Rev. Bau Dang was all smiles at the groundbreaking of Wesley Village, a low-income and senior housing complex to be built on the campus of Garden Grove United Methodist Church where he is the pastor in charge.

The aptly named Wesley Village will be a multi-generational housing complex with 47 apartments providing housing for families and seniors with rents between $824 – $1,226 per month. Wesley Village will include a large podium deck, community recreational area, and space for a Head Start Learning Center. Moreover, the complex is designed to achieve the LEED Silver rating and each home will be equipped with Energy Star appliances.

Gathered on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 to celebrate this achievement were leaders of the church, the Mayor of the City of Garden Grove Bao Nguyen, leaders from the housing company Jamboree, South District Superintendent Rev. John Farley, clergypersons of nearby United Methodist Churches, and community leaders.

As part of the ceremony which included many statements of congratulations, Rev. Dang delivered the invocation and Rev. Farley conveyed greetings from Resident Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño. Notably, Mayor Bao Nguyen began his statement quoting John Wesley, saying that this complex was a demonstration of “doing all the good that you can…”

Rev. Bau Dang was formerly the East District Superintendent of the California-Pacific Conference and is widely known, among many things, for his translating the Bible into contemporary Vietnamese.

Garden Grove UMC has been in the community of Garden Grove for over 140 years and is known by many in the community as the “submarine church” for the shape of its main sanctuary.