Update from the Matthew 25 Task Force

Matthew 25 Task Force Update

Matthew 25 is taking root in the life and ethos of the English Worshipping Community. Across our ministries, it is becoming part of the driving force and the theological grounding for how we serve. In recent months, the Task Force brought three voices from the community into our midst.

May 17 – Annette Wong, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA)At Teatime, CAA’s Managing Director of Programs shared how her team equips marginalized and limited-English-proficient Chinese immigrants to become civic leaders while also meeting their everyday needs. A 15-year veteran of the immigrant rights movement, Annette works on language access, economic justice, and immigrant voting. The connection continued: PCC members attended CAA’s annual gala at Yank Sing, Rincon Annex, and were invited to CAA’s dedication of a plaque honoring Wong Kim Ark.

August 9 – Fanny Lam, APA Family Support Services (APAFSS)Fanny, APAFSS’s Executive Director, described how she pairs private-sector rigor with community leadership to deliver culturally responsive care for under-resourced San Francisco families. She tied her agency’s work directly to all three areas of our Matthew 25 commitment. It was also a homecoming, because Fanny was part of the EWC family in her early years in the Bay Area, before moving to Rohnert Park.

September 27 – Supervisor Danny SauterSan Francisco County Supervisor Sauter met with the EWC to talk about Chinatown’s needs today, the challenges ahead, and how churches and residents can partner with his office. Members kept the questions coming for the full hour, covering housing development, neighborhood tree planting, and the struggles of small businesses from Covid to the present. After consulting with the English Commission, the Task Force extended the invitation to the Chinese Congregational Church and the First Chinese Baptist Church. About four members of First Chinese Baptist attended, including Pastor Sebastian Ong.

As Autumn, Thanksgiving and Christmas approach--the programs, activities and projects related to this season will supersede regular year scheduling. So it seems appropriate for the Task Force to step back and assess the next steps forward.

The Rev. Gregory L. Chan, MBA

陳成葉牧師

Parish Associate

Presbyterian Church in Chinatown

925 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108

chanlimclan@sbcglobal.net | (510) 590-0265 cell