2015-08 (八月禱告信)

親愛的弟兄姐妹主內平安:

暑假即將過去,新學期就在眼前,現在已進入八月了!是要開始預備八月新學期、新同學到來。我們準備好近接新同學沒有?中心八月份的各樣事工,就是為了協助校園,建立新一代的同工,在校園中見證與事奉主!

迎新秘訣

去年底奧巴馬總統在訪問中國後說: 要放寬中國人來美國的簽證,學生簽證從一年一簽轉至一簽五年,讓學生在求學期間,進出美國更加自如,能安心在美國讀書。看來中國學生本年的增加率,會比以前更高,但我們預備好迎接他們沒有?

更多的學生來到我們的校園,不一定代表我們的學生團契下學期會更興旺,會或有更多學生來參加。在過去一年,我曾造訪幾間校園團契,雖然整體校園學生的數目為數甚多,但聚會的學生人數卻非常的少,只有幾個,大部份來參加的,都是教授與家屬,應當是學生團契,卻成為教授團契。這顯示我們沒有好好的去作迎新事工,這些都給我們許多反思。

在新學期開始前,迎新必須同時兼顧兩種事工:愛心事工與福音事工,缺一不可,兩者要同時進行。

A. 愛心事工:

新同學來時我們去接機、安排住宿、協助新同學找住處、開銀行戶口、辦入學手續、購置生活用品等等,這些愛心事工,一般來說,每年大家都盡了很大的力量去作,也令新同學很受感動。但常碰到最大的的困難就是:愛心關懷的人手不足。如何解決迎新人手不足的問題?

  1. 上班的弟兄姊妹要參與新同學愛心關懷事工:上班的弟兄姊妹往往是校園團契或教會的主要同工,是學生所看重的,千萬不要只吩咐學生去接待新同學,自己卻沒有出來作關懷的榜樣,只坐在辦公室,卻不出來迎接學生。這會影響學生作迎新關懷的意願。上班的弟兄姊妹可以考慮在迎新期間,請假一天,走在「前線」,與學生們擕手接待新同學。
  2. 早早宣佈迎新同工的需要:每年春季時(就是在學生買暑期返鄉機票前)就告訴學生同工,讓他們早早知道迎新事工的重要,請他們不要在最後幾天才回到學校,早些回來參與迎新事工。
  3. 不要因迎新接待事工而不參加門訓營會:迎新事工是為了目前短期的需要,門訓是為了學生事工長期的需要,建立同工走更遠的路,更有效的事奉主。當要在兩者中作一選擇時,理當先選擇參加門訓營會。我們應當鼓勵人參加營會,鼓勵要出去旅遊的人留下作迎新事工。若鼓勵參加訓練的人留下校園作迎新,常常就是鼓勵人安心出外遊玩。

B. 福音事工:

愛心事工是為福音事工舖路的,我們若作很多的愛心事工,卻沒有有效的作福音事工實在太可惜了。雖然愛心的擺上是不會完全白作的,但對校園事工卻失去影響力。校園事工就是為了向學生傳福音,快快向學生傳福音,校園事工才會興旺。迎新時作福音事工的秘訣有下列數項:

  1. 不要怕在迎新時傳福音 – 有不少校園害怕在迎新時傳福音,以為會將新同學嚇走,以後不敢來。也常有人說:每年迎新會來參加的同學一大堆,但最後留下來的同學不到十分之一,所以還是不要勞師動眾的去傳福音了。但這種觀念是不對的,須知:有傳福音就有收穫;不傳福音, 什麼果子都不會有。 您更要深思: 也許這些同學只有在迎新會的時候來教會一次,這很可能是他們四年求學期間,唯一一次在教會聽到福音的機會,我們豈能不珍惜?把握機會將福音傳給他們,切莫以活動代替了福音。
  2. 把握福音黃金時期 – 趁著福音朋友需要我們時,趕快向他們傳福音。等他們安頓下來,或買了車子,我們就沒有機會向他們傳福音了。新同學來校園後,前兩個月是傳福音的黃金時機,我們必須把握。
  3. 邊作關懷,邊傳福音 – 幫新同學辦理手續時,邊排隊、邊傳福音。幫新同學時, 請他們吃個冰淇淋,同時傳福音。請他們吃飯後,更要傳福音。

與短宣隊配搭傳福音 – 迎新同工缺乏,能將關懷事工作好就不錯了,無力作福音事工。我們可以與短宣隊配搭,同學作愛心事工,短宣作福音事工。一同將同學帶到主前。
新同學是主給我們看顧的小羊,求主幫助我們同心合意將他們帶到主前,讓他們早日得救,好好的幫助他們成為主可用的小羊,帶動校園事工的興旺,建立教會與神國度將來的同工。

 

親愛的弟兄姐妹主內平安:

暑假即將過去,新學期就在眼前,現在已進入八月了!是要開始預備八月新學期、新同學到來。我們準備好近接新同學沒有?中心八月份的各樣事工,就是為了協助校園,建立新一代的同工,在校園中見證與事奉主!

