The Hacienda Heights Chinese Adventist Fellowship welcomed their first pastor, Paul Fu-Sheng Cho, Ph.D., in July of 2006, as an answer to their prayers since the group’s organization in mid-January this year. Cho is assisted by Youth Pastor John Lou, a graduate of LSU and of the Amazing Facts College of Evangelism.

Cho, former president of Taiwan Adventist College and treasurer of Chinese Union Mission, left his administrative position to serve in his Los Angeles-area pastorate. In addition, he heads Griggs University Asia in China (www.guasia.org), which is training GU’s 800 Chinese students online as Adventist lay pastors.

According to Cecil Ma, communication leader for the Los Angeles Chinese Church, “The formation of this new group was the result of six months of prayer and Bible study meetings in the homes of members from the L. A. and Loma Linda Chinese churches and Chinese members from the Hacienda Heights Church. Our mission is to reach the rapidly-growing Chinese population in the eastern San Gabriel Valley area, from Hacienda Heights to Diamond Bar.”

The group holds its bilingual Sabbath meetings in the Hacienda Heights church social hall at 4:15 p.m. An average of 65 people are currently attending. HHCAF is the sixth Chinese Adventist church or group in Southern and Southeastern California conferences.

The Los Angeles Chinese church is the official sponsor of the group, which is intent on pursuing ongoing evangelism. Members are locating former members and reaching into untapped communities.

“We emphasize that our church is bilingual,” added Cho. “Our congregation, largely Chinese, comes from many parts of the world, particularly Asia. Many, including the American-born, speak only English but appreciate worshiping in an environment that is sensitive to their culture.”

The group has adopted a five-year plan for outreach. Members, including a number of physicians and others with advanced degrees, signaled from the start that they wanted to be involved in giving Bible studies.

Members are active in other outreach programs as well, including a public evangelistic meeting and a Chinese musical concert planned for upcoming months. Young adults gather weekly in a member’s home for Bible study and fellowship.

At the end of September 2006, Cho noted, “Our church welcomed the first fruits of our efforts, the husband and two teenagers of a new member from the Hacienda Heights American and Japanese church.” For more information about HHCAF, visit hhcsda.org.