While still going to MeRF in Time Square, I have to check out the body of Christ in NJ since we've moved to South Amboy.
Thus far I've visited 2: New Durham Chapel (225 New Durham Rd, Piscataway Township, NJ 08854) & Mt. Carmel Orthdox Presbyterian Church (350 Franklin Blvd, Somerset, NJ 08873).
Though Mt. Carmel is listed under the OPC denomination, I'm not sure how closely it is practicing OPC's tenets. It's like a black church with a white pastor, with evangelical sermons leaning towards black/charismatic slightly. It is definitely unique in some sense, since this is an OPC and not a Baptist church which is a common black church custom. Traditional hymns.
As for New Durham, we went with Willy's friend Grace. Supposedly the church she goes to. I said supposedly because it appears that no one there knew her. Leaning towards Charismatic. Modern hymns.
The folks from either churches are very friendly and welcoming, that's for sure. They definitely follow the fundamental evangelical practice.
Next two churches I plan to visit will be RCCC (the famed Rutgers Chinese Mega church in NJ) and Ferry's church.
I went to Rutgers Community Christian Church (RCCC) a few weeks ago. It's sort of a mega church, perhaps half of Reedeemer East Side size back in the days when Tim Keller was around. They valet parking. The only Chinese church I've been to so far.
So far, not bad, they have lots of programs, seminary courses, etc. Though I cannot vouch for the quality of it.
The only thing I would criticize about the sermon that I heard that one time is that instead of studying the Bible, the preacher just gave Christopher Yuan's famous from gay to Christian testimony. That actually is very bad, but I cannot be certain if this is a hiccup of sermons done there or is it a common thing. Seems individualistic, perhaps due to the great size. For now, I'm not eager to return to it. Because I love Grace OPC.
I've also visited the only other OPC in my neighborhood, Mt. Carmel OPC. More like a gospel church, mostly blacks, for some reason. Smaller that Grace OPC. But they are very welcoming. More evangelical focused. Can't tell how they view reformed doctrine, but judging from the denomination affiliated, it shouldn't be a problem.
The other church we visited was New Durham Chapel. Leaning more towards Charismatics, but not quite. Very enthusiastic towards new comers as well. We were introduced to this one by Grace, Willy's GF.
Today, Nadia fell ill, so I got a chance to explore new churches. particularly, a Chinese one. I have a list of Chinese churches around us that I have yet to explore. So far, I've been to Rutgers (RCCC, big church, felt like in an airport, looks like they're in just for the numbers, 沒實底, twas my first impression), second was 美華 in Freehold, very welcoming, as expected of most Chinese churches (except for RCCC), but theology leaning towards Charismatics based on songs, appears to love God however, third is the one I visited today, MCCC, 美門福音教會, bigger than 美華, as welcoming as them. They called my name at end of the service as I was the only new comer.
I asked them for their theological stand (basically: Which denomination are they closer to, I already knew they're non-denominational denomination), I got more interest to pull me into their church than answering my questions. This would be a great topic of discussion when Nadia and I visit Eleni and Rudy.
The sermon was done not by a pastor, but just a brethren. I am beginning to realize that when they are not ordained, these lay preachers love to use and heavily rely on their projector presentations - think Penang Trinity's Khoo Cheok Kau. Not wrong, but it's better to rely not on those, and even look at the congregants at all time, no notes. Hebrews 10:16-25, on Faith, Hope, Love. This is the Mandarin session. I was wrong that the English was led by a black preacher, that would be Rev. Nick Johnson of First Chinese Baptist Church in Edison and I have yet to explore this one, not even the Mandarin one. I like the close to expository style by 趙鴻翔, whose wife was also very welcoming after service in the OT class. After the after service welcome, some of them traded Wechat with me, I observed the OT class. All their classes are also on Zoom. They have great technology in recording for streaming/youtube. Interestingly, their Cantonese class was looking at Westminster Shorter Catechism, so I supposed there's a sprinkle of reformed doctrine in this church. Looks like they really love to rotate teach in everything, that's one of the cons. In my Exodus class, the lecturer 張洪遠 mentioned that God changed his mind after Moses' prayer, so I asked when given the chance in the end, the answer was shallow and may even be in err - prayer can cause God to change his mind. God's mind never changes, his trials and tests are what's going on. Just like Solomon's command to split the baby in halves, just like when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, etc. Although, he did get the part right about the "change"[repent] is the condition of transition between grace and justice, perhaps he took it from Pak Tong.
The music was better than 美華. Chinese theme, slightly modern and popular. Not too CCM. They have several zoom fellowship links I can look into.
Church attendance at the time was around 70+, mostly 50-70 years old, pianist's probably someone's teenage daughter, grand piano, all wearing masks in this post-pandemic time while most churches have started to unmask.
Was given a book by 王国显 persecuted in house church then immigrated to HK and then U.S., book title: Growing in Christ (在基督里长进). They're the ones who told me that church I went before was called "美华" and that the Taiwanese restaurant nearby (Taiwan Place, bowling alley) is Christian so not easy to get order on Sunday (Google Map says business after 5pm on Sunday), food's not bad actually and cheap, I had 红烧牛肉面 and Nadia had 台式炒米粉 a day before. I'll try to check this book. But a brief view of the book, if that's what their consensus is, shows that they are closer to Baptist, maybe even Anabaptist. So they maybe Anabaptists with a moderate Charismatic view on premillennial dispensationalism, with maybe a sprinkling of some reformed doctrine (or just one guy teaching that and I can't seem to get a introduction of this guy from them, as if they're not really close or something). I may throw this book away after I find no good historical learning purpose. During the Sunday School, David Pawson's name was mentioned by the lecturer: something about respecting people for the last half of the 10 commandments, I think. But you mention Pawson, then I know what's influencing your theology, non-denomination or not.
Conclusion, I think many Chinese like these in U.S. love this concept of having good job with $, and then retire to be pastors, Bible scholars, preachers, full time in churches. It's problematic to begin with, as if you need to make a "name" for yourselves first before you could truly prove yourselves to be a man of God. That actually is a despise on God's ordination and calling. But the real obvious proof is this: They probably would just last for 1-2 generations, because of one problem: They never bother preaching, reaching out, feel the rejection, etc. They want to "play safe".