Kuok Ding Lau

Rev Kuok-Ding Lau was called to be with his Lord and Savior on 9 Dec 2020. He is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Lilyc Bee-Jin Lau (Lee). He was the oldest of 6 children. He was born in a 24 acre village outside of Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Ding is predeceased by his parents, Rev Peter Hung-Ang Lau and Mdm Chien Ming Hee. His brothers and sisters are Kuok Kang (predeceased), Kuok Ing (predeceased), Kuok Chee, Kuok Seek, and Kuok Siew (predeceased). When Ding was 8 years old, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior when a world famous evangelist from China was speaking in Sibu. World War II disrupted Ding's education opportunities as a young man. As a result, his parents decided to change his birth year to the current 1931 so that he could continue with his education, despite his age. Ding and Lilyc have 3 sons, Abel (Emily), Zebedee (Scott) and Olin (Nicole). They also have 11 grand/step-grandchildren. In 1955, after studying at the Singapore Trinity Theological College, Ding received his diploma in Theology. He was ordained in 1957 in the Methodist Church. Soon after, Ding went to Sarawak for missionary work and there he met his wife, Lilyc. After getting married they moved to Nashville, TN, to study and Ding received his Bachelors in Education at the Peabody College for Teachers. They then moved to Toronto and Ding earned his Masters in Education at the Toronto University from 1962-64. Ding and Lilyc returned to Malaysia in 1964. Ding taught at the Methodist High School in Sibu for a few months before starting his teaching at Rajang Teachers College in Bintangor, Sarawak, and Batu Lintang Teachers College, in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. In 1971 Ding became the Superintendent of Schools in Kuching. Following that position, he became the President of Batu Lintang Teachers College. His next position following the College was the Finance Department Head for the state of Sarawak. In 1978, the Lau family emigrated to the United States of America and landed in Centertown, Kentucky. Ding was appointed the minister of Centertown United Methodist Church and Goshen United Methodist Church from 1978-1981. He also taught at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY, during that time. In the summer of 1981, the Laus move to Atlanta and Ding took over the Chinese Church in Atlanta. He helped it established as the Chinese United Methodist Church and was its only minister from 1981-1996. Ding also taught English as a Second Language (ESOL) at Cross Keys High School in Atlanta. After surviving a triple bypass heart attack in 1995, Ding fully retired in 1999. Ding and Lilyc traveled 3 times to China to help with mission work in 2007, 08, 09 after retiring. Ding and Lilyc have continued their mission work to bring many to know Jesus Christ. In Nov 2020, Lilyc and Ding celebrated their 60th Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Ding was an active member at Oak Grove United Methodist church and with the Mens group. Ding also attended InTown Community Church. Ding loved his Lord Jesus Christ and was faithful servant to Him. We rejoice in the fact that Ding is home now with his eternal Father and and enjoying life in eternity with Him.