Pastor’s Corner Dec 2008 (Pastor Ren|任大立 傳道)
December 2, 2008 by Connie
Filed under Pastor's Corner|牧者心聲
牧者心声
任大立传道
今年对我来说，既是结束，又是开始：我在五月完成了在神学院的学习，也正式开始了全职牧会的事奉；结束了为期一年五个月在国语堂的实习，同时也正式开始带领和牧养国语堂的弟兄姐妹。
在这个结束和开始里，我们在一次经历到主丰盛的预备和圣灵温柔的引导。三年在神学院的学习，虽然少了一半的收入，但我们家在生活上却一无所缺；在寻求是否留在国语堂全职服事的过程中，神藉着弟兄姐妹的鼓励和肯定，也藉着圣经的话语指引我们，最后在不断的祷告中终于在心里确认这就是神要我们在其中共同生活与服侍的群体。
在过往几个月带领国语堂的事工中，无论是在灵修，或是预备讲道，查经，主日学时，常常出现在我眼前的一个字就是“看”。在福音书里，主耶稣看到那些被鬼附需要得释放，生病的需要医治，瞎子需要看见，聋子需要听见；他也看到很多人如同羊没有牧人一样，他的心就充满了悲悯；他也要门徒们看见这些需要，看见他如何爱这些人，看见他医治和拯救，看见他满足人们生命和心灵的需要。感谢主，他不单让我看见，更让很多弟兄姐妹看见周围有很多人生活在缺乏，痛苦，和捆绑之中，需要主的爱，主的医治和拯救；我也看见，当我们愿意跟从和配合圣灵的工作，见证主的爱，将人领到主的面前时，圣灵就施行奇妙的救恩.
Pastor’s Corner Pastor Dali Ren
2008 is both “an end” and “a beginning” for me. I graduated from Tyndale in May. I also finished my 17 month pastoral internship. Then I began my ministry as the pastor of the Mandarin congregation.
I have once again experienced God’s abounding grace and the Spirit’s gentle guidance. Looking back on my 3 years at Tyndale, my family never lacked anything though our income was cut in half. While I was seeking God’s will, God confirmed my calling as a full-time pastor in many ways: through brothers and sister’s encouragement, through God’s words and also through our praying hearts. God has assured us that He has led us to live among and serve the brothers and sisters here.
During the past few months, the word “see” has appeared frequently in my devotions, sermon preparation, bible studies and teaching Sunday school. I saw how Jesus liberated the demon possessed, healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and healed the deaf. Jesus saw these people and had compassion on them because they were ‘like sheep without a shepherd’. He also wanted his disciples to see these needs, to see His love, to see His healing and salvation, and to see how He filled people’s hearts.
Praise the LORD! God has not only asked me to see, but He’s also helping many brothers and sisters in our congregation to see the needs of others. Together we’re seeing people around us who are in need, in pain and in bondage. They all need Jesus’ love, healing and salvation.
When we are all willing to obey God together and walk with the Spirit to witness God and serve Him by bringing people to Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit will do amazing work to save people around us!
Pastor’s Corner Oct 2008 (Pastor OR)
October 1, 2008 by Connie
Filed under Pastor's Corner|牧者心聲
牧者心聲 柯永聰傳道
感謝天父的帶領和弟兄姊妹的支持, 今年已是第二年全職服侍. 自從95年在恩典堂信主, 從平信徒, 帶職, 以至今日全職服侍, 全部也是上帝的恩典. 回想起來, 實在覺得奇妙. 現今我在粵語堂負責成人主日學以及牧養成青區和學生區, 能夠在當中與弟兄姊妹同哭同笑, 一同經歷成長, 實在十分喜樂.很多謝一直在我身邊的弟兄姊妹, 你們的支持, 代禱, 問候, 帶給我很大的鼓勵.
很多謝你們對我的欣賞及信任, 你們的見證, 掙扎, 成長, 令我看見生命的躍動. 在困難當中, 你們像一個一個的不倒翁, 被打倒, 卻又站立起來.
很高興我的太太也一起在成青區服侍, 能夠與伴侶一同分享事奉的喜樂, 實在感謝天父.
