James Kit Meng Cheng

To Rachel and family, I am so sorry for the passing of your beloved James. What a pleasure it was to get to know James and his family as his nurse. I will never forget his wonderful smile, or his kind voice. He was a very brave man, and so very kind. Rachel, I pray that you know how loved you were by James, I knew it from the moment I met the two of you. What a loving and devoted wife you were to him. I pray that he is at peace, and I know that he will be watching over all of you. He will never be forgotten, and I will forever cherish the memories I have with him and the family in such a short time. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Dear James, and Rachel, even though you are no longer with us on this earth, you are with us in spirit, but the words I’m about to say are written on my heart.

I first met you, James and Rachel, when I came to Japan in 1988, on my way to Okinawa. Your hospitality and graciousness helped me to assimilate into a foreign culture where I would spend the next 3 1/2 years. Time and again, adjusting to life and a foreign country with its language and culture so vastly different than my own, you encouraged me on more than one occasion to look at the “big picture.”

Decades later, the big picture is still there. Your words of inspiration are recorded in my book that has now been translated into Japanese, to carry the legacy for generations to come. The words of encouragement you spoke to me, will be read by hundreds of thousands of Japanese and one day, when Jesus welcomes us all home, they’ll be an untold number of Japanese people there because of that gospel witness that you and Rachel, myself, Tony, Talo and Nori and the many others Who contributed to that witness.

To you, Rachel, your children, and grandchildren, you will all carry his legacy, which now lives in your hearts forever he is no longer suffering. The times when it’s really difficult, Jesus is there to minister to you and that is my prayer for you going forward.

Rachel - When we first met you, you are always with a cheerful smile in connecting with us. You have live out the covenant of in health and in sickness till death we part in the very difficult years with James. We have witnessed deep level of love and commitment throughout James’ ordeal. In all the different stages of his health state, you are always by his side. We have never hear you talk about your personal pain journey, instead it is always about James only.

James has fought a good fight on earth and you have been his pillar of strength and support. James is blessed by your immediate family in so many ways - David and Steven and they have done what they could do to make his movements around the house with ease. James is loved by those that have crossed paths with him, because both of you have been God-loving and compassionate.

Shauna, Michael and Kara - your spouses and spouse to be have brought him so much joy and comfort, knowing that all of you are so blessed with Peter, Keri and Joel. I am sure he must have expressed his joy in so many ways in the last years he got to see love in action by all of you.

Kit, you are such a blessing and joy to your ye ye and nai nai. Being able to hold you, play with you and watching you grow, Your Ye Ye is so blessed with you.

To James, who is in heaven with Jesus. You are a man of great integrity and your love for God and people, no matter who they are, you gave your best advice, best support and always being genuine with all who crossed your paths. Many lives were saved through your sharing of the gospel. Many Christians are blessed with your uplifting worshipful spirit. Many pastors whom you have interacted, always got a prayer of support from you.

Today, we celebrate your life that models after God’s heart. Thank you for leading and pointing us the way to live a God-fearing life without compromising values and faith in God.

Thank you and till we meet again, we pray that you will continue to be watching over your immediate family, praying for them and know God is in control.

Our sincere condolences to Peter and James’ family.

I remember James served in the school Christian fellowship at Tanglin Technical as a guitarist and singer. He also mentored the younger students. He had been faithful in serving the Lord and giving Him glory.

Please convey our heartfelt condolences to James’ family.

I met James the first time when he and his family visited my husband, Tony, and me in Florida. He was such a wonderful friend and mentor to my husband and I. He was always checking up on us and giving us advice. James will truly be missed.

James is My Angel, my Mentor,
My friend, always present, his light is expanding even more now! I am blessed, grateful and honored to have him in my life.
He is now celebrating with his love ones, on that other Astral world, his achievements, his learnings, enjoying on a maximun potential the presence of God, Pure Love, Light, Peace, Freedom,
I join you, and I will keep praying to God, for him, to reach, to follow his light, and keep increasing his potencial of love. In the name of Jesus, Amen 🙏

Uncle James never failed to brighten up the room with his smile and made all those around him feel warm. I'm glad we managed to spend quality time with him, Aunty Rachel, Shauna, Michael, and Kara across the years in Singapore and Canada.

