Who We Are
First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church is a Chinese-heritage, university-adjacent Christian community in Ithaca, NY.
We gather every Sunday at 429 Mitchell Street for worship, teaching, fellowship, and discipleship in English and Mandarin.
Snapshots of God's Faithfulness
Worshiping, studying Scripture, and sharing life together at Cornell and throughout Ithaca.
Students, scholars, and longtime Ithaca residents walking with Christ together.
Now serving in churches and communities across the US, Canada, Africa, and Asia - carrying what they learned here into the rest of their lives.
Our Pastors
Min. Zhida Zhu (朱志達)
Pastor of English Ministry
Zhida is, first and foremost, a servant (δοῦλος) of Christ. However, that wasn't always the case. He grew up in an immigrant church in Houston, Texas. But after his parents divorced at a young age, leaving him with a single mom, he felt there was simply too much suffering in the world for religion to be true. In his view, either God was real and didn't do anything about suffering, or God wasn't real at all. So he declared himself an atheist in high school and stopped going to church. All throughout college, he lived for his own pleasures - food, drinking, drugs, and League of Legends. But after graduating, God powerfully changed his heart through 3 key individuals. And he gave his life to Christ as a young adult. He continued working as a mechanical engineer for 6 years, before answering the call to serve God in full-time ministry.
Zhida is married to his better half, Ngun. They met as classmates at Dallas Theological Seminary. She also grew up in an immigrant church with the Chin people, a minority group in Burma. Amidst government persecution, her family moved to Indiana when she was in elementary school. Unlike Zhida, Ngun is not from Texas and actually likes cold weather! These days, they enjoy taking long walks, listening to good podcasts, eating spicy food, and hanging out with church family.
Min. Simon Ye (葉劍峯)
Pastor of Chinese Ministry
Pastor Simon leads the Chinese-speaking congregation, shepherding families, fellowship groups, and community ministries.
Our Story
Beginnings: Student Fellowship to Church (1968-1988)
Chinese graduate students and scholars at Cornell University start a Bible study group.
The Bible study grows into a regular Sunday worship gathering.
The fellowship formalizes its organization and begins systematic discipleship training.
First Ithaca Chinese Christian Church is officially established as an independent congregation.
The church purchases a house at 1462 Slaterville Road and converts it into a church building.
Putting Down Roots in Ithaca (1988-2000)
The church purchases 429 Mitchell Street as its permanent home.
Pastoral staff is established; elders and deacons are appointed.
FICCC joins the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA).
Pastor Xin-Dao Xu begins serving as lead pastor.
Youth fellowship and youth Sunday school are launched; a missions committee is formed and missions policy established.
Additional ministry houses (such as the House of Joy) are purchased to support growing ministry.
Growing English Ministry & Next Generation (2000-2010)
English ministry launches, with the first English worship service on August 20.
FICCC partners with China Evangelical Seminary to offer annual theology extension courses in Ithaca.
The first church-wide retreat is held.
The church acquires additional property (House of Peace) behind the main building to support ministry needs.
Pastor Paul begins serving as English ministry pastor.
FICCC begins sending summer mission teams to lead VBS in Brooklyn, New York.
Continuing the Mission (2010-Present)
FICCC continues to disciple students, scholars, and families; send members into full-time ministry; and invest in both Chinese- and English-speaking congregations in Ithaca and beyond.
What do we believe?
The Bible shapes everything we do. See what we hold to and where we're headed.
Beliefs & Vision