My name is Winnie Ong, and I serve as the Cantonese Congregation Pastor in Eternal Life Assembly. This is my story of how I lived in the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.
As a baby less than a month old, I was given up by my biological parents for adoption. By 14 my adoptive parents had passed away.
My world shattered, as I was sent back to live with my biological parents, who were practically strangers to me. Cramped in a tiny flat living among 10 others, the peace I once had was no more.
In the midst of this turmoil, a classmate invited me to a weekly Youth for Christ club held behind our school. At a large evangelistic meeting, my eye caught a huge banner that read “Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life”.
Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life,
Something stirred deep within me, and I found myself walking to the front when an altar call was made. I gave my life to Christ in May 1969.
At that moment, I experienced an unexplainable joy. This was the love I had been longing for all my life. God’s overwhelming, adoptive love, brought me from despair into His family of God. I started attending a church called Eternal Life Assembly.
However, when my mother found out, she gave me an ultimatum: stay home and stop attending church or leave the house forever. I chose God and left home with my just-baptized sister.
I chose God and left home…
I began working at Eternal Life Assembly. My first job involved knocking on doors, handing out tracts, and inviting people to church to hear the gospel.
At 18, I went to Bible school, and by the age of 23, I returned to Eternal Life Assembly as a full-time assistant pastor.
My heart was filled with excitement and gratitude as I stepped in this new role. I was passionate about helping the congregation grow in faith, but the journey was not without challenges.
Working in church isn’t a walk in the park. Like any organisation or family, different people will inevitably have differing views.
Sometimes, there can be misunderstandings, and sometimes, we can be discouraged. But I have learned how to submit to leadership, choose unity, and embrace trials as opportunities for growth.
At the age of 26, I got married to my husband, Ps David Wong. Together, we served to grow a church. The call of God is not without sacrifices. Our family lived simply, and I recall the challenge of making ends meet as our family expanded. I took on part-time jobs and gave tuition lessons to ensure we had enough to provide for our children.
The call of God is not without sacrifices.
The call to be a pastor isn’t an individual call. It’s a household call. And I’m thankful for how my husband and daughters were supportive of my work in the church.
The call to be a pastor isn’t an individual call. It’s a household call.
God was always faithful and provided the finances that were needed and multiplied our time together. While raising my young daughters, I studied and achieved a B.A. and later a M.A. in Biblical Studies and Church Ministries.
In the blink of an eye, it has been more than 45 years since I’ve served as a pastor. Through every challenge, hardship, and trial, God has moulded and shaped me for a life of service.
Since age 23 to now, at 71, there is never a dull day serving the Lord. It is my honour and privilege to serve my Redeemer.
I reflect on this truth in hindsight: God will never shortchange us. One day, I received an unexpected call from my sister-in-law, my father was on his deathbed. As I knelt by his side, I had the opportunity to share Christ with him before he passed away peacefully.
There are no accidents with God. Even though I was given away as a child, God provided an adoptive home that allowed me to know Him at a tender young age through bible storybooks.
God had set me apart, away from my birth mother, who was steeped in idol worship. God’s arrangement allow me to fully embrace my faith in Christ.
Recognizing God’s leading and following His leading has allowed my past to be redeemed for His purpose. Just as I was adopted into God’s family, I cherish this call to pastor many others who have been adopted into this big spiritual family.
If asked whether I would do it all again, my answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Hey ELites! As we conclude Pastor’s Appreciation Month this October 2024, we want to remember that it’s not the end of appreciation or praying for them.
We pray that this story inspires you to pray and partner with our pastors here in Eternal Life Assembly.
Here are some areas where we can remember our Pastors and also recognise their families that serve alongside them.
Express Personal Gratitude:
Take the time to write a heartfelt note, send a message, or personally thank your pastor for their leadership, mentorship, love, and care. Sharing specific ways of how they’ve impacted your life or spiritual journey can deeply encourage them.
Pray for Them and Their Families:
One of the best ways to support our pastors is through prayer. Let them know you are praying for them and ask how you can specifically intercede on their behalf.
Offer Practical Help:
Ministry work can be demanding, and pastors often carry a heavy weight silently. Grow spiritually and step up to serve together with them to advance God’s kingdom.
Appreciation and Acts of Service:
Host an appreciation meal where we can celebrate and honour their hard work and dedication. We could even reach out to them personally to ask them if they need help in fulfilling a task.
Honour their Rest:
Encouraging them to rest and recharge shows your appreciation for their well-being.