八月讀經營 (8月2至8日) – 建立帶領查經的同工:

當你接到這封信時,大先知書讀經營已經開始了,請為來參加的弟兄姊妹禱告,求主幫助他們不僅更深明白聖經,也更熟練讀經方法,不僅自己讀經更有領受,也能更有效的帶領查經,用神的話去幫助別人。請為講員諶志豪牧師和李玉惠姐妹禱告。

八月門徒與同工訓練營 (8月9至15日) – 建立學生作主門徒與校園同工:

讀經營之後的門徒訓練營,就是為建立下一學年度的學生,建立新的同工,起來在校園事奉主 ,帶領更多新同學歸主。請為這次訓練營講員呂紹昌牧師、陳召清牧師及中心同工禱告,求主更多使用他們。截止報名日期是七月三十一日,請儘速預備心、並更多邀請人來參加。(請參看中心網頁)

暑期短宣隊:

開學時要全力作愛心事工與福音事工,東西岸的短宣隊將來美中協助新學期福音事工。本年將有十隊福音隊與中心同工配搭,在美中校園傳主福音。這次短宣隊仍分兩梯次來美中各校園宣道,第一梯次日期為 8月21-30日,六隊短宣將在Missouri與 相連的各州傳福音,包括:Kansas, Arkansas,Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,共二、三十多間校園傳主的福音。另外有 四隊短宣隊將於 9月11-20日會到離開Missouri州較遠的美中南、中北部校園事奉,他們的脚踪將遠達Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, N. and S. Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois傳主的福音,求主讓各地弟兄姊妹都可以與短宣隊有美好的配搭,使短宣弟兄姊妹能留下佳美的腳踪,為主多得靈魂,更能挑旺美中各地弟兄姊妹傳福音的心志,使福音事工更興旺。若你們校園需要短宣隊與您們一起同工, 在新的學期好好傳福音,請儘早與我們聯絡。也請為這次的短宣事工禱告!

代禱事項:

  1. 請為八月份讀經營禱告,求主加添同工力量去完成,建立弟兄姊妹愛讀主話語的心,並裝備參加者將來能有果效的去分享神的話語。
  2. 請為八月門徒與同工訓練營的準備與推動禱告,求主建立新一代的見證人與校園同工。
  3. 請為各營會的講員禱告,求主賜下聖靈的智慧與口才,弟兄姊妹得被建立。
  4. 請為暑期短宣隊禱告,求主的靈與他們同去,賜福他們的腳踪,更多結果子歸與主。
  5. 感謝主!中心營地建造同工Pastor Shull雖然經過心臟手術,藉著弟兄姊妹的禱告,他得了醫治,現在又重回工作的崗位。
  6. 為高牧師與師母在Columbia, MO的事奉禱告,求主的靈加添他們身體與靈裡的興旺,使哥城與美中的福音事工都得興旺。
  7. 為江士民姊妹週間繁忙的行政與營會的準備工作禱告,也賜福她週末的在各校園的事奉。
  8. 為關靜純姊妹在Fayetteville AR 與 Pittsburg, KS 的事奉禱告,求主藉著她,建立Arkansas州西北的學生與家庭事工。
  9. 為潘曉明弟兄一家在美中南部的事奉禱告,求主賜福他一家的事奉,保守他即將進大學的兒子,能在學業與靈命上被建立。
  10. 為維修同工Daniel Long一家禱告,求主協助賜福Daniel 的維修工作,並為他小孩的學業禱告,也賜福他妻子的身體健康。
  11. 為家庭宿舍 B (別示巴樓)工程完工感恩!目前只等待好的天氣,泥土乾燥後,就可進行庭外的整理。
  12. 因最近聚會人數增加, 迦南樓的洗手間顯得非常不夠,我們準備多加建幾間,請為此禱告。
  13. 為中心的經費禱告,求主彰顯祂的豐盛、並求神興起更多對學生工作有負擔的弟兄姐妹,與我們一同配搭!
    願主賜福您!

