LIFE’S JOURNEY

Rev. Dr. Jachin Yin Man Chan was born in Chungshan County, Guangdong province, China, on July 27th, 1932. He was the eldest among seven brothers and sisters. Since his father, Mr. Chan Kwok Yin, passed away when he was a young man, he bore the responsibility of being a father to his family. He fulfilled his filial duties by doing all he could to take care of his mother and siblings. When his mother passed away on November 9th, 1993, Rev. Dr. Chan planned his mother’s funeral with patience and strength.

While Rev. Dr. Chan was in school, he dedicated his life to serve the Lord during Rev. Andrew Gih’s invitation to accept Jesus as his personal savior.

Rev. Dr. Chan was always a diligent student. In 1955, he received his Bachelor of Theology Degree from Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1957, he received his diploma in English from Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. Thereafter, he went to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and in 1958 and 1960, he received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree and his Master of Theology Degree respectively. From 1960 to 1961, he continued his graduate studies in English at the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1967, he received his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Linguistics and English from Louisiana State University. 

After he was ordained as a minister at the First Baptist Church, New Orleans (1958), he was pastor of the Chinese Chapel, First Baptist Church, in Memphis, Tennessee and the Chinese Baptist Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. He also started several missions in the Mississippi Delta. He then met Miss Lela Dong and they were married in 1963. The Lord blessed them with a son and a daughter. In 1964, he was an Assistant Professor of English at Mobile College, Alabama. Between 1966 and 1969, he taught at Ouachita Baptist University, Arkansas, as full Professor of English.

Wah Kiu Yat Po – 1957 news article on Jachin being sent to USA for further education by Baptist College

Ambassador Life – 1963 article on Jachin's new job in USA

Rev. Dr. Jachim Chan with his wife Mrs Lela Chan and young family (ca. 1974) 

In 1969, he returned to Hong Kong with his family and became Senior Lecturer of English at Hong Kong Baptist College.

Between 1971 and 1980, he served as Vice President of Hong Kong Baptist College. During his tenure, he took on additional roles as Head of the English Department (1969-1979), Executive Director of the Academic Community Hall (1979-1980), and the Director of the Chinese Language Center (1976-1984). In 1985, he founded the Hong Kong Christian Institute of Business, formerly the Hong Kong Bible Language Center, and taught intensive Cantonese classes to non Cantonese speakers. He advocated a new pedagogical approach towards learning Cantonese which was highly effective. He continued his role as an educator and was loved by many. His students respected him and more and more students wanted to study Cantonese with him.  

Rev. Dr. Chan was fervent in his desire to establish and pastor churches on a voluntary basis. During his twenty three years in Hong Kong, he was interim and advisory pastor to numerous Baptist churches throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. These churches include: Aberdeen Baptist Church, Mongkok Baptist Church, Immanuel Baptist Church, Aplichau Baptist Church, Yuen Long Baptist Church, Shamshuipo Baptist Church, Causeway Bay Baptist Church, Shaukiwan Mandarin Baptist Church, Kowloon Mandarin Baptist Church, Fanling Baptist Church, and Jordan Road Baptist Church, among others. Additionally, he worked relentlessly to assist Academic Community Church and Immanuel Baptist Church in constructing their new church buildings.

All his life, Rev. Dr. Chan served the Lord with joy.  He was tireless in his efforts to bring reconciliation and peace among fellow believers. He was the President and Acting General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong (1986-1991). At the time of his passing, Rev. Dr. Chan was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Children's Choir, member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Higher and Secondary Education Boards, and a member of the Seminary, Evangelism, and Social Welfare Board. He was also the Acting President of the Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary.  

Further, he was a member of the College Council and Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Baptist College, Council member of Hong Kong Pui Ching and Aberdeen Lui Ming Choi Middle School, and Supervisor of Macau Pui Ching Middle School.