Together with a team of leaders, Pastor Ming-Peng Gong planted seven branches of the Toronto China Bible Church over the last two decades. These churches shared a bank account and board of elders. “In recent years, we realized that it would be better for individual branches to have more freedom,” says Ming-Peng. At the same time, they recognized the need to collaborate as independent new immigrant churches.
That’s why in January 2021 Ming-Peng launched the Chinese Church Association (CCA) under the umbrella of Vision Ministries Canada. The CCA will allow the newly independent branches of Toronto China Bible Church and other new immigrant churches to collaborate while remaining separate. “We want the freedom of an independent church and the strength of togetherness,” says Ming-Peng. CCA will also provide spiritual covering for individual churches in times of need.
Lead pastors of the member churches will form an advisory council to make decisions for CCA under VMC. Member churches will contribute financially to CCA and work together on these objectives:
• Support and cooperate with CCA churches
• Promote planting more Chinese churches throughout Canada
• Develop next generation English ministry among Chinese churches so the next generation can advance the gospel to others in Canada and beyond
• Support the gospel ministries of immigrant churches in the VMC network
• Promote the great Commission among churches so the gospel can be carried to the whole world
“Praise God for a new church planting project in Richmond Hill,” says Ming-Peng. This first CCA-VMC church plant could begin as early as this summer.
From Thinking Ahead, Spring 2021