2013-04 (四月禱告信)

親愛的弟兄姐妹們,

在主裡誠摯地向您問安!在這春季,願上帝祝福的恩雨從天上傾福於您!

謝謝您的代禱與記念,三月福音營已圓滿的結束,共約有三百人參加了這次的聚會。中心每一個可使用的的房間、地板及空間都塞滿了這些參加者。除了附近密蘇里、堪薩斯、阿肯色及愛荷華各州來參加聚會的人以外,還有很多人是遠從芝加哥(伊利諾州)、奧克拉荷馬州、德州、密西西比、和肯塔基等州來參加。其中有八十位的慕道朋友。這些慕道朋友之所以會來參加聚會,是受到他們那些有心傳福音的基督徒朋友所邀請。有些教會也鼓勵信徒來參與陪談或提供接送的服事。很多時候,在校園裡邀請人參加福音聚會並不是一件容易的事,但因著這些有負擔的弟兄姐妹的努力,越來越多人聽到有關福音營的聚會並且願意來參加。所以栽培學生基督徒在自己校園分享福音是非常重要的。感謝神!這次大約有廿多位福音朋友接受基督作為他們的救主!請為他們的屬靈成長代禱。也求神幫助弟兄姐妹有效地跟進幫助這些初信者。

聖地進修團 (六月十七至廿八日)

目前中心同工們正緊鑼密鼓地籌備這一次的聖地進修之旅。這不是一個觀光旅遊團,而是聖經學習團。我們將跟隨主耶穌在耶路撒冷的腳蹤,之後再跟著保羅行蹤由以色列一直到土耳其與希臘。在以色列期間,我們將從耶路撒冷開始,接著到保羅被囚坐監兩年的該撒利亞,並前往約帕,隨後將從特拉維夫搭乘飛機前往伊斯坦堡。伊斯坦堡是東羅馬帝國的首都,也是東正教的主要城市。從伊斯坦堡我們將飛往參觀啟示錄所記載的七個教會。在參觀完七個教會之後,我們就會跟著保羅第二次宣教之旅的腳蹤,一直到希臘。也就是:我們會從保羅看到馬其頓異象的特羅亞(使徒行傳 16:6-10)起行,繼續前往腓立比、帖撒羅尼迦、庇哩亞、雅典和哥林多(使徒行傳 16-18章)。有別於其它的「保羅宣教之旅」進修團,我們這一團的行程還特別包括了以色列,因為耶路撒冷一直是弟兄姐妹所最喜愛的地方。這個進修之旅將增廣我們對猶太歷史和福音的了解。我們將明白以色列人如何悖逆神,以及主耶穌如何為世人捨命流血。這次的學習之旅也將幫助我們更多了解使徒們的行傳和保羅書信,福音是如何傳給保羅和初期教會的。由於這是一個聖經學習團,因此只開放給基督徒參加。學習材料將於報名後提供給您。我們特別安排在暑假期間舉辦此進修團,目的就是讓您能帶全家同行。相信每一位參加者都將領受極大的祝福。詳細的資訊及報名表已張貼在中心網站上 (請按此處)。由於機票價格每週都可能調升,所以請您儘早跟我們報名。

新宿舍工程:

感謝神,雖然新宿舍底層的八個房間還沒有完全竣工,但在福音營期間,我們仍須打開給眾多的弟兄姐妹們使用;雖然房間裡已有衛浴設備,但卻沒有地毯、牆板尚未完工、也沒有中央空調,只能每個房間暫時放一個電暖爐取暖,我們需要加緊完成新宿舍的建造,請您在禱告中記念此一工程。估計工程全部完工仍需要十五萬美元,也請您為所需要的建築工人禱告。在過去兩年,凡來參加過中心營會的弟兄姐妹,特別是有孩子的家庭,都親眼目睹我們需要加蓋新宿舍的急迫性;這些家庭在遞交報名表時,常常很關心我們有沒有足夠的家庭房間?所以在過去的兩年,有時使我們不得不在預定報名截止日期前一週、甚至十一天前,就要提早截止報名。求神幫助我們儘早完成這項工程,好使得那些願意接受聖經裝備、門徒訓練或來聽福音的人都有房間可住。

五月門徒訓練 (五月十九至廿四日)

