Welcome to BICF!
We are so glad that you have chosen to visit us today! The Beijing International Christian Fellowship has thirteen congregations in seven languages meeting at three locations across the city. Since the first Sunday church meeting, in 1980, with less than 10 members, the BICF has grown to more than 3000 members today. The BICF hopes to offer you a safe place in which to grow closer to God and closer to others living here in Beijing. Please read on for more information about the church and see how to get connected with the BICF family.
Get Connected
We believe that the best way to connect with individuals within such a large church is to be involved in a smaller group where you are noticed and even missed when absent. Our website gives you the chance to search for a Bible Study Small Group according to church location, language, day of the week, area of the city, or even time of day that you are available to meet. We are confident that there is a place for you within this diverse family of believers.
Get Involved: Volunteer!
If you are going to be here for more than three months, we encourage you to take the next step by volunteering in one of the many ministries at BICF, such as the children’s Sunday School, Ushering, Welcoming, Prayer Counseling, or any number of our other serving opportunities. Our church is run largely with the help of volunteers like you who give of their time and in turn receive the blessings of being an active part of a flourishing fellowship of believers.
Membership
As a church family, our heart’s desire is for all Sunday service attendees to take ownership of the church and become a recognized part of our fellowship through “Membership.” For those who are already a member of a church in their home country, becoming an Member allows you to maintain your church membership elsewhere while also being able to identify with the local church while you are in Beijing. You can commit yourself to the BICF family for as long or as short as God has you in Beijing.
Being in China
As an international church in the People’s Republic of China, the local authorities have given us permission to meet together for worship each Sunday, however, our religious activities are limited to foreign photo ID holders. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in abiding by the policies that have been set in place by the local governing bodies. We encourage BICF members to actively seek friendships within the local Chinese community and pray for opportunities to invite them to a local Chinese church.
Our Beliefs
MISSION
The mission of the BICF is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and to teach people to obey all the commandments given to humankind by Jesus Christ
VISION STATEMENT
To build a vibrant,reproducing community unified in Christ, that embraces and transforms people of all nations to impact their cities, their nations, and the world for Christ.
OUR CORE VALUES
We are God-Centered – God is our source of passion and strength. We worship Him vibrantly and depend on him with prayer and fasting. We are rooted in the word, full of the Spirit and our lives are characterized by holiness and sanctification.
We are Relationship Oriented – we model loving relationships and encourage intimacy and transparency. We promote strong Christ -centered individuals and families, aim to meet people at their point of need and are growing in community.
We are in Unity – we are focused on Jesus Christ and are forgiving and accepting enjoying strength in diversity. We honor one another, seek common ground and learn from each other.
We are Mission Focused – we boldly proclaim the gospel and are intentionally gathering the world to reach the world. We are systematically transforming people into reproducing disciples and give generously to reach others.
We are Reproducing – we are a growing and learning organism not a static organization which equips and empowers each other to use our gifts for impact. We promote multiplication of disciples, small groups ministries and churches.
We are Catalytic – in building God’s kingdom we are exercising stewardship of our established networks, sharing our experience, people and resources. We are developing cooperative efforts and “synergy” expanding our reach and effectiveness and learning from others.
Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever Ephesians 3:20-21
FAITH STATEMENT
The Scriptures:
We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, without error and infallible in the original manuscripts. We believe the Bible is the final authority in faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20; Psalm 19:7-9)
God:
We believe there is one God, existing eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and possessing the same attributes and perfections. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence, and without sin. In Adam’s sin humanity fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became spiritually dead and alienated from God. We believe that, within himself, man is incapable of redeeming himself from his lost and depraved condition (Genesis 1:26, 3:1-24, Romans 3:10-18, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3).
In addition, we believe God created mankind – male and female – equally in his own image. This divinely determined distinction is good, proper, and to be celebrated. Maleness and femaleness are biologically determined at conception and are not subject to change. We affirm that God’s design for marriage is that one woman and one man live in a one-flesh, covenantal, sexual relationship until separated by death. (Genesis 1.26-28; 2.24,25;4.1; Matthew 19.3-6; 1 Corinthians 6.9-11; 1 Peter 3.1-7)
Jesus Christ:
We believe that Jesus Christ is God. (John 10:33) We believe in: His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:17; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34-35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15,7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9); His resurrection (John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19); His personal return to earth in power and glory. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16)
The Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, dwells in every true believer. (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16-17) We believe that the Holy Spirit seals and indwells every believer, spiritually uniting them with one another (Ephesians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:26-28).
We believe the Holy Spirit enables the trusting, obedient believer to live a godly life (Romans 8:13-14; I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18) and continues to endow believers with gifts for the purpose of building up the body, for the common good, just as He wills. (1 Corinthians l2: 4-11)
The Condition of Man:
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence, and without sin. In Adams’s sin humanity fell, inherited a sinful nature, became spiritually dead and alienated from God. We believe that, within himself, man is incapable of redeeming himself from his lost and depraved condition. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-18, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3)
The Work of Christ:
We believe that God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became man, without ceasing to be God, in order to reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe Christ voluntarily offered Himself as our sacrificial substitute on the cross, satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. We believe God’s only provision for our sin is Christ’s death on our behalf, through which God reconciles us to Himself. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Salvation:
We believe that salvation from the penalty of sin is a gift of God’s grace, cannot be gained by any work, and is provided on the single ground of trust in Christ’s work on the cross. All who trust Christ in this way are forgiven of their sins and born into God’s family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:16-19; Romans 3:23; 5:1-9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)
The Church:
We believe that the church, called in Scripture the Body of Christ, is a spiritual organism and that every true believer is a member of His Body. We also believe that Scripture affirms the establishment and continuation of local churches, groups of Christian believers called together for worship, instruction, fellowship and service. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:42, 13:1)
Eternal State:
We believe that after death, the souls of all who trust in Christ for salvation enter Christ’s presence, awaiting the resurrection of life. We believe that after death the souls of all who do not trust Christ for salvation enter into conscious separation from God, awaiting the resurrection of condemnation, the eternal consequence of unbelief (Luke 16:19-26, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-15).