Sunday service and Sedaqah groups are a plus! Good community a good worship music during Sunday services. If your new and looking for a place to worship give EBCLA a try. read more

As a non-member and a visitor of Evergreen Baptist Church in Rosemead (for several times), I thought my review could some provide useful information and idea of what to expect if you are considering to attend or visit Evergreen's Rosemead campus. First, it may help to know a very brief history, as the church has a rich history as one of the early Asian-American churches of Southern California and a pioneer in the "Asian-American church movement". It was founded back in the early 1900s as primarily a Japanese-American church, and like many other older Asian-language churches, later attracted English-speaking and other nationalities and finally evolved into an Asian-American Church. There is also another congregation located quite nearby in La Puente. Considering the size of its congregation, when you drive up to the church, it seems quite big, with lots of buildings, classrooms, a chapel, and a parking lot (you can also park in the school nearby if it gets too crowded). It is actually a beautiful church campus. You may have to ask around or follow the crowd to the main worship hall. Having attended multiple services at different times, I never found it crowded at all. In fact, each time, the room seemed around maybe less than 50% full. I also visited a Sunday School and was informed that church attendance was lower because the senior pastor Ken Fong was on break for the summer. For an Asian-American church, the worship was relatively lively and good. Typically, these churches are not able to compare to "mega-churches" which are multi-ethnic and bring in thousands of attendees. The songs played were easy to sing and the variety made it well balanced, as the age range of the congregation easily reached to those in their 60s and 70s. The sermons were simple and relatively biblical, didn't require much bible knowledge, and this is nice if you're not a regular church attendee. Also, unlike some smaller or "more outgoing" churches, if you were new or just a visitor, you aren't forced to meet or pray or feel uncomfortable with strangers, you can simply attend and keep to yourself. It is a relatively conservative style of service, quite common in most Asian and Asian-American churches. According to some other Yelp reviews I read, the church has been described as "clique-ish", and I do understand why these reviewers felt this way, I felt some of that, but perhaps it may have to do with church culture and/or the rules and structure of it. I was informed that a 4-week class was required in order to meet people and learn about the church, so this could make it difficult to meet anyone easily, and it seemed strange and a bit formal, but it's also understandable given that the church might want to protect its members from visitors who may not fit in or agree with the church's doctrine and values. Some churches I attended would let newcomers get immediately involved and even teach the children, and so there really needs to be a balance. Overall, Evergreen seems like a decent church (if you prefer evangelical or are curious) to attend especially if you live in the San Gabriel Valley. And if are Asian-American, you will find a lot of people here who likely share a common experience with you if you decide to attend the welcome class. Compared to to mega-churches, it's smaller, so you may not be able hide long if you like to remain anonymous at a church service. However, compared to other Asian churches of its type, it is bigger and seems like it could take some effort to connect with others, but it seems like a good option if you're looking. read more

I've been coming here for boy scout meetings every Friday for the past couple of years, and I have to say, the campus is very clean and spacious. I don't know too much about the church organization, but I do know a little bit about the buildings. The main church building (one you enter from your left) is a pretty big building. Our troop does our Eagle ceremonies there, and occasionally, our meetings as well. It can fit a pretty big number of people. We usually get most of the chairs and tables from this building. The building that you would enter to your right is... well I'm not really sure what it's used for. Our troop usually will meet in this room during the colder months. It is pretty nice because there are fold-able screens that can be removed to create bigger room space. Also, there are plenty of tables and chairs for any other activities. Our troop usually meets near the playground in the back. It is a perfect place to meet because of the open field and open playground space. It enables us to do activities such as pitching tents, tying lashings, etc. The church was nice enough to donate the entire bathroom as storage for our troop. If you're not really that interested in joining the actual church, but are interested in joining our troop, we meet every Friday at 6 PM in the back of the church! Come check us out, but big thanks to Evergreen for letting us do all the stuff we do. The church has been very supportive of the troop activities. read more

Amazing supportive church with lots of programs. Rooted in the scripture. read more

This is my church. Great messages lead by Ken Fong, Senior Pastor extraordinaire! Fearless of addressing all issues relevant and pertaining to individual lives, families, relationships and community. read more