He'll be dearly missed, we'll see you again in heaven!

(Here's a picture capturing his great smile when he made it down for our wedding in Singapore in 2017)

He finished his race,what joys he is experiencing right now.Rachel to you and your family I pray for the continuing peace of God to be with you all

Rachel and family; I have been thinking over the past few days what to say and I find myself searching for the right words to honour the life of someone who meant so much to me. James had a rare gift of making people feel encouraged and wanting to do better in life, turning ordinary moments into unforgeable memories, like the young man on the bus in Amsterdam. Whether it was our conversations or the way we always laughed together or the times we supported and encouraged each other he was a constant joy and Strength to me. Unwavering in his faith and trust in Jesus.

It’s hard to think he is no longer with us, but God needed him. So I take comfort in knowing your legacy of kindness, laughter, and love will never fade. He touched so many lives with his generous heart and I am grateful to every moment we shared.

Will miss you greatly James my dear friend. The memories of our time together will always warm my heart and put a smile on my face.
We will meet again and continue the adventures. Love you James!

I met uncle James for the first time at our wedding in June 2017. Although it was a short time, I remember him as a really warm and loving person. He brought a lightness and joy to spaces he occupied. I am thankful that I have met him and always appreciate that he took a long flight to Singapore to attend our wedding. We will miss you dearly Uncle James.

We will celebrate 40 years of bike team ministry in China in just a few weeks. I wish James could be with us at our reunion but I know the reunion and celebration he is now enjoying is beyond comparison! James was a strong component of my first pioneer team in 1984. At that time, he was the only one among us who spoke more Chinese than "Ni Hao". He had a great love for the people in the villages and that was a blessing and encouragement for all of us. The same kind of encourager he has been to so many around the world. My prayers are for Holy Spirit comfort for all the family and many memories of the wonderful life James lived.

James was a great friend and source of encouragement to me over the years. He always had a wise faith inspired word to share. He will be missed by so many of us. Our prayers are especially with Rachel, Shauna, Michael and Kara. We take comfort that this is not the end but part of the journey to a wonderful future with Christ.

To my dear friend and brother James

Today heaven is celebrating because it welcomes a great human being who will undoubtedly become an angel.

An angel who will always take care of us from heaven as you did on earth.

I thank God for the moments we shared together as a family and you know that we will always consider you part of it.

Today all the members of my family, my wife ZITA and my son MARCO TULIO, joined in prayer and embraced your heart from a distance. We are in a very large chain of prayer so that your soul rests in peace, my dear James.

My dad, my mom and my sisters were all very sad and we cried for your departure, but we kept all the good things we experienced.

Rachel, you were very lucky to find that man who truly loved you with all his soul.

To your children, grandson, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, we are always with you in prayer. We appreciate you and love you very much.

GOD BLESS YOU MY DEAR BROTHER JAMES

FRANCISCO ARAGON & FAMILY
(Tom Cruise from Mexico as you used to call me affectionately)

GOD welcome him as he deserves, with open arms.

AMEN.

We will always remember James for his serious and fun side.

When you spoke to him, he listened, he cared, he prayed. His love for God never failed.

He was also so funny, we shared many laughs.

Our deepest sympathies to Rachel, Shauna, Kara and Michael. He loved you all so much.

Love you all, Maurice and Hazel Pleau

Dear Rachel & family,

We are truly saddened to hear of the passing of James. Please know we are keeping you all in prayer and in our heartfelt thoughts!

Sincerely from
Andre & Lise Genereux & family!

