HONOLULU, Hawaii (ABP) – Former executive director of the Hawaii Baptist Convention Dan Kong died March 14. He was 76.
Kong, the first local-born resident to be pastor of a Southern Baptist congregation in Hawaii, was executive director of the Hawaii Baptist Convention and also president of Hawaii Baptist Academy during his long ministry. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Wahiawa, Olivet Baptist Church and Central Baptist Church, both in Honolulu.
In 1965, Kong helped establish an outreach fellowship ministry that became Ilikai Protestant Church, which now offers non-denominational Sunday services to thousands of visitors annually.
“He had the unique ability to communicate the gospel because he walked the talk and lived the life,” said Sharon Hagio, a longtime Hawaii Baptist Academy development office staff member. “He was truly an ambassador of Christ.”
Kong, who later served as president of the academy, played a major role in the building of the facility in Nu'uanu, according to Hagio.
He received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., and master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.
Kong is survived by his wife, Mary Eleanor; daughters Danette Poole, Verdine, Edna and Betty-Jo DeFries; sister Eileen Kong Lovelace; and three grandchildren.