At our Fall Church Family Meeting on Sunday, September 27, Pastor Jon announced our support for Joe and Merry Wang on their mission to reach the Mandarin-speaking community of Kitsap County. Watch now as Pastor Joe shares his testimony and calling to plant Kitsap New City Church.
Joe Wang's Testimony Transcript
"Brothers and Sisters,
I am so glad to have the opportunity to share with you the wonderful story of Jesus in my life. My name is Joseph Zhao, and this is my wife, Merry. I was once a lost sheep, without a shepherd. At that time, I thought life was about pursuing higher education, a high salary, and worldly glory. On October 5, 2011, God sent Brother Zheng to share the gospel with me. He asked me to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and asked me if I had that love. Reading the Word shattered my pride and shocked me.
For the first time, I knew who I was. I had no love, because I did not have God in my heart. Later in 2015. I went to a retreat held on Jeju Island in South Korea. The retreat theme was “Be a man pleasing to God.” At the retreat, Pastor Philip Chen led a devotion on John 21:15-17, where Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”. Peter says, “Yes, Lord”. And Jesus says, “Feed my Lambs” Then Pastor Philip Chen asked us, “If Jesus asked you, ‘Do you love me?’ How would you answer ”?
The waves of Jeju Island struck the beach and struck my heartstrings. At that moment, I deeply felt that Jesus was asking me through the Word, “Joseph, do you love me? Then feed my lambs.” I was filled with the Holy Spirit; I knew Jesus loved me, Jesus saved me, and Jesus asked me to feed His lambs. I answered Jesus, yes, I will; I will feed your lambs.
I was not a pastor, I didn’t have theological training, and I didn't know this was a calling. It was only later that I understood this calling from God. Thanks be to God. Because of this, a brother recommended that I study theology, and I began to study at Global Unit Theological Seminary (GUTS) in 2018. There is a verse on my pastor certificate that I keep in mind: [Revelation 2:10b] If you remain faithful until death, I will give you the crown of life. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Church Planting Vision
I previously participated in two church plantings in Beijing. When I arrived in Bremerton in February 2023, I tried to find a Chinese-speaking church. After research, I found that Kitsap has over 3,400 Chinese people, but no Chinese-speaking church. The closest one is in Tacoma - an hour away.
I prayed to God about how the Chinese-speaking people here are like sheep without a shepherd. I asked God to use me to raise a Chinese-speaking church here to shepherd His lambs. In 2025, I was invited to serve as assistant pastor at a Chinese church in Houston, where I learned key points for shepherding Chinese churches in the United States.
The senior pastor encouraged me to plant a church in Bremerton. In October 2025, I returned to Bremerton, and we began weekly group Bible studies, starting with two families. I have evangelized more than 40 people, and currently, we have consistent meetings of 5-6 families, of around 10 people. I pray that God will increase the number of people saved and revive Kitsap. The name of our Church plant is Kitsap New City Church. Our hope is for God to redeem Kitsap and rebuild it as a new faithful city."