The Light of Life Christian Church, (referred to as TLOLCC) was established at the end of November 2020. TLOLCC is a young and dynamic Christian church. Before the establishment of the church, the Light of Life Student Ministry has gone through seven years with the support of the Mother church - Chinese Christian Church of Baltimore.
Helping individuals grow in their faith
Being a positive influence in the world.
As a non-profit organization
To see Chinese intellectuals and others becoming trainers of Christ’s Disciples and church planters in JHU area and beyond”. The church is an independent church registered with the Maryland state government and approved by the US Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit organization.
Founder & Assistant Pastor
Pastor T.J. Huang: At the age of 27, during the 18-year ordeal of my mother's brain tumor and nose cancer (1964-1982), I came to know the Lord and was baptized, ultimately leading to my faith. At that time, due to my mother's illness, I was like a lost sheep until the age of 37 (1986), when I completed my Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and was graciously sought after by the Lord. In 1988, I began attending and serving at the Chinese Christian Church in Pittsburgh. In May 2007, after obtaining a master's degree from a theological seminary, I was appointed by the church as a full-time missionary pastor in July. On January 1, 2012, I retired from the state government's environmental department after 26 years of service and was ordained as a pastor by the church on March 17 of the same year.
Soon after, my wife and I embarked on planning a church-planting ministry in the Johns Hopkins Medical School area. Through prayer and the support of the church, the "Light of Life" ministry for students and scholars began on September 15, 2013, and continues in Sunday worship services to this day. I am thankful to the Lord for granting me a capable helper, my wife Shanzhen, and for blessing us with two sons and daughters-in-law who are also in the Lord, as well as four grandchildren.
Minister
On the journey of constantly seeking meaning in life, I was led by God to come to the United States in 2014 to pursue a Master's degree in music at Johns Hopkins Peabody. In the process of searching, I found God and was baptized at the end of the same year. I came to realize that despite appearances, I am willing to be changed and used by God. After graduating with a Master's degree in music in 2017, I felt God's guidance to pursue further studies in theology. In May 2021, I graduated from Capital Theological Seminary and am now serving full-time at the Light of Life Christian Church.
My wife, Su Cuiyu, was a classmate of mine in college. After graduating, she worked for a while. In 2016, she became a Christian and started dating me as I shared the gospel. We got married the same year, and she has been wholeheartedly supporting and accompanying me in my ministry ever since. Now we have a son, name Mu Zhang.
Minister
In 2014, I came to the United States to pursue a Master's degree in music at Johns Hopkins Peabody School of Music. In 2015, I received God's grace and was baptized, dedicating my life to the Lord.
In 2017, I married my wife Yu Ke. That same year, we both felt God's calling to pursue a Master's degree in theology at a theological seminary..
In July 2020, during the midst of the pandemic, we were blessed with our first child, whom we named Tianyou Shang, which means "under the protection and grace of Heavenly Father."
In May 2021, I successfully graduated from the theological seminary, and now my wife and I are actively serving the Lord at the Light of Life Christian Church.
Chair of Deacon board
I came to US in 2007 for bachelor’s degree at UT Austin. During college, I attended the TCACF campus fellowship on UT, where I received a lot of care and help with love from brothers and sisters in Church. I sought the presence of God in 2008 and witnessed His power, which made me decided to follow Him. I was baptized before graduation in 2011 and came to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for PhD in immunology degree, where I attended the Life fellowship and have serviced there since then. Since the establishment of TLOL church in 2013, I have been servicing in the church and worked as the chair of the co-workers since 2015. After graduation from JHU in 2019, I have shortly worked in industry but decided to come back to work on campus as Immunology postdoc at JHU since pandemic in 2020. My wife, Muzi Jiang, who I met with in 2011 in China and married to also came to US to attend the Life fellowship in 2012. She decided to follow God and baptized in 2014 at CCCB. Now she works in a Montessori school and we have a boy named Luke Song.