門徒訓練將緊接在各大學五月畢業之後舉行。這是裝備畢業生在他們所將要居住的國家為主發光很重要的時刻。也有許多學生計劃返鄉探親時,在他們的朋友及家人面前為基督作見證。因此來參加這次的門徒訓練對他們來說更是非常重要。林三綱弟兄及李悌華姐妹將為我們的講員。請為您自己、也為講員及整個聚會代禱。詳細資訊及報名表請按此處。

帶職信徒訓練營 (五月廿四至五月廿七日)

國殤週末的訓練營是專為全職工作的基督徒而預備,目的是幫助弟兄姐妹屬靈的成長,並裝備他們在教會及校園中服事主。感謝神在各大學預備了許多中國教授與職員,這些弟兄姐妹正是神所使用去向學生傳福音的重要管道。求神使用這個營會來裝備每一位參加者在他們的工作場所為神作見證、並帶領多人歸入基督。講員包括: 林三綱弟兄、李悌華姐妹及謝文傑長老。我們也正加緊趕工,盼望能在聚會前有更多家庭宿舍供應參加者的需要。請預備您的心來參加、並早日報名。詳細資訊及報名表請按此處。

六月青少年門徒訓練營(六月二至八日)

裝備您家中的青少年成為耶穌的門徒是十分重要的。青少年門徒訓練營不像許多青少年夏令營以遊樂活動或學科學習為主,它乃是一個帶領青年基督徒委身跟隨耶穌的訓練營。聚會將以英語教導。講員包括: Peter Fong 牧師 (來自加州聖荷西)、趙崇輝牧師 (來自聖路易市)、陳瑞基牧師 (來自堪薩斯市),以及其他美中地區的青少年傳道人。請為此聚會禱告,並鼓勵您的孩子快快報名。更多資訊將於近期張貼上網。

八月讀經營 (七月廿八至八月三日)

我們在一月讀經營結束後,就已開始接受八月讀經營的報名。這次我們將研讀保羅書信(羅馬書至腓利門書)。感謝神,目前已有將近一百位弟兄姐妹報名,他們也很認真的每週在自己的教會聚集準備功課。講員為諶志豪牧師和李玉惠姐妹。讀經營的參加者必須是基督徒,並在過去兩年內至少參加過一次門徒訓練。所以若您想參加八月讀經營,卻還沒參加過門徒訓練, 請把握機會儘快報名先參加今年五月門徒訓練或帶職信徒訓練。詳細資訊及報名表請按此處。

眼見這麼多營會擺在我們的面前,我們極需要您在禱告上的記念,也需要您與我們一起同工,鼓勵教會的弟兄姐妹來參加各項營會,更請您記念我們在財務(經常費、建築費、訓練經費)上的需要,也求神賜給我們充足的智慧與耐力來服事祂。

在祂的榮耀裡與您一起同工的,

高榮徳牧師

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Warm greetings to you! May the showers of blessings from above be with you in this Spring.

Thank you very much for your prayers and support. The March Gospel Camp went very well. About 300 people joined the camp. They filled up all the rooms, spaces and floors we can possibly use in the Center. Besides nearby states Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Iowa, many people came from far away: Chicago, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Among the participants, 80 were nonbelievers. They came because they were invited by their Christian friends who have hearts to share the good news to them. Some churches encouraged believers to come in order to be counselors or to provide rides. Sometimes it is not easy to extend the invitation in the name of the Lord on college campuses. But because of their hard efforts, more people were aware of this gospel meeting and were willing to attend. It is important to build up students to share the gospel on their own campuses. Thank God that more than 20 people accepted Christ to be their Savior! Please pray for their spiritual growth. Please also pray that the brothers and sisters will productively follow up with these new believers.

