who we are
We are a vibrant church community that embraces diversity across cultures, generations, and economic backgrounds. Our Sunday services reflect our mission to unite this diversity through worship, prayer, teaching, giving, and joyful celebration. Sunday School is available for all age groups.
Our Praise Team leads the congregation in a powerful musical experience before and during services, blending contemporary and traditional styles. Children, youth, and seniors are all given opportunities to participate in ministry during our worship gatherings.
In addition to in-person worship, we remain connected during the week with virtual midweek prayer sessions and small group Bible studies—an approach that grew during the coronavirus pandemic and continues to bless our community.
We offer both Women’s and Men’s Ministries and host occasional teacher training events. Our church is deeply committed to missions, both local and global, with a strong focus on education and service.
Internationally, we support missionaries through International Ministries in Hong Kong, Panama, and Lebanon, as well as the Jon Christian School in India. Locally, we partner with organizations like Abode (supporting the homeless), City Team (serving those in need), Redwood Glen Christian Camp, the Asian Alliance of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, the American Baptist Seminary of the West, the Tiny House initiative, Rainbow Acres (a Christian community for people with developmental disabilities), and the God First (G1) Sports League.
Our Praise Team leads the congregation in a powerful musical experience before and during services, blending contemporary and traditional styles. Children, youth, and seniors are all given opportunities to participate in ministry during our worship gatherings.
In addition to in-person worship, we remain connected during the week with virtual midweek prayer sessions and small group Bible studies—an approach that grew during the coronavirus pandemic and continues to bless our community.
We offer both Women’s and Men’s Ministries and host occasional teacher training events. Our church is deeply committed to missions, both local and global, with a strong focus on education and service.
Internationally, we support missionaries through International Ministries in Hong Kong, Panama, and Lebanon, as well as the Jon Christian School in India. Locally, we partner with organizations like Abode (supporting the homeless), City Team (serving those in need), Redwood Glen Christian Camp, the Asian Alliance of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, the American Baptist Seminary of the West, the Tiny House initiative, Rainbow Acres (a Christian community for people with developmental disabilities), and the God First (G1) Sports League.
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NLCF has its origins in a group from the Chinese Presbyterian Church of Oakland. CPC is a historic, bilingual (Chinese-English) church with deep roots in Oakland’s Chinatown. Folks in the group that became NLCF (then called Contemporary Christian Fellowship) had a burden for forward-looking, English-speaking ministry. Events in the late ’80s led this group to look outside CPC for support and direction. The group met as a Bible study for several years, then decided in 1991 to hire a staff leader, Dr. Reverend Russell Yee.
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The founding members stand out since their desire to form a new ministry spawned events leading up to today’s New Life Christian Fellowship congregation. The founding members, along with the first pastor Russell Yee, settled on the American Baptist denomination.
The first pastor, Russell Yee, initially hired as a “Pastoral Consultant”, fresh out of seminary and with a desire to participate in a church planting effort, played a defining role in New Life’s early growth as it found its identity with the American Baptist Faith, and started to grow from an early Bible Study group into a full-fledged church with new programs: i.e., Children’s Ministry, Summer Retreats, and Small Groups .
The first pastor, Russell Yee, initially hired as a “Pastoral Consultant”, fresh out of seminary and with a desire to participate in a church planting effort, played a defining role in New Life’s early growth as it found its identity with the American Baptist Faith, and started to grow from an early Bible Study group into a full-fledged church with new programs: i.e., Children’s Ministry, Summer Retreats, and Small Groups .
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Community involvement with Tri-City Homeless Shelter (now Abode Services) in Fremont was initiated and continues to flourish in today’s New Life ministries.
The interim pastor Roy Herndon, served in an interim capacity twice, serving as a bridge and to heal the congregation during some difficult challenges presented to New Life. |
The previous senior pastor, Katie Choy-Wong, established a mission focus with several missions trips; trips to the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona, Mexicali, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC. She also fostered a relationship with the American Baptist Seminary and welcomed several interns from the seminary school; Pastor Katie established a collaborative working relationship with the interns, mentored them, and many of them continue to serve in some capacity in today’s worship services and leadership roles.
The current senior pastor, Karen Yee, has fostered (as a past associate pastor) the youth’s participation in mission work by
leading a youth team to Panama and Costa Rica to work with the American Baptist missionary.
Russell Yee: Pastor Russell was the perfect "first " spritual leader of the our church. As a contemporary of many of the members of the groups members, Russell fit in well. Fresh out of seminary, with enthusiasm for starting a new Asian-American church, he led the group through the process of covenenting to become a church and selecting the American Baptist denomination.
Katie Choy-Wong: Pastor Katie was effective when working with different groups to help support various events within the Church. She also worked with the American Baptist Seminary of the West to bring interns to the church to both further their education and to also have the interns contribute their talents and strengths to the New Life Church community.
The church supported Pastor Katie by being willing to serve on committees for the most part to support her vision and events within the church.
Because New Life is unique in the sense that many of the interns from American Baptist Seminary of the West stayed on to serve after becoming formally ordained, our church is blessed with many leaders that provide the richness of God's international message. The church staff works collaboratively, shares ministerial responsibilities, and continues to grow together as a church leadership group.
