2015-04 (四月禱告信)

弟兄姊妹主內平安:

感謝主!福音營在主的恩典中順利完成,包括大人、小孩約有近200 人參加,其中福音朋友來了 52位,感謝主!17位福音朋友接受了耶穌做他們個人的救主,我們非常感謝主, 因為表示有三分之一的福音朋友決志接受主,這是一個讓我們興奮的比例。雖然我們舉辦過許多次的福音營及冬令會, 但這次讓我有下列更深的感受:

  1. 要更忠心的傳福音──福音工作雖不容易,但只要我們用心傳福音,主必動奇妙的善工。
  2. 要靠禱告與聖靈傳福音──我注意到一間教會有最多的人信耶穌, 原來他們早已為他們邀請的福音朋友禱告, 一月時已準備好了來參加。 這次每晚的守望禱告有極多的人參加, 為講員、及福音朋友禱告; 所以福音朋友的得救,不是只靠講員的信息, 完全在乎禱告及聖靈的大能。
  3. 要積極的去傳福音──福音營前我曾打電話給不同的校園,看看他們有多少福音朋友來參加音營?有幾間校園負責人都回答我說: 今年沒有福音朋友去參加,原因是在他們每週的聚會中已經沒有福音朋友了。更令人憂心的是,有些負責人嘆息地說:學生的流動性太快了,他們每週聚會時,學生的人數才只有幾位,其他都是家庭。聽了以後為他們聚會的情況難過,因為幾年前該校園聚會的學生人數也有好幾十位,現在只剩下約十分之一的人!學生流動性本來就較快,現在沒有學生來聚會, 是因為校園傳福音的速度不夠快,校園團契若不全體總動員傳福音,就趕不上傳福音該有的進度,學生會越來越少,就顯得家庭人數越來越多,學生就更不想去參加聚會,校園事工也就沒有盼望。校園弟兄姊妹必須為福音齊心努力,快快地將學生帶到主前。
  4. 基督徒要陪福音朋友來參加福音聚會──有一間校園邀請了十幾、近二十位福音朋友來參加,這是非常難得的,可惜來參加的弟兄姊妹還不到十位,因此只有一、兩位福音朋友信主,非常可惜!校園的弟兄姊妹要與福音朋友一同來參加福音營,才能有更好的果效。在福音營中,福音朋友需要弟兄姊妹的關懷,個別解答問題;弟兄姊妹也要鼓勵福音朋友去參加每一堂聚會,與牧師們及短宣隊談話。福音營不僅是為福音朋友預備,也是為弟兄姊妹預備的。弟兄姊姊在福音營中,也能聽到不少的培靈與基督徒的生活專題;更重要的是:本地的基督徒是本地福音朋友最好的陪談員。

五月門徒與同工訓練營 ( 5月17至22日):

還有一個多月學期就要結束了,為了建立下學期的學生同工,我們要鼓勵人參加五月的門徒與同工訓練。我們要鼓勵本年的畢業同學參加這次的培訓營,因為他們以後上班後,就更難來參加一週的門訓營;我們也要鼓勵暑假回國省親的學生先參加門徒營再回去,好帶著從神來的信息、裝備與能力,回去作主的見證。五月門徒訓練的講員為 :蘇文峰牧師、吳繼揚牧師及中心同工等;截止報名日期是: 5月15日,以上報名表已寄至各教會及團契,詳細資訊也可去中心網站查詢。

國殤週末帶職信徒訓練 (5月22至25日):

校園團契與教會不僅要有學生出來傳福音,也需要家庭作穩定的力量,建立、帶領與支持學生出來傳福音,在校園附近上班的弟兄姊妹,要成為學生的「小牧人」,帶領學生作主門徒,在校園建立美好的見證,好得著更多的人歸向神。帶職信徒訓練就是為了建立「小牧人」,好成全主的大使命。聚會信息多是幫助您知道如何在工作中為主作見證,也幫助您在繁重的工作、家庭的負擔及教會的事奉中取得平衡。由於聚會時間很短,因此我們要求必須全程參加,所以您可考慮星期五請半天假,這樣就能準時在下午五點半前來聚會。講員除了有:蘇文峰牧師、吳繼揚牧師外,還有李強生長老及中心同工等;報名截止日期為:5月15日,請盡早報名参加。以上報名表也已寄至各教會及團契,詳細資訊也可去中心網站查詢。

青少年門徒訓練營 (6月7至13日):

