2014-10 (十月禱告信)

親愛的弟兄姐妹們 ,

在此美麗的金秋時節在主裡向您問安!

九月短宣:
九月短宣通常是行程跑的最遠、 但也卻總是滿了祝福。 三隊裡面的兩隊短隊遠征了北部各州, 如: 南、北達科達州、明尼蘇達州、威斯康新州及伊利諾州等。 我隨行的短宣隊前往了Mankato州立大學所在的明尼蘇達州Mankato城, 這是高師母卅八年前曾在此求學的母校。在不知道校園中是否有中國基督徒或查經班的情況下, 我們相信神會為我們開啟向中國學生傳福音的門。短宣隊出發的前幾天, 我打電話給Mankato當地的美國教會尋找可能的佈道聚會地點。 感謝神, 我所連絡的第一個教會立刻答應讓我們使用他們的教會。 我問教會的秘書: 教會離學校多遠? 她說只隔了三條街。 感謝神為我們預備了這麼好的地點。當我向這位秘書道再見時,她竟然用中文回說: 謝謝! 也因此讓我知道這是一間對中國學生宣教有異象的教會。 感謝神, 我們和這個美國教會有很好的配搭。雖然只有十位同學來參加聚會, 卻是全校中國同學總數的三分之一。 感謝神有三位同學在聚會中接受耶穌作他們的救主,也就是全校中國同學的百分之十! 我們為神大能的作為和供應讚美祂。八月與九月的短宣行程中, 短宣隊都被差派到北阿拉巴馬大學所在的Florence。這個校園約有兩百位中國同學。由於之前並沒有與華人基督徒的接觸, 我們憑著信心前去向學生傳福音。感謝神, 很多人來參加了聚會。 我們計劃在這個校園建立一個查經班。有一位美國弟兄在這兩個梯次的聚會都來參加, 他告訴短宣隊:他為能在校園內有一個中文查經班已經禱告了十年。 請為在北阿拉巴馬大學即將成立的中文查經班代禱。許多同學參加了八月與九月的短宣聚會,並在會中接受了基督。短宣隊在南達科達時,一位同學信了主,他告訴我他才剛到美國三個星期,這是他第一次參加福音聚會。剛到美國一個月之內就信主的情形, 也在許多其他的地方發生。事實上,神早已在這許多的人來到美國之前,就預備了他們的心要領受救恩。 若我們沒有抓住這次宣教的機會, 我們就錯過了許多的大好時機。

新宿舍:
新宿舍的工程仍然在進行中。短宣隊來時, 已幫忙粉刷了二樓的三個房間。 八、九月的短宣隊都利用他們在中心停留的那個星期一幫忙做了許多維修的工作。 我們為他們在主裡的勞苦感謝神。 求神幫助我們在十二月門徒訓練之前, 至少可以完成三個房間。也請為工程所需要的經費代禱。

冬季聚會:

(A) 冬令會將於十二月廿四晚上至廿八日中午,在密蘇里州堪薩斯城的Sheraton Hotel in Crown Center舉行。網上報名時間為十一月中至十二月中 (嚴格截止時間為十二月十九日、週五、中部時間晚上十一時五十九分) 。講員有林三綱弟兄、莊祖鯤牧師、賴若瀚牧師與賴鍾桂珍師母、馮偉牧師、鍾舜貴牧師及其他本地牧師。請為講員們代禱, 求神大大使用祂忠心的僕人。也為參加者代禱, 求神預備他們的心, 使人的靈得復興, 有更多人接受基督的救恩。求神也帶領學生們在來美的第一個學期就能接受基督。學生們越早信主, 就能越快地開始接受裝備服事神。

(B) 十二月門徒訓練將於十二月廿八日晚上至2015年一月三日中午在中心舉行。報名嚴格截止時間為十二月十九日。許多人以為冬令會是基督工人中心最成功的聚會, 但中心同工卻認為門徒訓練才是中心最重要的聚會。這個訓練對許多參加者的生命有非常深遠的影響。一個星期的訓練能幫助弟兄姐妹與主建立好的關係, 並裝備好在回到自己校園後更有效地服事主。感謝主, 我們已經接到63份的報名表。請為聚會及講員林三綱弟兄及賴若瀚牧師代禱。也請您儘早報名、並鼓勵其他的基督徒同來參加。我們發現:當一群弟兄姐妹一起接受裝備, 回到校園時將會成為很好的同工, 神也會藉著他們在校園中帶來改變。

(C) 一月讀經營將於2015年一月四日至十日在中心舉行。嚴格的報名截止日期為十一月十五日。這次我們將研讀但以理書和啟示錄。這兩本書除了幫助弟兄姐妹明白末世論, 我們也將更認識榮耀的基督和祂的再來。啟示錄是幫助我們認識基督、和祂的榮耀、並預備我們的心迎見祂的偉大書卷。請為聚會代禱, 並儘早報名,以便早早開始準備作業。講員為李玉惠姐妹及中心同工。目前已有七十六位弟兄姐妹報名。請為他們及聚會代禱。

願神祝福您和您的一家

在主裡的,
高榮德牧師
基督工人中心主任

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greeting in the Lord during the beautiful fall season.

