Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church street view
爾灣華人第一浸信會外觀
In 1976 a young couple from Hong Kong, moved by the Holy Spirit, came to Orange County. By God’s guidance and the support of American Baptist Churches of the Pacific-Southwest and First Baptist Church of Garden Grove, First Chinese Baptist Church was established on March 6th.
The church moved to Fountain Valley in 1978, and obtained the Non-profit Religious Organization status the next year.
On August 15th, 1985, the church moved to the current location in Irvine, and changed its name to Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church. This is the story of how Rev.
Lam, along with his wife, established the church. After Rev. Lam’s retirement in 1994, the baton was passed on to Rev. Yu, Rev. Leung, Rev. Chou, and to the present Lead Pastor Rev. David Chang. The Chinese ministry is overseen by Minister Wan, English ministry by Rev. Lum, College Ministry by Minister Chin, Youth Ministry by brother Julio and Children’s Ministry by sister Laarnie.
Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church is a member of Transformation Ministries (TM). The mission of TM is to help establish healthy churches.
Our Vision
Jesus, in Matthew 28:19, says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is our vision, that is, to accomplish the Great Commission Jesus entrusted us. To establish a faithful church in Christ, to preach the Gospel, call for repentance, and become righteous in Christ, to have the forgiveness of sins, and turn away from sin. As well as to build up disciples, strengthen the faith of the believers, so that they may become sanctified, filled by the Spirit, to evangelize, testify for Christ and glorify God in their lives.
We realize our vision through: Campus ministries - to reach and shepherd the students in the nearby college Campus (UCI). New immigrant outreach ministries – to outreach to the new immigrants in Irvine and the surrounding area.
Our Core Value
Based on the Bible, these are our core value that guides our actions:
- Worship God in Truth
- Follow and Serve Jesus in love
- Preach the Gospel by the guidance of the Spirit
- Cultivate Spiritual life by the testimony of our self sacrifice
- Save up our treasure in heaven as we wait for the Lord
Our Mission
To accomplish the Great Commission of Christ and the purpose of the Church, based on our core values, our mission is to build up a spiritual family with ministries in these five areas. So that the believers and seekers coming to our church would be shepherds, our children would learn the Truth, and the ones in need would receive help, and those who suffer would receive comfort and be healed.
- Worship: devout, earnest, holy and lively worship
- Small Group: loving and spiritual life cultivating small groups
- Discipleship: disciple in the Truth
- Service: Based on different spiritual gifts, and according to the will of God
- Evangelism: evangelize through holistic care
(Courtesy of Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church)
Church members Volunteered at OC Rescue Mission
參加 OC Rescue Mission 義工服務
1976 年，一對受聖靈感動的夫婦，由香港抵達橙縣，他們蒙主引導，獲得美國浸信會太平洋分會及 Garden Grove 第一浸信會的鼎力相助，於三月六日假該會設立第一華人浸信會，開始福音事工。
1978 年，教會遷至芳泉谷，並於次年取得加州政府許可，登記為非營利宗教團體。1985 年八月十五日，教會搬遷至爾灣新堂會址，並正式定名為爾灣華人第一浸信會 （Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church），這是林治生牧師夫婦創會的經歷。
1994 年，林牧師退休後，由余存仁牧師、梁誠德牧師和周同培牧師前後帶領。目前教會主任牧師為張錦亮牧師，中文堂有萬翔傳道，英文堂有林傑文牧師，大學事工金璦傳道，青少年事工 Julio，兒童事工負責人 Laarni。本教會隸屬於 Transformation Ministries（簡稱 TM），其目標是協助建造健康教會。
我們的異象
主耶穌在馬太福音 28 章 18 到 20 節教導我們說：「天上地下所有的權柄，都賜給我了。所以你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父子聖靈的名，給他們施洗；凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」我們的異象就是要完成主耶穌賜給教會大使命的托付，建立一個在基督裡純正信仰的教會。如此可以勸人認罪悔改，因信耶穌基督稱義，罪得赦免，離惡向善；並且造就信徒，使人信心堅固，因信耶穌基督成聖，被聖靈充滿，有能力傳福音、作見證、在生活上榮耀神。
具體做法是開展校園學生事工，向學生（尤其UCI）以及爾灣及鄰近地區的新移民傳播福音。
我們的核心價值
根據聖經，教會領受以下的核心價值，作為教會人、事、物的方向和規範。
- 認識真理，敬拜真神。
- 跟從耶穌，愛主事奉。
- 順服聖靈，廣傳佳音。
- 造就靈命，捨己見證。
- 積寶在天，候主再臨。
我們的使命
為了完成主耶穌的托付和教會宗旨，根據核心價值，我們的使命是以五項聖工來建立教會成為一個屬靈的大家庭。使來到教會的信徒與慕道朋友們得到牧養，兒女們得到正確的教導，有困難的人得到幫助，有苦難的人得到安慰與醫治。
- 敬拜：敬虔、真誠、聖潔、活潑的敬拜
- 小組：以愛相繫、靈命成長的小組
- 門訓：以真理教導信徒的門徒訓練
- 事奉：恩賜配合、合神心意的事奉
- 宣教：全人關懷、擴展神國的宣教
（爾灣華人第一浸信會撰文及提供照片）