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Herald Restaurant Gospel Ministry |
| Background |
| Our Vision |
| Our Mission |
| Strategies |
| Pastoral Staff |
| Committee Members |
| Financial Support |
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In 1995, Contra Costa Gospel Church, California USA, organized a short mission trip to Finland. During that trip, the missionaries visited the local Chinese restaurants to spread the gospel, as that was where they found the local Chinese community. While they were standing in the streets of the city in Finland, the missionary sisters saw that they could carry out the same mission in America. Upon their return in California, these sisters embarked on the mission of visiting their local Chinese restaurants, and started to spread the gospel in the same way. Esther Lou, in particular, was most enthusiastic as she was a restaurant owner herself, and she had a natural affinity with the restaurant community. At that stage, Pastor Min-He Liu of "Operation Dawn" in Taiwan organized a conference at Contra Costa Gospel Church which attracted over fifty restaurant people to participate. Pastor Liu recommended to the church that they establish a special fellowship to nurture their spiritual growth. And so, the Restaurant Gospel Fellowship is formed. At first they met once every month. In 1996, Pastor Le-Hua Zhu encouraged the fellowship to meet twice a month. Theology students from the nearby Christian Witness Theological Seminary also joined in. Later on, the fellowship increased the meetings to once a week. Many restaurant workers therefore accepted Christ and were built up in their spirit. In year 2000, Esther Lou and Irene Li leased a venue from the Salvation Army in Oakland, and established the Oakland Restaurant Fellowship who met twice a month. This fellowship moved to Chinese Christian Herald Crusades Oakland center in 2002, now meeting once every week. They also have bible study meetings, serving the Oakland restaurant community. In June 2002, the Herald Restaurant Gospel Ministry was formally founded to encourage and support the establishment of local ministries all over in California and other states. In 2004, the Milpitas Restaurant Fellowship was established, serving the South Bay restaurant community. San Jose Christian Assembly supported this fellowship and leased out their church for the use of fellowship meetings. While San Jose Christian Assembly is currently moving, the Milpitas fellowship is leasing Silicon Valley Alliance Church as the venue for their weekly meetings. Where there
is land, Where there
are Chinese people, Where these
are Chinese restaurants, "The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, We communicate our restaurant ministry vision to all the churches, and lead "restaurant ministry worship services" at their meeting places. We share with them our experience, and encourage them to spread the gospel to their local restaurant communities, bringing the gospel to these restaurants as missionaries. We also encourage these churches to form restaurant fellowship groups to nurture these Christians. On the other hand, we encourage Christians who work in the restaurants to spread the gospel to their coworkers, and to form fellowship and bible study groups within the restaurants themselves; developing indigenous leaders, using the restaurant network to spread the good news. We also team up with other Christian organizations, and develop different resources and methods of spreading the gospel. We offer gospel and welfare in parallel to become the "salt and light" of the local community, and bring in the good influence. Rev. David Cheung Director: Mrs. Esther Lou Coworkers: Ms. Irene Li, Ms. Grace Lee, Mr. & Mrs. Leo & Phoebe Hung, Mrs. Minnie Lau Our ministry is non-denominational, and the main financial support comes from all the churches, friends of this ministry, and other Christians' donations. |