| Invited by President Hu Jintao, US President
George W. Bush paid a state visit to the People's Republic
of China from November 19th to 21st. During his visit, Mr.
Bush also attended a Sunday service in Beijing.
At 7:25 a.m. on November 20th, Mr. Bush,
accompanied by his wife Laura Bush, US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, US National Security Assistant Stephen Hardley,
Rev. Louis Palau, and U.S. Ambassador Clark T. Randt Jr. and
his wife, arrived at Gangwashi Church in Beijing's Xicheng
District to attend Sunday service. Rev. Yu Xinli, an associate
General Secretary of the CCC and President of Beijing Christian
Council/TSPM, and Du Fengying, senior pastor of Gangwashi
church, greeted them when they arrived.
President and Mrs.Bush with the choir
and the pastors of the Gangwashi church
Rev. Yu expressed his welcome to Mr. Bush,
who responded by saying how glad he was to come to the church.
Later, President and Mrs. Bush signed their names with blessings
in the guest book: ¡°May God bless the Christians in China¡±.
¡°May God¡¯s love and almighty power be with you¡±.
Rev. Yu presented the President and Mrs. Bush with a bi-lingual
Bible and The New Hymnal published by the CCC/TSPM.
Afterward the guests entered the church. Assistant pastor
Zhang Shuqiang hosted the service. He first introduced the
guests to the believers attending the service, who responded
with applause to show their welcome. Senior pastor Du Fengying
preached on ¡°Love never ends¡±. Mr. Bush and other distinguished
foreign guests prayed, sang hymns, and listened attentively
to the sermon with the help of an interpreter.
President Bush's sisning on the guestbook
The worship ended in an atmosphere of harmony.
As the guests left, they shook hands with the believers standing
along the passage and hugged many old believers.
President Bush shook hands with the pianist
and the choir director and suggested to have a picture taken
with the pastors and the choir. ¡°Laura and I want to thank
you very much for your hospitality,¡± Mr. Bush said to the
pastors. ¡°Our friend, Luis Palau from America, is here as
well. The spirit of the Lord is very strong inside your church
¨C we thank you for carrying a message of love like you did.¡±
President Bush made a point of stopping his
car to give Rev. Du an offering. The accompanying persons
also put offerings in the offering box.
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