I have known James Cheng for over 20 years, and during his many visits to Magna International, he always took the time to check in on me and inquire about my family. Despite being the President of Magna Canada, he treated everyone with warmth and humility. He even assisted us in selecting a name for my eldest daughter, Gabriel, who is now pursuing her PhD at NUS. Both my wife Catherine and I will deeply miss him. He was truly an extraordinary person with a genuinely caring heart. I take comfort in knowing that he is now in a better place. Rest in eternal peace, James. You will always hold a special place in our hearts.🙏
Regards
Vice President
Magna International Pte Ltd.

Dearest Aunty Rachel, Shauna, Michael, Kara and family,
we are so sorry for the loss of Uncle James.

Words cannot express the warmth, kindness and love felt from Uncle James in our brief moments together. I (Rachel) will forever remember the joy that emanated from him, even amidst his illness.

Revelation 21:4 says: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." While we are saddened to no longer have Uncle James physically with us, we are comforted by the knowledge that he is with our heavenly Father in Paradise.

May you take heart in God's sovereignty over all things, and His perfect plan for us.

All our love,
Rachel & Brian

My deepest sympathies. James was a key figure in mine and my husbands spiritual journey. He was so kind to our family. I appreciated working on signs for his business ventures with Magna. He will be missed.

James is well-loved by many who have crossed his path. His immense love for God was clearly demonstrated by his dedication to serve God in the mission field and as a Pastor for many years of his life. Since his early years in the ministry as YWAM-ER, he reached out to many unsaved souls, sharing the good news of salvation, praying for people, doing good deeds to others and discipling and caring for many that God had brought him to. Blessed with musical talent and a great voice, James was a great worshipper of our almighty God. He would play beautiful and worshipful songs to lead in the mission field and churches that he visited and worship with. James was exemplary of a loving husband, awesome dad and caring Yeh Yeh. A wise and God-fearing brother, he was a source of spiritual inspiration to me. He would send me aerogram mail to keep in touch and share how he experienced God’s power and presence as he served in the mission field. James would reach out to WhatsApp me and say “hey bro, how are you.?” and that led to deeper brotherly conversations and praying for each other over these years
I am very saddened to have lost a wonderful, wise , loving and God-loving brother. James will always be in my heart and many others too. But I thing I know for sure, James suffers no more as he is in the presence of the Lord.
Love you so much my brother James, You have left a spiritual legacy for us to emulate. Your impact on the many people that God sent your has been immensely felt. Our lives will never be the same without you. Till we meet again in eternity. Peter

Dear Shauna, Peter, Kara, Joel & Michael,
In this sorrowful time, sending thoughts of comfort & hope that you find strength to get through this difficult days ahead.
Your loss of a dear dad, dad-in-law, and I loss a dear brother.
Physically he is not with us but we know he is in the Glory Land with Jesus.
This morning we have our usual morning devotion in our office , Nelson asked us - Have you ever see James get angry? As far as I remember, he always had a sweet smiling face. I know is God’s grace, he had this beautiful nature. He had shared his missionary journeys with me in his young days and I knew James was a faithful son of God.
🙏🏽

Dear Shauna and family members, though James has gone ahead of us, he shall always be remembered for his wisdom, kindness, compassion in touching hearts and lives of many, leaving an impact and fond memories in their heart of this man of God.

My dearest brother James, we love you and will always cherish those memories we grew up together imprinted in our hearts. Surely we will miss your smile, words of wisdom, and your warm handshake.

Knowing that you are now in the presence of our Lord and Saviour, the Great Shepherd of our soul, we are comforted that you are now in a place of peace, joy, and rest. And we say, "To God Be The Glory!"

I am Pastor Rhoel Ortal of New Hope Laoag Philippines.. Lily, my wife and i, met Pastor James at the New Hope Japan Ohana Retreat in 2013. He and Pastor Talo actually came to fetch us at the airport.. in our first meeting, we already felt his love and concern to us as he asked us so many things about our Church, ministry and our family..

Since then, we emailed each other sharing updates of the Church, and our ministry.. He loves to hear how are we doing in the ministry.. He even called us through facetime just to check on us. He even sent us mission support for 4 years until he got sick.

