New Jersey First Chinese Baptist Church of Edison - 新州愛城第一華人浸信會

一九八九年五月，張愛群、張趙順明夫婦喬遷到新澤西北部。過後不久，張建西與黃多嘉向張太太提及有大量說粵語的華人搬遷到愛迪生(Edison)地區，由於該區所有的華人教會都是國語教會，多嘉就提議可否成立一間粵語教會以服事愛城的基督徒與非基督徒。

張太太將此事放在她的禱告中，便感覺到有平安，就開始明白神讓她搬遷到新澤西的美意了。當張太太向黃鐘牧師分享神如何藉著禱告感動她時，黃牧師也分享了他九年前得到的異象及這事工的需要。黃牧師及家人都領受到神要讓他們成為這項新事工的組成部份，就表達了他們在此事奉的意願。

一九八九年末，張太太、張建西、黃多嘉以及其他黃家的弟兄姊妹開始了經常性的聚會、研經和禱告。在此期間，張家的弟兄姊妹訪問了在愛迪生的多間美國教會，並參與他們的主日崇拜，盼望為此項事工找到最合適的地方。神將他們帶到雷利登谷浸信會，這實在是一個奇蹟。該會的會牧奇夫·高本傑(Rev. Keith C

ogburn)及執事愛德·韓先生(Mr. Ed Hearn)都用愛與恩慈之心歡迎他們。此後，張家兄弟姊妹和黃牧師與高本傑牧師、韓執事及雷利登谷浸信會的幾位會友會面，商討借用該會作開始此項事工的可能性。雷利登谷浸信會領受到神對他們禱告的肯定回應，就帶著感恩的心, 同意分享使用教會，把福音事工擴展到說粵語的華人。同時，該會也將非英語事工納入到了他們未來的五年計劃裡。這也進一步確證了神要我們在此開始這項事工。因為在愛迪生市(愛城)開設粵語華人浸信教會確是神的旨意，所以計劃的每一步都進行得非常順利。許多主內弟兄姊妹都鼓勵支持這個計劃，神也滿足每一項經濟上的需要。在第一個主日崇拜時，聖經與詩歌本也都從香港及時運達。由此，我們再次見證了神對祂子民的充裕供給。感謝神！「我深信那在你們心裡動了善工的，必成全這工，直到耶穌基督的日子。」(腓立比書1 :6)

In May of 1989, Mr. Douglas and Yvonne Chang moved to Northern New Jersey. Shortly afterwards Godwin and Dorcas Chang mentioned to Mrs. Yvonne Chang about the growing number of Chinese (Cantonese-speaking) that were moving into the Edison area. Since all of the Chinese churches in the area were Mandarin-speaking, Dorcas proposed the possibility of starting a Cantonese-speaking church. This church would be able to minister to the Christians and non-Christians living in this area. After lifting up this concern in prayer, Mrs. Yvonne Chang felt at peace and understood why God had led her to move to New Jersey. Chang shared with Reverend Chung Wong about how God, through prayer, had moved her. Reverend Wong then shared the vision he had nine years ago, of the need for such a ministry. Reverend Chung Wong and his family felt that God would also want them to be a part of this new ministry and expressed their willingness to join in this effort. Toward the end of 1989, Mrs. Chang, Godwin, Dorcas, and the Wongs began to meet regularly for Bible study and prayer. The Changs began visiting different American churches in the Edison area for Sunday worship services to find the most appropriate place to begin this ministry. It was a miracle that God brought them to the Raritan Valley Baptist Church. The pastor, Reverend Keith Cogburn, and deacon, Mr. Ed Hearn, welcomed the Changs lovingly and with kindness. The Changs and Rev. Wong met with Rev. Cogburn, Mr. Ed Hearn and members of the congregation of the Raritan Valley Baptist Church to discuss the possibility of using their church facilities to begin this new ministry. The Raritan Valley Baptist Church had included in their five-year plan to begin a non-English speaking ministry. Seeing that God was answering their prayers earlier than expected, they agreed with thankful hearts, to share their church for this ministry to reach out to Cantonese speaking Chinese. This was certainly a confirmation of God’s calling to begin this ministry. Beginning this Chinese (Cantonese-speaking) Baptist Church was God’s will. This was evidenced by the fact that each step of the plan was carried out smoothly. Many brothers and sisters in Christ encouraged and supported the plan. God met all the financial needs. Bible and hymn books arrived in time from Hong Kong for our first Sunday worship service. God’s provision for His people is always abundant! “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 )