Dear Brothers and Sisters, peace to you in the Lord!
The Midwest is a region with four distinct seasons! In mid-October, when the temperature cools down a little, you can see the leaves turn red almost overnight! It’s hard to imagine that in less than two months, 2022 will become history! As an old saying: “Time flies like an arrow, days and months flash by quickly as a weaver!” December and January are the busiest seasons for CWC, however, all the preparation have already been underway in October and November. You can see details below after the message. Please prepare your hearts for at least one of the winter meetings and remembering us in your prayers.
Although CWC holds many different meetings each year, I think the signature ones should be Discipleship Trainings and Bible Camps. My own Bible reading skills and appetite were also learned through the Bible Camp. Therefore, I have asked Pastor Chih Hao Shen, a long-time teacher at the CWC Bible Camp, to share his personal Path of Bible Studying in this issue, hoping that brothers and sisters will love to read the Word of God more, for the Word of the Lord is the lamp at our feet, and the light on our way.
Some Sharing on How to Study the Bible (by Pastor Daniel Shen)
From personal point of view as a Christian, the purpose of reading the Bible well is because the Bible is God’s Word; is a reference for my spiritual growth and transformation by the Holy Spirit to be more like Jesus Christ; is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path!
Psalm 1 says that a blessed man is blessed not because he is intelligent and talented, nor because he has good fortune or circumstances, but because his delight is in the Word of God and meditates day and night, and by doing so he experiences God’s care and becomes a blessed person! How do we delight in God’s Word? The secret is through prayer. First, prayer opens our appetite for the love of reading God’s Word. How do we pray? Psalm 119:36: “Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to {dishonest} gain”. The psalmist had the same struggle as we do, that is, our hearts are easily to be swung around, not able to incline unto loving God’s Word. So, the psalmist prayed that God drew his heart to His words and His testimonies. When we pray like this, the appetite for God’s Word opens. Second, we ask God to show us the wonders of His Word. To be able to enjoy food not only must we have an appetite, but the food must taste delicious. Otherwise, no matter how good the appetite, there is no way to enjoy eating if the food taste bad. After having an appetite for God’s words through prayer, what should we pray for next? Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” When I found the wonders in God’s Word as delicious and tasty food, it is impossible for me not to delight in God’s Word.
In this way, a virtuous cycle arises. When I love God’s words, it is equivalent to having an appetite, and then I see the wonders of God’s words which make me delight in His words even more. the more I see the wonders of God’s words, the more I love God’s words, and the greater my appetite for His words will be. Do you see this virtuous cycle? When we delight in God’s words, the result is described in Psalm 1:3, Our lives need to be like a tree planted by streams of water. The streams are God’s Word which will constantly supply the needs of the tree. This tree, that is the blessed man, is safe and secure no matter how harsh the circumstances, and yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Not only is he blessed by God, but others may receive God’s blessings through him. Why does everything he does prosper? Because his soul is fed by God’s Word every day, his soul is filled with satisfaction and joy, is healthy and strong, and is ready to face every day’s tests, challenges, temptations, pressures, and so on. He is able to face everything because he has God’s Word to lead him, to keep him, to nourish him, to give him strength. Do you envy being a blessed man like this?
Loving God’s Word is the first step, followed by meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2). Day and night means often, every moment. I’ve found a great way to help me pondering upon God’s Word all the time, and that is to memorize the Bible verses or at least get familiar with God’s Word by reading the scriptures several times. The Bible looks quite thick, 39 books with 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 27 books with 260 chapters in the New Testament, adding up to 66 books with 1189 chapters. But I’ve heard that it takes about 72 hours to listen to the entire Bible which means It does not take long to read the whole Bible once. If you spend 15 minutes reading four chapters every day, you can read the whole Bible in 1 year, and even if you read one chapter a day, you can read the Bible once in 3 years and 3 months. In the Chinese church history, Dr. John Sung, who was greatly used by God to bring a spiritual revival in China, had read the entire Bible 40 times while being confined in an insane asylum for 109 days during the time he studied in the United States. George Mueller, a great man of faith who ran an orphanage two centuries ago, reportedly had read the Bible 200 times.
In terms of getting familiar with the scriptures, my personal experience is that after reading a chapter, I simply reflect the main points of that chapter and summarize with a few words. After finish reading a book, I will close my eyes and picture the contents, and summarize those main points in a few phrases. The best way to help me meditate on God’s Word day and night is to memorize the scriptures.
