Ruth E Sundquist, originally from Michigan, was an American Evangelical Free Church missionary, who dedicated her life to helping orphans and vulnerable children in Canton and Hong Kong.
She was born in 1919, in Michigan, USA, to Victor and Erika (Erikson) Sundquist.
In 1942, she graduated from the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, and finished her studies in April 1943.
After World War II, she sailed to China and, while learning the language, she taught English at an orphanage in Canton (Guangzhou) before relocating to Hong Kong in 1949 when the Communists came to power.
At that time, since the Evangelical Free Church of China had not yet started any charitable work, she went to schools to teach Bible classes and devoted herself to children’s ministry.
During her first term, she became severely ill with tuberculosis of the glands, caused by persistent amoebae in her liver, and on her first furlough in the USA, sought hospital treatment.
In September 1953, she boarded ship to return to Hong Kong for her second term. With her was a new missionary colleague, Doris Ekblad. On board ship, Miss Sundquist received some worrying news from her doctor; her liver was still full of amoebae. On furlough, she was given de-worming medicine, each dose stronger than the last, until she was on the verge of ulcers, without success apparently.
Together with Doris Ekblad and two other missionaries, Miss Sundquist prayed for healing. On her return to Hong Kong, she visited her doctor for tests and found to her amazement she was completely free of infection.
Back in Hong Kong, her address at this time was House #23, Cheung Chau, where she lived with Doris Ekblad.
In 1955, Hong Kong was filled with homeless refugees and orphans. Recognizing this, the Social Welfare Department requested the Evangelical Free Church to establish a children’s home to help shelter orphans. Miss Lundquist founded the Evangel Children’s Home in Tsz Wan Shan in 1956, sheltering over twenty young orphans. She was known affectionately by the children as Auntie Sun.
Despite ongoing challenges like limited resources and funding, Miss Sundquist continued her work, relying heavily on faith and support. Financial assistance arrived unexpectedly when Reverend Wilbur Nelson, (pastor of Grace Church of Huntington Park, California), prompted by a broadcast and correspondence, committed to covering the home’s needs with help from donors in the United States.
As more children needed help, Miss Sundquist planned a larger children's home. The government provided land in 1961, and Rev Nelson raised funds in the US. The new building opened in 1963, housing over 80 children from infants to teens, expanding from two to six homes.
In the late 1970’s, Miss Sundquist transitioned from being the Superintendent to serving as a consultant, and other colleagues managed ECH. She retired in 1982, and she returned to the United States.
There she continued actively in children’s ministry work in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
She died, aged 86, in 2005.
During her 37 years in Hong Kong, she raised more than 200 children. She also taught the Bible and English at the Chinese Baptist University. She is remembered as a pioneering figure in Hong Kong children's welfare.
Sources:
Evangel Children’s Home, Hong Kong.
Any Bush Will Do by Doris Ekblad-Olson.
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