In loving and blessed memory of Angel

Today would have been Angel’s 21st birthday if she had lived beyond her two short years. My monograph on Revelation in 2005 is dedicated to Angel. She never left her hospital bed and her mother and another angel maid looked after her for more than two years. I visited my daughter every other day depending how busy I was in church. Even in the most severe trial, I did not stop trusting God. In Angel’s two years and two months on earth coincided with the greatest growth in church from just over 200 to 400 members (March 2004-Jun 2006).

By the time I left the church as pastor to serve in Singapore in 2008 the church regularly had close to 500 worshippers filling the church sanctuary. In midst of many weaknesses, God showed tremendous power and at the end of 2004 I was elected District Superintendent unopposed, and again at the end of 2006. 

One week before Angel passed away peacefully, I leaned to look at her beautiful face and eyes. She was a very beautiful baby like the feminine Moses. I never wanted to cry before my daughter but showered her with my love whatever form I could express myself to her. Then suddenly I heard a voice coming from her “Dad, you go to share God’s Word, don’t worry about me because I am going to our Father in heaven”. 

Two days later she died without us present as we were looking for another assistant to relieve our Indonesian maid who sacrificially slept in the hospital floor with a small mattress with little pay. Her reward is great in heaven as the maid helped a servant of God in need. 

We buried Angel the next day and the denomination’s President and Treasurer-General came and the latter conducted the solemn funeral. More 200 church members came to send off their pastor’s baby girl who is now with Lord forever more.

Two days later I flew to Beijing and spoke on the book of Genesis about Fathers-Sons’ relationships in Genesis at Peking University. That paper was most popular of them all as the 20 mins question was quickly taken up and the Chair added another 10 mins. Other papers rarely invited one or two questions. 

During meals I witnessed to a few Chinese Professors why I was a Christian.Yes, as a pastor I spoke God’s Word in one of the most prestigious Universities in the world.