Stone Yu Runs the Family Business while Dedicating Himself to the Work of the Kingdom of Heaven
號角月報加拿大版 二零二五年五月
I really like the name Stone Yu. Whether it refers to the small stone David used to defeat Goliath or Christ as the cornerstone, 'Stone' plays a significant role in his life. However, what is more admirable is the person himself—Stone has the characteristics of resilience and steadfastness, like a rock, and gives off a simple, unadorned impression. Over the years, in addition to running the family bakery, he has actively participated in short-term mission teams, visiting and helping those in need in impoverished areas, and also reflecting on the true meaning of dedication.
Passionate about Baking and Culinary Arts
Stone was a sensible child from a young age. At the age of 8, his father suddenly passed away, which made him even more considerate of his mother, fully understanding her hard work. As the only son in the family, he knew that the family bakery would ultimately be his responsibility, so he started learning the craft from bakers at the age of 12. He recalls, 'Some bakers were strict, with very high standards for skills, which taught me discipline and perseverance; others were kind and patiently taught me hands-on, which made me realize the importance of attentiveness and patience.' With the accumulated experience and effort, at the age of 21, Stone participated in the 'Food Network Sugar Showdown–Barnyard Donuts 2016' dessert competition and won the championship, proving not only his acquired skills but also his passion for baking and culinary arts. Subsequently, he attended Le Cordon Bleu to further his studies in French pastries. Today, he is well-versed in the production process of every product in the store—whether it is bread, cakes, or other pastries, especially the store's signature 'pineapple bun,' which has been praised as an unparalleled classic delicacy.
"Currently, my mother and I jointly run this business—expanding from the initial two stores to seven and establishing a central factory. All of this is a blessing from God," Stone admitted. "Initially, my goal was just to produce the highest quality food, but as the business developed, my role also shifted towards management and business expansion. I hope to systematically manage the operations, enhance overall service quality, and ensure that each product maintains consistently high standards."
Mother and Son are the Best Partners
Stone points out that the variety of products sold in the store is extensive, ranging from traditional sweet and savory bread to rice dishes and glutinous rice chicken. Initially, the idea of introducing rice dishes to the bakery was considered 'whimsical,' but over the years, these creative meals (such as steamed rice and Beijing rice) have made the store more distinctive and won customers' praise. "These innovative ideas come from my mother's foresight and creativity, which have always kept us at the forefront of the market." Stone believes that he and his mother are the best partners. She excels in administrative management, while he is responsible for menu design and business negotiations. "My mother is my role model. She is strong, decisive, intelligent, and capable, yet humble and open-minded. I greatly admire her wisdom and courage in managing the business, as well as her decisiveness and confidence in making decisions."
For 29-year-old Stone, mere responsibility is not enough to sustain this family business and let it grow. "My passion comes from my love for cooking! I not only enjoy good food but also hope to share this goodness with others. Seeing the satisfied smiles on customers' faces when they enjoy the food is my greatest joy and the core belief of the entire team. Therefore, we not only focus on food quality but also pay attention to every detail, including customer service and store design. Our success comes from the contributions of every employee and the systematic training we have established, allowing each department to perform at its best."
The Trip to Myanmar Touched Him the Most
Besides running the bakery, Stone is also devoted to the heavenly ministry of eternal value. Seven years ago, he participated in a short-term mission for the first time, going to Shandong, China, to deeply understand the local situation. He remembers that the first church he visited was simple, but it gathered many enthusiastic believers; in contrast, a magnificent church nearby had only 20 people attending the service. "Through exchanges with local pastors, I learned that political and financial issues were involved behind this, which taught me a valuable lesson." In the following years, Stone went to Southeast Asia several times with Pastor Harding Ng, visiting the Golden Triangle, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Among these, the trip to Myanmar touched him the most. "Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Seeing children (mostly orphans or abandoned due to lack of money) living in places without doors or windows, with the cold wind piercing at night, was heartbreaking." After leaving Myanmar, the next stop was Thailand, where the mission team saw two brand-new buildings on a large piece of land. They learned from the person in charge that each building housed only 10 boys and 10 girls. "We happened to see the children returning from school by bus. When the person in charge introduced our mission team from Canada, the children casually greeted us and then started playing with their phones, showing that they were not so poor at least they had phones and a very luxurious and comfortable place to live compared to the children in Myanmar. In Myanmar, 25 children only got to eat one chicken a week, so I felt it was very worthwhile to dedicate support to those caring for Myanmar children, which also made me start thinking about the true meaning of dedication."
Building the First Wooden House Orphanage
In Myanmar, Stone met a coworker named Li Xueliang, who is about the same age as him. Li and his wife take care of more than twenty children under very difficult conditions. "Their selfless dedication deeply moved me, so I promised to help them build a better residence and improve their living environment. Four years later, the construction was completed, greatly improving the children's lives. This experience further strengthened my determination to help others and care for society." Recently, Stone learned that Li Xueliang had intestinal problems and had undergone two hasty surgeries in Myanmar, but the prognosis was not optimistic. At the same time, the area where they lived was constantly being bombed, so he had to arrange for the children to escape and then travel for two days to Thailand to find a suitable doctor for surgery. Seeing someone willing to sacrifice everything for God, Stone was very impressed.
Additionally, Stone also met Pastor Cha Tianru in Myanmar. Many years ago, Stone's mother had donated funds to help Pastor Cha establish the first wooden house orphanage—the Salt and Light Children's Center. The first floor is a classroom where worship services are held on Sundays; the second floor is a girls' dormitory, and the third floor is a boys' dormitory. At that time, only 25 children were living there, but now it has become a haven for 100 children. In the past two years, the conflict in Myanmar has become increasingly severe. Last year, there was a very dangerous period with bombings every two days, only a few houses away from the center, causing many casualties. When bombings occurred, they couldn't leave, so they piled up sandbags for protection. Unexpectedly, many villagers came knocking on the door to seek refuge, and the person in charge gladly welcomed them. Stone was gratified to see the Salt and Light Center 'acting as salt and light' in the community.
Managing Money and Resources Well
Stone once held a baking class at a large center in Laos, attracting hundreds of participants, and he regarded this as a joyful event because it was his specialty. "My mother greatly supports my participation in meaningful short-term missions or exploratory trips. In fact, every short-term mission not only deepens my understanding of poverty and social issues but also makes me reflect on the deeper meaning of dedication." Over the years, whenever Stone goes on a short-term mission, he inspects dozens of ongoing projects and meets with local leaders to see if they are working earnestly. Just after the Lunar New Year this year, he once again served in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia with Pastor Harding Ng.
Currently, Stone is a board member of the charitable organization Partners International, responsible for overseeing the use of donations. The organization's annual budget is 4.5 million Canadian dollars, funding hundreds of projects worldwide. He said, "In February and March of last year, I went to Indonesia and Malaysia, which are areas supported by Partners International. I have a responsibility to ensure that all the money is used appropriately and not wasted. I must play the role of a good steward, managing money well and using resources properly, not wasting God's money but using it for the right and appropriate purposes." Stone reiterated that whether in business or charity, he hopes to make an impact, respond to God's grace, and help more people in need.
Helena Lee
