Memorial trees planted for:

Rev. Timothy B. Luong

Pastor Timothy Luong’s Life Timothy was born July 5, 1931, in Hanoi, North Vietnam. On a train ride to the Buddhist temple, Timothy’s mother was introduced to Jesus. Then, she took Timothy to a church where the pastor dedicated him to the Lord. Timothy’s father initially opposed his wife’s faith but observed her becoming better and happier, and eventually he was changed by the Holy Spirit. He then sent 21-year-old Timothy to attend Bible seminary in Danang, Central Vietnam, not knowing it was a religious institution. During his second year at the seminary, Timothy met his wife Ruth, who was in her first year. They married in Hanoi in 1952 and returned to the seminary to complete their studies in 1953. They had their first-born child, John, in mid-1953. Then, in 1954, Timothy, Ruth, and 6-month-old John moved to Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon, South VietnamIn Saigon, Timothy and Ruth raised John and three daughters, Martha, Miriam, and Grace. For 21 years, Timothy served as pastor in three churches, ran a weekly open air evangelical ministry at the marketplaces, and visited wounded soldiers at military hospital. Before the fall of Saigon, Timothy was invited to minister to the Asian community in New Zealand. The family was granted visas to migrate but was not able to leave Vietnam during the war. When the fall came in April 1975, the family was evacuated to the United States before they head to Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland, New ZealandTimothy reached out to all Asians he came across, frequently visiting Chinese ship crews at Auckland harbor. He often invited crews to have meals with his family. In 1977, the New Zealand government welcomed Vietnamese refugees, and Timothy became a valuable interpreter for refugees and assisted their settlements. Soon, Timothy established the first Vietnamese church in Auckland, ministering to refugees. Timothy was gifted with the ability to speak five languages, which meant he could interpret many of his own church sermons. Bakersfield, CaliforniaIn 1980, Timothy was called to minister to the Asian community in Bakersfield, California, where lived and served the Lord faithfully to the Asian and American community until his very last sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. While his family was still in New Zealand, he would drive alone after Sunday morning service in Bakersfield just over three hours to Pomona to lead Chinese church service. In 1981, Ruth and Grace joined him in Bakersfield. In 1984, Martha joined the family in Bakersfield. Meanwhile, John and Miriam remained in New Zealand and Australia with their families. In his 45 years in Bakersfield, besides his church ministry, Timothy tirelessly reached out to many farmers and prison inmates around Kern County. His love for Jesus extended beyond his comfort. Even at 10 pm Monday nights, restaurant workers would come to his home for an hour of Bible study and worship. Since age 21, Timothy faithfully served his Lord and Master Jesus Christ. For 73 years, he never ceased carrying the burden of sharing his love of Jesus to anyone he came across in his life. He was grateful to be saved by God’s grace and wanted many people to also be saved. Timothy has left an amazing legacy as a faithful servant to the Lord, an evangelist to lost souls, a generous man to the poor and needy, a caring, devoted husband of 73 years to Ruth, a spiritual role model impacting the lives of four generations of family, with his one goal of living for Jesus until his last breath. FUNERAL SERVICES Tuesday, May 13, 2025Greenlawn Cemetery Southwest 2739 Panama Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93313 8:30 - 9:30 AM Viewing 9:45 - 11:00 AM Service 11:00 - 11:30 AM Committal

May 6, 2025

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Rev. Timothy B. Luong

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