How can our name best serve the gospel?

Why keep the current name for the Cantonese and Mandarin congregations?

The name “Chinese Grace Bible Church” is a special name. It communicates our heart to reach immigrants, and it makes it easier for immigrants to find us. In this way, it’s served the gospel well for over 45 years. Chinese-speaking people need the gospel in Chinese, and this name communicates this well.

Why add a name for the English congregation?

The word “Chinese” helps us reach Chinese immigrants, but it can hinder the English congregation from reaching non-Chinese friends and neighbors. It can make them ask, “Am I welcome there?”

More subtly, the word “Chinese” can form our identity in ways that compete with the gospel. We can start to come for the gospel and Chinese culture, not just the gospel. We can think, “We mostly just want to reach out to Chinese people and be with Chinese people.” We can form our community to look more like us and less like those Jesus bought from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9-10). We can make “Chinese” jokes that quietly exclude non-Chinese people. We can unconsciously train our children to associate only with other Chinese people. And we can be tempted to ignore parts of the Bible that don’t mesh with Chinese culture as well. Adding a name won’t change our culture or mindset overnight. But it can help.

Those of us who are ethnically Chinese love our heritage. But we love the gospel even more.

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