David Paul Hong

David Paul Hong went to glory on October 27, 2022 at the age of 37 after a well-fought battle with colorectal cancer. He died peacefully at his home in Leander, Texas surrounded by his wife and parents.
David was born on March 22, 1985 in Buenos Aires, Argentina to his parents Ro Kyong (Timothy) and Mi Ja (Sarah) Hong.
David grew up in Los Angeles, California with his younger brother Joseph. His passion for God and the preaching of the gospel started at an early age. As a child he loved worshipping God and in middle school he would organize and lead local Bible studies.
He studied at Oberlin College in Ohio and majored in Biology. After college he joined Youth With A Mission, an International Christian Missions Organization. It was during this time that he met his wife Michelle and they were married in Austin, Texas on November 24, 2012.
David and his wife served as missionaries in China for 4 years, both in Sichuan province and the city of Nanjing. David's gifts of evangelism and discipleship shone brightly in this period as he saw many come to know the Lord, be discipled and spurred on to be missionaries themselves.
His heart's cry was to see the gospel preached and to usher the return of Jesus and he gave his life to that end. David worked as a missionary and church planter with Youth With A Mission, a church mobilizer with Launch Global and as an entrepreneur establishing two successful businesses: Authentic Leads and Warriors for Light.
David's character was gentle, generous, sacrificial, passionate, and joyful. In these last years his Christ-likeness became even more radiant as he made the daily choice to hold onto faith, hope and love despite his circumstances. He would often pray for others' healing and salvation while trusting for his own deliverance from cancer. He never gave up, he fought the good fight until the very end, and we know now that his faith is made sight.
David is survived by his beloved wife Michelle, and their three children Jude, Eden and Mila. His parents Ro Kyong and Mi Ja Hong and his grandmother Soon Hee Hong. His younger brother Joseph Hong, sister-in-law Su and his two nieces Abigail and Anna. His father and mother-in-law, Gary and Robin Dahlsted. His sister-in-law Shannon Soh, her husband Ben, his nephew Levi and two nieces Phoebe and Daphne. He is pre-deceased by his paternal grandfather Dae Hun Hong.
The memorial service will take place on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 10am at Austin Stone Northwest Church located at 9001 N FM 620, Austin, TX 78726.
Live Stream Available: austinstone.org/david
David will be buried in a private service at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery with the aid of his pallbearers, Joseph Hong, Ben Soh, Jimmy Weiland, Brad Ashby, Andy Kampman, and Carson Higgs.
If you would like to donate to Michelle and the family please give to their GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/k8s37t-the-hong-family
Thank you to the Austin Stone Community Church, Antioch Church, and Beck Funeral Home for coordinating the arrangements. And to all of David's family and friends, near and far, for their outpouring of love, care, and honor in this time.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."
Mark 4:30-32