Maj.
James Sik Hung Ling 凌錫洪
D.Min., B.D
James Ling (centre in uniform) with wife Fona and son Samuel; bidding farewell to friends at Kai Tak Airport before they set off to their appointment in Sydney
General Secretary Officers of The Salvation Army
Personal details
Born(1951-09-25)25 September 1951
Hong Kong
Died15 November 2001(2001-11-15) (aged 50)
Hong Kong
NationalityHong Kong, Chinese
SpouseFona Ling
ChildrenSamuel Ling
Residence(s)Hong Kong, China
Alma materChinese University of Hong Kong / Reformed Theological Seminary
OccupationSalvation Army Officer
ProfessionPastor

James Sik Hung Ling, D.Min, B.D (凌錫洪; 25 September 1951 – 15 November 2001) was a leader in the Christian community of Hong Kong.[1][2][3][4] He was an Officer of the Salvation Army and pastored multiple congregations; before serving as the General Secretary of the Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Command[5] until his death in 2001.[6]

Personal life

James (2nd Left) with his family in their yard

Ling was born on September 25, 1951, in Hong Kong; he was the son of a headmaster who brought his family to Hong Kong after the Chinese Civil War.[7] James attended Chung Chi College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1981;[8][9] he obtained his Doctor of Ministry from the Reformed Theological Seminary in 1996.[10]

He met his wife, Fona, while they were volunteering at a Christian crusade. They both entered ministry and had a son named Samuel, who also became an alumnus of Chung Chi College.[11]

Ministry

Ling's father was a devout Christian, and his family spent a large portion of his childhood at the local Salvation Army corps. He accepted Christ at a young age and was an active Salvationist; he was an enthusiastic Youth leader and a bandsman in the Salvation Army brass band.[12]

He accepted God's calling in the 1970s and entered the Salvation Army's Training College. After graduation, he was ordained to serve in multiple Corps;[13] including founding the William Booth Corps in 1983.[14]

In 1987, he was commissioned to Australia to pastor the Sydney Chinese Corps[15] where there was a growing Hong Kong migrant population; he was appointed as a JP during this tenure for his humanitarian efforts.[7]

Ling came back to Hong Kong in the 1990s, and served multiple appointments including: the Field Secretary[16][17] coordinating the Christian ministries in HK and Macau, the Social Services Secretary[18] overseeing >80 social service units and centers, and subsequently the General Secretary.[19]

In his early career; Ling had a special interest in Christian apologetics especially in the defence against Christian cults in HK. In his later career; he became more involved in education and lectured in the Theology department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Bible Seminary of Hong Kong,[20] Alliance Bible Seminary,[21] China Graduate School of Theology.

James (1st Left) with the HK Social Service Delegation visiting China

Death

Ling's life came to an early end when he was Promoted to Glory on 15 November 2001 after a year-long battle with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

As a remembrance, the Kiwanis club dedicated a 'Major James Ling Memorial Community Service Award - 香港國際同濟會紀念凌錫洪少校社區服務獎' to secondary school students whom have distinguished themselves in community service.[22][23][24][25]

References

  1. ↑ "Salvation army officer says cults lure believers from families". Ucanews.com.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Who is responsible for the negative growth of the church?". Cccowe.org. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  4. ↑ "HKCC Annual Report 1995-1996". Archived from the original on 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. ↑ "Home". Salvationarmy.org.hk. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  6. ↑ "救世軍凌錫洪少校病逝". Christiantimes.org.hk.
  7. 1 2 "My China Heart". Cccowe.org. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  8. ↑ "Theology Handbook" (PDF). Cuhk.edu.hk. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  9. ↑ "Divinity School of Chung Chi College, CUHK". Theology.cuhk.edu.hk.
  10. ↑ "Reformed Theological Seminary". Rts.edu. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "中大校友－－二零一六年六月號". Alumni.cuhk.edu.hk.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-09-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ Merritt, Major John G. (2006-09-05). Historical Dictionary of the Salvation Army. p. 92. ISBN 9780810864849.
  14. ↑ "歷任隊長". Archived from the original on 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  15. ↑ "救世軍雪梨華人堂 Salvation Army Sydney Chinese Corps". Church.oursweb.net. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "Ministries | the Salvation Army 救世軍". Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  17. ↑ "What in God's name is going on?". Culteducation.com.
  18. ↑ "社會服務". Salvationarmy.org.hk. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "About Us | the Salvation Army 救世軍". Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  20. ↑ "香港神學院". Bshk.edu.hk. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "建道神學院 Alliance Bible Seminary". Archived from the original on 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  22. ↑ "SSP Profiles 2015/2016". Archived from the original on 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
  23. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-09-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ↑ "The Salvation Army William Booth Secondary School : School Annual Report (2013-2014)" (PDF). Wbss.edu.hk. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  25. ↑ "SSP Profiles 2017/2018 救世軍卜維廉中學". Archived from the original on 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
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