The family members of the first-generation residents of the Evangel Children’s Home, carrying the love of Christ exemplified by the founder, Ms. Ruth Sundquist, generously donated a 2,000-square-foot property in Kowloon City. This allows our organization to have our own residence, offer more lodging in the community for “senior and youth co-living”, and launch the “Life Coaching – Always Stand by You” service. The “Love‧Inheritance Property Donation Thanksgiving Ceremony ” was held on 2nd of April in the hall of Evangel Children’s Home (ECH), witnessed the love passing down from generation to generation.
We had honorable guests attended the Thanksgiving Ceremony – they were from the property-donating family, Mr. Mak Hei Jit, Ms. Mimi Mak Siu Mei and her husband, Mr. Paul Tuen Yat Kan (we always call him big brother Yat-kan) who was brought up by ECH in 1950s, Mr. So Chun Ho (Chairman, Board of Director of E.F.C.C.), Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.), Mr. Lau Kwok Wa (Chairman, The Board of Directors of ECH), together with the children, youth representatives and our staffs who witnessed the grace of the Lord. Through the sharing of our guests, those young people from broken family could understand and feel more about the selfless love behind this precious gift.
Connecting Love with the Community
Mr. Lau Kwok Wa, delivered a welcome speech and shared about the origin of the “Life Coaching – Always Stand by You” service. The Board of Directors, starting from the review and further development of youth services, brainstormed about the idea of the Life Coaching Youth Project. The Mak’s family had made a donation of their property to ECH, passing on love and connecting to the community. Then, our ECH worship team led us singing songs to praise our Lord. Afterwards, Ms. Vivian Law, Superintendent of ECH, narrated the development history of the youth home service and her expectations for the future.
Lighting Ceremony Ignites Mission Legacy
This property donation lit up a new page of the Youth service. A Lighting Ceremony was conducted by our honorable guests, including the property-donating family, board members of E.F.C.C. and beneficiaries. To ignite the light, the guests inserted ‘activation cards’ representing the eight major elements and cultivation directions of the Youth Home service – housing, companionship, gospel, knowledge, connection, funding, etc. – this is a metaphor for the new service giving the youth hope for future career development. The “lighting” symbolized the “Stand by You” co-living program stepping into a new milestone. This witnessed the “Love‧Inheritance” under Lion Rock in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, everyone struggles for small living space. Those homeless youth had to spend most of their salary on housing, but could only afford a tiny subdivided room. They even tried hard to save money for further education, the chance for upward mobility became slim. On the other hand, those retired missionaries, who have dedicated their lives overseas, cannot find suitable housing when they return back to Hong Kong. Therefore, our ECH big brother’s (the alumni, first-generation admitted child of ECH) family donated their precious property to us. We were really impressed. This spacious property is located near Kowloon City with convenient transportation and all necessities of life, which makes it very suitable for community housing service. This self-owned residence creates a space in which we can have it both ways – both youths and seniors can co-live, interact, and enrich their lives with each other. We are looking forward to passing on the mission from generation to generation
(From left to right: Mr. Lau Kwok Wa (Chairman, Board of Directors of ECH), Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.), Mr. So Chun Ho (Chairman, Board of Director of E.F.C.C.), Mr. Oliver Mak, Ms. Mimi Mak, Ms. Vivian Law (Superintendent of ECH), Mr. Kyle Kwong (a youth representative of the ECH Youth Home)
“Love‧Inheritance under Lion Rock” – Sharing from Ms. Mimi Mak
Ms. Mimi Mak (Sister Mimi), on behalf of the property-donating family, shared her perception of this donation. She expressed, “God’s grace awaits us, no matter how difficult it is. God always has abundant grace.” “Thanks God, Ms. Ruth Sundquist raised up Paul, whom God prepared him for me (my husband). He was inspired with the gospel and believes in God, otherwise we would not have such fruitful blessings nowadays.” After her mother’s death, she continued, the inherited property has been unoccupied. One day, God moved her heart, and she conceived the idea of donating the property to ECH in where her husband, big brother Paul, grew up. The property’s inheritance rights, however, were jointly owned by her four siblings. When Mimi proposed the donation suggestion, all other three siblings agreed unanimously. “Commit your way unto the Lord; trust in him, and he will bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)” said Mimi. This shows the Lord’s wonderful guidance, passing on the Lord’s love through human hands, using the property in a more meaningful way, willing to “returning God’s blessings for God’s use.”
Foster home youth, Jessica, created an artwork based on our special character ” ” for making a souvenir for them. The artwork showed our home filled with love and peace. An angel was fishing leisurely under the stars – this represented our home is a place where youth can rest, develop and be guided. A “home” here means a house having a ‘man’ and with “Lord” together. (The special Chinese character ” ” was designed by the Senior Pastor at the time of Grace Church of EFCC.)
Gratitude Sharing from the Youths of Foster Children’s Home
Kyle, Lynn, Gary and Icy, who were those residents and alumni of the Youth Home, shared their stories about the time when they were at the Youth Home Service. They treated the Youth Home as an oasis in their life, a place where could provide them strength and rest. In Hong Kong which is a fast-paced society filled with pressure, our Youth Home is a place where love, support, and endless encouragement could be found; a place where their hopes for future could be nurtured. One of the youths shared his future goal is to follow the step like Mak’s family and “to donate an apartment to Evangel Children’s Home after 50 years!” Another alumnus has become a hostel parent at the residential children’s home and she determined to influence one’s life with her experience to help needy children. This really showed the meaningful life brought by the residential home service to the young people.
Vision‧Opportunity
Rev Law Siu Tsuen (Vice Chairman, Board of Directors of the Paulus Cultural Center) shared the short-term accommodation needs of missionaries through a video. General Secretary, Calvin Lau (E.F.C.C. – Hong Kong Overseas Missions Board) also shared the meaning and opportunity of the “Life Coaching – Always Stand by You” program, how the missionaries and the young people bless each other, and also ‘influence life with life’.
All Things Work Together for Good
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.), recalled how he heard about the” dream” two years ago, prayed, and kept waiting in front of God. He kept seeking guide for both the housing needs of the youth home and missionaries. From nothing to something, God’s grace was accomplished through the Mak’s family in an unexpectedly beautiful way. “What is impossible to be happened now turn to be really happened!” Let the good seeds be sown in good soil.
Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.) Gives Thanks and Blessings
Evangel Children’s Home thanks the Mak’s family for donating the property, which can provide more lodging for homeless youth and adults to co-live, expanding the 2nd Chance in Life – Transitional Youth Sponsorship Program in our community – “Life Coaching – Stand by You”. Those homeless youth can break through from the predicament of self-reliant living and go ahead for their goals without fear.
