Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you in the Lord!  

In the blink of an eye, this semester is ending soon! In the past, this is the time some brothers and sisters would start to pack to return home in the Far East for summer vacation.  Or it is the time to take a few days off from work to bring kids back home to see family. But since last year’s pandemic, the path to homelands have blocked. We don’t know when restrictions will be relieved. God reminds us: be ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). We need to equip ourselves, so that we can be used by God at the proper time! For this reason, the two Discipleship Training camps held in May and Youth Discipleship Training camp held in June become more meaningful. We pray to the Lord to let us use this summer break to equip ourselves well. When the time comes, we are ready immediately to be the useful vessels for the Master. 

Understanding the Great Commission of
the Old and New Testament from Apostle Matthias
(Acts 1:21-26) 

The book of Acts has mentioned: When Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave the Great Commission to the disciples that they should spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth to be the Lord’s witnesses. Because of this commission, the apostles thought of the twelve disciples lacking one after Judas betrayed Jesus and hung himself. They wanted to fill Judas’s place with one who had accompanied them the entire time up through witnessing Jesus’ resurrection together. They prayed and cast lots. Then Matthias was chosen to be ranked with the eleven Apostles. Every time studying this passage, we always very eagerly discuss if the disciples had done it wrongfully. Some have said the disciples were in too much of a hurry to find someone to fill this position because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. Other have said the disciples may have chosen Matthias wrongfully because the Bible only mentioned his name once here with no other record of him after this. Many others even have said if they waited for a little bit more till after the coming of the Holy Spirit, this position would be filled by Apostle Paul. Did the Apostles choose wrongfully? It is correct that the Bible did mention the name of Matthias only here and just once. But on the other hand, we discovered that a majority of the apostles’ names did not come up again after Acts chapter 2. For this reason, choosing Matthias might not be wrong. From the Scriptures, when the apostles made this decision, they did devote themselves to prayer with one mind to ask God to raise up the right person. They truly, devotedly waited for God’s will.   

The end of the book of Revelation in the New Testament talked about the New Heaven and New Earth. In the New Jerusalem there are twelve apostles.  At the same time, it also mentioned the twelve tribes of Israel. The New Testament has twelve apostles, and the Old Testament has twelve tribes. From here we see that they are parallel. Thinking more closely, when we talked about OT Israel having twelve tribes, it more correctly should be thirteen tribes because Manasseh and Ephraim were two replacing the one tribe of Joseph. Thus, it becomes thirteen tribes. But the Bible never says Israel has thirteen tribes. It is always twelve tribes. Let’s look at the New Testament being the same way that Jesus has twelve apostles (including Matthias), adding Apostle Paul to be a total of thirteen Apostles. Paul did the same things as the other apostles. They were used by God, not only establishing churches, but also writing down God’s inspiration through God’s revelation. Even though there were thirteen apostles, in the similar way of the Old Testament, the New Testament does not say thirteen disciples, but twelve. The Bible’s arrangement is indeed amazing. 

Within the tribes of Israel, Levi is special. Because many times they were not counted as twelve tribes of Israel. When they were apportioning the land, other tribes had allotted land. Only Levi had no land, for God is their portion. In the wilderness, every time they settled in the camp, the Tabernacle was placed among the Twelve tribes with three on each side. But Levi was assigned among other tribes in all directions, closest to the Tabernacle. What does it represent? The tribe of Levi was set apart to be priests. Their job was to lead the other twelve tribes to God’s presence to worship God together. But we need to pay more attention to this. When God established the nation of Israel, God’s will was that the Israelites were set apart from millions of people to be God’s chosen people and belong to God’s priestly kingdom (Exodus 19). What does priestly kingdom mean?  God’s will was not only Aaron’s clan as priest, or the whole tribe of Levi as priest, but the other twelve tribes could become priests to form a priestly kingdom.  Just as China is called China not because 10% of the population is Chinese, but at least 90% is Chinese. In the same way, a priestly kingdom means all Israelites can become priests. The tribe of Levi led the other twelve tribes to pursue and know God. The twelve tribes then led Gentiles to know God to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12: “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family…All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” When the Israelites can function as a priestly kingdom, God will bring salvation to all nations through the Israelites to fulfill the God-given commission of a priestly kingdom. The promised blessings of Abraham can be bestowed on all Gentiles. But the Israelites have not fulfilled what God has entrusted them. As a result, God raised churches to fulfill this commission in the New Testament era. 

