Basel Hakka Lutheran Church

My stay in Vancouver which coincided with a Sunday (20 August 2017) allowed me to spend a morning in the church named Basel Hakka Lutheran Church. As the name implies, it is connected to three major components - the Hakka, the Basel Church of Malaysia and the Lutheran Church. The Basel Hakka Lutheran Church was set up by Hakka speaking migrants from Basel Church of Malaysia. Because Basel Church of Malaysia is a member of Lutheran World Federation, I believe the founders had also conveniently added the word Lutheran to make it more inclusive with Lutheran members.

The first pastor of the Church was Rev. Chong Yuk Kiong who at one time served as the pastor of BCCM KK during the period of 1964 - 1972. He later married Mdm Kong Nyet Yu who was my Primary One Class Teacher in 1958. He was the Chief Pastor of Basel Church of Malaysia while simultaneously serving as the pastor of a Sabah local BCCM church. The post of Chief Pastor was later on changed to Bishop, a title the current head of Basel Church of Malaysia still uses. Upon completing his Chief Pastor post in Basel Church of Malaysia, he and his family moved to Vancouver after being offered the job of full time pastor in Basel Hakka Lutheran Church, Vancouver.

Rev. Chong had passed away quite some time ago and the church has had many pastors since. The present pastor is Rev. Yee Kim Vun who at one time taught in Sabah Theological Seminary.

A family photo of Rev. Chong downloaded 
from the Church website.

Mdm Kong Nyet Yu though at 79 years of age is still very healthy and possessing sharp memory. She could still recall her diminutive student in Primary One back then in 1958. She still has kind words for this particular student when she looked at me in the eyes! But now, her diminutive student has grown and has even surpassed her height. She was just as happy as I was to see each other again after all these years. 

After the church service, she insisted to take us for lunch at a nearby Chinese restaurant. I have known her to be a kind and gentle school teacher. I found out after the lunch that there is another side of toughness that I am not aware of - her strong will and determination. This toughness was clearly evident after the meal when she was having a tussle with her in-law insisting to pay for the bill. In the end, she won. I smiled and acknowledged that she is one little tough lady after all.

I wish her good health in many many more years to come.

Met my Primary One (1958) Class Teacher 

With Rev. Chong's daughter Fui yen and
SIL George Yong.

My Primary One Class Teacher was
insistent in taking us for lunch after
the church service.

From left: Me, Mdm Kong, Fui Lin, Vun Kai,
my wife, Kah Yen (wife of Rev. Yee),
daughter Ms. Yee,  Rev. Yee Kim Vun 
and Siau Vui Kiew.