Reverend Tom Cheung was born in Hong Kong. His father was a Shanghai-style tailor, and his mother passed away when Tom was five years old – youngest amongst six siblings. During his high school years, Tom had once received an undesirable comment from a teacher regarding his academic ability, but Tom did not give up and worked hard. As a result, he received outstanding grades and was accepted into Hong Kong University. Tom worked as a high school teacher upon graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988. In those days he often encouraged his students not to give up through his own life story. Success is possible if they were willing to work hard.
Two years later Tom started to work in the computer industry and began to encounter the Christian faith under the influence of his colleague Kelvin Kwok. He met Athens at a gospel camp in 1990. He later became a Christian in 1991 and continued to grow deeper in faith. Tom was baptized in 1994 at Tokwawan Baptist Church in Hong Kong. Athens and Tom soon fell in love and were married on July 17, 1994. They have three children: Solomon (1995), Benjamin (1998), and Elisha (2007).
The Cheung’s family immigrated to Canada in 1996. Tom continued to work in the tech and cell phone industry. The family started attending Vancouver Chinese Baptist Church in 1997. During that time, Tom frequently enrolled in part-time seminary studies to equip himself. In 2003, with Athens’ full support, Tom responded to God’s call to pursue full-time seminary study. While studying in seminary, he started serving at Oakridge Baptist Church as a pastoral intern. In 2009, he became the Cantonese Pastor of Port Moody Pacific Grace MB Church
(PMPGMBC) and was ordained in 2013. In 2015, Tom was diagnosed with kidney cancer. By God’s miraculous work, he was healed without going through neither surgery nor chemotherapy, but solely with prayers.
Since then, Tom became even more fervent for Christ. Tom accepted the call and became the Lead Pastor of PMPGMBC in 2016.
Tom’s philosophy of ministry is to take priority in teaching God’s Word, preaching, and caring and walking with believers in their spiritual lives. Despite a busy schedule, he was passionate about missions. He had been on numerous mission trips to Taiwan, Venezuela, Mexico, Interior BC, etc. Even under serious oppression, Tom persisted in ministering to China – to lecture in seminary and to coach students to be a genuine shepherd of the flock.
Tom was a man of integrity, a man of his words, humble and kind, loved God and people, always trusting and obeying to the Lord. In his ministry, he would rather give up his rights in order not to bring damages to the church. As he always said: “The church is the bride of Christ, we must keep the church sanctified and in unity”.
Tom enjoyed reading, especially in Jewish rabbinic literature and Bible commentaries. Tom once dreamed of becoming the first Chinese Rabbi. Tom was gifted in preaching and often spent countless hours in preparation. On the day of the accident (May 2nd), he was crossing the border in order to pick up a book for sermon preparation. On the way back, a speeding vehicle crashed into Tom’s car, causing his vehicle to be on fire. Tom rested with the Lord and is now at rest in the arms of our Lord Jesus. Tom is a good and faithful servant of God.
Tom, we love you and you will be forever in our hearts!
Celebration of Life Service for Rev. Tom Cheung will be held on June 8 at 10:30 am at Bethany Baptist Church (22680 Westminster Hwy, Richmond). Burial Service will be at 2:45 pm on the same day at Ocean View Cemetery (4000 Imperial St, Burnaby). Both services are open to family and friends.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Tom Mo-Wai Cheung May 2nd 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Aldergrove, Province: Colombie britanique