Rev. Wilson Chan's Farewell Speech

Rev. Wilson Chan's farewell report to the church council meeting 2009/7/15


For three years I have come and served in the Ottawa Chinese United Church. I believe strongly that God has a purpose for me here. I fulfilled it. His name has been glorified. I concede I have handicap and weakness. Nevertheless God’s will was done through my handicap and weakness. I have no regrets for these three years well spent. There were hard times for sure. But I praise the Lord and thank him all the more for these hard times. My feeling co-inside with Paul’s feeling when he shared his testimony with the Corinthians.
Paul said, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” II Cor.12:7.
There are so many handicapped people in God’s ministry we cannot count them all. Let us recall how Paul handled his. Paul prayed that his trouble be removed. He besought the Lord diligently that he be delivered. How much better that a man ask the Lord for help than to try defiantly to beat his way through life alone. It is no shameful thing to admit weakness. But you say, “God did not answer Paul’s prayer that his handicap be removed.” Indeed, you are right. But follow Paul. See him trudging along some lonely road on a missionary tour, that “thorn in the flesh” pricking him at every turn, furnishing irritation, suffering, and misery. Behold, there walks beside him the Savior, his comrade of the cross, saying in accents of infinite tenderness, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (II Cor. 12:9).
Paul not only prayed about his disadvantage; he kept plodding on in spite of it. He called it a “messenger of Satan to buffet” him. But in spite of all the buffeting, he battled on; he kept going. That is important. Perhaps you are someone who started out in the Christian life with much promise, but one by one the years seem to have stolen away your gifts; one by one your opportunities have vanished. You feel life has sadly handicapped you. Yet have you not one string on which you may play some melody of triumph? Play! Paul did. How we play is important. One man gets only discord out of his piano; another, harmony. No one claims the piano is at fault. Life has discord and harmony. Work hard to play it correctly; it will give forth beauty.
Paul not only prayed and kept going, but he also achieved a great triumph. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”(II Tim. 4:7-8.) This brave apostle carried his handicap with him through thick and thin to the end. The end was as glorious as the journey. Are you handicapped? Of course you are. So were Paul and countless other Christians who lived victoriously. Let us do as they did: pray, struggle on, and finally achieve the crown.
Yesterday I received a surprise letter in the email. It came from a lady called Cindy Kirk. When I first saw the name I had no idea who that lady was. But the first line refreshed my memory. She wrote:
Hi Pastor Chan

If you remember, I am Hayward's spouse and met you at the OCUC when you showed us (and Joanne) around the building when the daycare was but a dream.

I heard that you are leaving the OCUC and wanted to send you this email to thank-you for making a difference in the lives of the people in the Glebe community. You provided us, and Joanne, with great hope that the church would be open to the daycare idea and your support was greatly appreciated! Without that hope, I am not sure what would have happened. So although you may not realize it, you were the right person, in the right place, at the right time (perhaps a greater power made that possible). Now, because of some of your efforts, many children are enjoying their days in a secure, loving environment (including my son) within the church. This is a great accomplishment for anyone!

So on behalf of myself and my son, thank-you for making a difference in our lives.

Best Wishes,
Cindy Kirk
After reading it, I couldn’t help but reply her right a way. I said:
Dear Cindy,Thanks for this lovely letter. I am glad I can be of help to you and your dream. It wasn't me that make your dream come true. It was God's good will for you, for myself and for this church. Your service is a great blessing not only to the Glebe community but also to this church. I am going away to minister in the Winnipeg Chinese United Church. I will always remember you and Hayward and all the nice people in the daycare. God bless you.Wilson Chan
Three years was not a long time. But three years was long enough to achieve what I have achieved. It was not a happy three years. But I am happy for the achievement. Jesus spent also three years in his ministry. It was not a happy ministry. He had been wounded and bruised. But it was exactly because of his wounds and bruises that made him accomplish what he accomplished. “Because of his wounds we are healed; by his stripes we are made whole” (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus ministry did not make people happy. It made them angry instead. That’s why they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” But it was the wounded hands that once were nailed to the cross that heal the world today.
I hope you will remember me with this my last benediction to you all:
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of Christ in every one you meet; and may everyone you meet sees the face of Christ in you.
Amen and God bless you.
End