牧者心声 Pastor’s Corner Pastor Dali Ren任大立传道 2009.11

 

2009年是国语堂经历很多变化的一年。我们很欢喜快乐庆祝了国语堂成立十周年，也欢送了一些弟兄姐妹前往万民福音堂开始国语事工；因着他们和其他一些同工的离开，我们在各方面的事工必须进行相当大的调整；有不少弟兄姐妹回去中国或转去其他教会，也有很多弟兄姐妹和朋友们从别处来加入我们。对我来说，所有这些的变动既是挑战，也是学习的契机，更是仰望和经历神工作的机会。我不过是神的仆人，是与神同工的，我所要做的不过是尽心尽力地栽种和浇灌，观看神叫人的生命成长，使教会被建造起来。

这一年多与神同工的过程中有各种的感受和认识，其中最常出现的一个感受就是保罗所说的：“似乎忧愁，却是常常快乐的。”当我看到弟兄姐妹遭遇失业，疾病，失去亲人等各样的试炼和痛苦时，我与他们一同忧虑；当我在传福音过程中看到人们虽然在生活中痛苦挣扎却不愿意回应和接受神的爱时，我感到难过；当我看到有的弟兄姐妹对神的爱浅尝辄止，轻易又回到依靠自己，按照世界的方式生活时，我既觉得可惜，又感到爱莫能助；当我看到弟兄姐妹们在生命成长过程中常常被生活的担子，世界的引诱，或自我的软弱拦阻分心，不能专心一志跟随信靠主活出他所应许的美好生命时，我担忧叹息。。。在这些忧愁之中，我也看到自己的软弱，自己的有限，自己的缺乏，自己的小信。

然而，也就是在这些的忧愁和软弱之中，我们真正认识到什么是“在人是不能，在神凡事都能。”我看到弟兄姐妹们没有被试炼和苦难压垮，反而经历神大能的同在和爱的浇灌，得到真正的信心和盼望，我心里的重担就脱落；我看到虽然人的智慧有限，但圣灵的大能却使人一个一个归向主，我便欢喜快乐；我看到虽然弟兄姐妹的生命成长和教会的事工发展虽然没有按照我的期望进行，但我看到神的意念高过我的意念，他所拣选的一个也没有失落，我的心里就大得平安。

虽然我自己软弱不足，神却一次又一次告诉我：“我的恩典是够你用的，我的能力要在你的软弱上显得完全。”感谢神医治我妈妈的身体，是妈妈在家务上对我们的全心帮助使我们能够有更多自由的时间来服事；感谢主让Vivian全心帮助我一起来面对事工上和家庭里的各样挑战；也感谢主保守Jonah, Elim, 和Jesse在身量，智慧和灵性上都成长。我更感谢主赐给我们这么多接纳，包容，支持和爱护我们的弟兄姐妹，能够和你们一同跟随主是我最大的喜乐，最美的祝福。

 

 

 

2009 marks a lot of big changes for the Mandarin congregation.  As we celebrated our 10^th anniversary, we joyously send out a group of brothers and sisters to Peoples Mandarin Church plant.  With this sending of co-workers, our ministry has gone through a large-scale adjustment: many went back to China or transfered to another church. At the same time, we also received many newcomers.   For me, all these changes mean challenges and opportunities of growth by relying solely on the work of God.  Who am I but His own servant and co-worker?  Therefore I am called to work hard for Him by planting and sowing and to see how God makes things grow and built up His church.

 

In the past year I have gained many experiences in the knowledge of God.  Time after time I felt myself feeling like Paul, “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”.   When brothers and sisters went through various trials and pains in losing their jobs, getting sick, or losing loved ones, my heart wept for them.    When I shared with people the gospel and saw them bound by all kinds of struggles in life and not willing to accept the love of God, my heart ached.  When I saw brothers or sisters returning to the ways of the world even after they had tasted the goodness of God, I was filled with sorrow and helplessness.   How many times I mourned when I longed for people to follow Christ whole-heartedly and experienced His promised abundance but found them only bogged down various burdens, temptations, distractions and weaknesses!  Not to mention how weak, limited and lack of faith for myself.

 

Yet I rejoice! Among these sorrow and weaknesses, we have truly learned the meaning of “what is impossible for man is possible in God!”  I have witnessed many brothers and sisters were not defeated by trials and pains but have experienced how God poured His love on them in a new way.  My burdens were cast away as I saw real hope and faith blossomed in their lives.    I was also overjoyed to see non-believers turning to Christ one by one in the power of the Spirit when we felt we lack wisdom to convince and share.    What’s more, even though people were not growing up on my expected pace, I found an unprecedented peace to see God keeping and not failing each one of them. His thoughts are indeed higher than my thoughts!

 

Though I am weak and limited, God told me again and again, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Thanks God for He has healed my mom.  She has been a great blessing by  takeing great care of our household so that we can devote ourselves to the Lord. I also thank God for my wife Vivian to support me whole-heartedly through every challenge in family and ministries.  I also thank the Lord for keeping my 3 children: Jonah, Elim and Jesse to grow in stature, wisdom and in spirituality.   I also want to thank God for all of you who overflow us with your acceptance, forbearance, support and love.  It is my greatest joy and blessing to follow the LORD with all of you!

 

(translated by Mrs. Liu)