to confess with his mouth, believe in his heart, accept the Gospel, and accept Jesus as his personal Savior! God has turned what seemed so great, difficult, and impossible into a beautiful reality! Thanks be to the pastor and his wife, and all the brothers and sisters for their long-standing prayers and deep love for him; God melted his heart through human love. I have also personally witnessed how God led my father step by step into His temple over the years. Although the process was filled with many difficulties and obstacles, countless tears and prayers, God ultimately accomplished His most beautiful will! All glory belongs to God the Father, who sits on the throne.“ - Sister Xiaofan Li (Sister Xiaofan’s 87-year-old father was the oldest among all who were baptized on Nov 23, 2025)

“I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and he loves me. Through baptism, I show that I love Jesus and want to follow him. I feel happy because now I have a new life and baptism is only the beginning. I am thankful to be part of our church!” - Sister Zoe Chen (9 years old sister, the youngest of all baptized on Nov 23, 2025)

“Thank you to my family and friends for their support and companionship. Baptism was not an easy thing for me, so thank you to the brothers and sisters in the church for their care and prayers over the years. May our church prosper.” - Brother Nick Xu

“Thank God for His protection, allowing me to know Him, as well as sharing more love with others and helping more people come to know God.” - Sister Jianrong Ma

“Thank God, I have become a child of God.  Thank you to all the brothers and sisters in the church for helping me to know God and to grow spiritually in Him. Every time I come to church, my heart is filled with peace and joy.” - Sister Jianrong Dong

Sister Eleanor Ding

 

Sister Xianyu Xu

Brother Sky Wang