New chairman for SALEM
Originally appears in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) newsletter. Subscribe to future updates from the CELC at celc.info/signup.
In the 1960s, WELS missionaries were sent to Hong Kong to assist local Chinese Christians. In 1977, a Lutheran church body named SALEM (South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission) was established.
In 1997, Rev. Titus Tse (pictured left) from Hong Kong was called and installed as the first chairman of SALEM. By God’s grace, under Rev. Tse’s leadership, the SALEM church body grew and matured into a stable, developing, and faithful community of believers.
After many years of faithful service, Rev. Tse has now entered a new chapter. Having “retired” from his pastoral ministry at the congregation in accordance with SALEM’s policies, he was immediately commissioned as a missionary to establish a Chinese Lutheran church under SALEM’s mission work in Auckland, New Zealand.
The mantle of leadership in Hong Kong has now been passed to another capable leader, for God always provides the right people at the right time. Rev. Alex Wong (pictured right) officially assumed the role of chairman of SALEM on January 1, 2025, with the installation ceremony taking place on March 2. He now steps into this new role with over a decade of pastoral experience and a shepherd’s heart.
When Rev. Tse assumed leadership in 1997, Hong Kong was undergoing historic transitions. Now, as Rev. Wong takes office, the city once again faces new challenges amid shifting times. Through these eras of change, God continues to expand his kingdom and raise up fitting leaders for each season. These pivotal moments create unique opportunities for his people, and we rejoice in his unfailing wisdom and grace.
Rev. Wong’s leadership is a gift to the church. By God’s power, SALEM is poised to embrace this new chapter, strengthen believers, and seek the lost. We praise God for all he has accomplished through his people in Hong Kong and pray that he grants Rev. Wong and all church leaders strength and wisdom equal to their calling.
Written by Missionary Tony Barthels, WELS’ liaison to SALEM
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What made this visit especially interesting was the report this group shared about a new mission effort in New Zealand. Since 2020, about two dozen members of SALEM moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand. With the help of SALEM, they formed a new mission congregation called SALEM New Zealand Lutheran Church. In the three years since, their group has grown to about 40 Chinese-speaking members. They joyfully described the blessings of their fellowship in this new land, and they were very excited to be sharing the gospel with other Chinese-speaking people there. SALEM will be continuing its support of SALEM New Zealand in the coming years.