About us 关于我们

The Chinese Baptist Church of Northwest Suburbs (CBCNWS) was founded in September of 1980 by Pastor Wing Shu Lam as the Chinese Mission of the First Baptist Church of Palatine. Between December, 1986 and September, 1987, CBCNWS held worship services in a rented room of the Winston Park Public School. In September, 1987, God poured out His blessings on our Church and granted the purchase of 1640 S. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights as our first Church building. We held our first worship service in the new building on September 27, 1987. Later that year, CBCNWS was officially recognized as a non-profit organization in the State of Illinois, and a Dedication Service was held on December 5, 1987.

Pastor Lam continued to shepherd the Church until April, 1990. He resigned at that time to prepare for ministry in Hong Kong. In May, 1991, CBCNWS installed Pastor Benjamin Tam, formerly Assistant Pastor at the Chicago Chinese Baptist Church in Chicago.

God continued to bless our Church and increased our numbers. In 1992, a Church Building Committee was formed to find our bigger second home. In 1995, the 1640 S. Arlington Heights building was sold and God granted the purchase of our present building at 4242 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. While the new building was under remodeling, we held temporary worship services at the Golf Road Baptist Church in Mt. Prospect. On December 17, 1995, CBCNWS held its first worship service in our new spiritual home at 4242 Kirchoff Road. On January 20, 1996, a Dedication Service for our new and current building was held.

Dr. Chi Chuen Lau joined our pastoral staff in February 2002 as our Pastoral Assistant. He went on to pastor another church and later had returned as the part time Christian Education worker. He left the church again in 2018 and went back to Hong Kong to serve the ministry at Echo Valley Evangelistic Association for the Handicaps.

Minister Huang joined our pastoral staff in June 2020 as our Minister of Women after she graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago. Her ministry focus is on shepherding the women and Christian education in our church.

Pastor Isaac Chen began attending our church in August 2018 and later started his internship here. After graduating from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago in May 2023, he took on the role as an Assistant Pastor. On April 27, 2024, he was ordained and officially became the pastor of our church, succeeding Pastor Tam.

Pastor Tam retired in May 2024 and became Pastor Emeritus of our church. He continues to worship and serve with us.

Throughout our existence, God has watched over us and blessed us in our many ministries, including Sunday school, fellowships, outreach, mission, etc. We look forward to having you come and help us build a community of God's people that God expects us to be.

林荣树牧师于1980年9月创立芝城西北郊华人浸信会，最早六年教会聚会地点是在 Palatine 第一浸信会。 1986年12月至1987年9月在 Winston Park 小学租用课室聚会。 1987年9月神祝福教会容许我们购买 1640 S. Arlington Hts Road 作教会会址。我们于1987年9月27日在新堂址举行第一次主日崇拜。同年亦被伊利洛州政府确认为非营利组织，1987年12月5日教会举行献堂礼拜。

林牧师继续牧养教会直到1990年4月。他当时辞职是为在香港的事工作准备。 1991年5月谭人元牧师正式上任为教会牧师。他曾任芝城华人浸信会助理牧师。

父神继续祝福我们并增加我们的人数。 1992年教会成立了楼宇委员会以便寻找更大的建筑物应付教堂的需要。 1995年我们出售了1640 S. Arlington Hts Road 的楼宇 ，亦购买现址。当现址在装修之时，我们借用了Golf Road浸信会作主日崇拜。 1995年12月17日教会在现址第一次主日崇拜，亦在1996年1月20日举行献堂礼拜。

2002年2月刘志全博士担任牧师助理，之后一段时间离开，再后重新加入我们教会的教育事工。2018年他再次离开我们教会，回到香港，在回声谷伤健福音协会侍奉。

黄旅儿传道从芝加哥三一神学院毕业后，于2020年6月加入我们教会的牧养事工，特别是妇女的关怀牧养与圣经教导的工作。

陈海波牧师从2018年8月开始来到我们教会聚会，并其后在教会中实习。在2023年5月从芝加哥三一神学院毕业后，就开始担任牧师助理的职位。2024年4月27日被按立为牧师，并接替谭牧师成为教会牧师。

谭人元牧师从2024年5月开始正式退休，成为教会荣休牧师，并继续在教会中聚会和参与事奉。

从创立至今日，神不断地看顾保守我们各样事工（教育，团契，布道，宣教等等）我们盼望你能够参与我们的事奉，帮助我们建立一个讨神喜悦的教会

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Pastor Isaac Chen 陈海波牧師

I’m Isaac Chen. I grew up in Guangdong China. During my time in college, I heard the gospel, repented, believed in the Lord, and was baptized into Christ’s church. Since then, I’ve been actively involved in church and serving with passion. In December 2017, I received God’s calling to prepare for full-time ministry, and in January 2020, I began my studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, graduating in May 2023.

By God’s grace and with the support of CBCNWS, I started serving in the church while still in seminary and became a minister after graduation. I’m thankful for God’s guidance in allowing my wife, Rebecca Huang, and I to serve together, complementing each other in ministry and in raising our daughter, Dora. I hope, under the Lord’s will, to grow together with the brothers and sisters in the church, becoming a stronger part of Christ’s body, sharing in glorification in Christ as one body, and looking forward to our Lord Jesus Christ together!