TLOLCC started its first Sunday worship on September 15, 2013, in a chapel provided by Johns Hopkins Hospital.
1. BibleThe Bible of sixty-six books is consisted of Old and New Testaments as inspired by God and is inerrant and unchangeable. It is the sole and supreme authority and standard for the Christian faith and walk. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; Ps. 119:89; John 12:47-48; Rev. 22:18-19)
2. GodGod is eternal and self-existing, and is the Creator and Lord of all things in heaven and earth, including mankind. He is the Triune God of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:1; 1:26-27; Ex. 3:14; Isa. 44:6; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Deut. 6:4)
3. Jesus ChristJesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, wholly God and wholly man. He was the Word became flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Virgin Mary. Of His own volition He died on the cross, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of mankind, was buried and resurrected on the third day, ascended into heaven and now sits on the right hand of God the Father as the only intercessor between God and man. (Matt. 1: 18, 22-23; John 1: 14; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Acts 1:9; Heb. 10: 12; 7:22-25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Tim. 2:5)
4. The Holy SpiritGod the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son in divine nature, in power and in existence. He convicts man unto repentance and effects the regeneration of sinners. He indwells the hearts of believers, teaching them the truth, bestows power to them to live lives of holiness and service to God. (John 14:16, 26; 16:8-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; John 3:3, 5-6; Rom. 8:9-16, 26-27)
5. ManMan was created by God in His own image and form. Through the fall of Adam, sin entered into the world, contaminating the human race. Because of sin, man is separated from God, became corruptible and cannot save himself. (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-24; Rom. 3:23; 5:12, 14; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3)
6. SalvationMan’s redemption is solely through the grace of God. Only by accepting and trusting the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, His death and resurrection can sinners be declared righteous, sins forgiven, and born again through the Holy Spirit, to become the children of God and preserved by God forever. (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10; 3:24; 5:8, 18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Titus 3:5; John 3:5; 1: 12-13)
7. The ChurchThe Church is the Body of Christ, the Household of God, and formed by the regenerated believers. All believers, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, become the members of the Body of Christ, with Christ as the head of the Church. (Eph. 1:23; 5:23; Col. 1: 18; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; 1 Tim. 3:15)
8. OrdinancesBaptism and the Holy Communion are the ordinances celebrated by the church; they are believers’ testimonies before God and men. (Matt. 28:18-19; Rom. 6:1-4; 1 Cor. 2: 23-29)
9. Second Coming of the LordThe hope of glory of the Church is the imminent return of Christ, the rapture of the Church, and the establishment of a glorious kingdom reigned by Christ and the believers. (Titus 2:11-13; 1 Th. 4:17; 1 Cor. 15:52; John 14:1-3; Acts 1: 11; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20: 4-6)
10. The Final JudgmentIn the last days, the dead will be resurrected, the believers will dwell with the Lord forever, the unbelievers will be separated from the Lord and receive eternal punishment. (Rev. 20:1-15; John 5:29; Matt. 25:46; Mk. 9:48; Heb. 9:27)
11. MarriageMarriage was ordained by God at creation as the sacred union of one man and one woman. Christian marriage is a representation of Christ’s relationship to His church. (Gen.1:26-28; 2:24; Matt. 19:1-10; Eph. 5:21-33.)
Students who have embraced Christianity are encouraged to participate in various roles within the ministry, including leading worship, Bible study, and interpretation during services. Regular training sessions, Bible studies, and evangelism training are organized to help individuals grow in their faith.
Since its establishment, TLOL has baptized 57 individuals. 38 members left Baltimore, some have become co-workers in other local churches, while others pursued full-time ministry roles.
The ministry focuses on building relationships with students and scholars through various activities like airport pickups, welcome parties, and shopping trips. The goal is to engage seekers and new believers and provide a supportive community.
TLOLCC renovated townhouses near the medical school area to provide affordable housing for students and scholars. These houses also serve as spaces for training sessions, dinners, and gatherings.
