A Tribute to My Father-in-Law
My father-in-law is a man of faith. He had a passion for missions and a gentle servant’s heart. He will always be a role model for my life and my children’s lives.
I met him in the 1970’s when he first came to NYCAC at East Broadway. He gave spiritual directions to the church and led the church to pay back all our debts even though those who were responsible for it had fled. He always wanted to do God’s will. His sermons were always filled with insights into God’s word. I never thought this spiritual man would become my father-in law. He had faith that this church will grow which is now on Eldridge Street with our own church building with over 500 people.
I will always remember him for his passion for missions from going to Vietnam and leaving his kids with their grandma, to NY then to South America (Suriname, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Panama, etc.). During his trips back to NY to stay with the family, he always talked about the work of God and things that had to be done. His mind was always on God’s kingdom. It overwhelmed me to see how much one can do for God. It made me realized how far I needed to strive for the goal written in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Lastly, I will remember him as a servant of all. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all” Mark 9:35. He was always ready to serve others whether at church or at the various mission fields. He never asked for much but to only to do God’s will. It has been a joy every time he came back to NY and we had all the family gatherings. Sometimes he even stayed in our home. It was our family opportunity to serve his needs. We will miss him and will remember all his stories!
Helen Leung
Wife of Israel Leung, Number 4 son