We fervently prayed for God’s healing and keep on praying for his healing.. from
Time to time, we also
Msg him to check on him, until Uncle Ricky told us that Pastor James in now home with the Lord..

Pastor James will always be in our heart and he is always be a part of our ministry here in Philippines..

May God bless all of you his family.. our prayers are always with you..

Note: I am the one at right side of the picture..

Dear family of James,
James was sincere friend who always made us feel so loved. While we were in timmins he was so kind and supportive.
He was there with good advice and encouragement when our son jeffrey chose to leave our family.
James will be sorely missed.
The fox family

Dear Rachel and beloved family,
I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt sentiments about James. As your sister-in-law and aunt to Shauna, Michael, Kara, Peter, and Joel, I can say without a doubt that James was a truly gentle, sincere, and kind man. His passing is a profound loss not only for our family but also for the business community and society as a whole.
Every time we met, I cherished our conversations. James had a remarkable ability to listen with such sincerity, making each interaction special. His warmth and kindness will be deeply missed by all of us.
With love and sympathy,
Rosemary, Laura and Frederick

Dear Rachel and family,

Words cannot express our gratitude to James and your family. Thank you for the important role James and you played during my son’s growing up years. What we couldn’t do for him, you both did. Thank you for being such a great blessing in our lives. Our prayers are with you during this time. We look forward to the day when we will be reunited in the house of the Lord. Thank you both for everything.

Dear Family,
As we come together to remember and honour our beloved James, let us take solace in the profound impact he had on so many lives.
As we reflect on his legacy, let us take comfort in knowing that he completed his race with grace.
Knowing Jesus will say “Well done my good and faithful servant—“
Matthew 25:21 (NIV) “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’"

Dear Aunty Rachel, Shauna, Michael, and Kara,

I was heartbroken to hear about the passing of my dear Uncle James on September 21st. Although I’m here in Singapore and can’t be with you in person, please know that my heart is with all of you during this incredibly difficult time.

Uncle James was truly one of a kind. His deep faith, his love for family, and his dedication to serving others always left a lasting impression on me. Uncle James devoted his life to the ministry and his community, speaks volumes about the incredible man he was. I’ll always remember his warm smile and how, no matter the distance, he made me feel like family.

Aunty Rachel, I’m so sorry for your loss, and to my cousins Shauna, Michael, and Kara, my thoughts are with you. I hope you can find comfort in the memories you have of him and strength in knowing that he is now at peace. If there’s anything I can do, no matter how small, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sending all my love and deepest condolences,
Danker Alvin Nicholas & Family

I first met James when we were both in Hong Kong and joined a long bicycle ministry trip in the fall of 1984, I believe. I really enjoyed getting to know him and his heart for Jesus. He could be very serious and very fun, and if you knew him, you know what I mean. :)

Shortly after that trip, James was back in Singapore and I needed to go there for a week to renew my Hong Kong visa. I didn't have alot of money, but James - with a twinkle in his eye - told me not to worry. "I'll pay for all of your food, on one condition...you need to eat everything I give you." He then proceeded to take this American midwestern boy for whom ketchup was perhaps the spiciest food I knew at the time, and give me scorching, burning spicy food for every meal. James would laugh and laugh as my mouth got numb, and after three days I could barely talk. But by the end of the week, I was hooked - on spicy food. It was a cold turkey, hard core way to learn to love spicy food, but was also so typical of James, teaching you something new, and having fun doing it.

I will miss his smile, his laugh, and his passion to see people come to know Jesus and God glorified. Blessings to his family as they now wait to see him again later, may God comfort you at this time.

James was a very devoted friend to me and I send my deepest condolences to Rachel, Shauna and Michael and Kara. The many hours and times I shared with your family will forever be remembered. The family became a part of my family. It gives me peace to know you are in the arms of your Saviour whom you loved so deeply. Rest in peace my dear friend. You fought the good fight and now you have received your reward when Jesus said "Well done my good and faithful servant."