主內
高榮德敬上

The Secrets to Welcoming New Students

After visiting China at the end of 2014, President Obama increased the availability of US visas to Chinese citizens. He also increased the duration for student and exchange visas from one year to five years. Chinese students can enter and exit the US with more freedom. They can study without worrying about their visa status. We anticipate the number of Chinese students this year will quite exceed previous levels. Are we ready to receive them?

More students arriving on campus doesn’t necessarily mean our student fellowship will have more people next semester. In the past year I visited several campus fellowships. Although the total population of students on campus was large, the number of students who attended fellowship was small, just a few people, mostly professors and their families. What were meant to be student fellowships had become professorial fellowships. These demographics revealed we could do better with new student ministry and gave us much to reflect upon.

Before the start of the new semester, welcoming new students requires two simultaneous ministries: caring ministry and gospel ministry. One cannot succeed without the other.

A. Caring Ministry

When new students come, we help them with airport pickup, temporary lodging, finding a place to live for a longer span, opening bank accounts, registering as new students, shopping for necessities, and other matters that challenge newcomers. Every year we spend a huge amount of effort in these caring ministries, making new students feel welcome. The biggest and most frequent challenge encountered is having sufficient people for caring ministry. Here are a few ways we solve this problem.

  1. Brothers and sisters who are working should set aside time for the caring ministry to new students. The established, working believers should lead by example more than by command. Caring service also is a great opportunity for local believers who don’t speak the language of the newcomers to demonstrate God’s love to the stranger. Whoever you are, you must get out from behind your office desk and personally meet the new students. Not only does this encourage the newcomers, this encourages those new to the caring ministry. Lead in the front lines, working alongside those who were newcomers last year. Together receive the newest students.
  2. Announce and plan well ahead of time regarding the need for coworkers to welcome new students. In the spring, when students are buying summer plane tickets to go home, instruct student coworkers of the importance of the welcome ministry. Ask them to choose an earlier return date to campus so they can participate in the welcome ministry.
  3. Don’t skip discipleship training for the sake of the welcoming ministry. Welcoming ministry is meeting a short-term need. Discipleship training is meeting the long-term need of student ministry, building up coworkers for the long road ahead, so they may serve the Lord more effectively. Prioritize. Instead of an extended vacation, come back to help with the welcoming ministry. Instead of helping with the welcoming ministry, if discipleship training is available and you haven’t attended that, pause the welcoming and attend discipleship training.

B. Gospel Ministry

Caring ministry prepares the way for gospel ministry. Yet if we accomplish much caring ministry without pressing the gospel, we have given water but not living water, bread but not the Bread of Life. Although caring ministry is not entirely wasted, without the gospel we lose the opportunity for continuing campus ministry. The purpose of campus ministry is to share the gospel with students; revival comes when we share the gospel promptly. Here are a few keys to gospel ministry when welcoming new students.

  1. Don’t be afraid to share the gospel when caring for new students. Many believers are afraid to share the gospel in the welcome meetings, thinking they would scare off the new students to never return. We often hear people reason, “Every year a bunch of new students come to the Welcome Meeting, but less than a tenth stay, so let us not waste time to share the gospel with people who won’t stay.” This is an erroneous perspective. Know this: If you share the gospel, not all seeds will grow, but there will be a harvest. If you don’t share the gospel, there will be not even one blossom, not even one fruit. Please carefully consider this: For some students the Welcome Meeting may be the only time they will come to church during their four years in college, the only opportunity they’d hear the gospel at church. How can we not treasure that? We must seize the opportunity to share the gospel with them. We must not let good service substitute for the best service.
  2. Make the most out of the golden period for the gospel. When nonbelievers need us, share the gospel with them as much as we can. After they have settled down, perhaps bought a car, started earnest study, we will not have the opportunity to share the gospel with them. The first two months is the golden opportunity to share the gospel. We must make the most out of that initial interval.
  3. Care and share at the same time. When you are helping newcomers with registration, share the gospel while you wait in line. Treat them to ice cream and share the gospel at the same time. After you’ve treated them to a meal, share the gospel with them.
  4. Work with short-term mission teams to share the gospel. Without sufficient coworkers for the welcome ministry, it may be a stretch to provide adequate caring ministry, such that there are no resources left for gospel ministry. We can work with short-term mission teams, so students can focus on caring ministry, while the teams focus on gospel ministry, working together to bring the new students before the Lord.

New students are the lambs whom the Lord has charged to our care. Pray the Lord will help us work in unity to bring them before Him, that they would be saved, that we would help them grow in the Lord, and that they would be established as coworkers for building up the church and the Kingdom of God.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace be with you in our Lord.

