A Legacy of Faith and Education: My Grandfather’s Story

A Single Memory That Spans a Lifetime

This lovely human in the photo was my paternal grandfather, Grandpa Bray. The other picture shows me, a toddler in a matching red outfit, with my mother and father at the opening of the new Wa Ying College in Hong Kong.

The only memory I have of my grandfather is from when I was around three years old. We had been told not to disturb him because he was taking his afternoon nap. But I just wanted to be with him.

I remember walking through the sunlit bungalow, past the doors, and into his darkened bedroom. I must have called his name because he leaned up on his arm, smiling and laughing. I went to sit with him, and I remember his laugh and his smile. My younger sibling soon followed, and not long after, my worried mother appeared, concerned that we had woken him.

What stays with me isn’t the scolding or the interruption—it’s his smile. It radiated kindness and joy. That’s my only memory of him, yet it feels profound. I saw that same smile in my father as he aged into later life.

From the UK to China: A Mission of Education

More than 100 years ago, my grandfather left the UK for China to serve as a Methodist missionary. His mission focused on education. Building on the legacy that went before him ?he designed and built Wa Ying college, striving to make learning accessible to many.

While in China, he met my grandmother at a missionary holiday camp. She was a remarkable woman. She a single woman in China as missionary with a masters degree in physics, an extraordinary achievement for an Irish woman of her time. They married, and she became what was then considered an older mother, raising four children.

Their eldest child, my father, grew up in China. At just eight years old, he was sent to a missionary boarding school in China. During one school holiday, the family had to flee together to escape the invading Japanese army. They were among the last to board the last ship out, ensuring they stayed together even amidst the chaos. That is a whole story for another time.

Faith, Resilience, and a Legacy of Service

After World War II, my father served as a young naval officer with David Attenborough and later joined the Colonial Office, which brought him back to Hong Kong. He had been born there, as missionaries often traveled to Hong Kong for childbirth. Post-war Hong Kong was an entirely different chapter, but it was there that he met and married my mother.

Their story intertwined with faith and resilience, much like my grandparents’. My grandmothers were both older mothers, a legacy that continues with me—I had my son in my 40s, just as they had their children later in life.

Revisiting the College: A Testament to God’s Foundation

Decades after my grandfather passed, and after my father retired from serving in the Hong Kong government, we were finally allowed to visit China. During the Cold War, government employees and their families were forbidden by law to travel there.

Our family, including my father, my siblings, and all the grandchildren, visited the college my grandfather had designed and built. Walking through the archway of the original building into the courtyard of the modern high-rise complex, I was overwhelmed.

“My goodness,” I thought, “when God is the foundation of something, look how it survives and spans generations.”

That school had endured the Japanese invasion, the communist revolution, and even the Cultural Revolution. It was more than just a building—it was a result of generations of people committed to education and the enduring power of faith.

The Enduring Impact of Faith and Education

I often wonder what my grandfather thought as he neared the end of his life. Did he know the impact his work would have? Could he have imagined the resilience of the college or the lives that would be shaped by its legacy?

My grandmother, with her Irish roots and passion for education, shared this vision. Together, they built something that stood the test of time, a testament to their faith and dedication.

Legacy Across Generations

Faith and education have always been at the core of my family’s story. As I reflect on my grandfather’s legacy, I am reminded of the power of a life rooted in purpose and guided by God.

The story of the college and the generations it touched is a powerful reminder that what we build on a foundation of faith can endure beyond our lifetimes.

Here’s a link to the college that continues to carry forward my grandfather’s vision: Wa Ying College

Legacy: What Will Yours Be?

Legacy isn’t just about what we leave behind when we’re gone; it’s about the seeds we plant today. My grandfather’s work reminds me that faith and purpose can create something far greater than ourselves.

You don’t have to build a school to leave a legacy. It might be the way you nurture your family, share your skills, or inspire others through your own story. Every choice you make, every life you touch, is part of your legacy.

What will you build with the time, talents, and experiences you’ve been given? It’s never too late to step into a season of impact and purpose.?

Whatever you have experienced in your life when you put it into God’s hands those seeds grow beyond what you could possibly imagine. With all of your skills, experiences you would be amazed at what a blessing it could be to others.

Your legacy begins now. Book a discovery call with me and lets water those seeds!