Inside the church, God established twelve apostles, including Matthias, to spread the gospel all over the world. To witness for the Lord through these twelve people, He mobilized the church. But when this emphasis of the twelve disciples who are leading the church was only in Jerusalem, they could not diverge from the concept of Jewish patriotism. As they could not go beyond the Jewish nation to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, God then raised up Paul to join the twelve apostles to do this work. Compared to the special tribe of Levi in the Old Testament thirteen tribes, in the New Testament, there is a special apostle. It is Paul. The book of Galatians told us that apostles ordained Paul as the apostle for the Gentiles and other apostles were apostles for the Jews (Galatians 2:8-9). Maybe their original plan was the twelve apostles focusing on Jewish work and Paul focusing on bringing the Gospel to the whole Gentile world. We also see that God in the same manner of using the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament not only sends Paul to share the Gospel to the Gentiles, but also uses Paul as an example to mobilize the other twelve apostles to share the Gospel everywhere in the world. Therefore, we saw the other twelve apostles, influenced by Paul’s witness on sharing the Gospel, gradually scattered all over the world to spread the Gospel. Peter might have gone to Babylon. John went to Ephesus in Turkey. Thomas went even farther to India to spread the Gospel. Moreover, maybe some people believed in the Lord because of Thomas and brought the Gospel to China. The leader of the early church in Jerusalem was not one of the Twelve Apostles, but Jesus’ brother James. God uses the examples of the Twelve to lead other saints to go out everywhere in the world to fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission. We see that God indeed has his amazing guidance. 

God’s will is the same in both the Old and New Testament eras—to fulfill the Great Commission, to spread the Gospel to all nations. Through the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament era, God mobilized the twelve tribes to become a priestly kingdom to bring the nations to God’s kingdom. Through Paul in the New Testament era, God mobilized the twelve apostles. Then the apostles mobilized all other people together to witness for the Lord, so that the Great Commission could be spread. Sharing the Gospel to the nations is the basic duty of every Christian. Even though we cannot lead ten thousand people to share the Gospel, we at least can become one of those people that can make all nations turn to God, not out of duty but devoted to do it.  

During the pandemic, a lot of evangelism work was paused. The work of the Great Commission also halted. We need to once again get up to complete the Lord’s will to continue to fulfill the Great Commission. The campus ministry has been halted over a year. Some blame the US Government for the decrease in the number of students because they did not issue visas for Chinese students to come to the US for school due to the pandemic.  Even some students went home to visit families and could not return. Many schools’ Chinese students have decreased drastically. Some even do not have any Chinese students now. Thank God that President Biden announced on April 27 that Chinese students who could not obtain visas last year due to the pandemic can return to the US now. This year the pandemic has alleviated. The US will allow Chinese students to come to the US to study. Thanks be to the Lord that the gate for student ministry is open again. God has given us the opportunity again to share the Gospel to these Chinese students. We had not done a good job on Chinese student ministry in the past few years. We hope that when God gives us chances again, we will do it together with one accord. We will not hide in our homes, but once again stand up to witness for the Lord to these precious students that they can be the Lord’s disciples. May the Lord help us not to waste the opportunities God gives to us. 

