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Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (King James Version)
Starting from “Zero”
Church of Emmanuel is a church that began from “zero.” We had no land, no buildings, and no savings—only a small group of brothers and sisters who were willing to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Our first Sunday worship service was held on September 8, 1996, in the Anglican St. Alban Church, which we rented. From an average attendance of 30–50 people in the early days, we have grown to around 200–300 today. Over the past thirty years, we have witnessed many wonderful works of God, life transformation among our members, and countless testimonies. More than 700 brothers and sisters have been baptized at Church of Emmanuel. If we were to describe it in eight words, it would be: “Sowing in tears, reaping with shouts of joy.”
The establishment of Church of Emmanuel can be traced back to 1995. That year, Bishop Ingham of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster observed the growing Asian population in Richmond and instructed the diocesan Director of Church Planting, Rev. Jim Drapper, to contact two Chinese-speaking churches—Mu Ai Church and St. Luke’s Church—as well as three English-speaking churches in Richmond—St. Alban, St. Anne, and St. Edward—to discuss the feasibility of developing a new ministry. The first meeting was held on February 1, 1995, and meetings were held approximately every one to two months thereafter.
On April 8, 1995, the first joint dinner and sharing meeting for members of the five churches was held at St. Anne Church, with 80 participants. On May 17, Mu Ai Church hosted a consultation meeting for believers in Richmond at St. Alban Church, attended by 21 people. On June 26, the first meeting of Mu Ai Church’s Church Development Committee (Richmond Mission Area) was held, chaired by Mr. Pang Ying-kit, who also drafted the new mission-area proposal. On October 11, Bishop Ingham accepted the recommendation of Rev. Wood Hsin and Rev. Leung Wing-hong that the Richmond mission should be a Chinese-speaking mission area rather than a multicultural one. A few days later, the bishop appointed Rev. Wood Hsin as Priest-in-Charge of the new mission area.
On November 8, Rev. Jim Drapper led the first diocesan committee meeting (involving the five churches) to promote the new mission area. On November 14, Rev. Jim Drapper and Rev. Wood Hsin convened the first small-group meeting to review and revise the “Richmond Mission Area Draft Proposal” submitted by Mr. Pang Ying-kit (Chairman of Mu Ai Church’s Development Committee). On December 10, the Mu Ai Church Richmond Bible Study Group visited St. Alban, St. Anne, and St. Edward, and later decided to rent St. Alban Church as the location for the new mission area.
On March 14, 1996, the first youth Bible study group for the new mission area began. On May 3, Rev. Wood Hsin began leading what had originally been the “Mu Ai Church Richmond Bible Study Group” (previously led by Evangelist Mo Lo Wai-fan) and it became the new mission area’s “Adult Bible Study Group.” On June 27, the first church council meeting was held, chaired by Rev. Wood Hsin. On July 1, Bishop Ingham accepted Rev. Wood Hsin’s proposal and named the new mission area “Church of Emmanuel (聖公會以馬內利堂)”, formally launching its work. On September 8, the first worship service (Holy Communion) was held at 12:00 noon. Rev. Leung Wing-hong from Mu Ai Church preached, Rev. Tse Tsz-lok read the Gospel and assisted in the liturgy, and Mu Ai Church’s choir offered special music, with many Mu Ai members joining this historic moment.
Starting from the “Spirit”
Church of Emmanuel is also a church that began from the “Spirit”—the Holy Spirit. We know and understand that this is not something human effort can accomplish. Therefore, over these thirty years, we have focused on one thing: to listen, obey, and put into practice.
In the first two and a half years, we sensed the Lord Jesus instructing us to do one thing: build disciples. We began many Bible study groups, discipleship training, and personal mentoring, establishing one “fuel station” after another so that new believers could receive “spiritual milk,” and church members could be renewed and strengthened.
Beginning in the third year (1999), we sensed a second instruction from the Lord Jesus: release gifts. More and more brothers and sisters discovered and exercised their gifts in the ministries entrusted to them. We launched a series of small-group leader trainings and developed multiple home groups, transitioning from a fellowship model to a cell-group model. Today we have more than 30 groups, along with multiple courses and ministries, including our first Alpha Course and Experiencing God course.
Beginning in the fifth year (2001), we sensed a third instruction from the Lord Jesus: build My house. We formed a development committee to discuss how to build the Lord’s house. At the church members’ meeting in February 2002, we unanimously passed a plan to purchase land and build a church.
On June 15, 2002, our church and seven other Anglican churches left the diocesan council meeting in protest after the council passed a motion to bless same-sex unions, and on the same day formed Anglican Communion in New Westminster (ACiNW). On September 15, a special church members’ meeting was held, unanimously affirming that we would stand firmly on biblical truth without compromise, and that we would no longer continue renting St. Alban Church. We therefore decided that starting November 1, 2002, we would rent a windowless but air-conditioned warehouse-style facility—Kumon Learning Centre—for Sunday worship, and also rent a nearby 1,500 sq. ft. office space.
