In Todt Hill on Staten Island, Staten Island Chinese Christian Church is known for three separate Sunday worship gatherings in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, and for ministries extending from children's music and Sunday school to Friday-night youth fellowship and a weekday community center for older adults. The non-denominational church began in a rented chapel on August 3, 1975, and its congregation draws people from across metropolitan New York.
Three Sunday Gatherings, One Church
Worship is the church's central ministry. Its three principal Sunday services run in sequence so people can worship in the language most meaningful to them:
- Cantonese worship: Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
- English worship: Sunday from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
- Mandarin worship: Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
All three services can be attended in person or watched through the church's livestream. Separate Cantonese, English and Mandarin streams make each gathering available in its principal language, and previous sermons are preserved for all three.
The church emphasizes Scripture, prayer, praise, Gospel teaching and offering across its worship and children's services. Baptism also has a place in church life. Mandarin and English worship are followed by corresponding Sunday school classes, while Cantonese Sunday school begins after the morning Cantonese gathering.
From a Rented Chapel to Todt Hill
The first Sunday worship service took place on August 3, 1975, in a rented chapel. From that beginning, Staten Island Chinese Christian Church grew into a congregation serving Chinese-speaking and English-speaking families from across the New York metropolitan area. Its enduring purpose has been stated simply as loving God and loving people.
The church summarizes its vision as “Go WIN Souls”, with each part of the phrase describing a ministry posture: Witness, Invite and Nurture. The emphasis is not only on gathering for Sunday worship but also on teaching, caring for church families, serving the community and sharing the Gospel.
That purpose is reflected in the church's call to make disciples, teach people to obey Jesus and bring glory to God. Its vision joins biblical truth with evangelism, spiritual formation, member care, service and mission.
SICCC's wider ministry has included Sunday worship and school, family Bible study, fellowship groups, prayer meetings, community outreach, evangelistic meetings, Chinese and English classes, children's music, summer children's programs and mission trips. These activities support the same progression from hearing the Gospel to growing in faith and becoming active in ministry.
Children Move Through Music, Scripture and Classrooms
Children have distinct places in the Sunday rhythm at SICCC. A 9:00 a.m. Children's Choir begins the morning, followed by age-specific worship and classes later in the day.
Children's Worship for Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade
Children's Worship takes place in the chapel from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. The service is designed to be God-centered and uses age-appropriate praise and worship songs, prayer, offering time, Gospel-based messages, crafts, and the reading and recitation of God's Word. Children are encouraged to apply biblical teaching to daily life, build godly character and experience positive spiritual growth through creative, child-centered teaching.
Toddler Through Kindergarten Sunday School
Children from toddler age through kindergarten meet in the main building's basement from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Bible stories, songs of praise, Scripture memorization, prayer and thanksgiving are taught through creative methods designed for young children.
Sunday School for Grades One Through Five
After Children's Worship, elementary students continue in Sunday school from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Grades one and two meet on the first floor of Building C, while grades three through five meet in the first-floor back room of Building E. Lessons move deeper into Bible stories and the Gospel while giving children opportunities to learn with teachers and peers, make crafts, build friendships and explore Christian faith in an active classroom setting.
The children's ministry also has a long-standing place for summer classes and vacation Bible programs, extending Scripture learning and fellowship beyond the regular Sunday schedule.
Friday Nights for Junior High and High School
The youth ministry seeks to love students, help them build a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and support them through the challenges of growing up. Its work combines Scripture teaching, worship, relationships, service and honest personal support from caring leaders.
Junior High Worship and Friday Fellowship
Junior high students join Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. in the main building. The teaching seeks to establish a firm foundation of faith as young people discover their identity and learn to live out biblical truth in daily life.
Friday fellowship runs from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Students gather to worship, study God's Word, build relationships and consider how to love and serve others. Counselors encourage students to become disciples who honor God, study His word, learn repentance as a change of direction aligned with Scripture and share the Gospel with others. The ministry also aims to strengthen this generation as future worshipers.
BASICCC High School Fellowship
High school students meet in the main building's chapel at 7:30 p.m. each Friday. BASICCC stands for Brothers And Sisters in Christ. The fellowship combines Bible study tailored to high-school students with game nights, friendship and growth in love and faith.
Five Fellowships for Different Stages of Life
SICCC organizes five broad fellowship groups: Junior High, High School, College, Young Adults and Adults. The groups meet for Bible study, discussion and fellowship, with Junior High and High School also gathering on Fridays. Together they allow friendships and spiritual growth to continue beyond the main Sunday services.
- Junior High: for students in junior high school.
- High School: for students in high school.
- College: for college students.
- Young Adults: primarily for people from postgraduate study through their early thirties.
- Adults: primarily for people from their late thirties onward.
The Young Adult Fellowship is peer-led and gathers young professionals who want to grow in faith and deepen relationships beyond surface-level acquaintance. It meets in the second-floor back room of Building E at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Conversation centers on Christian faith, personal change and learning to look to Christ.
Song of Songs Fellowship
Song of Songs is a Cantonese-speaking fellowship for young couples. It meets in person on the fourth Sunday afternoon of each month and welcomes couples, friends and children. Through Bible teaching, family exchange, mutual care and fellowship, the group seeks to build Christ-centered marriages and families that honor God.