最大的滿足, 是從你們身上看見上帝的大能與恩典. “我 每 逢 想 念 你 們 ， 就 感 謝 我 的 神 ； 每 逢 為 你 們 眾 人 祈 求 的 時 候 ， 常 是 歡 歡 喜 喜 的 祈 求 。 因 為 從 頭 一 天 直 到 如 今 ， 你 們 是 同 心 合 意 的 興 旺 福 音 。” 腓1:3-5
Pastor’s Corner Pastor Samuel Or
I want to give thanks to God’s leading and to many brothers and sisters’ support for entering my 2nd year of full-time ministry.
I became a Christian in GCGC in 1995. Since then, I started to learn to serve Him as a brother and as a “layman”. As I ponder on how I was called to become a full time minister now, I can only say that it’s is all God’s grace! His grace on me is too wonderful!
I am now in charge of Cantonese Adult Sunday School, pasturing Young Adult Zone and Student Zone. Not only do I feel privileged to laugh and cry with every brother and sister, I also am joyful to grow in Christ with them. I am truly grateful for every single member beside me. Your support, prayers and encouragement has continued to fuel me up for serving HIM.
I also want to thank you for your trust and appreciation on me. Lives are full of excitement as I witness your testimonies of faith, your struggles and your growth. Many of you faith are like “roly-polies” - not defeated through hardships. My greatest satisfaction is to withness God’s power and grace on your lives, as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:3-5
I’m glad that my wife Debby is also serving in Young Adult Zone. Thanks God that we can share the joy of serving the Lord together.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…”
Pastor’s Corner Sept 2008 (Mrs. Connie Liu)
September 1, 2008 by Connie
Filed under Pastor's Corner|牧者心聲
2008 年9月 牧者心声 廖张嘉蔚传道
“爱是永不止息. Love NEVER FAILS.” 林前13:8
“不要再犹豫! 这可能是最後机会!金钱可以再赚回来, 但是与母亲相处的时间往往是不可再用金钱买回来的!”
因著这些鼓励, 我们一家毅然在5月份回港探望患重病的家姑! 她一生与家公为儿女辛劳.如果没有她恩慈的爱护, 我们怎会有今天的享受? 何况她为著寻求行善积德, 信了天道五教已30年! 每當想到主耶稣爱她, 赐下宝贵救恩, 我们就更加逼切的盼望能劝她信主. William 和我没有什麽板斧, 只有一个倚靠主耶稣的心, 并弟兄姊妹多方爱心的祷告就上路了 !
记得回到家中第一眼见到妈妈, 大家都禁不住泪水, 因她以为以後也再见不到我们了!她说很爱我们, 也知道我们爱她, 但请我们不要再向她说主耶稣, 或带人来探访她. 我们可以怎样呢? 就是靠著主的爱, 和教会的祷告托住我们失望和脆弱的心. 在港1 个月, 我们享受每天, 不管天晴或有黑雨, 也乘巴士探望她, 一家团团转地跪在她的床前诉说往事, 细说感恩, 求她原谅我们过去的得罪与不足, 轮流为她按摩, 轻抚头脸, 孩子歌唱 “世上只有妈妈好!” 又绷跳带来很多欢笑, 陪伴往公园散步…..我们都谈到心灵的心处. William 每天都温柔地求她让我们捉紧她手, 为她祷告. 奇妙的是: 每次祷告她都流下泪来, 渐渐地, 她告诉我们她开始有自求耶稣帮她, 和告诉她谁是真神…..在我们临回加前的3天, 她竟愿意流泪祈祷接受主耶稣为救主, 甚至连续两天也是这样! 讚美主耶稣! 我们欢欣不断! 妈得救了! 这是何等的奇妙! 我们纵然为她的健康和信心根基担忧著, 但是想到主的应许, 就得坚固: 祂是为我们信心创始成终的神, 也能保存我们所交付祂的, 直到那天! 我们现在是靠著书信来鼓励和讚赏她, 求主坚固, 求主减轻她痛楚! 请你也为她祈祷.
你是否仍有未信主的家人在等候你给他爱护? 相处时间? 亲情的修补? 甚至需要你求原谅? 赶快的向他/她表达爱与情! 如果关係已僵破, 也不要灰心!为他们祷告, 然後靠主恩来藉行动说出 “对不起, 我爱你, 主耶稣更爱您!” 千万不要爱得太迟, 也记著爱是永不止息! “Love NEVER FAILS!”
September 2008 Pastor’s Corner
By Mrs. Connie Liu
“Love Never FAILS.” 1 Cor 13:8
“Don’t hesitate! This maybe the last chance! Money can be earned, but you may never buy back time with mom in the future!”
