The History Before Mainland Chinese Ministry

Forest Hills Baptist Church has a long history of reaching Chinese people for Christ.

In 1963 to 1964 Dr. Gordon and Mrs. Cecilia Middleton along with Miss Mary Herring started a Bible study fellowship for Chinese students attending North Carolina State University. This fellowship grew and eventually moved to the Hood House at Forest Hills. In 1969 Robert Pan and Jane Chen (Jane married Robert soon afterwards) became members of this fellowship. Jane was one of the fellowship leaders and Robert became a Christian and was baptized by Pastor Lawrence of Forest Hills in 1972. Robert and Jane moved to Florida upon Robert’s graduation the summer of 1972.

In the late 60’s through 70’s several Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Chinese students from Wake Forest led this Bible study fellowship. Some of these students have become famous and well-known pastors in the States. They are Steven Jiao, Reverend Diping Li, and Reverend Guoan Chen.

In 1978 this Bible study fellowship grew to become the Chinese Baptist Mission. Rev. John Henping Tsai was called to serve as the pastor of the Chinese Baptist Mission.

In 1982 to 1983 Reverend Peter Ning was called to become the pastor of this Mission, which changed its name to Raleigh Chinese Christian Church (RCCC) a non-denominational Chinese Christian church. In March of 1982, Robert and Jane Pan came moved back to Raleigh, North Carolina to live and became active members of RCCC.

In 1988 during Thanksgiving month, RCCC moved to 1426 Wake Forest Rd. Raleigh and became an independent Chinese Christian Church.

History of Chinese Baptist Church

When RCCC moved out of Forest Hills, Robert and Jane saw the rise of many unreached Mainland Chinese scholars at North Carolina’s major universities. Robert and Jane knew they were called by God to be evangelists to the Chinese people. In the late 80’s through Glenda Reece’s help and training, Jane Pan started an ESL class reaching the Mainland Chinese at RCCC. She later received an ESL teacher certificate from Duke University. This class soon grew to become a Sunday and Bible study class. In the meantime, Dee Froeber asked Robert and Jane if they were willing to come to Forest Hills and help with the Mainland Chinese ministry.  March 1991, Robert and Jane along with Jerry and Mimi Chen were commissioned by Reverend Hansen Chen of RCCC to come to Forest Hills to start the Mainland Chinese ministry.

This began the cooperation of RCCC with Forest Hills in the Mainland Chinese ministry area. Forest Hills provided the building space and RCCC provided the start-up money of $1000.

The Mainland Chinese Fellowship grew and from 1997 more than 500 Chinese scholars and their families were reached. Many received Jesus Christ as their Savior and were baptized and became disciples for Christ.

In 1992, Mainland Chinese Fellowship became financially and physically self-sufficient in all her funding and mission outreach. Robert and Jane were licensed by FHBC to become ministers for preaching on January 15, 1995. On January 1997, Mainland Chinese Fellowship officially became Chinese Baptist Church. Under the Raleigh Baptist Association, NC Baptist State Convention, and Forest Hills Baptist Church, Robert and Jane were ordained and became Chinese Baptist Church’s co-pastors.

Early CBC Missions

CBC has led and trained many Chinese professionals in the Triangle area as they became Christians and disciples led by Robert and Jane. Many have moved away and still carrying out God’s missions. To this day, there are more than a dozen Bible study fellowships and church planting from our former coworkers.

We also partnered with Forest Hills in doing mission work in China through ESL from 1990’s through 2008. Many small groups Bible study groups were formed in China from the teachers we led to the Lord.

God gave Robert and Jane a clear vision for the Chinese Baptist Church. From this vision, Jane was able to construct the CBC logo (see front page logo). The logo’s meaning is for CBC is first worship the Triune God through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (the cross). Second, to train and equip disciples for Jesus Christ in the Triangle area (the triangle). Third, to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ from the Christians in CBC to the whole world (the circle).

Early Vision of Faith

July 1995, Jane Pan’s father bought a 10.02 acres of land in Apex. He was very proud of Jane Pan being called a pastor. He made sure she understood that by confirming an oath with God. When he purchased this land, he knew it was for God’s kingdom and glory. He gave to her this piece of land in faith for God’s kingdom use. Jane shared this with CBC coworkers in early 2012. She is waiting for God’s Plan and CBC’s Vision readiness.