Today, I was cleaning out my laptop and found a picture of Uncle Nelson and Auntie Karen in a mix of old church photos. It was wonderful seeing his smiling face. I don't remember the first time I met Uncle Nelson (perhaps I was too young- my family joined CCCB in 1998), he was always at church- a constant in my youth group years. I still can't believe it's been two years since his passing. Uncle Nelson's willingness to serve the Lord and his kindness still serves as an inspiration for me. He is missed dearly.

Nelson holds a special place in our hearts and will forever associate the day after Christmas as the day he left us to be with the Lord. We are thankful to see that Karen is coping well with the love and support of many friends. Nelson's willingness to grow will forever be an inspiration to us as we go through the rest of our days.

In 1974, Joseph met Nelson at a tennis social with some other Chinese coworkers at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Joseph invited him and his roommate Ted Eng to our house for dinner. One day, Nelson came over to proudly show us his girlfriend’s picture who eventually became his wife, and we attended their wedding. 

   Nelson and Karen have become our good neighbors when they moved to Fallston and we moved to Bel Air, and our houses are only 5-minute apart. Like Chinese saying “Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors.” They have surely demonstrated that how true that saying is. Not only that, Nelson and I also became coworkers in three different Army organizations for more than 30 years. For three years, we worked in the same office, and Nelson’s cubicle was right next to mine. Since then, our two families have become good and close friends. Nelson was a very conscientious worker and enjoyed working as a reliability evaluator. 

   Also, for more than 37 years, we attended the same church and served the Lord together. He was willing to serve in any capacity. When he discovered a need, he was willing to fill the gap. For example, in the 1990s, he saw a group of young adults needed caring, so he and Karen stepped up to lead them. Later, Nelson started the English ministry with much enthusiasm, and played an important role to expand this ministry. Nelson set a good example on how to glorify God and love people. 

   Thank you, Nelson. We will always remember you, and we will see you again in heaven. 

-Cathy Lee , Nelson’s Celebration of Life Service

Nelson dead? Nelson? Dead? Tears welled up when Cathy told me on the phone on Thu, Dec. 26. Even now I am still in shock! Nelson and death do not belong in the same sentence.

When several of Nelson’s and my TECOM colleagues died suddenly of heart attacks, I was saddened but not shocked; I barely knew them. But Nelson occupies a special place in my life, in my heart, because we have so much in common. We went to the same university; both of us are Texas Aggies. We work in the same Army HQ building.  You see other coworkers five days a week and that is it. But Nelson? I see him not only Mondays through Fridays, but also serve and worship with him together on Sundays for 37 years. We knew them before they got married and attended their wedding when they did. He is our closest neighbor from church. Rarely a day goes by that Cathy and I do not drive past his and Karen’s house and give them an eyes-right. 

Sometimes we don’t know how much we miss someone until that person is no longer with us. Nelson with his smile whenever he sees you. The way he walks that belongs uniquely only to him. His self-deprecating remark, “Yes, that’s me.” His wisdom and good judgment disguised by his unassuming mannerism. His quiet and faithful service to God through the church. These outward manifestations of Nelson may have disappeared. The remembrance of these little things that make a person, however, will never fade away.

During the last day of the Chinese Mission Convention, an event both Nelson and Karen had signed up to go, I heard a stirring message by the final speaker, Michael Littlefield. He said something that I thought fits Nelson to a T now. A year and half ago, Littlefield’s wife passed away after a long battle with cancer. After the funeral, he encouraged his daughters not to lose faith in God because of their mother’s death. In reply, one of the daughters said this about her mother: “She is as dead as Jesus!”

Nelson? Dead? Actually now he is more alive than any of us seated here, as he continues the enjoyment of the abundant life that had begun for him on earth when he accepted Jesus as his Lord—the life everlasting.

Nelson dead? Only as dead as Jesus.

                 --Given at Nelson's Celebration of Life Service

When we came to CCCB, we really didn't know what to expect. Nelson made Priscilla and myself very comfortable in the new environment. He was instrumental in our understanding of the Chinese Culture. I don't think that the shock of his going home so soon has really set in. He is a loss to all of us here but a blessed addition to heaven. I look forward to our next meeting when all will be well with our souls.

What I will always remember about Nelson was his commitment to the church and his willingness to serve the English ministries of CCCB. He always stepped up to help regardless of how inconvenient or unrewarding the task. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep many programs going at the church, without complaining or seeking credit. He also was a model of patience, joy, and a positive attitude. I am thankful to have known him. Agnes and I will be praying for Karen and the rest of his family.

