Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead

16th January, 2007 (Tuesday)

I have been writing this blog for more than 3 months’ time and I feel a sense of loss as I realized that it’s time to “forget the past, look forward to what lies ahead”,it is time to say goodbye to all of you. In future, you can contact me through this email (kinwli@gmail.com). Finally, as a closure of the blog, I would like to share the brief life history of Rev Li to those friends who were not able to attend Rev Li’s Memorial Service.

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Pastor Kin Wah Li was the eldest son and he had 3 elder sisters and 6 younger brothers and sisters. God prepared him with this family background in order to cultivate his leadership and connection skills. Because of the financial situation at home, he had to work by day and study by night during his secondary years. When he was around 15 years old, he became rebellious. He left home for more freedom and stayed in his friend’s house for more than a year time.his relationship with his family was greatly strained. After he came to the Lord, he was transformed and like the prodigal son, he returned home and rebuilt relationships with his family. His parents and siblings who were living with him at the time, all came to the Lord because of him. In 1974, he was baptized and joined The Church of Living Stones (Kowloon). He served as the leader of choir team.

Encouraged by the Lord, he enrolled in the Evangel Seminary in 1977. Two years later before he was graduated, he was involved in planting a new church-- the Church of Living Stones (Shek Lei). He then became the minister of that church, and he started his life of full-time dedication to the service of the Lord. He has been pasturing in the church for ten years, in between he had thought of leaving it many times. However, he submitted to the leading of the Lord and stayed. His heart and character was purified as a suitable instrument for serving God. He got married in 1984 and ordained in 1987.

Ten years later, when Pastor Li had stopped thinking of leaving the church, however, in 1990, God guided him to join “The Hong Kong Church Renewal Movement” and promote“AD2000” movement as well as some networking tasks. God let him widen his interpersonal network and establish connection with different churches. He joined the promotion of “Rainbow Crusades” and received positive feedback from different churches.We saw God expanded his ministry.

Between 1996 and 1997, God gave Pastor Li a new vision. From Aug to Sep 1997, he waited for the calling from God and fasted and prayed for 40 days. I still remember clearly once when he was so weak that he fell down by the wall and fainted. During that period of time, he prayed and sensed the tough condition of the new Chinese immigrants. He cried for them and felt a burden of serving them. In Nov 1997, he left his original post and started the “Mission to New Arrivals.”. God asked him to serve in a humble way. There was shortage of manpower and resources, personally he transported second-hand furniture to the homes of the poverty-stricken on trolleys.

God blessed his ministry for the coming few years. They developed "Recycle and Gift Programme", and set up a“Resource Centre", held ‘Seminars’ and promoted “Cross-Cultural Missions.”. In 1999, he compiled a booklet “Blood is thicker than water” for the new arrivals. At that time, Hong Kong economy was at a low point. In order to respond to the social need, they promoted ‘Livelihood 21’movement and set up "Christian Concern for the Poor Foundation Fund”. In 2001, he was received the award of "Award for Excellent Social Leader" by Lion Clubs International.

In 2002, Mission to New Arrivals embarked on developing a new arm of ministry - caring for South Asians' livelihood as well as evangelizing them. In 2003, Hong Kong was in deep depression due to SARS. Pastor Li responded to God and set up the “People’s Square” in Victoria Park. The unemployed were encouraged to start their own businesss and support themselves. Afterwards, he was engaged in "Rebuild the City" for 52 days movement to embrace Hong Kong, ‘Rainbow After Rain’ evangelistic crusades and ministry of ‘City Renewal’.

In 2004, Pastor Li visited the churches in India and prepared for South Asia ministry. After the tsunami, he again went to India to comfort and support the churches there. In 2005, God guided him to establish organic “Creation Farm” for the "lost" youths of society, so that these young people may learn perseverance and self-esteem through farming and come to know Jesus. In 2006, he used an abandoned village school to open "Life Guidance Centre" to teach the youth of living skills, to lead them the way in Jesus. This is the last mission of Pastor Li before he passed away.

Besides the mission of "New Arrivals", Pastor Li was the Pastoral Advisor for 3 churches in different times, director of "Kingdom Revival Times" and a Bible Institute, He also took care of the churches in the mainland China and trained the pastors there.

Pastor Li was a mighty warrior in the Lord’s army when he was alive. As written in the Scripture, "He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith. Now there is in store for him the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to him on that day".

For a life well lived, I give God all the glory and praise.

Mrs. Li