JOHN K ZHANG
Pastor Zhang was born in Wuhan, China. In 1989, he came to the United States as a visiting researcher from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He conducted postgraduate research at Miami University in Ohio for two years, and then went to California to work in computers. He was responsible for the development of computer products in the United States and emerging markets in China at Mitsuba Inc. and Diamond Flower Inc.
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In 1995, he was clearly called by God, quit his job, and went to seminary; he successively obtained a Master of Ministry (M.C.M), a Master of Divinity (M.D), and a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) degree. He has been in the church full-time for 26 years. In these 26 years of service, he participated in and led the church's church planting, pioneering, short-term missions at home and abroad, co-worker training, and marriage counseling; he pastored churches with white-collar and blue-collar workers as the main body. He often worked with pastors and deacons to promote the quality and quantity growth of the church while actively promoting and participating in the expansion of local and overseas missions.
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My wife, Li Qing, also received a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (M.A. B.C.) from Trinity Theological Seminary a few years ago. We have a son, Moses, and a daughter, Priscilla.
Jeremiah Yukling Kong
Pastor Kong was born in a Christian family in Guangdong China.
Moved to Hong Kong at 7 and studied in Tsung Tsin primary and high school.
Accepted Jesus Christ in 5th grade and dedicated full time serving God in 6th grade.
1971 immigrated to NY and worshipped in Overseas Chinese Mission（OCM）.
In OCM, served as worship leader, translator and choir conductor.
1978, graduated from City College of New York
1978 -1999 worked in IBM for 21 years.
In 1999, God called for full time ministry and quitted IBM.
1999-2002 received MDIV from Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY.
2002-2009 ministered in OCM after graduation and was ordained in 2005.
2011-2015 pastor in Bayside Community Bible Church for 5 years.
2008 -2014 served as board member of Chinese Christian Herald Crusade.
2009 -2021 served as USA board member of Gospel Operation International.
2016 -2022 served as board member of Ambassador For Christ.
Lived in NY for 45 years, moved to Philadelphia in 2016 helping Chinese churches with no pastor.
Founding History of Antioch Gospel Church (AGC)
9/5/2022： Labor Day, first meeting sharing about the church building vision and mission.
Pray before God for His guidance. Initial plan in searching for churches with door open.
3 churches that we visited had no interest or room for cross cultural ministry.
9/20/2022: First visit with the pastors of The Church of The Good Samaritan (TCGS)
Verbal agreement to use the chapel for free to begin planting a church
10/4/2022: Second visit, shared with the Mission Committee of TCGS
Mission Committee members were thrilled with the idea of planting a Chinese church in TCGS
10/10/2022: TCGS Pastor Richard Morgan shared with the vestry deacons to get verbal approval for
AGC to start the first worship on 20/11/2022.
10/11/2022: TCGS emailed AGC to go ahead using the chapel temporary until the end of 2022.
God answered prayers in 21 days from knocking to opening.
Pastor Zhang and Pastor Kong emailed to the Chinese Pastoral Group of PA about this good news.
10/18/2022: Registered the name of Antioch Gospel Church as a Federal recognized entity.
10/20/2022: Applied to register as a non-profit organization in the state of Pennsylvania.
11/14/2022: Third meeting, shared with the TCGS vestry deacons which was requested by the vestry
on the 10/10/22 meeting. Final and official approval to use the chapel for 1 year.
11/18/2022: IRS approved application as a 501c3 tax exempt organization. It is a 31day miracle.
11/20/2022: Antioch Gospel Church celebrated the first Thanksgiving worship with over 60 people
in attendance. Among them there were more than 20 brothers and sisters from NYC as
well as many representatives from local churches.
11/23/2022: First soul converted in believing Jesus Christ.
12/1/2022: PA registration of AGC approved. It took 41 days.
12/7/2022: Second soul converted in believing Jesus Christ.
12/14/2022: Two more souls (a couple) converted in believing Jesus Christ.
12/25/2022: Christmas Carols celebration worship.
Confess
We believe and profess the following confession of faith. We also believe that in order to maintain the function and integrity of this church as a local body of Christ and to provide a biblical example for the congregation and the community, all staff and volunteers of this church must agree to and abide by our confession of faith.
1. The Bible:
We believe that the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired word of God, which is inerrant in its original form, records the revelation of God's purpose to redeem the world, and is the highest authority for Christian faith and life.
2. God:
We believe that the eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the only true God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
3. Christ:
We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and a perfect man, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world, experienced physical resurrection, ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Most High. He is our high priest and intercedes for us.
4. The Holy Spirit:
We believe that the work of the Holy Spirit is to make people confess their sins, repent, be born again, and believe, and to indwell, guide, and teach believers, so that believers can gain power to live a pious life, serve faithfully, bear witness for the Lord, glorify God and benefit others.
5. Man:
We believe that man was created in the image of God, fell into sinners in Adam, and needs God's salvation. Only through the rebirth of the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ can we be justified and reconciled with God.
6. Redemption:
We believe that Christ's bloody death and resurrection are the only basis for our justification and redemption. We believe that only those who accept Jesus Christ can be reborn by the Holy Spirit and become children of God.
7. Sacraments:
We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are sacraments that the church should observe, but they have no effect of redemption.
8. Church:
We believe that the church is one body, with Christ as the head, uniting all believers who are reborn by the Holy Spirit, perfecting believers through worship, sacraments, fellowship, service, testimony, and preaching, and completing the gospel entrusted to them.
9. Second Coming:
We believe that Jesus Christ will personally return in a physical form at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead; this glorious hope is the basis for believers' lives and services.
10. Eternal Life:
We believe in the resurrection of the body; the resurrection of believers to eternal life and the resurrection of unbelievers to eternal punishment.
11. Our Position on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality:
We believe that God miraculously and irrevocably created each person as either male or female. These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). To reject a person's biological sex, such as self-declaring and choosing a public restroom that does not correspond to one's biological sex, is to reject the image of God in that person.
We believe that the word "marriage" has only one meaning: the exclusive union of one man and one woman as described in the Bible (Genesis 2:18-25).
We believe that God intended that intimate sexual relations be limited to one man and one woman within marriage (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).
We believe that God does not permit any intimate sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including fornication, adultery, homosexual behavior, bisexual behavior, bestiality, incest, and pornography) is a sin and offense against God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
We believe that God provides redemption and restoration for all who confess and repent of their sins and seek His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
We believe that everyone must be given compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Any behavior or attitude of hatred and aggression against any individual should be denied and is not in line with biblical principles.
Church Core Values:
1. Preach the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Lord
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
(1 Corinthians 2: 2)
2. Teach the Bible reading and prayer in the true faith of life
Dear brothers, build yourselves up on your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20)
3. Practice family care and love for each other
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
4. Provide a platform for believers to use their gifts
He gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, and to build up the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
5. Promote missions both locally and far away
But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)