History and profile of Seattle Chinese Alliance Church
Seattle Chinese Alliance Church’s (SCAC) congregation was birthed out of the Chinese community (specifically Taishanese and Cantonese speakers) in Beacon Hill and Chinatown with a group of faithful ladies, who met for weekly Bible Study in 1966. Pastor Duncan Dang, our founding pastor, later was invited to lead the study. This group progressed to their very first worship service on January 7, 1968. The church grew in numbers and programs, and officially joined the C&MA family in 1974. After relocating twice, God opened the door to purchase our current campus, and started our services on November 6, 1988.
Throughout most of its history, SCAC has been a commuter church. Today, many church members and leaders are living outside of the City of Seattle, mostly within a 15-30 minute drive. Throughout the past 55+ years, there have been different waves of Chinese descent immigrants joining us that helped SCAC evolve to a multigenerational, multicultural, and multilanguage family.
Since 1987 SCAC has had separate worship services for the English and Cantonese congregations. In 2019, a separate Mandarin service was also added. Being one church with 3 congregations of different languages, each with their own cultural nuance, we value collaboration, and yet allow enough autonomy to each congregation and group to develop. To increase effectiveness of organizing ministries across congregations and the health of the families for the whole church, the Governing Board has decided, in 2022, to reorganize the Children and Youth Ministries (mainly English-speaking) to be all-church ministries that all SCAC language groups are supporting.
SCAC has been blessed to be involved in growing God’s Kingdom, both locally and abroad. In 2004, by the grace of our Lord, we planted our daughter church, which became an independent church in 2007 as Kent Chinese Alliance Church. In overseas Missions, we have been close partners with C&MA missionaries and their fields in several Asian countries for the last 3 decades. Short-term teams have been trained and sent to support these fields every year except the Covid years. As a C&MA church, overseas missions continue to be an integral part of our DNA.
SCAC is currently the largest Cantonese speaking church in the Greater Seattle area. The Sunday service average attendance in 2024 is roughly 200 in Cantonese, 100 in English and 35 in Mandarin. We are committed to serving our neighbors in the Greater Seattle area. We continue to ask God for creative ways to engage with the unchurched in this area.
In summary, we appreciate the rich heritage that has been passed on to us from dedicated immigrants, and we look to the future, with God’s help, and strive to be a church that is relevant to our church family, the Greater Seattle area, and the world!
Profile of Greater Seattle Area
Seattle, a vibrant seaport city on the West Coast, stands as the most populous urban center in both Washington State and the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Greater Seattle, including both the city of Seattle and its surrounding suburbs on the Eastside, is a thriving hub of technology and innovation. Home to major tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Google, the region attracts top talent from around the world. The area boasts a mix of high-tech industries, beautiful natural landscapes, affluent neighborhoods, and a rich cultural scene.
Seattle Chinese Alliance Church is situated in the heart of the Beacon Hill neighborhood in southeast Seattle. As Seattle grew, Beacon Hill evolved into a diverse community, drawing immigrants from various parts of the world. This blend of cultures has shaped Beacon Hill into a dynamic and multicultural community.
Mission Statement
Equipping disciples of Jesus Christ to make more disciples.
Website
https://www.scacseattle.org