Caleb and Joshua Fellowship
Caleb and Joshua is a Cantonese fellowship formed mainly by older and middle-aged adults. Its monthly gathering includes dinner at 6:00 p.m. on the third Saturday, followed by a 7:00 p.m. meeting. The fellowship emphasizes fellowship, caring for one another, sharing burdens and joys and applying faith together. When there is a fifth Saturday, an additional group activity is sometimes held.
Mandarin Bible Study Groups
Mandarin-speaking members also participate in geographically organized Bible study groups, many of which meet online. Several groups meet twice each month, generally on the second and fourth Sunday or Thursday. The JC Faith, Hope and Love Group meets weekly on Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., providing another regular Mandarin Bible study rhythm.
Prayer Through the Week
Prayer is woven through the church's calendar rather than limited to one monthly gathering. The regular prayer schedule includes:
- Sunday: 11:30 a.m.
- Monday: 8:00 a.m.
- Tuesday: 8:00 a.m.
- Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:00 a.m.
English-speaking prayer triplets also meet throughout the week. These groups consist of three or four people and provide a more personal setting for prayer, encouragement and mutual support.
長青之家, the Community Center for Older Adults
Staten Island Chinese Christian Church opened 長青之家 on November 1, 2007, using church space that was lightly used during the week to serve the surrounding community. The twice-weekly center was created with older adults in mind, offering companionship, purposeful activity, a simple meal and an avenue for Christian fellowship and outreach.
長青之家 meets at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Its activities include reading newspapers, playing chess and table tennis, doing praise exercises and dancing, practicing calligraphy and learning English. Participants also share a simple lunch, sing before eating and hear a brief message.
The center seeks to give visitors the feeling of coming home. Birthday celebrations are held at the beginning of each month, and holiday gatherings add a special festive rhythm. Volunteers help make the center a place where older adults can spend time together, remain active and encounter the Gospel through fellowship and service.
What SICCC Holds True
The church's beliefs are summarized in six affirmations:
- God is the one true God and the Creator of the universe and humanity.
- Jesus Christ is the fullness of God, incarnated as fully human and fully divine.
- The Trinity is central to Christian belief, with the Holy Spirit dwelling and working in God's people.
- The Fall describes the sin of disobedience that separated humanity from God.
- Salvation belongs to God.
- Life with God is received by believing and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The Gospel is described as the good news of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection. SICCC teaches that this Gospel provides full and free deliverance from the power and penalty of sin, according to God's grace alone and through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
The church calls people to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, to turn away from the old sinful life and to live a new life of holiness that honors God. This life of faith is connected to baptism, biblical teaching, church fellowship and service.
Pastoral Leadership and a Shared Ministry
Senior Pastor Stephen Ma
Stephen Ma was born and raised in Hong Kong and worked as a teacher before attending Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary. After serving at Trust In God Baptist Church in Chinatown, New York, he began as senior pastor of Staten Island Chinese Christian Church on September 11, 2000. His pastoral vision centers on a life-development process: bringing non-believers to accept Jesus as Savior and Master, baptizing and incorporating them into the church, developing Christlike maturity, equipping people for ministry and mission, and leading them to worship God.
English Pastor Lee Ka
Lee Ka has served as English pastor since September 2000. Before entering ministry, he worked for eleven years in financial and investment banking. He earned a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in May 2000 and grew up at Oversea Chinese Mission, where he had been a member since 1977.
Mandarin Pastor Timothy Wang
Timothy Wang was born and raised in Beijing, came to the United States for study and moved to Staten Island in 1987. He worked in computing before answering a call to ministry in 1999 and earned a Master of Divinity in 2002. After retiring from full-time ministry, he returned to Staten Island and assists the Mandarin ministry.
Youth Director Paul Baek
Paul Baek brings ten years of experience in youth and young-adult ministry. His previous work as a mental health counselor shaped his approach to helping young people. He holds a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and serves as SICCC's Youth Director.
Lay leadership includes Elder Dr. Henry Chan and deacons Jason Chan, Simon Chan, Hung Lum Chau, Debbie Chow, Jeff Guang, Elizabeth Ho, Andy Huang and Willy Yuin. Their work alongside the pastors reflects the church's emphasis on shared ministry rather than ministry carried by clergy alone.
A Multibuilding Home on Staten Island and a Brooklyn Congregation
The Staten Island church worships at 159 Schmidts Lane, Staten Island, New York 10314, near exit 12 of the SI Expressway. Its connected ministry spaces include the Main Building, Chapel, Building C, Building E and basement classrooms. This allows worship, children's classes, youth activities and fellowship groups to take place across the church's own properties.
In 2011, Staten Island Chinese Christian Church added Brooklyn Gospel Church at 516 Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn. The second location has developed its own Chinese worship life alongside Bible study and prayer gatherings, allowing the church to maintain two Chinese congregations in the New York metropolitan area.
A Church Sustained by Its People
Staten Island Chinese Christian Church survives solely on donations. Giving is welcomed without obligation, and the church also values gifts of time, ability and service. Donations may be sent as checks or arranged as monthly bank bill payments to SICCC at the Staten Island address. Additional details appear through SICCC giving.
Across three Sunday languages, children's classrooms, youth gatherings, age-based fellowships, weekly prayer and the weekday community center, Staten Island Chinese Christian Church remains organized around its enduring rhythm of Witness, Invite and Nurture, connecting worship on Staten Island and Brooklyn with care for people across different ages and backgrounds.