Chinese Ministry: From Gospel Seeds to a Community of Disciples

The history of the Chinese Worship Service is closely intertwined with the founding of 11th Mile Cheras Lutheran Church. In 1953, American missionary Ms. M. Clara Sullivan arrived in 11th Mile Cheras New Village. Despite facing resistance from villagers toward the Christian faith, she stayed in a simple, rustic house and went door-to-door to share the Gospel, sowing the very first seeds for the church.

 

In 1956, Rev. Quek Chee Leong took over the pastoral ministry. In November 1957, the church celebrated its sanctuary dedication and first baptism service. In those early days, the congregation was small; services were conducted primarily in Mandarin with English translation. Members gathered to worship in simple wooden huts and a hall enclosed by half-brick walls and wire mesh. When it rained, water would blow into the hall, yet brothers and sisters faithfully gathered to sing hymns, pray, and hear God’s Word together.

 

As the congregation grew, the original hall became overcrowded. In 1987, the church began preparing for a building expansion. After years of prayer, sacrificial giving, and hard work, the new sanctuary was officially opened on September 20, 1992. The new hall was not merely an architectural expansion, but a stable platform for the further growth of the Chinese Worship Service and various pastoral ministries.

 

In 1994, Rev. Koh Soon Seng assumed leadership as Senior Pastor and established a pastoral staff team. The church began adjusting its existing bilingual service, gradually developing distinct Chinese and English worship services so that members could worship and receive God’s Word in the language they knew best. At the same time, the church promoted cell group ministry, annual missions conferences, and leadership training, allowing the Chinese congregation to grow not only in numbers but also in building a more complete pastoral structure.

 

Since then, pastors including Rev. Ho Chee Fatt, Rev. Loke Oi Ping, Rev. Lee Chee Hock, Rev. Yap Choon Keng, and Rev. Ho Chee Wee have served as Senior Pastors, working hand in hand with pastoral staff and lay leaders. Though each era brought different ministry focuses, the core of the Chinese Worship Service has always remained the preaching of God’s Word, shepherding believers, and sharing the Gospel.

 

In 2008, the church launched a Saturday evening youth worship service. By the second half of 2010, to meet pastoral needs, this gathering gradually transitioned into a Saturday evening Chinese service. Consequently, the Chinese Ministry expanded from a Sunday morning service to a weekend evening service, providing an additional platform for worship and fellowship for members of different ages and schedules.

 

From 2014 to 2027, the Chinese Ministry has been driving a comprehensive cell group transformation. Guided by the vision of “Making Disciples, Fulfilling the Great Commission,” the church leads members from attending services to entering fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, and leadership development through cell group shepherding, team missions, discipleship training, and continuous equipping. The church has also progressively developed cell groups into ministry groups, care groups, and interest groups to enhance engagement and flexibility. At the same time, the church continues to place high emphasis on biblical teaching, family building, team missions, personal testimony, united prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit, building a community of disciples after God’s own heart.

 

Chinese Worship Service Times:
Saturday Evening Service: 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Sunday Morning Service: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Holy Communion & Combined Service: 1st week of every month

Location: Level 3 Main Sanctuary