Renowned theologian and educator Rev. Dr. Joseph Tong passed away at 1:43 p.m. on March 19, 2026 (local time) in Los Angeles, at the age of 85.
Born in Fujian Province, China, in 1941, Rev. Tong was one of the four brothers among the "Five Tong Brothers" who devoted themselves to ministry. Alongside his brothers—Rev. Tong Chong Ping, Rev. Tong Chong Ming, and Rev. Stephen Tong, who is a renowned Chinese Indonesian evangelist and advocate of the Reformed Evangelical movement—he engaged in theological education, evangelism, and the training of Christian workers.
Throughout his life, Joseph Tong was committed to theological education. He served as dean of the graduate school and as an advisor at the Southeast Asia Reformed Evangelical Theological Seminary (STTIAA) in Indonesia. Known for his rigorous scholarship, he left a legacy within the theological community.
Aula Simfonia Jakarta, a concert hall in Jakarta as part of the Reformed Millennium Center Indonesi, paid tribute to Rev. Tong on Instagram, describing him as "a devoted pastor, scholar, and faithful servant of God."
Following the announcement of his death, Chinese Christians and ministry organizations expressed their condolences. Indonesian students who had studied under him, as well as Chinese believers shaped by his theological teachings, remembered his long-standing faithfulness in apologetics and the nurturing of believers.
