“Imagine,” I say, “a small gathering in a basement, the humble beginnings of something truly special.” That’s how the story of Rockville Evangelical Mission Church starts. It began in 1998 with Sunday meetings held in the basement of Brother Chen Ruey and Sister Beatrice.
Quickly outgrowing their space, the church moved to Beall Elementary School in Rockville that same year. In 2010, they relocated again to Lakelands Park Middle School. The Rockville Evangelical Mission Church focused on sharing the gospel with Chinese immigrants in Rockville. They particularly reached out to visiting scholars and their families.
Regular evangelistic meetings fueled the church’s rapid growth. These meetings continue to this day. Over the years, the church has seen many Chinese people embrace faith in Jesus. They progressed from skeptics to seekers then new believers. The church helped them grow in faith, knowledge, and service to God.
God’s love and power blessed the Rockville Evangelical Mission Church. It helped them grow in both number and spiritual maturity. The church welcomed many families, elders, and children. The English congregation has also experienced recent growth. This growth comes from youth maturing, marrying, and inviting their friends. The English congregation boasts a diverse group of people.
Soon, the Rockville Evangelical Mission Church will move to their Central Avenue location. Yet their mission remains the same. They desire to see God’s people grow in love and truth. They also want to share God’s love with family, friends, the community, and the world. The church strives to be a place of worship and grace.
The Rockville Evangelical Mission Church believes children are a gift from God. He created them to praise Jesus Christ joyfully. The English adults are a family of families, mostly younger, with a mix of older members. Besides Sunday worship and Sunday school, the church has Life Groups. These groups meet on Wednesday or Thursday evenings in different homes. Members serve together in various ministry areas. These include youth, children, and sports. The Rockville Evangelical Mission Church encourages each member to grow and serve with them.
The youth ministry aims to build up youth to love and serve the Lord. They want to passionately pursue God’s heart for redemption. They also want to teach them knowledge of God and His purposes. So next time you pass by, remember the Rockville Evangelical Mission Church story. Think of its humble beginnings and its unwavering commitment to faith, community, and spreading God’s love.