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Manila Chinese Baptist Church (MCBC) is a community that loves people where they are, leading one another into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The church has various ministries that cater to different age groups and needs, such as children, youth, young adults, seniors, music, missions, and outreach. The church also partners with other churches and organizations to spread the gospel and serve the poor in Manila and beyond.
MISSION
MISSION
To glorify God by discovering our gifts in the Holy Spirit, developing them through faith and service, and deploying them to build a loving community and reach out to our neighbors in Jesus Christ's name.
VISION
VISION
Transform lives, families, communities, and nations through Christ-centered relationships.
CHURCH HISTORY
Introduction
Introduction
The establishment of the Manila Chinese Baptist Church began with the arrival of American Southern Baptist missionaries to the Philippines. In late 1948, Communist advances in China forced these missionaries to relocate to other countries. Among them were Dr. and Mrs. Winston Crawley, Rev. and Mrs. Max Pettit, Fern Harrington, Dr. and Mrs. Clyde Jowers, Rev. and Mrs. Wesley Lawton, and Theresa Anderson.
Because of their fervent desire to share the Gospel to the Chinese, these faithful servants of the Lord dedicated themselves to the overseas Chinese in the Philippines. Most of them were in China for language studies and spoke Mandarin. They read Chinese literature and maintained purity in their doctrinal position.
Initial work began in Baguio which led to the establishment of the first Chinese Southern Baptist church, Baguio Chinese Baptist Church, on May 29, 1950.
1950s
1950s
In May 1950, Theresa Anderson moved to Manila with Mrs. Yeh, one of the Chinese-language teachers from Beijing. She began work among the Chinese by first teaching English at Chiang Kai Shek High School. In August, the families of Max Pettit and Clyde Jowers joined her, followed by Dr. and Mrs. John Abernathy, veteran missionaries from China, who arrived from Korea.
By October, they rented the second floor of the People’s Bank of the Philippines at the corner of T. Pinpin and David (now Burke) Streets in Binondo. This became the first assembly hall and was called the Overseas Chinese Christian Baptist Church. A certain Mr. Co Ching Chuan was invited to oversee the pulpit ministry. The first worship service in Mandarin was held on November 19, 1950 and a week later, Dr. Abernathy led evangelistic services which resulted in several professions of faith by young people.
the pioneers
the pioneers
On March 16, 1952, Rev. Clyde Jowers baptized the first five believers. This was followed by a second batch a month later on April 6th, with four ladies. This led to the formal establishment of the Manila Chinese Baptist Church on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952. Rev. Clyde Jowers served as the first pastor with eleven charter members namely: Mary Lucile Saunders, Virginia Mathis, Tomas Cua Po, You Zu Yin, Jenny Wu, Felomina Yang, Yeh Zhang Li Yun, Li Hui Ling, Helen Wu, Mary Wu, and Betty Sy Chen.
From the People’s Bank on David Street, the church moved to Elcano Street in Binondo. Then on June 1, 1953, it transferred to an upper room in Tokyo Hotel on Ongpin Street corner Rosario Street (now Quintin Paredes). On May 5, 1956, the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board bought a piece of property in the heart of Chinatown, along Tomas Pinpin Street corner Quiñones (now Carvajal) Street. This is where the church was built and stands to this day.
1960s-1990s
1960s-1990s
Construction of the church building commenced in March 1960. The building fund was raised purely by faith as the Holy Spirit moved. Construction work was completed in four months and on July 31, 1960, the first church building was dedicated to the Lord. It was a two-story semi-concrete building with the sanctuary and baptistry on the 2nd floor. The parsonage was later added at the rear of the building in September 1970 and was finished in 90 days at the cost of P73,500.00.
The church was duly incorporated with the Securities and Exchanges Commission on July 3, 1990 and the Philippine Baptist SBC (formerly Foreign Mission Board) resolved in its July 27th meeting to donate the property to the church. The official deed of donation was done on April 19, 1991.
2000s
2000s
With the coming of the new millennium, the members decided that it was time to rebuild. A bigger building was needed to accommodate the increasing population and ministry. Plans were set forth and by September 2002, the church rented the 2nd floor of the Yutivo Building at 267 San Vicente for its services. The last worship service at the old church building was held on October 3, 2002. That afternoon, the last remaining pews and miscellaneous items were transferred to the rented building.
Demolition started on October 28, 2002. Groundbreaking rites for the new building were held on January 7, 2003 at 9AM and the new 8-story building was finished in time for it to be dedicated during MCBC’s 53rd anniversary on April 17, 2005.
Today it stands tall in the heart of Chinatown with its blue-lighted cross seen clearly like a beacon in the night sky.
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