James Sik Hung Ling

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
Died	15 November 2001(2001-11-15) (aged 50) Hong Kong
Nationality	Hong Kong, Chinese
Spouse(s)	Fona Ling
Children	Dr. Samuel Ka Kin Ling
Residence	Hong Kong, China
Alma mater	Chinese University of Hong Kong / Reformed Theological Seminary
Occupation	Salvation Army Officer
Profession	Pastor

James Sik Hung Ling, D.Min, B.D (凌錫洪; 25 September 1951 – 15 Nov 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 he was Promoted to Glory in 2001.^[6]

Personal life

James (2nd Left) with his family at home

James was born on 25 September 1951 in Hong Kong; he was the son of a high-school headmaster whom 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 was one of the first practicing pastors in HK to earn a doctorate degree when 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 subsequently entered ministry and have a son, Samuel Ling whom is also an alumnus of Chung Chi College.^[11]

Ministry

James' 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 of his local corps and the staff band of the Hong Kong and Macau Command.^[12]

He accepted God's calling in the 1970s and entered the Salvation Army's Training College in Hong Kong. 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 due to the 1997 Handover. He was appointed as a JP during this tenure for his humanitarian efforts to provide aid to the overseas Chinese students.^[16]

James came back to Hong Kong in the 1990s, and served multiple appointments including: the Field Secretary^[17][18] coordinating the Christian ministries in HK and Macau, the Social Services Secretary^[19] overseeing >80 social service units and centers, and subsequently the General Secretary.^[20]

In his early career; James 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 held multiple honorary lecturer posts in various institutions including the Theology department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Bible Seminary of Hong Kong,^[21] Alliance Bible Seminary,^[22] China Graduate School of Theology to name a few.

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

Death

James' life came to an early end when he was Promoted to Glory on 15 Nov 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.^{[23][24][25][26]}

References