September Mission:

September mission is always the longest trip, but always with many blessings. Two mission teams went to northern states such as South and North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The team I was with went to Mankato, MN, home of Mankato State University. Thirty-eight years ago my wife studied there. Without knowing any Chinese Christians or knowing whether they have any Chinese Bible study group there, we trusted the Lord to open the door for us to reach the Chinese students there. A few days before the mission team went there, I called an American church at Mankato to look for a possible meeting place for our gospel meeting. Thank God, the first church I called immediately allowed us to use their facility. I asked the secretary, how far is the church from the university? She said it is only three blocks away. Thank God for such a nice location He gave us to use. When I said good-bye to that secretary on the phone, she replied with, ‘xie xie’, which means ‘thanks’ in the Chinese language. I know that this church has a mission mind for Chinese students. Thank God, we had a great outreach with the American church there. Although, only ten people came for the gospel meeting, that is one-third of the Chinese student population. Thank God that three people accepted Jesus as their Savior in the meeting—ten percent of the Chinese students on that campus. We praise God for His wonderful works and great provision as long as we are willing to co-labor with Him.

In both the August and September mission trips, we sent mission teams went to Florence, AL (Northern Alabama University). There are about 200 Chinese students there. Without any previous contact for Chinese Christians there, by faith we went there to reach out to the students as a new mission project. Thank God, many students attended both meetings. We are planning to start a Chinese Bible study group there. An American brother came to both meetings. He told the mission teams that for ten years he had been praying that there will be a Chinese Bible student group. He thanked God for answering His prayers. God really listens to prayers. Please pray for this new Chinese Bible study group at Northern Alabama University.

Many people attended the gospel meetings of the August and September mission trips. Many students accepted Christ in these missions. A student decided to accept Christ when the mission team was in South Dakota. He told me that he just arrived United States only three weeks ago. It is the first gospel meeting he attended. He was only one of many new students who accepted Christ within one month after they arrived at the States. Indeed, God has prepared many hearts to accept Him even before they arrived here. If we do not take this opportunity to reach out them for Christ, we have missed a great opportunity already.

New Building:
Our new dormitory is still under construction. Three rooms on the second floor were ready for painting. Thank God that the mission team did a good painting job there. The mission teams also helped many maintenance works while they stayed one Monday at the Center during their mission trip. We thank God for their labors in Christ. We pray that at least half of the rooms on the second floor can be done before the December Discipleship Training. Please pray for the project and the financial need, that we can finish those rooms in time for those who will come to the December Training.

Upcoming Meetings in the Winter:

(A) Winter Conference will be held at Kansas City, Missouri at Sheraton Hotel in Crown Center, from Dec. 24th evening to 28th noontime. The online registration will start from mid-Nov to Mid-Dec. (Dec. 19 Friday 11:59 pm Central time is the strict due date and time). Please pray for the meeting that God will use His faithful servants: Brother Bellman Lin , Pastor Tsu-Kung Chuang , Pastor and Mrs. Johann Lai , Pastor Wei Feng , Pastor Norman Chung and other local pastors to share His Words. Please pray that many hearts will be revived and many souls will accept Christ. We also pray that God will lead many students to accept Christ in their first semester. The sooner the student accepts the Lord, the sooner they can be equipped to serve Him.

(B) December Discipleship Training Camp will be held at CWC at Warsaw, MO from Dec. 28th evening to Jan. 3rd noontime. The strict due date is Dec. 19, 2014. Many people suppose the Winter Conference is the most successful meeting for the CWC ministry annually. But all the CWC coworkers realize that Disciple Training is the most important camp of each year. It will deeply influence many who attend. A week of intensive discipleship training will help brothers and sisters build their relationship with God and well-equip them to serve the Lord as they return to their campuses. We praise God so far we already have 63 application forms. Please pray for this camp and the speakers: Brother Bellman Lin and Rev. Johann Lai. Please apply earlier and also encourage other Christians to come. We noticed that when a group of students come for the Discipleship Training together, they will have coworkers to serve the Lord when they return to their campuses. God will change the campus through them.

(C) January Bible Camp will also be held at CWC at Warsaw, MO. from Jan. 4th to 10th, 2015. The strict due date is Nov. 15, 2014. We will study the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel. Besides helping brothers and sisters understand the end time, brothers and sisters will know the glorious Christ and His return. Revelation is a great book to help us know Christ in His glory and prepare our hearts to meet him. Please pray for this camp. Please apply earlier and start preparing your homework earlier. Our speakers will be Sister Grace Lee and coworkers of the CWC. So far we already had 76 applications. Please pray for them and the camp.

May God bless you and your family.

In Him
Billy Ko (Pastor and Director)