Paul Hang Hoh-Gi was born on May 3, 1901 in Xianyou County in Fujian, China, into a religious Methodist family. His mother was a “Bible-reader”, someone who visited the homes of people who were less educated and read them the Bible in the Hinghwa dialect. Paul would often accompany her on these visits which led to a love for God’s Word and a heart for those who needed to hear the Good News. A sense of independence was also instilled in the young Paul who did not receive formal education until he entered Guthrie Memorial High School.^[1]

His commitment to enter full-time ministry was cemented in adolescence. One day, when praying for guidance for his future, he asked God: “If it is thy will that I should become a minister, I pray thee to reveal thy will through the words of Scripture.” Upon opening his eyes, he flipped open his Bible which landed on chapter nine of the Book of Acts, the account of Paul’s conversion. He then decided to change his name from Hang Hoh-Gi to Hang Sing-Ho to commemorate this momentous occasion.^[2]

Paul went on to further his education at the Nanking Theological Seminary, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology in 1927. Upon completing his studies, Dr George Hollister (Paul’s godfather), received a letter from the Hinghwa Methodist Church in Singapore ( which had been established in 1911) stating that they required a pastor to serve them after all their previous pastors had resigned or passed away. Thus, later that year, Dr Hollister sent the newly ordained Rev Hang to serve in Singapore. Hang would serve faithfully in that role until his last days.^[3]

Upon his arrival in Singapore, Hang took charge of the Hinghwa Methodist Church which met at a shophouse at 27, Sam Leong Road near Kitchener Road,^[4] preaching in the Hinghwa dialect and Mandarin. The church underwent remarkable growth in the 1930s through Gospel outreach programmes, evangelism, revival meetings, and rallies, including one at which the evangelist Dr John Sung spoke. Hang’s vigorous outreach programmes earned him the title of “bicycle pastor”.^[5] He met his wife-to-be Ng So Ging during this period.

Hang remained active in ministry throughout World War II and the Japanese occupation of Singapore. He provided crucial support to the local Hinghwa Methodist community and encouraged them to remain steadfast in their faith despite Japanese persecution of the Chinese and Christian communities. Throughout the war years, he held the position of secretary of the Chinese Christian and Education Board where he advocated for Chinese and Christian teachings to ensure that once the Japanese were defeated, cultural and religious legacies would remain rooted in the minds of the young.^[6]

In 1946, after the war ended, Hang was elected secretary of the Chinese Mission Conference which was part of the General Conference of The Methodist Church of Malaya, designed to consolidate efforts for the propagation of the Gospel message throughout the region.^[7] Two years later, he was among the first Asian ministerial delegates to the General Conference of the Methodist Church held in Boston, USA. Hang, along with lay delegate Homer Chang, served in the conference which took place in April.^[8]

In his capacity as chairman of the Singapore Chinese Christian Church Unit, a position that he was elected to in 1947, Hang trained pastors and future missionaries for the growing work of the churches throughout Malaya and Borneo.^[9] His leadership was instrumental in creating capable leaders, especially since the Methodist Church in Asia was moving towards autonomy in the 1950s. He became district superintendent of the Malaysia-Chinese Annual Conference from 1954 to 1959. In this role, he oversaw the growth of the Methodist Church in Singapore, personally raising funds for the expansion of mission work and overseeing the establishment of some houses of worship, such as the Cantonese Methodist Church on Queen Street.^[10]

At his 60th birthday celebration in 1960, when asked if he would continue his service, he replied that he would “carry on the work of God to the end of my days on Earth.”^[11]Indeed, even after he retired in 1963, he continued to serve as Conference evangelist and preacher, travelling across the peninsula, Singapore, and the island of Borneo as his health began to fail him.^[12]

Hang passed away on July 9, 1972 from cancer and was survived by his wife and their 12 children.^[13] While many of them would enter various academic or vocational fields, eventually settling in the US and other parts of the world, one of his sons – Rev Paul K. H. Hang Jr – followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the ministry.