2013-10 (十月禱告信)

親愛的弟兄姐妹,

值此美麗的金秋十月在主裡向您問安!

九月短宣

感謝神在九月短宣之旅中的奇妙作為。由加州與德州三個教會組成的短宣隊參與了這次的宣教。我們往南深入德州、阿拉巴馬州、密西西比州、田納西州、肯塔基州、阿肯色州及奧克拉荷馬州;往北則遠至愛荷華州、威斯康辛州、明尼蘇達州、南達科塔州及北達科塔州。四支短宣隊的腳程遍及了超過一千哩的距離。雖然路程很長,我們卻經歷了神大能的手在各城市的作為,這也使得這趟宣教之旅非常有價值。威斯康辛州一個校園(我從不曾來過這裡)的同工對我說:「牧師,自從這個校園查經班在二十年前成立以來,您是第一個來講道的牧師。」我們也為他們這麼多年來忠心地關懷中國學生的福音事工感謝神。藉著這次的短宣,許多校園的團契實質上也真得著了靈裡的鼓勵。讓我們也繼續在禱告中記念他們。

新建築:

感謝神,八月短宣隊幫忙將一樓的內牆塗上了底漆;九月短宣隊則完成了油漆粉刷工作。整層樓煥然一新。空調設備也已經安裝完成。目前工人們正進行天花板和地板的裝設。我們禱告是盼望在年底前不僅一樓內的十個房間可以完工,連外牆的木板也能做好。自從建築工程開工一年以來,弟兄姐妹似乎有點忘記我們的建築工程仍然在進行中,因此對工程的奉獻也開始減少。大家都知道,基督工人中心是憑信心仰望神的供應,從不向銀行貸款。我們的建築進度完全按照所收到的奉獻來決定。最近我們只能僱用兩個工人進行家庭宿舍的工程。一樓的工程結束後,我們將會繼續二樓十個房間的建造;計劃在2014年的暑假能完工。屆時新宿舍將能容納近一百個人。請繼續為我們、也為建築工程代禱。

冬季各項聚會:

  1. 冬令會 將於十二月廿一至廿五日再度在密蘇里州堪薩斯城的Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center舉行。網上報名時間為十一月中開始至十二月十五日下午四時正嚴格截止。感謝神將要藉著祂的眾僕人傳講美好的信息:陳世協牧師、林永健牧師、張路加牧師、劉同蘇牧師、郝萬以嘉傳道,及美中各地的牧者等。求神藉著這個聚會使基督徒和教會得著復興,並拯救更多失喪的靈魂得以進入神永生的國度。請您為聚會代禱並預備您的心來參加。
  2. 十二月門徒訓練營 將於十二月廿五日傍晚至廿九日中午在基督工人中心的營地(Warsaw, MO)舉行。這是裝備信徒成為主門徒的時刻,使他們不但現在能在自己的校園中服事神,並且將來在返回自己的國家後繼續來服事神。以我們過去的經驗,許多公司在冬季的假期中會停工一段時間,而學生們通常都是在暑假時回鄉探親,因此我們預料來參加這個聚會的人數會比其他時段更多。去年十二月門徒訓練就有超過二百多位學員來參加聚會;由於中心的房間有限,我們不得不提早十天截止報名。請為聚會代禱並儘早報名。
  3. 一月讀經營將於十二月卅日傍晚至2014年一月四日中午在基督工人中心的營地(Warsaw, MO)舉行。嚴格報名截止日期為2013年十一月十日。我們將研讀普通書信。弟兄姐妹將會對這些書卷有更清楚的認識,也會喜愛讀神的話並且裝備自己更有效地研讀神的話語。講員有李玉惠姐妹和蘇桂村牧師。請為講員及聚會代禱。

謝謝您在禱告及財務上對基督工人中心的支持。願神豐盛地賜福您和您的一家。

在主裡與您一同服事的,

高榮德牧師

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings in the Lord during this beautiful season in October!

September Mission:

Thank God for His wonderful works in our September Mission trips. Three churches from California and Texas joined this mission. We extended outreach in the south—Texas , Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Oklahoma—and in the north, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota. The four teams walked over a thousand miles. Even though the trip was long, we experienced God’s almighty hands in the cities, and that made the trips rewarding. Campus coworkers in Wisconsin—I had never been there before—told me, “Pastor, since we started our group twenty years ago, you are the first pastor who preached to us.” Thank God for their faithful ministry to reach the Chinese students through such a long period. Indeed, through this mission many campuses got support spiritually. Let us keep remembering them in prayers.

New Building:

Thanks be to God that the August mission teams painted primer on all the walls of the first floor. The September mission team did the final painting. Right now the first floor looks new. The central air conditioning has been installed also. Workers are doing the ceiling and the floor. We pray that by the end of the year not only all the ten rooms of the first floor will be done, but also the outside siding will be done too. After one year of building, people began to forget we are still constructing the building, as the offering slowed down. As everybody knows, the CWC trusts the Lord and does not take bank loans. Our building progress depends on the progress of the offering coming in. Recently, we can hire only two workers to build this family dormitory. After finishing this first floor, we will continue work on the other ten rooms on the second floor. We project it can be completely done by the summer of 2014. At that time, we can accommodate around 100 people in this new building. Please continue praying for us and this project.

Upcoming Meetings in the Winter:

  1. Winter Conference will be held again at Kansas City, Missouri at the Sheraton Hotel in the Crown Center from December 21 to 25. The online registration runs from mid-November to December 15, 4:00 pm—a strict due date and time! Thank God for many wonderful messages He will bring to us through His servants: Pastor Albert Ting, Pastor Brian Lam, Pastor Luke Zhang, Pastor Tongsu Liu, Minister Rosie Hao, and other local speakers. We pray that God will bring revival to all Christians and churches through this meeting and bring many souls into the eternal Kingdom. Please pray for the conference and prepare our hearts to come.
  2. December Discipleship Training Camp will be held at CWC at Warsaw, MO from December 25th evening to 29th noontime. It is one of the important times to train people to be His disciples, that they can serve Him from their campuses now and serve Him in their home countries in the future. In our experience, some companies shut down during this holiday season, and some people fly back to their home countries in the summer, so we expect more attendees than for other camps. Last December more than 200 people attended. With limited space, we were forced to close registration ten days early. We ask you to pray for this camp and apply as early as you can.
  3. January Bible Camp will also be held at CWC at Warsaw, MO. from December 29th evening to January 4th noontime. The strict due date is November 10, 2013. We will study the General Epistle. Brothers and sisters come to better understand these books. They develop a love for the word of God and will be equipped to study the word of God effectively. Our speakers will be Sister Grace Lee and Pastor David Su. Please pray for them and the camp.

Thanks for your support to the CWC ministry on the prayers and finance. May our Lord bless you and your family greatly.

In Him

Billy Ko (Pastor and Director)