 

(Below ministry report was written by Sister Cindy Chiang)

May Disciple and Coworker Training Camp (May 23-28) 

Affected by the pandemic, the 2020 May camp was held virtually. But after last year’s August and December in person disciple training camps, and August and January in person Bible Camps, we still plan to hold them in person camp. Please reserve time to come. This camp’s speakers are Rev. Edwin Su, Rev. David Wu and CWC coworkers. Our speakers will teach us on: Bible study (2 Corinthians and Jesus Asks), Ministry (Five topics on Apologetics), Life Equipping (Bible and Psychology), Path of a disciple, and revival messages, etc. . Please do not miss this opportunity for in person gathering and prepare yourselves and encourage other brothers and sisters to attend. Please also pray for the camp and the speakers. The registration form has been posted online. Please click here.  

Memorial Day Weekend Lay-Minister Disciple Training Camp (May 28-31) 

The Midwest is short of full-time ministers and student numbers fluctuate greatly. Those who reside locally to work or teach become a stable force in Midwest campus fellowships and churches. They are more mature and have certain life experiences. If they can be well-equipped not only in biblical knowledge, but in character, life witness, and walking in the Words of the Lord, they can be good examples for the younger students. This camp is especially for the believers who are working full time. It is short, only taking up an extended weekend. Even so, participants still need to attend full time with diligence. We suggest brothers and sisters consider taking Friday afternoon off so that you can arrive at the camp by 5:30 pm for the meetings.  This camp is only held once a year. Please grab this opportunity to attend. If you work and want to attend Bible Camp (requiring attendance of disciple training camp within the past two years), this is a great opportunity for working people. Full Time students (TA, RA or PhD students are not counted as working full time) must first attend May Disciple Training Camp (May 23-28), then can have the bonus to stay over to attend this camp. Our speakers are Rev. Edwin Su, Rev. David Wu and CWC coworkers. Speakers will share: Bible study (Sermon on the Mount to the Children of God, Jehovah is His Name), Ministry (Passing on faith in the home), Life Equipping (Christian Counseling), Path of a disciple, Revival message, and topical studies (For working people: the Balance of career, lives, ministry  and family. For others: Heroes of the Bible, etc). Please do not miss this opportunity and prepare yourselves and encourage other brothers and sisters to attend. Deadline is May 21st. Please also pray for the lay-minister disciple training camp and speaker coworkers. The registration form has been posted online. Please click here. 

June Youth Camp (June 13-19)  

Last year’s camp was cancelled due to the pandemic (Because Youth Camp has many activities such as evangelizing in the local community, canoe trip, bonfire, etc., it could not be held virtually). Over the past year, many youths and their parents frequently asked if we would have Youth Camp this year. Yes, we will have in person camp. This is a great opportunity for the youth to come out of the long quarantine. They long for not only being equipped but are also hoping for meeting their friends again. (Last year’s winter conference was held virtually so they could not meet. There was no youth section either.) We are in the planning stages. Please pray for our speakers Pastor Albert Yip, Pastor Steve Tan and Berry Edwards. Also invite the youths from your church to participate. Please click here for details and registration form. 

August Bible Camp (August 1-7) 

This time we will study the Major Prophets. More than fifty brothers and sisters have turned in their application forms so far.  If you desire to study, we have posted the syllabus, registration form, and study guide on the CWC webpage, please download on your own. Our speakers are Rev. Samuel Ho (who is teaching for the first time in our camp) and CWC coworkers. Rev. Ho has four doctoral degrees and is an Old Testament scholar. He is the vice dean and chair in SAGOS Institute of Preaching and Bible Exposition at San Jose, CA. The camp will be held in person. The strict deadline for registration is June 15. If you want to come but have never been to the Disciple Training camps, May Disciple Training camp and Memorial Day Weekend Lay-minister training camp will be your last chance to qualify you for Bible camp. Please do not miss out. Click here to register and for details.  

