Annual Report
Donald Ng, Senior Pastor
Coming to San Francisco and being called by you as the church’s senior pastor are some of the best things that have happened to my life. After serving in Valley Forge for over twenty years, no one would guess, even myself, that Joy and I would pick up our roots and replant them here in the Bay Area. Since I started full time on September 1, 1998, it has been simply a wonderful experience!
Beginning my ministry at FCBC coincided with the church’s launching of the Continue the Legacy Stewardship Campaign. Coordinated by Wallace Choy, Jeff Low, and Edward Cheng along with a host of creative committees that planned the prayer emphasis, home visitations, promotion, the leadership dinner and all-church banquet, and record-keeping, the stewardship campaign is a huge success. As of December 31, 1998, a total of $1,303,900 has been pledged by 261 contributors toward the Faith Goal of $1,350,000. The campaign’s Legacy Follow-Up Committee comprised of John Tom, Che Chiu Yee, Susie Chong, Byron Chan, and Marian Hom will be sustaining the interest for the campaign in the coming year. Plans include monthly updates, a prayer and fasting emphasis during the season of Lent, and an All-Church Banquet this fall. We give thanks to the many church members who shared a tremendous amount of time in making the campaign a success. Also, we thank Bill Laugaland, our consultant from Injoy Stewardship Services for his time and expertise.
With the very positive response to the Stewardship Campaign in place, the Seismic Retrofit & Renovation Task Force chaired by Nelson Wong has been working with the architectural firm, Barcelona & Jang in designing the 1-15 Waverly Place church home. Construction is scheduled to begin probably in August, 1999. Work will include making seismic improvement on all floors, installing ramps and an elevator to all floors to comply with the Americans with Disability Act, renovating classrooms for more flexible and multiple use, renovating all the rest rooms, and relocating the church offices for more efficient operations. We will be facing the inconveniences of worshipping and studying in alternate sites during the construction period, but we will also be looking forward to the day when we will be moving back into safer, more accessible, and modernized facilities.
As a part of my administrative responsibilities, I have worked with the Finance Committee, chaired by John Tom in monitoring our church’s budget; the 1999 Canvass Committee, chaired by Paley Pang in presenting the 1999 Budget for pledges and gifts; the Trustees, chaired by Bill Leong in caring and upkeep of our church home; the Staff Evaluation Committee, chaired by Milton Dong in implementing staff performance review; and the Staff Compensation Committee, chaired by Roger Tom in the development of a staff compensation plan for the next three years.
One of the joys of my ministry has been leading worship and preaching at the 10:05 English Worship Service. It is my hope that the Bible can come alive in our lives and that God’s presence is felt during the time of worship. We have seen increasing growth in attendance at the 10:05 service. Our worship during the season of Advent and Christmas was particularly special with the lighting of the Advent candles and our sanctuary decorated with Christmas greens. At the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols with the participation of new members who recently joined the church and special music by the Handbell Choir, CBC Choir, and the Chinese Choir, we had a record attendance of 146 people! Thanks and appreciation to our CBC Choir directors, Wendy Quan, Don Jin, and Victor Low; Handbell Choir directors, Melanie Low, Serena Dong, and Lawrence Pang, and the Chinese Choir director, Wallace Choy. Also, deep appreciation for Shirlene Tong, our organist and Humphrey Chan and Joy S. Ng, accompanists. All their music inspired our souls to be near to God.
The steady and faithful growth at our Sunset Ministry church plant illustrates how God is inviting many new neighbors and friends for Christ. Beginning in 1998, the church plant started in faith that God will work miracles. We now can see that this has truly happened. In December, a second service was started on Sunday morning. All plans are leading for us to celebrate Sunset Ministry’s self-governing status sometime in the middle of 1999. Pastor Larry Jay and the Shepherding Staff Team have dedicated many hours and their gifts in making this new church a huge success!
In Chinatown, the church leaders and board members have been implementing the 1 Waverly Place Strategic Plan first introduced in January. We have seen a deepening of spiritual growth from the All-Church Retreat that featured an emphasis on prayer. There is also a heightened sense of church identity by having the Sunday church school children’s classes moved toward a commitment in bilingual teaching. As we envision 1999 and the future, we will be exploring new ministries as well as affirming our historic mission of reaching Chinatown, San Francisco, and the world for Christ.
In our church office, we bid farewell to our secretary Vivian Mak who was with us for four years. Vivian has returned to college so that she can pursue her life goal of classroom teaching. During the interim, we have contracted Rodney Tom who has provided us with excellent administrative assistance in getting out the weekly bulletins and the monthly newsletters. On January 19th, we will welcome Anna Lee who will assume the full-time position as the church’s administrative secretary.
The first four months of my ministry have gone quickly. It has been filled with excitement and promises of more great things happening in the coming years. I am grateful for my pastoral colleagues, Mak, Richard, and Larry who have been most patient with me as I begin to learn what my position entails. I look forward to partnering with you in the variety of ministries our church has since God has given us different gifts for Christian service. Take time to read the excellent reports attached and become once again excited over how God has worked through us in 1998.
In is truly a privilege to once again become a part of this very historic and significant congregation in the American Baptist church family. I pray that I will continue to faithfully serve you in making the Good News of Jesus Christ known in San Francisco and in the world.