大家好! 我是陈海波。我成长于广东，在大学期间听到福音，并悔改信主，洗礼加入基督的教会。从此积极参与教会，并热心事奉。我在2017年12月受 神呼召去预备全职侍奉，在2020年1月正式进入芝加哥三一神学院接受装备，并在2023年5月毕业。蒙 神的恩典以及芝加哥西北郊华人浸信会的支持，我在神学院装备期间已开始在教会服事，并在毕业后成为教会的传道人。

感谢我们 神的带领，让我与妻子黄旅儿一同的搭配事奉，在各样的事情里面可以互补不足，也包括在养育我们的女儿Dora上面。我盼望在主的旨意里面，与教会的弟兄姊妹，与大家一同成长。更好的成为基督的身体，彼此为肢体在基督里一同得荣耀，共同仰望我们主耶稣基督的再来!

Minister Rebecca Huang 黄旅儿传道

I am Rebecca Huang, Minister of Women in the Chinese Baptist Church of NW Suburbs. I focus my ministry on shepherding and teaching the women in our church.

 I was born and grew up in China. I attended church with my parents since childhood, and committed my life to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior in high school. I then heeded God’s calling to be a minister of the gospel and made it my life goal to lead others to Christ. I prepared for the minister at various seminaries: Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (Bachelor of Theology), Trinity Theological College of Singapore (Master of Ministry), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Master of Divinity). I ministered in churches in China and in a drug rehabilitation center in Macao. My husband, Isaac, and I were married in 2007 and we have one daughter.

 As my Chinese name (Luer) indicates,  I am a pilgrim in this world, passing through toward my heavenly home. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives me hope and joy from heaven. The salvation in Christ enable me to have a new perspective on the ups and downs of life. Regardless of circumstances, I know God loves me and He walks with me.

 God loves you. I hope to journey heavenward with you, have a closer friendship with you, study the bible with you, share the goodness of God with you, and pray with you in whatever difficulties and challenges we may be in.

您好！我是黄旅儿传道，在西北郊华人浸信会参与教会侍奉，特别是妇女的关怀牧养与圣经教导的工作。

我出生并成长于中国广东，自幼跟随父母到教会，在中学期间悔改接受救恩，随即立志以传福音，引人归主为人生目标；回应上帝呼召，先后在南京金陵协和神学院; 新加坡三一神学院; 芝加哥三一神学院 接受神学装备，分别获得神学学士，教牧学硕士和道学硕士学位; 曾在国内教会和澳门福音戒毒机构担任传道工作。2007与丈夫陈海波在广州结婚， 育有一女。

如我的中文名字“旅儿”，在世上我只是一名客旅，暂时寄居在地上，向往在天上更美的家乡；耶稣十字架的救恩，给我带来属天的盼望和喜乐, 帮助我用不一样的眼光去看待我生命中的高山和低谷，无论在什么环境中，我都知道神爱我，与我同行。

耶稣爱您！我期待与您成为同路人，让彼此更深的认识，一起学习圣经，一起分享生命中的美好，一起为生命中的困难和挑战祷告, 一起走天路。

Pastor Emeritus: Benjamin Tam / 荣休牧师：谭人元牧师

Benjamin Tam was born in Hong Kong and brought up in a godly family. He came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He grew in faith under the ministry of Rev. John Ling in Philadelphia's Chinese Christian Church and Center. It was in college that Benjamin received his calling to the ministry; he then received his training at Philadelphia's Westminster Seminary and Chicago's Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

One word that sums up Benjamin's heart: "thankful." Benjamin couldn't thank God enough for three things: (1) for His grace to him through Christ Jesus, (2) for blessing him with his wife (Linda), children (Ruth, Anna, Laura, Joseph), and his 4 older siblings and an increasing number of nephews and nieces, and (3) for surrounding him with the most precious congregation of Chinese Baptist Church of Northwest Suburbs. Besides the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, Pastor Tam wants the whole world to know that he has got the best family in the world.

Pastor Tam was retired in April, 2025

谭人元牧师出生于香港，在一个敬虔的家庭长大。他从小就认识耶稣基督是他的救主，他的信仰在林祝三牧师牧养的费城华人基督教会成长。在大学时代谭牧师接受了神给他的呼召，他在费城的Westminster神学院和芝加哥的三一福音派神学院受装备。

 一个字总结形容谭牧师的心：感谢。谭牧师为三个祝福感谢神：（1）神借基督耶稣赐给他的恩典， （2）神赐给他妻子（Linda），儿女（Ruth, Anna, Laura, Joseph）和四个兄姊和众侄子侄女，（3）神赐给他芝城西北郊华人浸信会宝贵的会众。除了基督耶稣荣耀的福音之外，谭牧师想全世界都知道他有世上最好的家庭。

谭人元牧师于2025年4月荣休。

The purpose of our existence is to build a community of disciples of Christ who:

1. Worships in Spirit and Truth

2. Grows into Christ-Like Maturity

3. Ministers with the Spirit's Power and Gift

4. Commits to the cause of Christ

5. Demonstrates the Love of God

我们存在的目的是要建立一个跟随耶稣的团契。此团契是：

1. 以灵以诚敬拜神

2. 不断地成长进入基督的模样

3. 使用圣灵的恩赐与力量彼此服侍

4. 忠于基督的使命

5. 表扬神的爱

We uphold the "Baptist Faith and Message" of 2000, adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention

我们持守2000年版美南浸信会的信仰和信息

Believing there is strength and that greater work can be accomplished through the voluntary association with other churches of like faith and order, this Church is affiliated with:

• The Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association

• The Illinois State Baptist Association

• The Southern Baptist Convention

相信与其他相同信仰相同原则的教会联合会更有力更有效的建立神的国度，本教会隶属：

• 芝加哥区浸联会

• 伊利诺州浸联会

• 美南浸信会Item description