More than 300 people joyfully celebrate d Church of the Holy Apostles, Bellevue, Wash., Chinese ministry program in the Diocese of Olympia and beyond at the parish's second annual fund-raising dinner in December. Members from Holy Apostles, diocesan ethnic ministries, many congregations and the Seattle-area Chinese community intermingled at a local restaurant for the event.

Over seemingly never - ending courses of Cantonese cuisine, attendees heard both traditional Chinese music and American folk music with an Asian twist. The young people present – some performing as musicians and dancers — showed the importance of children in this ministry.

More than an ethnic ministry, Holy Apostles is a church without borders that serves as a bridge between several languages and cultures, say parish officials. Established 25 years ago as a mission of St. Peter's, Seattle, Holy Apostles has changed names and locations many times. Since April 2000, the congregation has shared a home with Church of the Resurrection. Soon after the congregation's latest move, the Rev. Philip Wong arrived as vicar from the Diocese of Newark, where he had raised up other Chinese ministries.

Named a Jubilee Ministry Center in 2003, Holy Apostles supports weekend Chinese-language schools — one at Resurrection and one at St. Anthony's School, Renton – teaching Mandarin and Cantonese to more than 100 students ages 5 to 15 from the greater Seattle-area Chinese community. In partnership with the Presbyterian Counseling Service, the congregation also offers workshops such as "Marital Happiness and Children" and "How to Handle Conflict in Our Daily Lives" to members and the larger community.

The parish's primary ministry in the past three years has been developing the language schools. With the success of the schools and a summer program for children, the congregation sees a need to continue supporting them while moving into new programs, especially those geared toward the elderly.

"Now is the time to expand into other areas of the community," Wong said. While the Chinesespeaking community remains the church's main focus, Holy Apostles is looking to develop a new ministry with English-speaking Chinese Americans, he said. Members also are working with the Rev. George Anne Boyle of St. Thomas', Medina, on another priority: developing a Sunday school curriculum that appeals to Chinese and Chinese- American youth.

Holy Apostles has developed a relationship with Canter bury Campus Ministry to support Chinese students at the University of Washington. Last year the two cohosted a Lunar New Year celebration at St. Mark's Cathedral, complete with food, a dancing dragon and a bilingual prayer service. Christ Church, Seattle, also is working with Chinese Ministry to offer English as a Second Language and citizenship classes for adults.

Holy Apostles has succeeded in building community, fostering outreach and increasing attendance: The congregation won the grand prize for the first diocesan Bring A Friend Sunday in 2002. What hasn't come easily is conveying to new members the importance of pledging.

"Culturally, the Chinese community doesn't understand what it means to pledge," explained the Rev. Jerry Shigaki, diocesan ethnic missioner. "That's why it's important not just to provide stewardship education, but to continue supporting Holy Apostles through its annual dinner and other events."

In 2002 the dinner brought in $6,000, and last year's topped $10,000.

Church of the Holy Apostles is more than a growing mission in the diocese, Wong said. "It is an important institution for the Chinese community in the greater Seattle area."