Markham Chinese Mennonite Church (“MCMC”) was established from a vision. God inspired Rev. Soong to start a Chinese church in Markham area almost fifteen years ago. A church planting team was then born. Our church planting team did not have any difficulty in starting a Sunday Service because we got continuous help from Hagerman Church financially and spiritually. They let us use their church for free for a long period of time and gave us valuable advises in planning programs. Encouraging words would be one of the many good deeds that they have given us. How I wish one day our Chinese church can do the same for another nationality!

It takes a lot to keep a church going. I really admire the people who continue the vision of church planting after more than 90% of the original team had left for their personal reasons. There were a lot of changes and hardship but it brings new insight, new opportunity and new inspiration. Now we have a new and improved MCMC. Most importantly Christ is still the head of this church.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 27:1)

Wherever there are men, there is interpersonal relationship. It is an ever-learning subject! From my experience, a good relationship between believers can make the church grows faster and vice-versa. How often I made a mess in things because I did not have a good interpersonal relationship. The Bible reminds me to b e quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Ephesians 4:29 says, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. We have to watch our thoughts and actions. It does not mean that we do not express our opinion to others. We have to communicate it through a proper channel and in a proper manner. Do not be discouraged even your opinion does not get accepted immediately.

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

The number of Chinese churches has grown rapidly in Markham in the last ten years. This reveals that planting a church in Markham was positioned correctly. The Asian population multiplied almost triple in Markham in the last decade. Let us grasp this opportunity to share the good news in the community. Let the uniqueness of MCMC be the blessings of others.

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