這一代的青少年是迷失的一代!學校所教的是顛倒的理論,同學與朋友將罪合理化,同居、同性戀是生活的選擇。若不好好的帶領兒女從小作主門徒,以後在這「各人偏行已路」的社會中,必隨波而去。基督工人中心的青少年門徒訓練營,不是一個給年輕人快樂玩耍一週的營會,乃是針對青年人所舉辦的門徒訓練營會,為了幫助年青人早早學習作主的門徒,得以一生走主的道路、日後在大學讀書時在同學中為主作見證、協助校園事工、上班後在公司中也能為主作美好的見證、在社會中為主發光。這次的講員是Pastor Fred Mok, Steve Tan 及 Jason McCray 與其他牧者們。今年因為要做恤衫 (T-Shirt) , 所以報名截止日期為:5月27日,請盡早報名参加並代禱,詳細資訊也請常上中心網站查詢。

八月讀經營 ( 8月2至8日):

這次讀經營將研讀大先知書。這幾本書讀來不易,所以許多弟兄姊妹均視為畏途,但這些書卻蘊藏了很多寶貝的屬靈功課。現已有許多弟兄姊妹在一月讀經營中交上了報名表,並已開始組讀經小組,認真地研讀。我們的講員為:從底特律來的諶志豪牧師和將特別從台灣回來的李玉惠姐妹。報名表已寄至眾教會及團契,所有讀經的資訊也都貼在中心網站上,請儘早報名並作準備。

代禱事項:

  1. 感謝主,三月福音營有不少福音朋友信主,請為各地的跟進工作禱告。
  2. 感謝主!新宿舍所有房間能已在福音營前完成並使用。多年來第一次福音營大家都有床位可睡。請為目前宿舍外的陽台、樓梯與排水系統的建築禱告。
  3. 請為五月門徒訓練營的邀請工作禱告,求主的靈感動並預備弟兄姊妹的心參加。
  4. 請為帶職信徒訓練營禱告,求主預備更多上班的弟兄姊妹來參加,好讓他們在職場、家庭及教會中為主作美好的見證。
  5. 請六月的青少年門徒訓練營禱告,求主帶領青少年人參加。
  6. 請為八月讀經營、及弟兄姊妹的準備功課禱告。
  7. 為中心同工們的服事禱告。

敬頌以馬內利

主內
高榮德敬上

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings in the Lord.

Praise the Lord! Gospel Camp went well by the grace of the Lord. Nearly two hundred adults and children attended the camp, with fifty-two gospel friends who had not yet accepted Christ. Praise the Lord! Seventeen of these gospel friends accepted Jesus as their Personal Savior, so we thank the Lord. One-third of the gospel friends accepted the Lord, an exciting ratio. Although we have held many Gospel Camps and Winter Conferences, I was especially moved about the following points this time:

  1. We must be more faithful in sharing the gospel with others. Even though evangelism is not easy, as long as we share the gospel with all of our hearts, the Lord will do amazing good work.
  2. We must share the gospel by depending on prayers and the Spirit. I noticed one group had the most people believing in Jesus. For three months, they had prayed for the gospel friends they invited. In this camp more than the usual proportion of people participated in the “watchman prayer meeting”, during which they pray for the speaker before and while he preaches. We prayed for the hearts of the nonbelievers. Thus, not only do the messages of the speakers stimulate confession of the faith, also prayers and the power of the Holy Spirit contribute.
  3. We must be more aggressive to share the gospel. Prior to the Gospel Camp I had called different campuses to see how many gospel friends would attend the Gospel Camp. Several church and campus leaders replied me: “There would be no gospel friends attending this year because we no longer have gospel friends joining our fellowship”. What was even more worrisome was some leaders sighed, “The turnover rate for students is too high, so at the weekly meetings there are only a few students and the rest are families.” I was very grieved to hear the condition of their church because several years ago in their fellowship they had scores of students. Now only one-tenth stay. Of course, the turnover rate is high. Students graduate. It is also because the rate of evangelizing is not quick enough that they don’t have more students at church. If campus fellowship doesn’t mobilize everyone to share the gospel, then it will not achieve the appropriate evangelizing rate. The number of students will decrease, which will make it seem like there are more families. So students are less likely to want to go to fellowship, and campus ministry becomes hopeless. Campus brothers and sisters must work together for the gospel, to quickly bring students to the Lord.
  4. Christians must attend the Gospel meetings with gospel friends. One campus invited nearly twenty gospel friends to the camp. That was incredible. It was too bad that fewer than ten Christians came from that campus. Only one or two gospel friends accepted the Lord. This was regrettable! Campus believers must attend Gospel meetings with gospel friends, so it will be more effective. During Gospel Camp, gospel friends need Christians to care for them and to answer questions; believers also need to encourage gospel friends to attend every session, to talk to pastors and short-term mission teams. Gospel Camp is not just for gospel friends but also for believers. At the Gospel Camp, Christians can also listen to many workshops on spiritual growth and Christian life. Most importantly, local Christians are the best counselors for local gospel friends.

