ABOUT ATPC EM

Before 1986, there is a fellowship group formed by six Taiwanese families in Austin, they took terms hosting Bible Studies in their homes. In the January of 1986, through Houston Grace Presbyterian Church Reverend Sung-Chi Wang’s recommendation, they joined the Presbyterian Church USA. By February, they begin to have regular Sunday Services in their homes, outdoors, and parks.

After March, Reverend Sung-Chi Wang arranged for Reverend Samuel Hsu to come to help the fellowship, he became the 1st and founding pastor of Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. Due to our membership in the Presbyterian Church USA--Mission Presbyterian, they send an American pastor to work with Reverend Hsu and our church to form a steering Committee in order to plan and help with many of the church’s services.

During this period, the brothers and sisters from Houston Taiwanese Church and Grace Presbyterian Church begin to support us financially in the establishment of our church. In June, we received help from Hope Presbyterian Church, where we began using their Sunday school classrooms for our Sunday worship services.

In the October of 1988, Reverend Hsu completed his pastoral term. During this period, when we do not have a pastor, the church invited many outside lecturers and church brothers to take term in sharing God’s word; the Sunday worship services were able to continue without any interruption. By then the chairman of the church’s steering committee was replaced by Reverend Kent Miller. Through his persistent support we were able to secure a church fund from the Mission Presbyterian to help with the growth of the church. The amount received is estimated to be $40,000 dollars, giving out over the period of three years.

In 1992, Reverend Timothy Tai was inaugurated; he became the 2nd pastor of Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. He led the church in an outward expansion and the participation of many joined worship services. At the time, the number of church members grew to 20 adults and 10 children. Reverend Tai left his post and return to Atlanta after a year and a half.

In the October of 1993, thanks to God’s amazing guidance which led Reverend John M. Yeh all the way from Brazil to Austin and became the 3rd pastor of Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. The church under God’s care and Reverend Yeh’s guidance continue to grow and the people continue to increase.

Reverend John M. Yeh is pastor which God uses heavily. Not only is he famous for his white hair. God gave him many special gifts; he is able to lead people to God’s truth through their folklore beliefs. He wrote numerous books and booklet that relates to sharing of the gospel through folklore religions. At the same time, he also produced many audio and video materials that encourage gospel-nativelization, in order to bring more Taiwanese people to God.

During the year, for three months, Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church would sent Pastor Yeh all over the world, to places such as, other states within the United States, Canada, countries in Central and South America, Taiwan, countries in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and many more, for evangelistic meetings, in order to share the gospel and bringing more people to Christ. Every year Pastor would lead worship services in more than 30 different churches and teach course such as “From Folklore to Christ” in Seminary Schools. Because of all the places that Pastor Yeh has been to, and all of the people he met during his evangelistic trips, he introduced Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church to many parts of the world, which allows our church to be known for its evangelistic works. Because Pastor Yeh is a world-renown missionary, our church also became very well-known. We give all of our praises to our Lord.

In the February of 1995, brothers and sisters began to feel that the classrooms that Hope Presbyterian Church lent us were too small, and that we desperately needed our church building. Elder-deacon committee started a fundraising for the purchase of a land; the goal of the fundraising was $250,000 dollars. In July, Deacon Chin-Pin Hsu saw on a newspaper advertisement of a land that was on sale on Duval; Deacon Puo-Yang Liu was asked to handle the purchase of the land. In October, a decision that confirmed the purchase of the land was passed during the congregational meeting. In the May of 1996, the title of the land was transferred over; the land was purchased at $150,000 dollars.

In the November of 1997, the first-phase of the church building construction began.

On February 10th, 1999, the first-phase of the church building construction was completed, construction expenses and land purchase cost a total of $770,000 dollars.

On February 28th, after Thanksgiving Service, the fellowship hall was officially open for use.

In the November of 2000, the second-phase of the church building construction began; the construction was not completed until May 4th, 2001. The construction expenses and equipment purchase were total at $700,000 dollars. During building construction, the members of the Church Building Committee and the whole congregation worked cooperatively. The Chairperson of the Church Building Committee, Mrs. Mei-Shuen Huang, God blessed her with the wisdom and physical stamina, has worked countless hours with the builders and the architect in resolving all of the problems. Our friend, Mr. Chung-Tsien Wu, also contributed his carpentry skills to help us adorned the sanctuary. We give all of our praises to our God.

There are also many spiritual elders, brothers and sisters in Christ, and friends that have cared for us, prayed for us, and offered their money, labor, and time. May God bless and remember you all for the kindness that you have shown us.

Our church continued to grow and increase in number both in quantity and quality under God’s safe-keeping. Currently Sunday Worship Services is divided into Taiwanese and English services. The attendance of both adults and children are total in 170 people. After the service, there are also Sunday school classes that provide a systematic way to study the word of God.

In the past ten years, God has watched-over us and blessed us. We have also experienced his amazing guidance and grace that through faith we can fulfill his plans for us. All of the glory belongs to our God most high. May God bestow grace upon grace and blessing upon blessing to his own church, and peace and joy to his own people.