Your name:
Kairui (Jacob) Zhang
Your spouse and children’s names: Wife:
Lireng (Joan) Zhang
Name of your church:
Rock Chinese Church
Location of church:
Bellevue, WA
Date church was or will be planted (if your church is a plant):
February 2016; expanded launch February 2018
What is your website/social media information?
Current Website; Pillar is in the process of building us a new website
Name of partnering church(es):
Essential Church
What are the reasons you decided to plant a church in your city (if your church is a plant)?
There are 11,703 (11%) Chinese individuals living in Bellevue (a major suburb of Seattle) according to the 2010 census. Many are highly-educated people who moved here to work in the technology field. In Chinese culture, great emphasis is placed upon a child's education; thus many select the eastside for better access to great schools. Others end up working in restaurants and moving companies to make ends meet. Still other Chinese nationals moved to the area for higher education opportunities, as provided by Bellevue College. They all have the same dream—a better life. Unfortunately, most of them never thought about their afterlives. Most of them never heard the name of Jesus Christ.
What have you seen the Lord do in and through your church/church plant?
God is really moving among the Chinese people here in Bellevue. This year, we baptized 21 people so far. Many people who come to our Bible study are unbelievers. They are hungry to learn about God and His word.
What do you hope to see the Lord do in and through your church in the future?
We always pray that God will make Rock Chinese Church a lighthouse to Bellevue, to bring the Chinese who still walk in the dark to see the True Light.
What advice do you have for current or future church planters?
Always trust in God. Pray a lot, especially pray for the lost, and know that God will answer your prayers.
What are your 3-4 main prayer requests?
Pray God will provide all the resources for His church:
- People with certain gifts: we need people who have worship talents
- New place to worship: we grew a lot this year, so we are looking for a bigger space
- More people to be saved: there are some people in our church who are very close to trusting Christ. Pray God will change their hearts soon.
- Support for ourselves: a major part of our support comes from fundraising. Pray God will provide for me and my wife next year as we are under R1 visa, which restricts us from working.