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I am not a member of any religion. I don't claim to be a god fearing person. I don't believe in blindly following any faith. With THAT said, I thought it was quite enjoyable coming to the service here with my parents. I think you'll first be stunned by the architecture of the place. Very modern, very relaxing and very peaceful. What you should expect to get out of a church I think. When you walk in, it's air conditioned, modern and fun. The pastor was dynamic in her speaking and the music was loud with energy. If I were to go to church religiously, this would probably be the place to be. Apparently they do a lot of outreach to individuals who are financially troubled and they are supportive of LGBT rights. Way to go! read more

Been testing out this new church. Small church, all different ethnicity come but mainly dominated by Asians. The music and worship time is incredible; with the talents of Justis Kao http://www.justiskao.com/ (I don't know him), he leads the worship team and sets your heart to God. I really like Pastor Ken Fong, his message comes across gently and to the point. He addresses the congregation with his own experiences and examples. Extra star for the Pastor. But come here for yourself and to open you heart to the message. Ok, the bad. The church is very very click-ish. Much like a the people they mind their own business and don't come to greet or talk to you. That's the sucky part, don't be disappointed but know why you came here in the first place. I come here to clear my heart for worship and God's message. read more

*** This review is solely for pre-engagement, pre-marital and officiant services. *** Pre-engagement ****************** EBCLA offers couples the opportunity to explore if marriage is something the two persons are working towards. Within 6 sessions, Pastor Ken sat us down and went over a questionnaire that we both took. It explored what expectations we had of one another if we being a spouse was a job. Kinda funny, but it worked in its own way. We also explored deal breakers, past history, family history and also had some good ol' sharing time... Pastor Ken is patient, discerning and on the mark on many things. A great story teller as well. Payment is on honorarium --- about $250... typically or as much as you can pay. They don't have to be paid, but the time they are spending with you ... warrants something. Pre- Marital + Officiant ************************ If your officiant is willing to fly back on her sabbatical (from Singapore, no less) just to officiate your wedding, then you know you have someone really special. We had at least 6 sessions with Pastor Sharon - at first going over a marriage workbook, which worked fine. Soon after 3 sessions, we ditched the book and started talking about some real and tough questions about our fears, dreams and expectations. These were probably the most uncomfortable conversations I've ever had with other people involved, but they were necessary for growth. Pastor Sharon even accommodate an impromptu session to talk to us... and the days leading up to the wedding, she went to have dinner with us *jetlagged and all* to go over the specifics of our schedule. On the wedding day, she came and visited me and just talked to me about everything we went through.. and I can honestly say, this was just genuine care... genuine love. She was completely excited we had worked so hard and gotten this far in our relationship. What I also loved about her is her sense of humor, which helped bring levity into otherwise dismal topics. Honorarium is $400... typically. But Pastor Sharon usually would do this for free for members of the church. Given everything else you pay for in the wedding, this should be one given with importance because everything else may go away but the growth you experience through this time will carry you into marriage with open eyes. And so.. it is without a doubt, that EBCLA truly has some caring pastors who truly want to see the good grow from their people. BTW.. in case you wanted to know.. it is $500 for members to use the church for a wedding site - it includes a wedding coordinator, officiant, use of the site, chairs, mics and speakers. For non-members, it is $1000. read more

