remembering kong kong: divine provision (papa's account)

Kong Kong did other things for the church like conduct Bible study, visit the sick, diagnosed the sick - he was well-versed in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and often wrote out prescription for his church members who were very poor (around mid-1900s) and could ill afford to obtain medical help and medication, bought the chinese herbs for them, decocted the medicine (with Ah Ma's help) and brought the medicine to the patient's house personally in order to ensure that it was taken. No matter how tired he was he would go over to the house of the sick to visit and pray with them.

When he was called to rebuild the dilapidated Foochow Church in the early 1947, he wondered at first where to get the funds. Wealthy people were few and also not forthcoming. He committed the matter to God in prayer. God gave him a dream. He saw Jehovah Jireh in the form of a ray of light beaming down from heaven on a church building. When he got up he immediately drew what he dreamt with as much details as he could remember. Then he got in touch with an artist, Wong Cheng Ming, who was a new convert. For several days Mr Wong sat down with grandpa who related to him the vision of the church. The colorful picture of the church was eventually painted and many copies printed. Kong Kong was full of creative ideas. Anyone who donated $500 and above towards the church building fund was presented with a framed picture of the church. Other donors were given handbill-size picture of the church.

Kong Kong was also very innovative. He wanted every member of the church to be involved in contributing toward the church building fund. One day he saw a huge pile of empty condensed milk cans left discarded at the back of the coffee-shop. He thought if he could get these cans, wash them clean and then seal the two small holes at one end, and make a slot at the other end, he could have good donation cans. The coffee-shop owner was only too happy to part with the empty cans.

Soon hundreds of these cans were neatly arranged on a table at the church sanctuary. More than 300 cans were taken home by worshippers at the end of the worship. Each member was expected to faithfully drop in coins and return at the end of 3 months. It is a well known fact that ‘little drops of water make a mighty ocean.’ This was yet another good yet creative way of getting funds for building the church.

This went on for 3 years and Kong Kong had to work hard. He worked hand in hand with a dedicated team to open the returned cans, count them, record the amount. At the end of each year he would laboriously yet steadfastly compile a statement of account in a booklet and distributed to all donors.

There was once while it was raining heavily, Grandpa was driving in the Newton area. It was quite dark and visibility was poor. When Kong Kong stopped at the traffic light somebody from the car behind came out. He opened Kong Kong's car-door, threw in a bag, slammed the door and ran back to his car. Kong Kong could not make out who he was and what was in the bag.

When he reached home, he was surprised to discover that the bag was full of money. He immediately informed the Local Church Executive Committee chairman and the treasurer who came. He led them in a thanksgiving prayer before they counted the money. The amount was by no means small. This was yet another provision by Jehovah Jireh. All the money was channeled to the Church building.

In the early years there were several occasions when Kong Kong had no money to buy food for the family, which had altogether 9 members including 7 children. Kong Kong would spend the whole morning praying in his room. On looking back, it is a great testimony fo God's miraculous provision and faithfulness. God had never forsaken us or left us to suffer hunger. On at least 3 occasions, he would receive an ang-pow from the letter-box. He had no idea who dropped the ang-pow into the letter-box. There was only the words "GOD KNOWS" written on it, written in Chinese. God indeed faithfully provided for the needs of the family as Kong Kong faithfully served Him.