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The Kobe Chinese Reformed Presbyterian Church was founded in 1949, during the period of reconstruction after the Pacific War by Presbyterian Missionaries Dr. and Mrs. Wilfred C McLaughlin. (Some of you know their daughter, Catherine Peterson) The pastor is Rev. Chang-Fen Yang. The motto of this congregation is "True to the Scriptures, the Reformed Faith, and obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ".

Picture of Chinese Church Sanctuary

Rev. Yang has been the pastor of this congregation since 19??. In many ways he has grown with the church and his family grew up here too.

Picture of Rev & Mrs Yang

Picture of Congregation

Picture of Kindergarten

Below you will see various pictures of the damage which faced this congregation, but there is no way to visualize the heart-wounds resulting from the loss of life and livelihood. These are hidden by smiling faces and good manners. When Moderator Bohl visited the congregation, a member of the congregation appeared with a frozen smile on her face as she arrived and left on her bicycle, but the shock had been so great to her system that she died within days of our visit. The shock killed some, but others it trapped with unforgettable memories. Financially the church has suffered great losses, but it will of course survive. God has shown great blessings to this congregation and this congregation has been willing to be used of God. For this reason, I have no fear for the congregation no matter how they have suffered financially. God really is taking care of them. In closing, I would like to quote from the Church bulletin on June 14, 1998.

"Can - Can't"
Our church will celebrate its 50th anniversary in December of next year. By that time we are planning to rebuild the kindergarten damaged by the earthquake, add a carillion to the roof of the sanctuary as an offering to God. In addition to this, we are planning to bring back from all over the world, missionaries and other brothers and sisters who have served us to share with us in worship at our time of remembrance. It will require substantial funds to bring this plan to pass. The architect estimated a minimum of 50,000,000 yen (about $354,633 at 141/1) will be required to rebuild and repair the buildings. In this period of resession, it can only be accomplished if we all pull together. At least this once we have established a church to the glory of God during these fifty years of life together, and we can pass the baton of a strong church on to the next generation. I urge all of us to not let this opportunity pass by unfulfilled. (Rev. 14:13)

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