Holy Land Study Tour (June 17 to 28)

Currently the CWC coworkers are fully focused in preparing for the Holy Land Study Tour. This is not a sightseeing trip, but a Bible study tour. We will follow the footprints of Jesus in Jerusalem, and also the footprints of Paul from Israel to Turkey and Greece. In Israel we will start from Jerusalem, then go to Caesarea (where Apostle Paul was in prison for two years), and Joppa. Then from Tel Aviv we will fly to Istanbul, the capital of the ancient East Roman Empire and main city of the Eastern Orthodox Church. From Istanbul, we will fly to visit seven churches recorded in the Book of Revelation. After these seven churches, we will follow Paul’s second missionary journey to Greece. Specifically, we will travel to Troas where Paul saw the great Macedonia vision (Acts 16:6-10), then to Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth (Acts chapters 16-18). Our trip is different than many others titled “Paul’s missionary journeys” because we include Israel. Jerusalem has been the most beloved places by all the brothers and sisters. This trip will enlarge our understanding of the Jewish history and the gospels. We can see how the Israelites rebelled against God and how Jesus shed His blood for all mankind. This trip will also help us understand the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of Paul. We will know how the gospel was made known to Paul and the early churches. Since this is a study Tour, it is open to Christians only. Study material will be sent to you after your application. We set this tour in summer so that you can bring your whole family along. It will be a great blessing for all who join. For additional information, please visit our website. Please apply soon. Airline ticket prices will increase week by week.

New Dormitory Project

Thank God, though eight bedrooms on the lower floor of the new dormitory were not fully completed, we were able to open them for the brothers and sisters during the March Gospel Camp. The bathrooms were ready, but there was no carpet, dry walls were not fully finished, and no central heating system. In the meeting time, we temporarily used the portable heaters in each room. We must work hard to finish this new dormitory. We ask you to remember this project in your prayers. We estimate $150,000 more is needed to reach the completion. We also ask you to pray for the needed construction workers to finish this project. In the past two years, for those who have attended our meetings have witnessed this big need especially families attended with their children. They were very concerned whether we have enough family rooms when they applied. And also in the past two years sometimes we needed to halt registration a week to eleven days earlier than planned. We pray the Lord to help us finish this project as soon as we can to accommodate more people who wish to be Bible trained, to be Discipleship trained, or to come to hear the Gospel.

May Discipleship Training (May 19 to 24)

This Discipleship Training will be held immediately after many colleges’ May graduation. It is an important time to equip graduated students to be the light of the Lord in the countries where they will stay. Many students are planning to return to their hometowns to witness before their friends and families for Christ. So, how crucial it is for them to be equipped in this Training! Brother Bellman Lin and Sister Martha Lee will be our speakers. Please pray for yourself, the speakers, and the meeting. Please click here for the information and the application forms.

Lay Minister Discipleship Training (May 24 to 27)

This camp is designed to equip fulltime working people to grow spiritually and train them to serve the Lord in their churches and campuses. Thank God, there are many Chinese people working in many universities as faculty and staff. They are important vessels of God to reach the students. Pray that this camp will be able to prepare people to witness for God in their working places and bring many people to Christ. Brother Bellman Lin, Sister Martha Lee, and Elder Wen-Jai Hsieh will be our speakers. We are working hard to get as many family rooms ready as possible. Please prepare your heart to come, and apply earlier. Please click here for the information and the application forms.

June Youth Discipleship Training Camp (June 2 to 8)

Equipping your youths to be disciples of Jesus is very important. The Youth Discipleship Training Camp is not just a camp to provide fun or education to the youths as are many youth camps. It is a camp to lead young Christians to be followers of Jesus. This camp will be taught in English. Our speakers will be Pastor Peter Fong (from San Jose, CA), Pastor Dat Trieu (from St. Louis, MO), Pastor Steve Tan (from Kansas City, KS), and other local Midwest youth ministers. Please pray for this camp and help your youths apply soon. More information will be posted on the web site soon.

August Bible Camp (July 28 to August 3)

We began accepting August Bible camp application right after our January Bible Camp. This time we will read the Pauline Epistles (from Romans to Philemon). Thank God, so far nearly 100 brothers and sisters have applied. They also study very hard on the Epistles in their churches every week. Pastor Chihhao Shen and Sister Grace Lee will be our speakers. All participants must be Christians, and must have attended at least one Discipleship Training in the past two years. This requisite can include the upcoming May Discipleship Training Camp or Lay Minister Training. For additional information, please click here for more information and application.

With so many camps in front of the coworkers, we need your prayer support. We need your co-working by encouraging brothers and sisters to come. Please also remember our financial need (operating, building, and training). Pray that we have adequate wisdom and endurance when we serve the Lord.

Serving together for His Glory,

Billy Ko

Pastor and Director