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Charis’ picture for grandma: “Grandma, Jesus loves youY.” |
With God’s words and these encouragements, we made a swift decision to go back to Hong Kong in May to visit my mom-in-law who is suffering from last stage of cancer. Without her unconditional love and hardworking in the past, we won’t be enjoying so much life’s blessings today! She sought to be a good person so she became a folk religious leader for 30 years! As Jesus loves her and died on the cross for her, nothing was more urgent for us than desiring her salvation. We brought home 2 kids, a heart relying on Jesus and also brothers and sisters’ prayers.
The very first moment we arrived her home, we all burst into tears when she said “I thought I could never see you all again!”. She told us she loves us and she knew we love her, but she asked us not to talk about Jesus nor bring any Christian friends to visit her anymore. What could we do? Only Jesus’ love and the church’s prayers continue to uphold our fragile and disappointed hearts!
For the whole month, we enjoyed every moment with her everyday whether in rain or shine. It was quite hard to commute on different buses with 2 young kids and a stroller everyday. Yet, we stayed beside her bed sharing memories, counting life’s blessings, asking for forgiveness of our wrongdoings, taking turns to massage on her, caressing her head and face, Charis & Wesley singing “Moms are the greatest on earth!”, bringing her happiness and joy…..Gradually we could share deep things from our hearts, and William held her hand gently and begged her to pray with us each day. Wonderful things then followed: she shed tears every time we prayed, and she started to pray to Jesus to help her and reveal to her who the true God is! 3 days before we came back, she even prayed with us together to receive Christ in 2 consecutive days! How joyous and thankful we are to Jesus! Our mom is now saved! Although we still worry about her health ane her faith, God’s promises continue to strengthen us, “for Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith, and we are convinced that He is able to guard what we have entrusted to him for that day.” We now continue to write letters to her. May the LORD strengthen her heart and ease her pain.
Do you have family members who do not know the LORD and are STILL waiting for you to love them, to spend time with them, to reconcile with them, or even ask for forgivness? Quickly go and love them! Even when relationships are broken, never lose heart! Pray for them and rely on Jesus to show and tell them “Forgive me! I love you! Jesus loves you!” Don’t wait until it’s TOO LATE! And remember: “LOVE NEVER FAILS!”
Pastor’s Corner July 2008 (Pastor Lee)
July 2, 2008 by Connie
Filed under Pastor's Corner|牧者心聲
牧者心聲 李建國傳道
「現在你們要敬畏耶和華，誠心實意地事奉他，將你們列祖在大河那邊和在埃及所事奉的神除掉，去事奉耶和華。若是你們以事奉耶和華為不好，今日就可以選擇所要事奉的：是你們列祖在大河那邊所事奉的神呢？是你們所住這地的亞摩利人的神呢？至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」 (約書記24:14-15)
在恩典堂事奉已有五年. 在這些日子中, 感謝神讓我 和內子 在不同的事工上作牧養的事奉, 實看見許多神對我們格外的恩典與憐憫.從最初的兒童事工,植堂以至到現在兒童,家庭及老人牧養工作, 神都讓我和內子不單能享受其中福音 果子的甘甜, 也看見許多兒童,父母及長者的屬靈生命不斷成 長,實是我和我家最大的喜樂和滿足.
兩個月前, 我和內子從中國雲南短宣回來, 當中經歷 四川的大地震, 深深體會主所說:「舉目向田觀看, 莊稼已經 熟了, 可以收割了.」 千萬中國同胞的靈魂正等著祂兒女去 作收割的工夫. 唯盼主多施恩典給我們能為祂在未得之民 中播種及收福音的莊稼.也願本堂有一天真的看見眾家庭扶老攜幼地去遠方宣揚主福音.
數星期前, 感謝神感動本堂的兒童自法地發起為中國四川地震及緬甸風災籌募. 看見他們小小心靈願為災民彰勞心勞力籌備募捐, 心裡真的為他們愛神愛人的心而感恩. 當然, 也看見他們的父母及希伯崙團的長者在他們背後的支持, 深信神必記念, 報答他們.
同工消息
李傳道在本堂不單是兒童的牧者,他也帶領著希伯崙團(長者)和粵語堂為年輕父母新成立的家庭區.
此外, 我們亦歡迎任大立傳道從6月開始帶領國語堂事工. 同時, 蕭傳道除了仍參與國語事工委員會會議外, 他已正式離開國語堂而專心投入萬民堂事奉.
