Written by Hsing Tang for The Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
The city of Irvine, meticulously planned and nestled in Orange County, Calif., boasts a population of 300,000 and stands as a global example of urban design excellence. Just 15 miles from the enchanting Disneyland, Irvine has become a thriving hub, particularly for its Mandarin-speaking population, which has burgeoned to around 50,000 since 1997. Within the city, 22 Mandarin-speaking churches have sprung up. Amid this, a unique story unfolded—the planting of All Saints (Irvine, Calif.) RPC.
The origins of this Mandarin-speaking church plant trace back to 2008 when Hsing and Nancy Tang opened their home for a weekly Bible study. Hsing, a graduate of Westminster Seminary in California, led this gathering. In 2010, three families from the Bible study joined All Saints (Brea, Calif.) RPC, finding support and nourishment from its ministry. Brea RPC, subsequently accepted into the Pacific Coast Presbytery (PCP), played a pivotal role in the formation of the new church.
Under the supervision of the Brea session and PCP, the inaugural Sunday afternoon Mandarin worship service took place on Oct. 17, 2016, at Northwood Park Community Center in Irvine. All Saints (Irvine, Calif.) RPC, was officially established as a mission church by PCP on Dec. 15, 2017. Today, the congregation comprises 11 communicant members, gathering with 12–16 individuals for worship each Lord’s Day.
The journey to establish a Mandarin-speaking RP church in Irvine has been a deliberate and challenging process, focusing on understanding the Presbyterian approach to church government and instilling a foundational grasp of RP distinctives through teaching and preaching. Central to the mission has been the commitment to preach and teach the whole counsel of God.