Normally I try to avoid using the title "Uncle" when referring to my elders at church. But Nelson certainly deserves that title. In fact, I knew he embraced that title because he treated all of us like family. He was like that cool Uncle we always cherished and enjoyed being around with. I have many fond memories of Uncle Nelson and there are just too many to list. All I know is that he was truly a faithful servant of the Lord. He helped out the Church in numerous ways from providing rides to those who normally wouldn't go to church and coordinating guest preachers and speakers when the English Ministry didn't have a permanent English pastor for a few years. Everything Uncle Nelson did was out of love for God, family and everyone else (regardless of who you were). I will miss his insightful Sunday School discussion points that he raised as well as his famous BBQ brisket that he used to prepare for us each year end for the English Ministry. As what Bro. Ernest Wang said in his eulogy, Uncle Nelson was truly the Father of the English Ministry of CCCB. My wife and I are so blessed to have Uncle Nelson to be a part of our lives. 

Sincerely,
Tim & Michelle Kwong

I knew Uncle Nelson since 2004 when I first came to Baltimore as a visiting scholar. I came to CCCB to start the next journey in my life with Christ, but stayed in part because of the warmth and humor from members such as Uncle Nelson. Without fail, Uncle Nelson would make me feel at home by striking conversations, and graciously sharing his interesting stories. I'll never forget when he told me one way the Chinese used to pick a bride was to see if they could lift a 40lb bag of rice all by themselves. I happened to be engaged at the time to the person who is now my wife. I'll miss Uncle Nelson but will always cherish the great example he led through his life.

It is a blessing and privilege to have had the opportunity to know Uncle Nelson. He will be greatly missed. It is comforting to know he is in the presence of our Great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My prayers and condolences are to Karen and their family for their loss.

I am honored to say a few words about uncle Nelson. I first met uncle Nelson in 2010 during the English service and we ended up having lunch together with people from church. Every time I saw him he would tell me a joke before saying “hi” and would laugh so hard you could hear him from afar. Before I left Baltimore for Phoenix two years ago, he even gave me the contact details of a pastor and a church here that I could attend. He always had a smile on his face and you could tell how he loved encouraging people to continue serving Christ.

During CMC 2013 I was shocked to know that brother Nelson passed away. Our family just received brother Nelson and sister Karen's Christmas greeting card with brother Nelson’s signature on it. It was over ten years in the past that my son and daughter received their loving Christmas gift every year, just one time when it was delivered late, our daughter asked, ‘why we don’t have the Christmas card from Nelson?’ "

"Brother Nelson's wonderful life touched so many others, as far as I know, countless people have been blessed by brother Nelson and sister Karen's loving, caring, mentoring, giving and supporting."

"We will keep this year's Christmas card with his signature as a permanent remembrance for our dearly loved brother Nelson." 

"May the Lord's peace and comfort be with sister Karen and Eric.

We had the pleasure of leading a couples' group in our home that met once a month for 5 years. Nelson and Karen were part of that group. What we appreciated most was Nelson's willingness to be pushed beyond his comfort zone to be true to what Scripture taught and for the love of his wife and son.  Nelson did not only want to learn and grow, he also wanted to share what he learned with others. It was very heartwarming for us when Nelson and Karen decided to lead a young couples' group using the materials we used in our group when we first started. He was indeed a true model of someone who desired so deeply to become more and more like Jesus everyday. We will miss him a lot!

Being a fellow American Born Chinese (ABC) at the Chinese Christian Church of Baltimore (CCCB), Nelson was like a big brother I never had. He was affectionately known by many as 'Uncle Nelson'. But I will always fondly remember him by his other nickname, 'The oldest ABC at CCCB.' :)

I will miss my dear older brother, his gentle voice and his heart warming smile.

I first met Uncle Nelson 16 years ago. I remembered that during one of the young adults retreat at Shenandoah Valley, I saw a side of Nelson that I never knew before and that was that he could be really funny. Despite being tired after the long drive, we have a great time laughing, thanks to Nelson. I am going to miss him. He lent a stable presence to the English ministry, and that will be hard to replace.

Uncle Nelson always offered so much insight and joy in our Sunday school classrooms. I loved Sunday school so much more when ever he attended. He was funny, and wise, we were blessed to have him as a part of our church. He will be missed but we will see him again very soon. Life is only but a fraction of a second on the chart of eternity.

The first time I met Uncle Nelson was back in the late summer of 2012. I came to CCCB's 40th anniversary church service that Sunday and they had a special lunch afterwards. I was trying to pour tea and I wasn't holding the cup because I had some other stuff in my hands. Nelson held the cup for me. Of course, I thanked him for it. Months later he and his wife invited me for lunch after service. He will be truly missed. Aunt Karen was very lucky to marry such a considerate man. Now that he's gone, words just can't describe how I feel about his death. R.I.P. Brother Wong. :*(