Pastor Ko’s update and Online Sunday Bible study and Prayer Meeting 

Thanks to God’s grace and thanks for all the churches and individual brothers and sisters praying for Pastor Ko unceasingly before the throne of God. His condition has been making stable progress. He has moved back to Columbia to his house and returns to St Louis to see the doctor only when needed. His appearance and energy have improved greatly. But the road to recovery is still very long. Please continue to pray for Pastor Ko and remember his family: Mrs. Ko, Pastor Ko’s sister, and daughter Sarah who is sometimes allowed by her company to work from home, who are taking care of him long-term. He will update his situation frequently on the CWC’s web page. If you want to see him, you are welcome to join our online prayer meeting and Bible study every Sunday at 6:30pm (Central Time). The Zoom meeting ID is 8110999917. The passcode is 737903. Please join us.  

 

Prayer Requests

• For Meetings: 
  • May Disciple Training Camp: May the Lord prepare more people to be edified to be the Lord’s disciples.  
  • May Lay-Minister Disciple Training Camp: May the Lord prepare more working brothers and sisters’ hearts to be equipped and be the Lord’s disciples.   
  • Youth Disciple Training Camp: May the Lord prepare the youths’ hearts to be equipped in this generation, not walking the path of the world, but renew their mind, preparing themselves to follow the Lord all their lives and live for the Lord. 
  • August Bible Camp: Pray for those who have already applied for the Bible camp to get well prepare. And pray for those who want to root themselves in the Word of God but haven’t registered yet, that they will register soon and start preparing homework early. Also pray for CWC coworkers preparing for the messages, writing the guidelines for the report topics and advisory brothers and sisters to write their reports.  
• For CWC Coworkers 
  • Pastor Ko and Mrs. Ko: Pastor Ko’s recovery and Mrs. Ko’s hyper-thyroid condition making her tired very easily. Pray for Sister Mei Fung Ko and their daughter Sarah who are taking care of Pastor Ko long-term. May the Lord give them sufficient strength.  
  • Sister Cindy Chiang: Pray for her administrative work, planning various camps during the weekdays in the CWC, serving in various churches and fellowship on weekends. May the Lord not only give her Words from above, but also keep her safe on the road. May the Lord give her wisdom and be a good steward of time.  
  • Brother Qing-Long Liang: For his ministry in Columbia, MO and Kirksville. May the Lord use him to preach the Truth faithfully and lead others to be the Lord’s disciples. God will use his family to be good witnesses for the Lord.  
  • Rev. Charles Huang: Pray for his ministry and collaboration with local Chinese churches around Champaign, IL. His whole family moved to Champaign, IL in March. May the Lord watch over his family as they start a new ministry field, adjusting to a new environment and the three children adjust well in new schools. 
  • American Coworker Scott Jerome: Pray for the maintenance coworker and his family. May the Lord bless the work of his hands.   
• For the expansion project:  
  • Pray for the construction of the children’s activity center. May the Lord watch over Pastor Harold Shull’s safety during building and progress of the project and his health. Pray for the expanse of the building project. Now we need to install sheetrock and need more hands to help.  Pray for the Lord to provide us with faithful and right workers.  
• For financial need:  
  • Pray for the monthly needs of CWC. May the Lord show His rich provision and let more people experience the blessing of giving.  
• For CWC:  
  • May the Lord touch and lead more new coworkers to join CWC ministry so the various Midwest ministries will thrive.  
• For the churches in the Midwest during the pandemic: 
  • More and more brothers and sisters have been vaccinated and we see more and more churches have already begun in person meetings. May the Lord allow believers not to be afraid of the pandemic’s entanglement that they can bravely and diligently serve the Lord in their churches, resume evangelism meetings to share the Gospel to non-believers. May the Lord use the vaccines to  effectively control the pandemic. May the Lord heal the believers who are infected, that God will not only heal their bodies, but relieve their depressed hearts. Relying on the Name of Jesus, let us walk the victorious way.   

 

In the Lord,

Pastor Billy Ko