In  1995 God called a Christian university professor couple to start a Chinese ministry at Riverside Baptist Church.  On May 14, a Chinese Sunday School class was started with four students attending.  In  a  year the number grew to 30.  So a bilingual worship service of English and Chinese was instituted on October 27, 1996.  Several American pastors preached to the congregation.

        In November, 2000 God called Pastor Renew Chen to be the shepherd for our congregation, and the former Chinese Department formally became the Chinese Congregation at Riverside Baptist Church.  The average number of worshipers on Sundays grew to about 100.

        At the beginning of our ministry, we decided that we would have a church that is set apart to God and not be conformed to this world.  We would preach only our Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and therefore give all glory to our Lord and our God.

        In our church, God’s family, we learn to love our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength, and to serve Him.  We also learn to love each other, and to serve each other.  Each of us tries to do his/her part to work together to build up Christ’s body, and to be conformed to the image of our Lord.

        In short, with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, we would do our best to follow the example of the Philadelphia church in Revelation: brothers love each other, keep His word and not deny His name.  Thank our Lord, even though we have had only a little strength, the Lord has led us and blessed us, and with His resurrected power has added unto us those who were saved.  We have baptized more than 100 people in the last five years.

        Most of our brothers and sisters baptized here heard the gospel for the first time in our church.  They accepted Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, their lives changed and they grew spiritually quickly.

        And, most of these brothers and sisters have also moved out of town, out of the state and out of the country.  But they are still our Lord’s Christian soldiers, serving faithfully in the church where they are, and sharing the gospel to the people around them.

        We thank our God for giving us a vision and resources for evangelism.  We conduct three or four evangelistic meetings each year, to share the gospel to the Chinese people in Miami and surrounding communities.

        We also thank our Lord that He gives us ample opportunities to minister to the Chinese students and scholars at the three universities and college close by: Florida International University, University of Miami and its School of Medicine, and Miami-Dade Community College.  With God’s grace, we try to help the new students and scholars as much as we can as they adjust their new life in a new environment, and introduce to them our wonderful Savior who can help them the most.

       We are mindful that we should not only grow in number s but grow deep as well.  On Sundays we have our worship service, Sunday School classes for our children, youth, and adults, as well as a systematic Bible study class for our adults.  Every first Sunday of the month we have Lord’s supper meeting.  We have spiritual growth and prayer meetings on Wednesdays and True Light Fellowship meetings on Fridays.   And we have special evangelistic meetings and special discipleship sessions several times a year.

        We  thank our Lord  that   He gave the Chinese Congregation a new chapel which can seat 400 people with the most modern sound and projection equipment.  After three years’ planning, designing, and applying to the country for numerous permits, the construction was started in July, 2003 and completed on July 2, 2004.

        During this period of planning and construction we have also experienced God’s abundant grace.  His hand has been leading us each step of the way, and arranged each item big and small.  On July 18, 2004, when we had our dedication service, over 800 people got together to offer our heart-felt and joyful praises and thanks to our almighty and gracious Lord.  We are truly humbled as we feel His special grace and His special favor to the Chinese Congregation and to the Chinese in Miami.

        Therefore, we are  even more determined that  we will do our best to fully utilize this new chapel to be a golden lamp to spread the gospel and to expand God’s Kingdom.  We will do our best to bring more and more lost people to accept our Lord’ salvation, to become His children, and to enjoy His great love, His eternal life, and His abundant life.