Rainier Chung

This is Nobuo Kawahara. I am the Japanese speaking pastor at Anchor Southbay Church. Almost 16 years ago when I came to the church it was called South Bay Free Methodist Church. A couple years before I came, Rev. Chung was our pastor at Japanese speaking congregation. He had been pastoring our church for a couple years using not only his wonderful linguistic talent and skill but also his passion and eagerness to tell the good news about Jesus. I have heard that after his retirement of his ministry in Taiwan he and Linda-san came to California and found out our Japanese church in Lomita and joining our congregation not only to be a supporter but he had ended up to be the pastor of our church. He loved and cared Japanese people. Many of us were blessed his message and ministry at our church. I am the one of the blessed people by his encouraging words, fellowship and support in prayer.
Since Rev. Chung's passion was so strong that any differences of culture, language and situation did not hinder him from telling the message of salvation. When he was in 70's he and Linda-san decided to go to Brazil as a missionary to a Taiwanese congregation there. I am sure many people in Brazil were also blessed by his ministry. Even though they were a missionary to Taiwanese but when they saw Japanese people they took a chance to tell them the gospel. So when I think about that this passage from â… Corinthians 9:16, 19-23 came to my mind
"For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. …Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
I respect and admire his passion and heart for the people. And I am honored to meet and know him as my former pastor and wonderful colleague.
Last Christmas time God gave our singing group an opportunity to visit Rev. Chung at Royal Wood Care Center to share some Christmas Carols. Rev. Chung sang Carols with us and we had a good time. Right after that he was hospitalized because of pneumonia but God gave us another opportunity to see him at the bedside in the hospital. At that time we sang a Hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" which is his one of favorites Hymns and prayed together. His eyes were wide open and responded saying "Amen". That was the time moment I had with Rev. Chung.
Now he is up in heaven and I'm sure he is singing Hallelujah with His Lord. Mrs. Linda Chung, let us keep on singing Hallelujah to the Lord. May God bless and comfort you and your family.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275