The Greensboro Chinese Christian Church

A Brief Church History

The formal meeting of Chinese Christians in the Greater Greensboro area (also known as the Triad area) of North Carolina began as a monthly Bible study group in 1970. The meetings were generally held at the Westover Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.  Although the group met quite regularly, as a result of the mobility of the group members and the low density of Chinese in the Triad area back in those years, the condition for forming a church did not become mature until seventeen years later.

The first worship service of the Greensboro Chinese Christian Church (GCCC) on April 24, 1988 was made possible through many people’s prayer and with the help of Dr. James L. Jarrard at the Immanuel Baptist Church (IBC).  The church was incorporated in March 1996 and  we are fortunate to have the use of the IBC facilities and the support of its members. To this day, we still hold our meetings and worship there, and our children attend IBC’s Children’s Sunday school programs.  Currently, the GCCC Building Committee is actively working on a new site for our worship and fellowship.

GCCC’s membership grew gradually ever since its first worship service in 1988 with the voluntary and part-time help from Rev. John Tsai.  It currently has approximately regular 70 members;  most members are in the age range of 30’s to 50’s.  Furthermore, we have substantial number children and college students in our congregation.  Many of our members are in various professions/businesses and have young families.

The organizational structure is composed of the pastor, deacon board and the board of directors.  Our regular meetings include Sunday worship, Sunday school, Wednesday prayer meeting, monthly family fellowships meetings and Friday night Bible study.  The Friday night Bible study is further divided into several groups according to topic.

While most members have been Christians for many years, there also many very active individuals who are young in the faith. Amongst us are also several non-Christians who have been coming consistently or with their believing spouses.

Overall, the Triad area has a small but gradually increasing Chinese population, mainly young professionals. The outreach to students, scholars, and professionals that have recently come from mainland China represents a particular challenge and will remain a focal point of the church’s future ministries.

CHURCH ACTIVITIES

Worship services

The Sunday worship is conducted in Mandarin Chinese with Cantonese, and occasional English translation.  The site of worship is the Education building of the Immanuel Baptist Church, at 2432 High Point Road, Greensboro. Our worship is a time in which we praise and glorify God in truth and spirit.  The worship service includes Bible reading, prayer, singspiration, sacred music, and sermon.  Announcements and tithing are also made during the worship.  Children worship is conducted concurrently and separately.  Our worship service is open to all. 

Sunday school

Bible Study

Friday nights are reserved for Bible study.  The subject of study varies from group to group, depending on the needs.  The Bible study groups are:  Seekers group in Mandarin and in English, College Bible study, Cantonese Bible study, Basic Doctrine class and Advanced Bible study.

Fellowships

The Song of Songs Mandarin fellowship, Grace Mandarin fellowship, Living Water Mandarin fellowship, Cana Mandarin fellowship, LingLiang Mandarin fellowship, Elim Cantonese fellowship and Jireh Cantonese fellowship held monthly with the purpose of cultivating understanding, care, and support for each other.  Activities include Bible study, sharing, discussions, and seminar.  Special outings and retreats are also occasionally arranged. Communication and interaction are always encouraged. Depending on the nature of the activity, an appropriate location is selected.  Most fellowship meetings are held at a member‘s house or the church.  Student fellowship is more dynamic in nature.  Its arrangement is nevertheless similar to that of the rest of the fellowships.

Prayer meeting

This meeting provides time for the sharing of prayer request, singspiration, and prayer. It is approximately one and a half hour in length and is generally held on Wednesdays at the church.  It is where, through our prayers to God, many might works of God begins.

Outreach ministry

Small group gatherings are held for seekers and young Christians on a periodic basis. For the non-Christians seekers, the focus is evangelistic and topics that would be of interest to the seekers are covered. For young Christians, the primary goal is to reaffirm and build up their Christian faith through studying the basic Christian doctrines. These meetings are planned and arranged on an as-needed basis. Activities may include Bible studies and topical discussions.

Other meetings

Fall newcomer/new student picnic, Revival meetings, Missions conference, Easter celebration, Thanksgiving special meeting and Christmas program are all part of our annual events.

GREENSBORO CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH PASTOR

CHURCH ADMINISTRATORS AND COMMITTEES

Board of Directors

Gordon Tsang, Allen Lo, Liangqin Chen and Stephen Changare the GCCC board members, responsible in making sure the church is true to its master, Jesus Christ, and the church constitution, as well as representing the church in external and legal affairs.

Deacon Board

Allen Lo (Chairman), John Chiang, Thomas Wu, Mahn Ly, Liangqin Chen, Zhigang Xu, John Wong and Stephen Chang are the Deacons.  The GCCC Deacon Board follows our WIFE church blueprint, each responsible for the following aspects of church function:  Worship, instruction (education), fellowship & evangelism (WIFE), and in addition,caring and general affairs and administrative secretary.  The board is the primary body of church management.  Members of this board exert strong spiritual as well as administrative leadership.

Committees

Pulpit (Pastoral) Committee

Allen Lo (chairman), Zhigang, Thomas and Mahn work as team to serve as the bridge between the congregation and the pastor.  This body works to facilitate dialog in addition to keeping the communication channel clear between the pastor and his flock.  The Pulpit Committee automatically becomes the Pastoral Search Committee as needed.

Building Committee

Stephen Chang (chairman), Gordon Tsang, Eric Chien and Jack Chi are responsible for leading the church building effort.  This committee is responsible for fund raising, planning, site selection and the construction of a new church building.

Missions Committee

Mahn Ly (chairman), Philip Lei, Suyun Chen, Liangjing Wu & Lixin Fu spearheads the Great Commission of Jesus Christ;  “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. “ (Acts 1:8)  GCCC devotes significant amount of resources and effort into local (Greater Greensboro) and foreign (primarily mainland China) evangelical and missions work.

Church Profile at a Glance (2004)

Church Congregation   Households 60 Sunday Worship Attendance   Adult 110 Children 55     Sunday School Adult 45 Sunday School Children 30     Professionals 35 Workers 10 Non Working Spouses 35 Students 20 Children 65 Retirees 5     Management Board of Directors Deacon Board      Worship Department      Education Department      Fellowship Department      Evangelism Department      Caring and Support Department      General Affairs Department      Secretary Department Pulpit / Pastoral Search Committee Missions Committee Church Building Committee   Fellowships House of Song of Songs Mandarin Fellowship House of Grace Mandarin Fellowship House of Living Water Mandarin fellowship House of Cana Mandarin fellowship House of LingLiang Mandarin fellowship House of Elim Cantonese Fellowship House of Jireh Cantonese Fellowship Student Fellowship   Evangelism Outreach Fun Friday (Monthly Sports night)   Education Sunday School Children Sunday School Friday Night Bible Study Friday Night Children Program

OUR CHURCH VISION

To build a church that honors the will of God

 Facilitates the disciples in worship, instruction, fellowship and evangelism.

GREENSBORO CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH BLUEPRINT

2005
Dedicate to the Lord & Fight the Good Fight

2004
Stretch out dwelling & Strength Stakes

2003
Pursue Holiness & Become the Bride

2002
Live Out Christ & Preach Out Christ

2001
Serve as One & Build as One

2000
Grow into Maturity & Become Lord’s Disciple

1999
Take Root Below & Bear Fruit Above