Years later we met at Tyndale, then Ontario Bible College/Ontario Theological Seminary. His evident passion for outstanding theological education drove him to encourage Chinese students to not short suit themselves on preparation for vocational ministry as pastor or missionary and for laypeople to give themselves the best opportunity to learn of the Scriptures and deepen their walk with the Lord.

Recognizing this heart of training and leadership, it was my honor to award him an honorary doctorate, the first in my tenure as president. How deserving he was of this. His colleagues and friends, students and faculty celebrated this honor, one he carried with great distinction.

His ongoing leadership triggered building of churches and today we are blessed with some of the largest and most outstanding in the country. But he didn’t contain his vision and passion to Canada. Involved in the Lausanne movement in China, he gave stellar leadership to its activities and conferences.

To finish the circle, he gave leadership to the development of a Chinese seminary at Tyndale which, teaching in Mandarin, gave training to those migrating from China, whose tongue required their pastors and missionaries to have biblical and theological education in the language of their learning and knowledge. Today that seminary continues with strength.

Now in memorial, we celebrate a truly great Christian leader, one who successfully transferred from his home country to his adopted country. Countless thousands now know of the Lord because of his love to see people come to faith in the living Christ.

I’m grateful for the opportunity of knowing Dr John Kao and to have been the beneficiary of this lasting and all persevering drive to fulfill in his life, the call of Christian to make disciples of all people.

Brian C Stiller
President emeritus, Tyndale University College & Seminary
Global Ambassador, the World Evangelical Alliance
March 29, 2013