| Since 1970s many Chinese scientists and engineers
have joined Bell Labs and other high-tech companies in the area, and
settled in Monmouth County. Among them, some Christian families started
gathering together to study the Bible and share the gospel to their
Chinese colleagues. Monmouth Chinese Christian Church was organized on
September 1st, 1978 in Holmdel and Middletown, New Jersey, largely through
the efforts, leadership and guidance of On-Ching Yue, Ming-Whui Yang,
Steven S. Cheng and Chinlon Lin. The organization was known as Monmouth
Chinese Christian Fellowship then. Gradually the members had the vision to
set up a church to take care of their own spiritual needs. Monmouth
Chinese Christian Church (MCCC) was established with its first Sunday
Worship service on January 2nd, 1983. The congregation met in various members’ homes
from 1978 to 1982. After considerable growth in membership, MCCC rented
space from Lincroft Presbyterian Church at the corner of Crawford
Corners-Everett Road and West Front Street in Lincroft from 1983 to 1990.
The growth of MCCC naturally led them to buy a chapel of their own. By
God's grace MCCC bought their first chapel at 1209 West Front in Lincroft
and moved in by Easter of 1991. To meet the growing demand of the younger
generation and non-Chinese population, in 1995 MCCC started to have two
Sunday services, one in English and one in Mandarin. In year 2000, a
Cantonese Sunday service has been added. Blessed with rapid growth, MCCC
outgrew their Lincroft church facility in very short time. In June 1999,
the church building committee of MCCC purchased a 13-acre property at 189
Holland Road, Middletown for the purpose of constructing a new and larger
church facility. In April 2003, MCCC celebrated their 20th
anniversary and had the ground dedication service for the new church.
There are two phases in the new church construction project: In phase I,
Finish a 3-story education-wing, the octagon basement and the site
preparation. The education-wing has a 325-seat sanctuary on the second
floor, offices, classrooms and library on the first floor and a fellowship
hall in the basement. The octagon basement has ten classrooms for Sunday
school. The landscaped site has a paved parking lot with 200 parking
spaces. In phase II, Complete the main octagon sanctuary and an all
purpose facility (gym) next to the main sanctuary. Praise God, in November
2005, we completed our phase I project, received the CO (Certificate of
Occupancy) from Middletown Township and have worshiped in the new facility
ever since. MCCC is an independent non-denominational church with no affiliation with any outside body and group and is solely responsible for its own financial needs. However, with God’s abundant love and blessing, brothers and sisters’ faithful serving and sacrifices, our church has been living and growing. In the fall of 1987, we had our first pastor, Pastor Norman Chen. We thank God that many ministers have continued to shepherd our church: Pastor Paul Chang (1994~), Pastor Ben Han (1995~1998), Pastor Al McNally (1999~2004), Youth Director Lisa Lee (1996~2002), Youth Director Wendy Chou (2002~2008), Minister Derrick Jackson (2003~2008) and Pastor John Heald (2009~). To date our church members are no more than 300, however the Sunday attendance is about 450, including youth and children. Our prayer to God is, Lord, make us a blessing not only to the Chinese community of Monmouth County, but also to the whole county.
|
|
Return to MCCC Home