The idea to purchase a new building came after the church began to outgrow its old location on 15th Ave. Because pastor David Poon was on sabbatical in Hong Kong to further his studies in the Alliance Bible Seminary, he was kept informed by phone and fax of the ongoing steps towards a new building.
In March, 1995, the pastoral staff and the board of deacons agreed to proceed with the purchase the Collingwood United Church building. At the beginning of April, Poon asked a Christian in Hong Kong to pray for the church in this regard. To his surprise, she responded by immediately pledging $200,000 towards the project.
The congregation passed the motion to purchase at a May 14 meeting. Also, $44,000 had been collected in previous years towards this fund. This, along with the $200,000 and other money raised, enabled the church to finalize the purchase on June 28.
By Aug. 6, the church had collected $464,000; by Oct. 15 they had reached $487,000. This, along with $615,000 from the sale of the previous building totalled $1.102 million. With about $70,000 in renovations; the total cost of the building came to about $1.2 million. Therefore, when all the dust had settled, the church was almost debt-free, with only about $100,000 owing.
Bethel Chinese Church began when pastor David Poon was asked to plant a church in 1978. The first service was held in November, 1978 at Fraserview MB Church in Vancouver. In 1979, they moved with Fraserview MB Church to Richmond, B.C. That same year, they moved to Richmond (B.C.) Bethel MB Church.
It became the first Chinese MB church in North America when it was accepted into the MB Conference in 1980. They purchased a building at 235 E. 15th Ave. in Vancouver in 1981. The expanded that building in 1984, and met regularly there until their recent move.
B.C. Conference Minister Ike Bergen spoke at the dedication service which featured much singing and many prayers of dedication.
KH