Reflecting on the development of Markham Chinese Mennonite Church these fifteen years, we are sincerely grateful for the calling and guidance of the Holy Spirit which also marks the leadership and protection of the Holy Spirit.

Fifteen years ago, 14th avenue was not developed yet, it was still one lane traffic similar to a little country road. Hagerman Mennonite Church was also like a village church, in fact, surrounded by corn fields with a scarce, all Caucasian population.

Around 1985, 1986, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind a spiritual picture – a vision, this area would certainly be a place where Chinese elites would gather, an ideal place to develop church ministry, a fertile ground for the extension of the Kingdom of God. Also at that time, no Chinese churches had developed this area yet, they had been focusing on developing the Scarborough area, this would be the golden opportunity for church planting for the Chinese Mennonites. I contemplated this idea on my mind for two to three weeks. Later, during a pastoral meeting, when Pastor David Martin of Hagerman and Pastor Steve Drudge of Rouge Valley mentioned the need and possibility of developing Chinese ministry in Markham, I could deeply feel the work of the Holy Spirit, its guidance and leading were evidenced. The idea and vision of church planting were confirmed.

After considering, discussing and exploring for two to three years, in 1987 I needed to make a trip to Hong Kong – this also evidenced the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to assist with the establishment of the Mennonite church in Hong Kong. I remember before my departure, I was enthusiastically looking forward for my substitute to begin the work of church planting here and also brought him over to introduce him to David and to familiarise him with the environment. In fact, my expectations were too high, although he was very capable, but caring for both the English and Chinese speaking congregations in Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church (TCMC) had already kept him very busy.

When I returned from Hong Kong, TCMC had made good progress but were also facing various problems, in addition, Danforth Mennonite church needed to extend its church facilities/renovated the church building, and both congregations had to move out. Incidentally, this was said from a human perspective, which actually were the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we rented the location of the Preysbertarin church just around the corner, both the location and facilities were better than Danforth church.

The issues of TCMC had just been settled, a pastor from Chinese Baptist church asked me if we were still considering church planting in Markham. This was because he heard that Hagerman Mennonite church was going to sell their building and they were interested in purchasing it, they really had first hand information, even I as a Mennonite church pastor had not heard about it.

I considered this telephone conversation as the urging of the Holy Spirit. We started discussing, exploring, considering for four to five years already and yet no move were made. And yet time and opportunity changed rapidly. Markham’s development were astonishing, 14th Avenue became a major road with four lanes traffic with no traces of the corn fields.

In the spring of 1990, TCMC formed a church planting committee led by Lai Mak. The committee members included the following brothers and sisters: Forward Chow, Jerry Loh, Jean Yeung, Hin Hung, and Duncan and Mina Tang. The members had regular programs and were fully supported by Hagerman Mennonite church, lending us their location and facilities free of charge.

The church planting committee started with Bible studies, followed by afternoon Sunday service and added children programs, like organizing drawing classes and math classes, reaching out to the community and to the parents and families of the children. The feedback and result were very encouraging, the attendance of Sunday Service was also growing.

One or two years later, Hagerman Mennonite Church sacrificed for us further, they no longer rented their A Frame location to the Montessori School to enable us to shift our Sunday service time to morning, to prevent hindering our church ministry.

During this time, Hagerman Mennonite Church decided to have a part of their congregation to Stouffville for church planting. They needed to share the property and sell the parsonage to help establishing their church planting in Stouffville. This was also a great opportunity for us to purchase that property. But at the same time, we were troubled by personnel changes and structural crisis. This again marked the divination of the Holy Spirit, which called upon the Couples Fellowship – today’s Family Fellowship in advance. They initiated to move their commitment and involvement to the church ministry in Markham so that the work of church planting could have more resources. The purchase of church property was also successfully completed, with the sharing of the location and facilities with Hagerman Mennonite church. But I would like brothers and sisters to remember one thing, our benefits in this incident was far more than the Hagerman. This again showed the participation and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our church ministry.

Under God’s grace and care, a few years passed. When our church needed a new leader to lead the congregation, to involve in promoting church ministry, the Holy Spirit called upon our brother Paul Mo within our congregation to have a vision to devote himself to God’s service, to attend theological seminary and training, and on this fifteenth year, take up the work of ministering and pastoral care.

During these fifteen years, our church has undergone the pain and exhaustion of labour; but at the same time, experienced God’s grace and nurture, as well as the togetherness with the Holy Spirit, its guidance and leadership. We truly, sincerely and passionately praise the Lord our God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit from the bottom of our heart, which is crucial and necessary, Amen.

*****