Summer will be over soon. The new semester is before us. It is time to prepare for the new semester, for the new students who are coming. Are we ready to receive new students? The two August camps at CWC are designed to help campuses build up the new generation of coworkers to witness for and serve the Lord on their campuses!

August Bible Camp (August 2nd to 8th) builds up coworkers to lead Bible studies. When you receive this newsletter, the Bible Camp to study Major Prophets has already begun. Please pray for the brothers and sisters who are attending the camp, that the Lord would help them not only have a deeper understanding of the Scripture but also become more familiar with how to read the Bible. Thus not only will they have better insights when they read the Bible on their own, but also they will be equipped to lead Bible study more effectively and use the Word of God to help others. Please pray for the speakers, Rev. Chih-Hao Shen and Sister Grace Lee.

August Discipleship and Coworker Training (August 9th to 15th) builds up students to become disciples of the Lord and campus coworkers. The discipleship training following Bible Camp aims to train those who are students to become new coworkers, so they can rise up and serve the Lord on campus, so they can lead more new students to the Lord. Please pray for the speakers for this training, Pastor Jeffrey Lu, Pastor Matthew Ding, and CWC coworkers; pray the Lord will use them mightily. Application deadline is July 31st. Please prepare your hearts and invite more people to attend. Please see the CWC website.

Summer Short-Term Mission Teams from the US east and west coasts will come to the Midwest and assist with the new semester gospel ministry. Let us pour our full effort into caring ministry and gospel ministry at the start of the semester. This year there will be ten mission teams working with CWC coworkers to share the gospel in the Midwest campuses. They will visit Midwest campuses at two different times. The first group will come from August 21st through 30th, with six short-term mission teams sharing the gospel in twenty to thirty-some campuses throughout Missouri and surrounding states, including Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. The second wave of short-term mission teams will leave Missouri and serve from September 11th through 20th in campuses that are further away to the north and south; their feet will take the good news as far as Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Pray the Lord will lead brothers and sisters everywhere to have good teamwork with the short-term mission teams, that the teams will leave beautiful footprints, win more souls for the Lord, fan the flame to share the gospel in the hearts of brothers and sisters across the Midwest, and revive our gospel ministry. If your campus needs a short-term mission team to work with you, to share the gospel in the new semester, please contact us early. Please pray for this year’s short-term mission ministry!

Prayer Requests:

  1. Please pray for August Bible Camp, that the Lord will give coworkers strength to carry this out, that brothers and sisters will grow a love for God’s Word, and those who attend will be equipped and able to share God’s Word effectively.
  2. Please pray for the preparation and invitation for August Discipleship and Coworker Training. May God raise up a new generation of witnesses and campus coworkers.
  3. Please pray for the speakers for each training, that the Lord will give them wisdom and words from the Holy Spirit, so brothers and sisters may be built up.
  4. Please pray for the summer short-term mission teams, that the Spirit of the Lord will be with them, bless their steps, so they will bear more fruit for the Lord.
  5. Praise the Lord! God heard the prayers of brothers and sisters. Despite heart surgery, CWC camp site building coworker, Pastor Shull, has healed and has returned to work.
  6. Pray for Pastor Ko and Mrs. Ko’s ministry in Columbia, MO, that the Spirit of the Lord will add strength to their bodies and spirits, so gospel ministry in Columbia and the Midwest can thrive.
  7. Pray for Sister Cindy Chiang’s busy administrative work during the week and preparation work for training camps. Also, pray for blessings upon her campus ministries on the weekends.
  8. Pray for Sister Ching Chun Kuan’s campus ministry both at Fayetteville, AR, and Pittsburg, KS, that the Lord will use her to establish the student and family ministries in northwestern Arkansas.
  9. Pray for the ministry of Brother John Pan’s family in southern Midwest, that the Lord will bless the work of their hands.
  10. Pray for his son who will be attending college, that he may grow both academically and spiritually.
  11. Pray for our maintenance coworker, Daniel Long and his family; pray the Lord will bless Daniel’s maintenance work, bless his children’s school work, and bless his wife with good health.
  12. Praise the Lord for the completion of “Motel B,” Beersheba Hall! Once the weather improves and the soil dries, we can proceed with outside landscaping.
    With more people attending trainings, the bathrooms in Canaan Hall are not enough to meet the needs, so we are planning to build more bathrooms. Please pray for this project.
  13. Pray for the CWC’s finances, that the Lord will reveal His fullness. Please also pray that more brothers and sisters who have the burdens on the student ministry will be raised up and work with us!

May the Lord bless you!

In Him,
Billy Ko (Director and Pastor)