On March 23, 2022, Canon James Wong sat down with his wife, Esther, for what would be his last recorded interview, with a video team from Salt&Light and the Thirst Collective.

Despite his physical difficulties caused by a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, Canon Wong insisted on going to the Church of the Good Shepherd – the church where he had been named the first Singaporean pastor in the 1970s, and which is today pastored by his son, Rev Jonathan Wong.

“The day before he was admitted to hospital, he made much effort to get to Church of the Good Shepherd to do a recorded interview for Salt&Light. This is classic Dad. As he said many times, he will never retire from ministry,” his other son, Timothy, wrote on Facebook.

At the recording on March 23, Canon Wong spoke about revivals past, and his heart to see revival in Singapore among the next generation.

He closed the recording with this prayer. True to his nature and his decades of ministry, his last recorded prayer would be for youths to encounter the Holy Spirit.

This was what Canon James Wong prayed:

Yes, Lord.

We thank you for the generations that passed. You brought us this far.

Lord, we look to you for wisdom and determination to press on for the next generation – young people and youth. Lord, they are the future of the Church.

I pray that You will empower each one with the gift of the Holy Spirit, in order to understand and discern the ways of the Lord.

Thank you, Jesus.

In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

A day later, Canon James Wong would be admitted to hospital. He was called home to the Lord on April 8, 2022, at the age of 82.

REMEMBERING CANON DR JAMES WONG:

Canon James Wong, who shook church and marketplace by the power of the Holy Spirit, called home to the Lord

Canon James Wong, who shook church and marketplace by the power of the Holy Spirit, called home to the Lord

Canon James Wong, who shook church and marketplace by the power of the Holy Spirit, called home to the Lord