Pastor Ed & Kelly Kang

Knowing someone for 20 years is a long time. And having been known very well by someone for 20 years is even longer. I still remember that day in 1988 when I first met Pastor Ed and Kelly Kang (of Gracepoint Fellowship Church) at a Chinese restaurant on University Avenue in Berkeley. They thought that I was a FOB who couldn’t speak English! (I’m still shocked by that, Pastor Ed; was it my hairstyle?) Well, to their surprise, when I opened my mouth, I spoke English without any accent to speak of!

Throughout the past 20 years, they’ve forgiven me at my worst, been gracious at my best, and loved me through all the stages in between. I’m a far better minister because of what I learned from them. I’m a far better husband because of the marriage counseling I’ve received from them (for free!). I’m a far better father because of the example of parenting they demonstrated. All in all, I’m better by far because of their presence in my life.

Everyone needs a spiritual mentor, a shepherd, a leader, a pastor, or whatever you call them, as long as you call on them to lead you to Jesus. My wife and I are blessed to have Pastor Ed and Kelly to call on. And I’m sure that we’ll continue to call on them for the next 20 years to come. By that time, we’d be old and gray, sitting at a Chinese restaurant reminiscing the good old days when I was an English-speaking FOB…

Thank you, Pastor Ed and Kelly, for your perseverance, your steadfast commitment to the Truth, your tireless service to the Lord, and for pointing the way to Jesus these past 20 years!