From June 2002 to February 2003, our church and fellow ACiNW churches searched widely for an Anglican bishop willing to receive us. After many difficulties, at the church members’ meeting on February 29, 2003, we unanimously accepted oversight by five Anglican Primates (from Southeast Asia, Rwanda, Central Africa, Congo, and Kenya). The Archbishop of the Province of Southeast Asia, Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, served as chair among the five Primates. AMiA (Anglican Mission in America) provided support and appointed Bishop TJ Johnston as bishop for our church and ACiC (Anglican Communion in Canada); our church became one of eight ACiC churches.
Because of these major changes, the original building plan was temporarily paused. After one and a half years of worship in the warehouse-style location, attendance and offerings continued to grow. In February 2004, the development committee resumed exploring feasible ways to fulfill “build My house,” considering either purchasing land or an existing church building.
During this time, Rev. Wood Hsin launched a “100-Day Early Morning Prayer and Holy Communion” initiative. The whole church united in prayer for a new location, seeking God’s will. Those who have truly experienced God know that if we are convinced something is within God’s plan, we can pray in faith, and He will answer according to His will—removing obstacles before us in remarkable ways.
In the end, the development committee unanimously believed the Lord Jesus had prepared 7451 Elmbridge Way for us to rent as our new church location. This building was formerly a government building in Richmond, with an area of 24,000 sq. ft. The main sanctuary can seat 400 people, the hall can seat 80, and there are 26 rooms of various sizes. Ten years prior to our rental, the building had been leased to two churches.
At the church members’ meeting on October 3, 2004, we approved renting 7451 Elmbridge Way beginning November 1 as our new church location. Within one month, members made special offerings totaling $200,000 for renovation and equipment to “build the Lord’s house.” In December 2004, by God’s grace, Church of Emmanuel moved from the warehouse venue into our new location at 7451 Elmbridge Way.
After moving into the new location, Church of Emmanuel continued steady growth. In February 2007, Rev. Wood Hsin was appointed by AMiA Archbishop Chuck Murphy as Principal Missionary of the Asian Initiative in North America. In April 2007, Rev. Wood Hsin accompanied Archbishop Yong Ping Chung and Bishop TJ to San Francisco to explore church planting. Beginning in April 2007, with the help and leadership of Rev. Tse Chung-yin, two Bible study groups were started in the San Francisco Bay Area. After one year of effort, due to various regulations and procedural restrictions in the U.S., it was decided not to continue that ministry.
In October 2007, Rev. Wood Hsin began a second church-planting exploration under the Asian Initiative. On March 3, 2008, Toronto Church of Emmanuel was established, borrowing facilities from a church in north Toronto. Three adults were baptized, and Archbishop Yong Ping Chung administered confirmation by the laying on of hands for four adults. From that day, Toronto Church of Emmanuel officially began, inviting Evangelist Li Cheng-cheung to lead a Monday night Bible study group, gradually building the church step by step.
On September 9, 2009, Rev. Wood Hsin was consecrated as bishop at the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, California, by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, and several bishops from Africa (Congo and Tanzania) and AMiA in the U.S. The preacher that day was Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. Bishop Wood represented AMiA Archbishop Chuck Murphy in overseeing English and Asian churches within the Anglican Mission in Canada.
On September 20, 2009, Bishop Wood, accompanied by Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, ordained Deacon Ho Sheung-wan as priest in Toronto and appointed him as Senior Pastor of Toronto Church of Emmanuel. Toronto Church of Emmanuel also officially became a parish. Over the past 16 years, Sunday attendance has grown to over a hundred, with multiple ministries and small groups. Members have also participated in the board work of the “Toronto Vineyard,” an enhanced seniors housing project: Phase 1 was completed in 2005 with 185 units, along with the sanctuary and other rooms of Toronto Church of Emmanuel; Phase 2 was completed in 2022 with 173 units.
In 2016, Archbishop Chuck Murphy retired and was succeeded by Bishop Philip Jones as Archbishop. In 2016, Anglican Mission in Canada (AM Canada), following AMiA, became a diocesan Chapter under Anglican Mission Society Global. On October 1, 2016, an installation service for Archbishop Philip Jones was held at Church of Emmanuel, officiated by Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, Archbishop Philip Jones, and several AMiA bishops.
United in One Heart, Building God’s House Together
From our first Sunday worship service on September 8, 1996 until the end of June 2023, Church of Emmanuel worshiped in rented venues as our church location. In 2013, we received the vision of “United in One Heart”, encouraging every member to give wholeheartedly toward purchasing a permanent church home. Thanks be to the Lord—more than $4 million was raised, and on July 1, 2022, we successfully purchased three units on the 3rd floor of Union Square, totaling 5,800 sq. ft., as our church base—the “Promised Land” God has given us.
We thank the Lord for granting us this inheritance in a prime location in the heart of Richmond, surrounded by shopping centers and with convenient transportation—truly a “Church in a Mall”!
May each of us, with grateful hearts, look back on the past thirty years of our Heavenly Father’s presence and companionship, the wonderful guidance of the Lord Jesus, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And with humility, may we look ahead together, united and working as one, so that Church of Emmanuel may continue to be a lighthouse in Richmond—expanding God’s Kingdom, glorifying God, and blessing others.