Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church

Have you ever wondered how faith can unite a community across generations and languages? Right here, before the Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church, that story unfolds. Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church serves the local community and beyond. It seeks to be a blessing to all. Its mission is to make disciples of all nations for the glory of God. It is a home for Christian faith, hope, and love. The church’s history began humbly in 1967. A small group of three families started praying together. They planned to launch a church in Toronto’s Chinatown. The first Chinese-speaking service was held in November of that year with just twelve attendees. Reverend Andrew Wong became the senior pastor of the Toronto Chinese Baptist Church (TCBC). Under his leadership, the church flourished. By the mid-1980s, the church was experiencing significant growth. The congregation saw an opportunity to expand their reach. In 1986, they found a suitable location on Birchmount Road in Scarborough. This area was attracting many new immigrants from Hong Kong. Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church (SCBC) held its first service at 2610 Birchmount Road on April 6th, 1986. The official inauguration followed in 1987. Initially, SCBC shared the same pastoral team and governance as TCBC. However, in 1988, Reverend Warren Lai became the Senior Pastor for SCBC. This marked a significant step towards independence. Under Reverend Lai’s guidance, SCBC evolved into a multi-generational, multi-lingual, and multi-congregational church. The church required more space to accommodate its growing community. An Education Wing was added to the existing building in 1990. The church leadership recognized the need to adapt to the changing times. In 1997, they began discussions about charting a new course for the new millennium. This led to the “Move & Grow” initiative. The search for a new location was a journey of faith. The church considered several options, including redeveloping the Birchmount site and purchasing a former Jewish private school. Three purchase offers were made, but all were declined. Just when it seemed like there was no way forward, the Kennedy Road property came back on the market. This land, which had previously been conditionally sold to Walmart, became the new home of SCBC. The land purchase was approved, and the New SCBC Building Committee was appointed in June 2002. The Birchmount property was sold in September 2003. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new church campus took place in July 2005. Finally, in September 2007, the congregation moved into the new building on Kennedy Road. The Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church stands as a testament to the power of faith, community, and perseverance.