A Pastor’s Reflection: Seven Newly Affirmed Deacons

Praise and thanks be to the Lord! Today, with joyful hearts, we welcome the new year of 2026. As we bid farewell to the old year and step into a new journey, this fresh beginning invites us to reflect on new life plans and brings renewed direction and goals. Every year, on the first Sunday of the new year, our church observes Commissioning Sunday, during which we present new letters of appointment to brothers and sisters who serve in various ministries. We pray that the Lord will grant them grace and strength, and use them mightily in their service in God’s household.

Today, we give special thanks to God for the addition of seven newly affirmed deacons who are joining the church’s ministry team. They are all young, capable, and full of vigor, serving the Lord with simple and sincere hearts as they learn to minister to God and His people. They earnestly need your continual prayers of remembrance. Not only these seven new deacons, but all who serve in God’s house need your support through prayer, so that together we may walk faster, farther, and with greater strength.

Below are the self-introductions and prayer requests of these seven deacons.

1. Mark You (游雲),I am currently serving as the leader of the Paul Fellowship. I began attending Peace Evangelical Church in July 2017 and made the decision to follow Christ in September of the same year. My wife’s name is Jessica Zhou, and we have a son and a daughter—our son is in his third year of university, and our daughter is in Grade 12.
I thank the Lord for His mercy in granting me this precious salvation and for guiding me throughout my life, giving me such great grace to serve Him. I desire to humble myself even more and rely wholly on the Lord. Please pray for my son and daughter, that the Lord would move their hearts to repent and turn to Him soon.

2. Wilson Wang (王宝林),My wife is Pauline Wang (王擎), and she is in her sixth year at the Academy of Christ. Our son and daughter-in-law are in their fourth year there. Since 2022, Pauline and I have stopped working and have been serving full-time in mainland China. Over the past two years, the Lord has used us, together with our co-workers, to reach and select more than 80 people. Currently, almost all pastoral care is conducted online, including the Communion, Sunday worship, and seekers’ classes.
Thanks be to the Lord! Our family of four serves together with other brothers and sisters.
Prayer request: Please pray that the Lord would watch over and guard our hearts in ministry, that we may be people who are pleasing to Him.

3. Angus Leung (梁偉東),from Daniel fellowship. I have been a believer for 18 years and have deeply experienced the Lord’s gracious guidance along the way. I thank the Lord for providing and caring for my family; I currently live with my parents, my wife, and my children. I am serving in the church in the Evangelism Department, Sunday Care Ministry, and AV ministry. Through hospitality and caring service, I hope to share Christ’s love and spread the gospel.
By the Lord’s leading and grace, I will take on the new responsibility of serving as a deacon this year—a weighty task entrusted by the Lord that requires humility and dependence on Him. I sincerely ask for your prayers for my spiritual growth, that I may continually maintain a humble and reverent heart, rely on the Lord’s grace, and learn to serve faithfully.

4. Ronny Ho (何劍標),from Elisha fellowship. I have been a believer for 26 years. I am married and live with my mother. I currently work as a technical support specialist at a technology company. Although my workload is not heavy, there is still much for me to learn.
In terms of service, I thank God for the opportunity to participate in serving as a church deacon. I hope to be faithful in this role. Please pray for my ministry, my family, and my work—that God would grant me wisdom and ability, enable me to bear a good testimony at home and in the workplace, and allow me to continue serving humbly under His guidance.

5. Theresa Zhang (张毅梅),from Silas fellowship. I have been a believer for 14 years and am currently working at an accounting firm. I thank the Lord that over these 14 years, He has allowed me to better understand my true self and my sin. I am even more grateful that despite the many ways I have offended Him during my service, He is still willing to use me. May the Lord help me always remember His love and grace, so that I may humbly and obediently offer myself, become a good testimony, and lead my sister, my family in Taiwan, and those I encounter who do not yet believe to know my Lord and become children of God.

6. Tony Guo (郭海涛),from Silas fellowship. By God’s grace, I came to faith in 2013 and was baptized at PEC in 2014, being united with Christ. In my younger years, I never imagined I would encounter such a loving God, yet by His calling, I willingly serve Him. Thanks be to the Lord!
The year my mother passed away suddenly, I was plunged into shock and grief and began questioning the meaning on end of life. God opened my heart through His Word and helped me understand the value of the soul—that He gave His only Son, Jesus, for my salvation. The transformation from an atheist to a believer was like being born again.
I currently work as a software developer. By God’s grace, our family of three has all come to faith, and we enjoy harmony at home. I am not good at communication, but I find peace serving in the audio-visual ministry. I admire the gifts of my brothers and sisters—teaching the Word, comforting others, and proclaiming salvation. After coming to faith, I joined the Mandarin Fellowship committee and the seekers’ class ministry. Knowing my own limitations, I seek to read God’s Word more and draw near to Him, that my service may be pleasing to Him. May God grant me wisdom so that I may glorify Him and benefit others.
Prayer request: Please pray that the Lord would preserve the spiritual lives of our family, and that He would grant revival power to the church, raising up more young people who love the Lord to serve Him.

7. Grace Sun (孫加惠),I’ve been at PEC since 2005. In 2013, God opened my eyes to trust and turn back to Him and I was baptized. In years following, God blessed me to see His faithful love, merciful patience, and powerful grace. Outside church, I work as a pharmacist in Richmond. I serve as one of the Joshua fellowship leaders and we’re a young adult group of mostly university students, working, or unmarried. My heart in serving is to see others grow deeper in knowledge and love for God, to grow in unity of mind in Christ, and to grow in the bond of love for one another as those whom Christ loved and died for. Please pray for the work of the Spirit in our hearts as young adults in a stage of life filled with potential for God and facing many changes and choices, and for myself that God will sustain and encourage me in my walk with Him and my serving.