一九七o年代，在新澤西州牧會的楊摩西牧師為了回應一位姊妹的呼聲，於新州北部靠近紐約州的地方開始了一個小小的查經班，因為該處沒有中國教會。

　　漸漸地，查經班的人數越來越多，弟兄姊妹也希望能夠開始有主日崇拜。基於羊群的需要，楊牧師和一群忠心的基督徒於一九七三年在紐約州珍珠河借用美國衛理公會教堂，成立了珍珠河基督教生命堂。後再遷至紐約州南部與新澤西州相接的南紐約(Nanuet)，租用美國恩惠浸信會(Grace Baptist Church of Nanuet)教堂聚會，並更名為紐約州基督教生命堂。


　　在借用的教堂聚會，難免有許多不便，於是弟兄姊妹興起購建新堂的計畫，建堂奉獻也從未間斷。一九九六年初，終於覓得一處合適的建築，幾經交涉，於四月擇期以現款買斷成交，並於六月二日遷入新址，同年七月廿七日舉行獻堂典禮。由於新堂堂址位於紐約州珍珠河，亦即當年成立教會的地區，因此教會再度正名為珍珠河基督教生命堂。

　　多年來，本堂的牧者除了當初建立教會的楊摩西牧師之外，尚有新加坡禧年堂退休的徐頌光牧師、香港宣道浸信會譚俊德傳道、國際福音佈道神學院畢業生李月雲傳道、但功濤傳道及張博淨、蔡純德傳道夫婦等等，一九九七年至今，則由國際福音佈道神學院畢業的楊張秀蘭傳道帶領。教會成員多數來自紐約州的羅克蘭郡（Rockland County, New York）,以及新澤西州的柏根郡(Bergen County)。

In 1970s, the Chinese Evangelical Church (C.E.C.) in Pearl River started as a Bible study group in response to a sister in Christ when Rev. Moses Yang was still pasturing a church of New Jersey, because there was no Chinese church around that area by then.

Gradually, the attendance grew and the believers wanted to have Sunday Worship Service. Seeing the need and the hunger of the flock, Rev. Yang and a group of devoted Christians rent the Methodist church and started Chinese Evangelical Church in Pearl River in the year of 1973. Then move again to the Nanuet area, and rent the Grace Baptist Church of Nanuet and change the name to the C.E.C. in New York State.

There were many inconveniences in renting other church facilities, and the plan to have our own church building was eagerly pursued among the brothers and sisters, and the Building Fund Offering had been continuing on. Finally, in early April 1996, we found a suitable place and purchased the lot in cash. On June 2, 1996, the church moved to its new location, and a New Church Building Dedication Ceremony was held later on July 27. Since the church was located in Pearl River, the name of the church was changed again back to C.E.C. in Pearl River.

Throughout the years, besides the founding pastor Rev. Moses Yang, the church had also been pastured by Rev. Paul Hsu, Ev. Roycos Hom, and EBI graduates such as Ev. Anny Li, Ev. Joan Dan, Ev. & Mrs. Luke Chang, etc, and presently by Ev. Sorina Yang. Currently, most church members reside in Rockland County, NY and Bergen County, NJ..