Reverend Jack Kinghai Chow, servant of God, went home to his heavenly reward on January 30, 2021, at the age of 89. His greatest desire was to do God’s will, and he served his Lord faithfully to the very end.
Jack was born in Nanjing, China in 1931, in the year of the sheep according to the Chinese lunar calendar. He had a rather unhappy and very difficult childhood. His mother died when he was only three years old, leaving him in the care of his grandmother until his father returned from serving in the army a few years later. He then remained with his father in meager living conditions until the end of fifth grade, when his father could no longer afford school fees and put him to work to support himself. Jack was distraught at the thought of missing his opportunity for education. He found a job as a bellhop at a hotel, using any leftover earnings to buy books, and thus began his journey of self-education. He continued working and educating himself, and later learned English from an American journalist staying at the hotel. His fervent study of English led to skilled proficiency in the language and eventually became the key to open the door to more ambitious career opportunities.
In 1949, Jack left Shanghai on an emergency evacuation ship headed for Canton. As the ship left port, he could hear the exchange of gunfire between Nationalist and Communist forces who were fighting over the city, which fell to the Communist Party of China a few days later. On the ship, Jack prayed, “Dear Lord, if you help me find a job in Canton, I will treat you as my God all the rest of my life.” God answered that prayer, and Jack also kept his end of the bargain.
Jack’s talent was quickly recognized, and he subsequently worked in ten different positions from 1949 to 1985, when he retired from secular work. Among these positions were prominent posts such as General Manager of China Post in Taipei (1960-1962), Chief Reporter/Columnist for Hong Kong Standard (1962-1964), Washington Bureau Chief & United Nations Correspondent for Taiwan’s China Times (1969-1975), President of China Times in Taiwan (1971-1972), and News Editor & Broadcaster for Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C. (1977-1985). Jack considered his time as U.N. Correspondent to be one of the highlights of his career. In 1980, he became a U.S. citizen, and he was always proud of his right to vote. Even in the most recent 2020 election, he planned his move to Maryland to take place after Election Day in order to be sure to cast his vote in Texas.
Jack met Nancy in 1950, and as the story goes, he wooed her by visiting and bringing flowers when she was home recuperating from a broken arm. They were married on December 26, 1952, and she became his faithful companion of sixty-eight years. Over the years, their family grew to include seven children, seventeen grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Jack and Nancy loved each other very much, and together they served the Lord, prayed much, and even received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the same night in 1965.
In 1969, Jack’s work led the family to immigrate to the United States. They settled in College Park, MD and remained in the U.S. In the ensuing years, Jack was able to establish ties with the Ridgewood Fellowship and Pilgrim Camp, ministries from which he received valuable spiritual teaching. In 1980, he founded the Chinese Christian Church of Maryland (CCCMD). The fledgling church struggled at first, but soon grew as Jack was reminded to “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (one of his favorite hymns). In 1985, he left his last secular job at Voice of America and answered God’s call to full-time ministry, never looking back, and all the while trusting God to provide for the needs of his family. Jack loved and served the people of CCCMD with his whole heart.
In 1991, an unexpected invitation to speak at a conference in Taiwan signaled the start of a new era of international travel, and Jack faithfully obeyed God as he traveled to Taiwan, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and to China. His ministry touched people all over the world, and his work later came to have a special focus on training church leadership. His travels increasingly took him away from CCCMD, and he retired from that pastorate in 1999.
Jack and Nancy then moved to Texas, where he founded Jesus Ministries International (JMI). With the help of the JMI team, Jack was able to continue a thriving ministry which included the publication of thirteen books, travel abroad, conferences at Pilgrim Camp (Brant Lake, NY) and in Dallas, TX, and online teaching for pastors and church leaders. Jack had always kept up with technological advances through the years, and he was one of the first to utilize Zoom conferencing to speak to large numbers of people. At the time of his passing, there were more than two-thousand students in his e-school. He is especially remembered for his teaching on the topics of waiting on God and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
In November 2020, Jack and Nancy moved back to Maryland to live with their daughter Esther. He was there for two short months before his passing. Six days later, on February 5, 2021, he was joined by his beloved wife Nancy, and they are now rejoicing together in heaven with their precious Lord. Jack and Nancy will be lovingly remembered by their children David (Li Ping), Ruth, John (Molan), Mary (Wayne), Esther (Trevor), Susanna (Peter), and Martha (William). Jack and Nancy will also be fondly remembered by their grandchildren Alex, Jessica (Zac), Alvin, Justin, Samantha, Tessa (Jessie), Corrin, Timon, Bethany, Christa, Isabelle, Christopher, Caitlin, Lisette, Andreas, Mariana, and Nicolas and by their new great-grandson, Nathan.