May Discipleship and Coworker Training (May 17th-22nd):

The semester will end in a little over a month. In order to develop student coworkers for the next semester, we must encourage people to attend Disciple and Coworker Training in May. We need to encourage this year’s graduates to attend this training. Once they start work, it will be even harder to attend the week-long Discipleship Training. We also must encourage students who will visit families back home during the summer to not leave until after attending Discipleship Training. Thus they can go back with the message, equipped, and empowered from God to witness for the Lord. The speakers for May Discipleship Training are Rev. Edwin Su, Rev. David Wu, and CWC coworkers. The application deadline is May 15th. The application forms have been postal mailed to your churches and fellowships. Please refer to the CWC website for details.

Memorial Day Weekend Lay-Minister Discipleship Training (May 22nd-25th):

Campus fellowship and church not only need to have students step up to share the gospel, they also need families as a stable force to raise up, lead, and support students in sharing the gospel. Christians who work near campuses should become “Little Shepherds” for the students, leading students in discipleship, and having good testimonies on campus. Thus, more people can come to God. Lay-Minister Discipleship Training exists to raise up “Little Shepherds”, in order to accomplish the Great Commission of the Lord. The messages at this training mostly help you learn how to witness for the Lord at your work place, and help you balance a heavy workload, family burdens, and serving at church. Since the length of the training is short, we require you to attend full-time. Please consider taking a half day off on Friday, so you will arrive at CWC before 5:30pm. Besides Rev. Edwin Su and Rev. David Wu, speakers also include Elder Johnson Lee and CWC coworkers. Application deadline is May 15th; please apply early. The application forms have also been postal mailed to your churches and fellowships. For more detailed information, please refer to the CWC website.

Youth Discipleship Training (June 7th-13th):

This generation of youth is a lost generation! The schools teach them upside-down theories, their classmates and friends rationalize sin, and cohabitation and homosexuality are lifestyle choices. If we don’t lead our children to be the Lord’s disciples while they’re young, they will certainly go with the flow in this society where “everyone has turned to his own way”. This is not a week-long camp for young people to frolic and be entertained. It is a discipleship training tailored for the youth, aiming to help young people learn to be disciples of the Lord early in life. Then they may walk in the way of the Lord all their days, be witnesses for the Lord among classmates when they go on to college, assist with campus ministry, be wonderful witnesses at work in their future places of employment, and shine for the Lord in society. The speakers are Pastors Fred Mok, Steve Tan, and Jason McCray, and other pastors. Because we will make T-shirts this year, the application deadline is May 27th. Please apply early and pray for this camp. Please check the CWC website for details.

August Bible Camp (August 2nd-8th):

The Bible Camp will study the Major Prophets. These books are not easy to read. Many brothers and sisters are afraid to touch those hard books. However, hidden in these books are many precious spiritual lessons. Thus, many brothers and sisters already have submitted application forms, and they already have formed Bible study small groups for serious studying. Our speakers are Rev. Chih-Hao Shen coming from Detroit and Sister Grace Lee coming back from Taiwan. Application forms have been sent out, and all Bible reading information is posted on the CWC website. Please apply early and prepare adequately.

Prayer Requests:

  1. Praise the Lord, many gospel friends accepted the Lord at the March Gospel Camp. Please pray for the follow-up ministry everywhere.
  2. Praise the Lord! All of the rooms of the new dormitory were completed prior to and were used during Gospel Camp. For the first time in many years of Gospel Camp history, everyone had a bed to sleep in. Please pray for the construction of the balconies, stairways, and gutters for the dorm.
  3. Please pray for the invitation work for the May Discipleship Training, that the Spirit of the Lord moves and prepares brothers’ and sisters’ hearts to attend.
  4. Please pray for Lay-Minister Discipleship Training, that the Lord will prepare more working brothers and sisters to attend, so they may be wonderful witnesses for the Lord at work, at home, and at church.
  5. Please pray for the Youth Discipleship Training in June, for the Lord to lead young people to attend.
  6. Please pray for the August Bible Camp and for brothers and sisters’ homework preparation.
  7. Pray for the ministries of CWC coworkers.

Emmanuel: God is with us.

In Him,
Billy Ko