Dear Brother Zucheng,

 

You left for a place

          Most tranquil and bright

Manhattan metropolis

          A colossal launch site

Flickering neon rays

          Set off your heavenward ride

Gravity of pain

          Finally lost its might

 

You left for good

          In a blink of an eye

Three score minus years

          Were like an hour gone by

Brevity may be your days

          Forever shines your light

Time ticks no more

          Where you now reside

 

You kept a heart of love

          For kindred of thine and mine

The first gospel camp

          Dawned at Fairview lakeside

Nine months of toil and sweat

          Bore fruits rich and ripe

A visionary campaign took off

          Since you helped to guide

 

You fought a war within

          Vicious cancers to smite

From high noon of your day

          To the depth of your night

Hope never quivers

          To live or to die

Dust to dust, thus says the Lord

          Disrobed spirit soars up high

 

You lived out your faith

          And walked not by sight

In giant’s footsteps you trekked

          In lamb’s heart beat you chimed

We shall meet again

          At the feast for the Bride

So long, my dear brother

          In Father’s bosom abide

 

Affectionately yours,

 

On the day after your passing into eternal glory

 

Notes added: Zucheng Gao (Nov.24. 1942-Sept.26, 1999) was the co-founder and the chairperson of the first mid-Atlantic united “Quest for Life” gospel camp in labor day of 1994. He died from lung cancer.