The current senior pastor, Karen Yee, has fostered (as a past associate pastor) the youth’s participation in mission work by
leading a youth team to Panama and Costa Rica to work with the American Baptist missionary.
Russell Yee: Pastor Russell was the perfect "first " spritual leader of the our church. As a contemporary of many of the members of the groups members, Russell fit in well. Fresh out of seminary, with enthusiasm for starting a new Asian-American church, he led the group through the process of covenenting to become a church and selecting the American Baptist denomination.
Katie Choy-Wong: Pastor Katie was effective when working with different groups to help support various events within the Church. She also worked with the American Baptist Seminary of the West to bring interns to the church to both further their education and to also have the interns contribute their talents and strengths to the New Life Church community.
The church supported Pastor Katie by being willing to serve on committees for the most part to support her vision and events within the church.
Because New Life is unique in the sense that many of the interns from American Baptist Seminary of the West stayed on to serve after becoming formally ordained, our church is blessed with many leaders that provide the richness of God's international message. The church staff works collaboratively, shares ministerial responsibilities, and continues to grow together as a church leadership group.
Worship at Our Church
Worship at our church is a collaborative effort, thoughtfully planned by the Pastoral Staff and Praise Team. Children are a vital part of our worship experience, contributing in meaningful ways. Lay leaders also participate by offering prayers, making announcements, and occasionally preaching. Greeting one another, lifting praises, and sharing prayers from the congregation are all cherished elements of our worship. Communion is served by the pastoral staff on a monthly.
Our Praise Team is made up of children, youth, and adults, with the entire congregation invited to join in singing. The team offers a rich mix of musical styles, including contemporary praise songs, traditional hymns, gospel music, and newly introduced pieces—each selected to align with the theme of the message. Music may be accompanied by instruments such as piano, guitar, and drums, or supported by professional music videos.
We offer hybrid worship services that has allowed us to stay connected and worship with members of our congregation that are unable to attend and from across the globe via Zoom. We believe God is guiding us in new ways to share the message.
Worship at our church is a collaborative effort, thoughtfully planned by the Pastoral Staff and Praise Team. Children are a vital part of our worship experience, contributing in meaningful ways. Lay leaders also participate by offering prayers, making announcements, and occasionally preaching. Greeting one another, lifting praises, and sharing prayers from the congregation are all cherished elements of our worship. Communion is served by the pastoral staff on a monthly.
Our Praise Team is made up of children, youth, and adults, with the entire congregation invited to join in singing. The team offers a rich mix of musical styles, including contemporary praise songs, traditional hymns, gospel music, and newly introduced pieces—each selected to align with the theme of the message. Music may be accompanied by instruments such as piano, guitar, and drums, or supported by professional music videos.
We offer hybrid worship services that has allowed us to stay connected and worship with members of our congregation that are unable to attend and from across the globe via Zoom. We believe God is guiding us in new ways to share the message.
YEAR |
EVENT |
1989 |
The founding members of New life started meeting a bible study group at homes and eventually rented space at Broadmoor Community Church in San Leandro. |
1991 |
Dr. Russell Yee was hired and, shortly thereafter, covenanted together as a church (with 21 charter members). |
1992 |
Started developing a children's Ministry and compiled the "Songs of New Life" |
1993 |
Started summer retreats, small groups, and became involved in community work such as Harbor House in Oakland and Tri-City Homeless Shelter (now Abode Services) in Fremont. |
1994 |
Decision to join the American Baptist denomination, inherited a church building. |
1995 |
The church persevered amid difficult times through prayer, remained intact and remodeled the church. |
1996 |
First retreat at Redwood Glen |
1998 |
Church Vision Statement ratified "Cultivating Christian Faith and Growth in a Multi-Cultural, Asian-American Setting" |
2001 |
Pastor Russell resigned, Pastor Roy Herndon serves as interim. |
2002 |
Hired Nelson Hayashida as Sr. Pastor |
2003 |
Nelson H. resigned, Pastor Roy Herndon serves as Interim Pastor for a 2nd time. |
2004 |
Pastor Katie Choy-Wong hired as Senior Pastor |
2007 |
Rev. David Anderson hired as Youth Director, Thuiya Rumthao came to New Life as a seminary intern. |
2009 |
David Anderson resigned, moving to the east coast. |
2010 |
Pastor Karen Yee comes to New Life as a youth minister. |
2011 |
Pastor Karen becomes Associate Pastor |
2013 |
Tony Aboagye added as a seminary intern |
2014 |
Mission trip to Panama and Costa Rica to work with International Missionary Ingrid Roldan-Roman |
2015 |
Thuiya Rumthao ordained. |
2016 |
Celebrated 25 years as a church. |
2017 |
Minister Ada Omekenyi joined as a seminary intern, Tony Aboagye ordained into professional ministry. |
2018 |
Assoc. Pastor Karen led a mission trip to Puerto Rico (including FBC Alameda & Lu-Mien Friendship church) |
2019 |
Senior Pastor Katie retired, Rev. Linda Bergeon came on as Interim Pastor, Ada graduated and was ordained into professional ministry |
2021 |
Called Rev. Karen Yee as Senior Pastor |