James Sik Hung Ling

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ "Salvation army officer says cults lure believers from families". Ucanews.com.
  2. ^ [1] [dead link]
  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. ^ a b "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. ^ Chan, Charmaine (January 3, 1999). "What in God's name is going on?". Hong Kong South China Morning Post.
  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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