65 Years of Serving the Lord

     The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah introduce three leaders who led three different groups of people back to Jerusalem at three different periods, each undertaking a different aspect of the rebuilding work. Ezra 1–6 record the first group of returnees, led by Zerubbabel, who rebuilt the temple in 538 BC. Chapters 7–10 record the second group, led by Ezra, who rebuilt the people of God through the teaching of God’s Law in 458 BC. Nehemiah 1–7 record the third group, led by Nehemiah, who rebuilt the city of Jerusalem in 445 BC. These three returns span a period of roughly one hundred years. The work of returning and rebuilding was a long    process. God’s plans and works often do not happen in an instant; rather, they are gradually revealed and fulfilled throughout the long course of salvation history. When Joseph was in Egypt, he said to the descendants of Israel, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here” (Gen. 50:25). In Canaan, we read, “As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem” (Jos. 24:32). More than four hundred years passed between the carrying of Joseph’s bones out of Egypt and their burial in the land of Canaan. God’s work is not limited by time; God’s timing is not the same as human timing.

     OCM has now entered its sixty-fifth year since its founding. The first senior pastor and founding pastor was Rev. Torrey Shih (1961–1983); the second senior pastor was Rev. Jonathan Cheng (1983–1988); the third senior pastor was Rev. Peter Yang (1989–1991); the fourth senior pastor was Rev. Dean DeCastro (1991–1999); the fifth senior pastor was Rev. Isaiah Tingson (2004–2024); and the sixth and current senior pastor is Rev. Wing Lam (2025–present). Over these 65 years, there have been many other pastors, ministers, and elders who have quietly served the Lord here—faithfully providing spiritual nourishment at the proper time, building up the church, and serving as faithful servants of God. One of the fundamental    characteristics of a servant of God is that he or she is replaceable; only Christ is irreplaceable. Times change, God’s servants come and go, but His faithfulness endures forever.

     A church that has existed for 65 years has already seen two or three generations grow up within it, assuming that one generation spans roughly 20–25 years. Each generation that has experienced God’s grace and protection has been entrusted with the responsibility of bearing witness to Him in its own time, worshiping and serving the Lord throughout its life. May we, in our generation, see Christ in this church, see His body, and recognize the responsibility He has entrusted to us. May we remain faithful to Him, serve Him, and glorify Him all our lives.

His servant,

Wing Lam