Here's my personal take on Evergreen LA (not to be confused with Evergreen SGV) as a member who has attended for 10+ years shortly after I started to follow Jesus as a college student. Evergreen is multi-generational: You'll find long-time church members who can tell you stories about Japanese internment camps. You'll also find a newly built children's village with multiple buildings/classrooms dedicated to the children's & youth programs from infants through high school. There's a young professional core and a growing number of young families. Evergreen isn't really all focused on one particular generation as other churches may be (i.e. it's not all about the kids or all about young adults). Pretty balanced overall in this regard. Evergreen is multi-ethnic: Evergreen strives to be ethnically/culturally inclusive. Historically Japanese-American then grew to include Chinese-Americans decades ago (Evergreen is 80+ years old). Today, it's majority pan-Asian with a splash of other ethnicities that you'll find in greater Los Angeles. Worship services are in English. Evergreen is moderate/progressive: I'm wary of applying political terms here, but just in my personal subjective opinion, I'd say Evergreen tends to attract progressive/moderate people. Evergreen does a good job (to me) of not being a politicized church. It's just not the kind of church that tells you who to vote for. But, I'm guessing if you're looking at a Yelp review that means you're searching for a church and I'll be honest that though there are definitely both liberals and conservatives at Evergreen, it's mostly moderate or moderate/progressive (speaking of the people who attend). Again, this is just my personal opinion and of course it varies greatly if you're talking about specific issues. I just don't want visitors to be surprised/confused if you're expecting an extremely liberal or extremely conservative church population since that's not really what you'll find. Evergreen is in transition (as of 2015, not sure when I'll update this again): Our long-time Senior Pastor, Ken Fong, has retirement (at least from pastoring) on the horizon. As he's truly a pioneer amongst Asian-American pastors, he'll undoubtedly leave a huge void. Having served on the Board of Deacons myself for a few years, I'm confident that the ethos of Evergreen will continue on. Pastor Ken is a unique personality who will certainly be missed but the soul of Evergreen will undoubtedly remain strong with a committed core of people. Evergreen has about 200+ official members and 300-400 attendees on any given Sunday (just my estimate, I could off) between the two worship services. Evergreen attendees come from all over greater Los Angeles. Evergreen is very mission focused, emphasizing social and environmental justice. Evergreen is committed to serving/hosting homeless families through Family Promise SGV. Evergreen has more recently devoted attention to special needs families and LGBT Christians, though it lacks the resources that a mega-church would have in those areas. Evergreen definitely isn't a perfect church but it doesn't pretend to be. Oh, and it's fairly casual. read more

I like this church and the members. I came a few times as a visitor and it does appear cliche-ish. But people are friendly when they hear you are from out of town. The worship is good & upbeat, predominantly Asian American and the pastor practices what he preaches. What I love is the message... Inclusive love & welcome for all of God's children. Are you looking for a church to meet "your" needs and thoughts? or are you looking for a a church where God transforms your faith in heart and in mind. The congregation appears to be growing every time I return. Luke 6:43 "no good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit." read more

This year marks our 20th year at Evergreen. Despite being here this long, we find that the church still repeatedly challenges each of us and has a relatively strong children's church. Unfortunately, We found ourselves with the need to look for a new church because we moved out of SGV. We knew it would be hard to find as dynamic a church. We visited 4 churches over a 2 month time period. We went back to evergreen this past Sunday because of yet another awesomely creative way to celebrate Advent. They're having all the kids visually interpret John 3:16 artistically. While in service I was challenged with the simplest of messages. I so appreciate this church's intentionality in not ignoring the truly controversial issues facing our nation but tackling them...and not simply providing answers. read more

This place gives a whole new meaning to getting on your knees to worship! The decor is hideous, but is made up for by all the Chinese to put in your mouth (to eat locally). The service is okay, but not as flamboyant as it could be, but that could change (just like everything else). I could see me and many more of my fabulous friends coming here more often... read more

I've been attending Evergreen for the past two years and have really found a home here. Evergreen earnestly strives to create community for all and bring people closer to Jesus. I love how it's a multigenerational church that embraces families, single people, and everyone in all walks of life. As a recent college graduate, I've felt supported and challenged in this particular stage in life. I anticipate it continuing to be a community I can trust and grow in for years to come. read more

I second the talents of Pastor Ken Fong, he has been here for over 10 years. He's like the popular guy in college that eveyone liked, both humorous, and contemporary. His messages are funny, modern and personal. Mostly mixed Asians, in their 20's or 30's. Parking lots gets really crowded, go early to get a space and find a good seat. People hurry to get church here. The energy and music is fresh and enlightening. read more

the general atmosphere was as I read...quite clique-y and surface-level perfunctory in the service as a whole...from my experience anyways. Maybe I'll try again another time though read more