Wherever he went, Jack always wanted people to see and know Jesus, and he would often lead his congregation to sing this song:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
--Helen H. Lemmel
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2
Please note that the JMI Jack Kinghai Chow Memorial Fund has been established, which will serve the purpose of continuing Jack's ministerial vision and will include endeavors such as further publication and distribution of his books and sermons, support of ministers, and support of the work at Pilgrim Camp. In lieu of flowers or gifts, feel free to make a donation and send to the following address: JMI Ministries, 2504 Dalgreen Drive, Plano, TX 75075 USA. Please make checks payable to JMI Ministries and note the designation for the memorial fund.
Mrs. Nancy Sun Chow (a.k.a. 孫南星 Sun Nanxing) went home to be with her beloved Savior Jesus, on February 5 2021, at the age of 91. She had looked forward, also, to being reunited in heaven with her dear husband of 68 years, Rev. Jack Kinghai Chow. They loved each other so much and now are together once again.
Mrs. Nancy Sun Chow was born on June 3, 1929 in China. She was born into a family of five – a brother, one sister, mother, father. Nancy’s father, Sun Yi, was a playwright and her mother, Lan Fuqing, was a famous actress, known for her leading roles on stage as well as in silent motion pictures. Her father Sun Yi is said to have contributed to the national anthem of China.
Nancy herself was also artistically inclined, having studied classical ballet and classical voice growing up. And as a young woman, she would read poetry while being broadcasted live on the radio.
Nancy’s biological parents were separated by the 1930’s civil war in China, and her mother later remarried to Dr. Shen Tinghsin, a medical doctor.
Nancy Sun Chow was a most beloved mother and wife and intercessor, having devoted her entire life to raising her seven children and caring for her husband. She worked tirelessly alongside her husband in his ministry and was his greatest prayer partner and supporter.
As a mother, Nancy was much admired and respected by her children. She was always there with a kind word, and wise counsel.
Nancy was a most beautiful, elegant, and gracious woman. She was naturally radiant from the inside out, and there was always a real and tangible glow on her face when she woke up in the mornings. Nancy never wore make-up and yet had the skin that so many women would have loved to have. And which made her look years younger than she was. Even in her latter years, she had very few wrinkles on her face.
Nancy’s selfless sacrifices throughout the years, and her prayers, were largely responsible for the success and happiness of her adult children and her grandchildren. Nancy was the mainstay of the Chow family - a woman of few words but much prayer. Prayer was the secret of her strength, patience, and perseverance in raising seven children. Nancy was so genuine, and her care and love for all of her children - as well as others - was so genuine.
Nancy Sun Chow was the most supportive wife that a man could have asked for. After her children had grown up and had left the nest to start their own lives, Nancy devoted all of her time and energy to her husband, and to prayer both with her husband and on behalf of her adult children and grandchildren. It was due to Nancy’s great care that her husband Rev. Jack Chow remained extremely healthy into his latter years, as she had paid a great deal of attention to his diet. In the early years of ministry, knowing that there might be some tough times ahead, Nancy unequivocally let her husband know that she was fully committed and would never walk away even if times were to get tough. Nancy never thought of herself.
Nancy Sun Chow was best friend and closest partner in ministry to her husband Rev. Jack Chow. In ministry, Nancy remained quiet, allowing her husband Jack to shine. Her humility and obedience to the Holy Spirit, made her a powerful intercessor. Her husband relied heavily on her to stand with him in prayer, for all aspects of ministry. Her husband, Jack, would often say “God always hears Mom’s prayers” (that is, Nancy). Once, while Jack was speaking at a seminar in Asia, the electrical power suddenly went out. At that same moment, Nancy, back in her hotel room because she was not well enough to attend the meeting, prayed out suddenly in the Holy Spirit, and the power was immediately restored at the seminar venue. What an amazing woman she was.
Nancy Sun Chow had tremendous influence on the lives of others, whether she knew it or not. A choice word here and there, and the example which she exhibited in her own life. Many have said they have learned so much from her, especially young wives and mothers. Some which we list here:
Always think about other first
Be still in difficult situations
Praise God when in suffering
Be content in Jesus
Do not waste
Unlearn what you think you know and be humble
Love God and love your spouse
Always encourage others
Mrs. Nancy Sun Chow is survived by her seven children – David, Ruth, John, Mary, Esther, Susanna, Martha - 17 grandchildren, one great grandchild, and one brother Robert Lan, all of whom will miss her greatly.
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