I was the one who would follow my dad around whether he was preaching, whether he was meeting people, or just travelling.

I knew he was well-respected. But, to me, he was the same man who postponed meetings just so he could send me to school. The one who would buy me make-up from Korea and dance in the kitchen while I was washing dishes.

He was so intentional in the way that he loved the three of us. He never left any of us out, choosing to invest in me, my mum and my sister, all in different ways.

Ashley, Kim and Olivia listening to Hudson Kim, part of the Leadership Circle at YWAM, speak about Joseph at the wake.

Someone once said that he was the only man who had 48 hours in a day. And I completely agree because he always had enough time to take care of himself and go for really, really, really long swims. And he’d meet everyone in the whole world, as well as take time to really spend intentionally with his family, to sit down for dinners and to really stay close to us.

I have always known that my dad was famous. And I used to brag that he was the only man I knew personally that I could Google and the face that comes up is actually his face.

This also meant that we had to share our dad from a very, very young age. First within Singapore, then Asia Pacific and Africa. Despite having to share our dad, Olivia and I have never felt neglected because of how intentionally he loved us, how deeply and specially he treated each of us.

You’ve heard about how he cared for Olivia. But let me share my side.

My dad has always made time for me. In the weeks leading up to his death, I spent over 14 hours a day with him, whether it be eating breakfast and discussing the year ahead, getting scolded for watching YouTube in the office instead of studying, or at family dinners together. Whether I asked for it or not, he was there to console me and to guide me. He taught me to be confident in everything that I did, to trust and value my own opinion.

Even from the age of five, he included us in dinner table conversations. Our suggestions and opinions were never diminished because we were young. We were told that from young we had our own opinions and that should be valued and cherished. I believed this and this helped me so much in building my confidence to where I am today.

Being the younger sibling, I was always the mischievous one, I would get into trouble in school, get into trouble at home. You name it, I have probably done it. But my dad would always repeat the line: “No matter what you do, I will always love you.”

“He knew me best, better than I did. And I always relied on him through difficult and major decisions,” said Ashley.

My father reflected our Lord’s unconditional love for me the best that he could even in times when I definitely didn’t deserve to be forgiven. He prioritised our family over his work, showing us what it means to be intentional and loving in all that he did.

My personality is very similar to his. We are both sharp, direct and empathetic. I share my dad’s intensity and ambition, both of us constantly dreaming up ideas together.

He knew me best, better than I did. And I always relied on him through difficult and major decisions.

When he died, I felt the loss very acutely. This was the one man who knew me better than I know myself. The one whose opinion I completely trusted to make decisions even though sometimes I felt otherwise.

I lost all sense of direction when he was gone and I felt absolutely hopeless.

All my life thus far had been decided by my father – what school I go into, what I’m doing tomorrow. Everything was just all him. I had trusted him immensely.

He didn’t care that he was the YWAM Director when he came home. All he cared about was to be a good dad to the both of us. Growing up, we didn’t know him as the YWAM Director but as the father who had loved us so intensely, and was willing to goof around and do silly things with us.

When he left, I didn’t know what to do with my future or my gifting.

On Saturday evening, my sister and I were sharing about our revelations from God. And she brought up 1 Chronicles 28 when David passed on the blueprints of the tabernacle to Solomon. David wasn’t the one that was called to build the tabernacle but truly it was Solomon whom he passed it on to.

Similarly, Moses was not the one tasked to bring Israel into the Chosen Land. It was Joshua.

Joshua 1:9 reads: “Have I not commanded thee, be strong and of a good courage? Be not afraid. Neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.”

Joshua 1:9 was written in times of grief and loss – the loss of a great leader, Moses.

Even as we grieve over my dad’s death, we remember the plans that he has left for us.

During his Masters programme, he wrote a 70-page thesis titled Decade of Missions: Many Streams, One Direction. It detailed the plan for Singapore over the next 10 years in mobilising the Church to go forth into the nations and reach the marginalised and broken even among us.

Hudson remembering Joseph.

Those who attended the Antioch 21 conference will remember his pyramid of faith goals for the Antioch of Asia to send 1,000 missionaries and raise S$10 million for missions in Singapore.

 I know my dad didn’t care about the numbers. But I knew that he really, really wanted to reach this goal.

We haven’t even reached the one-year mark of Antioch 21. But we have seen how God has moved so profoundly and incredibly. 

Of course, my dad’s excitement for mission is contagious. We all left his sermons feeling inspired and encouraged to know how missions in Singapore is moving forward.

He didn’t just preach the vision from the podium. He encouraged Olivia and I to be missional in all that we did.

My dad encouraged us both to start prayer groups in our tertiary schools and he taught us that being a missionary doesn’t have to be remote and far removed, that being a missionary starts where you are now, that where God has placed you is truly your mission field.

The question is: Now that he is gone, how hungry are you? How willing are you to give up the comfortable to pursue God wholly and fully?

We all enjoy hearing stories of God’s work in the nations. But are you satisfied with just listening?

My dad had never judged anyone, But rather he helped us all to mobilise our giftings and skills for the mission field. He encouraged us to reject being passive, just sitting there, but for all of us to go forth and to bless others to the best of our abilities and in whatever capacity that we have.

He was radical and challenged us to go beyond what was comfortable, what we knew. Dad saw the vision for Singapore as a missionary sending nation.

If I were to have one more conversation with my dad, I wouldn’t say anything because there’s nothing more that I want to know.

My dad’s life is full and it is completed.

Moses’ time is over; it is time for the Joshuas to rise up. Will you rise up and take this call into the nations that my dad had pursued so intensely? His time may be up but ours is just beginning. What are you going to do?

He’s fulfilled the Commission that our Lord has given him and I am nothing but grateful to have known him so intimately these 18 years.

This is an excerpt of Ashley’s eulogy for her dad, Joseph Chean, at his wake on Wednesday, November 22. 

Details of Thursday’s funeral service are as follows:

Funeral service
12.30 to 2.30pm, Thursday, November 23
Glory Sanctuary, St John’s-St Margaret’s Church
30 Dover Avenue, Singapore 139790 

The cremation service that follows will be for family only.

Click here for the live-stream videos of the services.

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