This was my first time at Evergreen, I came here back when I was at Cal Poly and now my cousins attend this church, but since I was heading up to visit the rents for Easter, i thought I'd check this one out instead of Cottonwood which I attended a couple weeks prior. As a newcomer, it's always intimidating but since I grew up in the church, I felt somewhat comfortable going alone. Arrived at 11:35am, Singspiration, as we used to call it had started and already, the music was amazing. Found a seat very easily, looked around, and noticed the majority asian members, which is what I'm used to anyways. Knew about half the songs, but caught on quickly. The music team, MC, Pastor Ken, all the folks who served that day were very enthusiastic and really had their stuff down pact, that was awesome to see. I had to leave right at the very end since they also did the kids program, a baptism, announcements and of course, Easter communion, so I didn't get to fellowship or find my cousins, but I want to definitely go back again. The message was wonderful, the pastor has a way of delivering his sermon so you remember it and I really appreciated that. read more

I have been going to this church for over 3 years now, and I still love it as much as I did when I first came. No church is perfect as we always strive to better ourselves towards God's image. What I do appreciate at Evergreen is the humility and leadership of the staff. The vision of the church is to not be comfortable with where we are at, because God always has bigger plans. I can sense that people at this church has a heart for the poor, the lost and the forgotten. Yes, it can feel hard to get to know people at first because of the size, but if you are patient enough to get involved in something, you will feel connected. No one should expect to go to any church and feel immediately a part of the church in a few weeks, like all relationships, it takes time to get to know people. Evergreen also has incredibly talented staff and volunteers serving in their ministries. The worship is awesome, we have one of the best pianist worship leaders you'll find anywhere (GO JUSTIS!). The church is really emphasizing welcoming new visitors and is making efforts to expand their global reach and impact. People here are not afraid to make changes or do things differently. I enjoy coming to a church that is open, humble and active in God's ministries, without the usual office politics. read more

Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles is a great place to worship GOD, listen to inspirational sermons, and build strong, life-long friendships. However, like anywhere else in life - work, school, at a park or coffee shop - you don't magically make friends without putting in some effort yourself. The best way to combat what some people feel is a "cliquey" vibe is to get plugged into a small group (also known as Sedaqah groups). When you commit to a sedaqah group and help serve in various ministries at church, you'll feel like a part of the community! read more

I just want to provide an update on the church since they have gone through some changes and help those who may be thinking of checking it out to help you in your decision. The last few reviews are pretty accurate and that hasn't changed so it still applies. First, they have a new Pastor since the previous one has retired. He has the same principles though, as he was an associate Pastor at Evergreen for many years. To put it simply, he is a liberal Pastor with liberal views that brings his politics into his sermons. He has a good style and is easy to follow, but uses select scripture to substantiate his liberal views. Their philosophy is they will let God decide in the end. You won't hear about repentence or Revelations.They have LGBT meetings 2x a month and are pro gay marriage. If you are conservative and have differing viewpoints, I advise you keep your thoughts to yourself. Most everyone is friendly but you usually have to be the first to engage them and make the effort as Asian culture is that way (including Asian-Americans). If you participate in one of their events you will have an easier time. If you prefer a more conservative church, the Evergreen in La Puente might be more to your liking. A bit hard to find initially (road construction has removed the street sign to turn on so use GPS), their sermons are not liberal and each Pastor has their own style. Pastor Cory is solid and was the Pastor in LA before they split off and eventually moved to La Puente. read more

Sermons are great. Speakers/pastors keep you tuned in and also a variety of topics and approaches. Creativity and diversification of thoughts have allow the sermons to be effective. Reach, depth, and breadth are clearly there, hence the update. read more

I visited this church when I was in college and believe me, I wouldn't come here again if this was the last church on earth. I was appalled by the way the people in the college fellowship group treats newcomers. If you are not attending USC/Ucla, don't bother checking out the college fellowship group. They treat you as if you are beneath them. They are extremely clique-ish and deem themselves better than those around them. I'm not sure how the main congregation is, but I would definitely avoid this place at all cost. They don't seem to preach love, acceptance or humility, but rather arrogance. read more