VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/7/11)—Rev. Marie Ho-Lam, retired pastor of Chinese Christian Church of Queens, N.Y., died June 27, 2011, in Flushing, Queens. She had served the church for more than two decades before retiring five years ago. She was actively involved in American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) of Metro New York, Asian Ministries of American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), and the Asian-American Baptist Caucus of ABCUSA.
Ho-Lam and her husband, the Rev. Henry Lam, immigrated to New York in 1976, when their four sons were young. They had served Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 1968-1975. The church remains a mission partner of American Baptist International Ministries.
Upon arrival in the United States, Ho-Lam served at Chinese Missionary Baptist Church, Chinatown, N.Y., where she was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1988. When her husband became ill, she assumed leadership of Chinese Christian Church of Queens.
A gifted leader, Ho-Lam was recognized and respected among peers. In addition to her roles as preacher, teacher and pianist, she was a founding member of both the Chinese co-worker council of the metro New York area and a choral society in Chinatown. She was well known among evangelical circles on the East Coast and in Toronto, Canada, where her brother had served as lead pastor of a Chinese church. She was a mentor to many Chinese Christians, paving the way for a number of Chinese female pastors to seek ordained ministry.
She was predeceased by her husband and brother but survived by sons, Daniel, William, Stephen and Benjamin; five grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
The wake will be held 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2011, at Central Funeral Home, 136-25 41st Ave., Flushing, N.Y., 11355. For directions, phone the funeral home at 718-353-2424.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at First Chinese Presbyterian Church, 61 Henry St., New York, N.Y., 10002.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that condolences benefit Evangelical Seminary, Kowloon, and Chinese Christian Church of Queens. Checks should be made payable to and mailed to Chinese Christian Church of Queens, 6316 39th Ave., Woodside, N.Y., 11377.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.