Pastor’s Corner Pastor David Lee
“So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God. ….As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.” (Joshua 24:14-15)
This is our 5th year serving in Grace Chinese Gospel Church. My wife and I thank the LORD for leading us into different pastoral ministries in the past few years. We went from children’s ministry, to church planting, and family and senior ministries. There is nothing more but God’s exceptional grace and mercy on us. Not only have we been rejoicing over the “new fruits” that God has given, but we have also been greatly fulfilled seeing children, parents and seniors growing spiritually.
Two months ago when we went for the Yun-nan mission trip, we were deeply overwhelmed by the earthquake in Sichuan. The Lord Jesus says, “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” There are indeed millions of lost souls eagerly waiting for God’s children to work for “harvest”.
May the Lord have mercy on us to send us there to sow and to reap for the glory of His gospel. I also dream that our church can have teams of families bringing the old and the young going to places afar to share Jesus’ love.
God has also touched GCGC children’s hearts by volunteering to raise fund for Sichuan and Burma areas. We are deeply thankful for their motivations to love God and man through their action. We are also thankful how Hebron fellowship and their parents supported them in their endeavor. May the Lord remember and reward all they have done for Him!
Pastoral News
Besides being the children pastor Pastor Lee is also leading the Hebron Fellowship (senior) and the newly formed young family zone of the Cantonese congregation.
We welcome Pastor Ren in joining us to lead the Mandarin ministry as of June. Pastor Siu has left the Mandarin ministry to focus on leading the PGC ministry, although he will continue to contribute to the Mandarin ministry as a member of the Mandarin Ministry Committee.
Pastor’s Corner Jan 2008 (Pastor Lippman)
January 1, 2008 by Connie
Filed under Pastor's Corner|牧者心聲
Pastor’s Corner – Rev. Bill Lippman
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
This verse has stood out to me the last two months. It’s a beautiful thing to be reminded of God’s love – especially that His love is lavished on us. The Lord doesn’t hold back – He isn’t stingy! He gives good gifts and lots of them. So it’s great to walk with God each day and experience His love. Here at the beginning of 2008, it’s amazing to think of the surprises God has in store.
I am encouraged by what God is doing in the English Congregation. There have been various signs of people going deeper with God and taking bigger steps in their walk with Him. Carmen Tse is a trailblazer for us as she serves in Malawi. 2008 is shaping up to be a year to move forward in serving God through our church and in our community.
This is a big year for our family! Mary and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in March with our first cruise. Colleen is on track to graduate in June. We look forward to how He will continue to lead us!
Staff News
Pastor Yip will be in Nigeria training Nigerian missionaries from February 4 to March 29.
This year Pastor Lee has taken up the ministry of zone pastor to the young families of Cantonese congregation in addition to children ministry.
Carolyn Li is serving as a part-time intern in children ministry this year.
牧者心聲 利民牧師
你看父賜給我們是何等的慈愛，使我們得稱為神的兒女；我們也真是他的兒女。世人所以不認識我們，是因未曾認識他。約壹3:1
在過去兩個月以來﹐這節經文不斷在我心中浮現, 它常常提醒我﹕神厚賜給我們的愛實在是何等的美! 主耶穌對我們的愛, 不但是毫無保留﹐而且沒半點吝惜﹗祂不但賜美善的東西給我們﹐更是“連搖帶按﹐上尖下流” 的加給我們﹗所以﹐我們能每天與祂同行﹐並且經歷祂的愛﹐實在是何等的蒙福﹗願我們常思想他向我們所懷的意念是何等寶貴﹗
在英文堂中﹐我實在為神所成就的感到激勵﹗我看見有很多信徒的屬靈生命不單不斷進深﹐並且跨出他們信心的領域﹐就像謝嘉文姊妹前往非洲莫拉維共和國服侍﹐成為我們信心先鋒的榜樣。我深信2008年神願意我們更踏出一步來更廣的服侍教會和我們的社區。
此外﹐今年也是我家中重要的一年。師母和我將慶祝結婚25週年﹐我們會在3月中有渡過郵輪假期﹐而女兒Colleen 也將在6月畢業了﹐願天父繼續帶領我們跟隨祂﹗
同工消息
葉牧師將於2月4日至3月29日前往尼日利亞訓練當地的宣教士. 另外, 李傳道今年開始除了牧養兒童外, 亦開始成為親子區的區牧.
Carolyn Li 姊妹亦開始了在兒童部的部份時間實習傳道事奉.