What’s next? How to meditate on God’s Word like eating food? I don’t know if you have the following experience: You spent 15 minutes reading the scriptures in the morning, such as Psalm 1, you ask yourself in the evening, “I read Psalm 1 this morning, what did I get from it? Any lesson that benefits me?” Or you don’t remember at all? Or only vaguely remember what you have read. Why is that? One possible reason is that I was just passively reading the Bible for those 15 minutes in the morning, that is, I opened the Bible and read the scriptures, maybe with some auxiliary material, followed by a routine prayer. Reading, done; prayer done; and as a result, I got nothing from reading the scriptures.
It is obvious that we won’t be able to absorb the scriptures with this kind of passive reading. But how to read the Bible proactively? After I came to Christ, I have learned from somewhere an effective way of studying the Word. In simple terms, there are four steps. The first step is to pray before reading the Scripture. What to pray for? We can quote Psalm 119:36, 18: “God, make my heart incline to your Word. God, open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things from your Word.” The second step is to read the text carefully. Slowly, word by word, carefully read the scriptures and let God’s words stay in the heart for a while. For example, read Psalm 1:1 once, read it slowly, then read it a second time with your heart, and then read it a third time with your heart, so that the verse enters your heart.
Next, read the second verse, read the third verse, and so on in the same way. The third step is to meditate with good questions. “Meditate day and night” is to ponder the scriptures in the heart and with some good questions. What are good questions? The first good question is to ask “What does this passage say about God’s Truth?” The second good question is, “What does this passage have concerning Christian living? Any commands, promises, or warnings? Any good example to follow, or sin to avoid? The fourth step is to turn what you have learned from meditating the Word into prayer. Let us encourage each other and continue to grow on the path of studying the Bible.
Future Meetings:
(1) December Winter Conference (12/22 to 12/26)
Still to be held in-person at Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Details and registration form have been posted on CWC website. Online registration will open on November 16, so we ask everyone to register online to save time in registration processing.
Now that life, whether in workplaces, stores, schools, or churches, have returned to normal. In the past two years, the Winter Conference may have been affected by the pandemic either with government’s rules of limited number of people in the gathering, held online (such as 2020), or by the emergence of the new virus which make people reluctant to come for in-person meetings (such as 2021). I hope that everyone can take a step out from your “hibernating zone”and come to this year’s conference and fervently pursue the Lord together so that our dry spirit can be revived. Please pray for the nonbelievers around you and invite them to hear the gospel and receive the salvation of the Lord as we have.
We are grateful that God has prepared for us His faithful servants: Pastor Johann Lai, Mrs. Esther Lai, Pastor Brian Lam, Pastor Luke Zhang, Pastor David Lu, Mrs. Ijia Hao, Pastor Xiao Yuan, and two local speakers : Brother Henry Lee and Pastor Paul Huang. English speakers will be Pastor Albert Yip Pastor Steve Tan, Pastor Jason McCray, etc.
When I contacted the speakers about their topics, I was very amazed, because many of the topics are what we have not shared before, yet are relevant to the needs of the current age. Please go online and check it out (please click here), reserve time to attend, and pray for yourself and for the meeting.
(2) December Discipleship Training (12/26 to 12/31)
This meeting will be held in-person at CWC (Warsaw, MO). Speakers are: Pastor Luke Zhang, Pastor Ekron Chen, and CWC co-workers. Topics include: Understanding Salvation, Christianity and Society, How to Walk on the Path of Sanctification Steadily? The revival messages include: Walk on the Footsteps of the Apostles, Look into My Heart with Psalmists, etc. Facing the new challenges in the new year, please seize the opportunity, especially for those who come from afar to attend the winter meetings, to stay a few more days to attend the Training also. The registration form has been posted online (please click here). Please apply early and encourage other brothers and sisters to attend together. For those who wish to attend the following January Bible Camp, this is a good opportunity for you to fulfill the requirement of attending Discipleship Training before eligible for the Bible Camp.
(3) January Bible Camp (1/1 to 1/7/2023)
This time we’re going to study “the History Book I: Exodus and Entering Canaan – The Establishment of the Kingdom of Priesthood”. The books are: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11, 1 Chronicles 1-9. Pastor Chihao Shen will be the speaker. Up to now, nearly 50 brothers and sisters have already registered and starting on 11/1 they will begin to write their assigned topic reports. If you would like to participate in this camp, please apply quickly to start preparing for the homework. Deadline is November 15. The application form and syllabus have also been posted online (please click here).
Remembering Pastor Ko
(1) Pastor Ko’s Memorial Book
To commemorate Pastor Ko’s 40 years of faithful service in the kingdom of God — as brothers and sisters miss him very much, and his beautiful footprints are an example for us to pursue the Lord — we have decided to publish a “Pastor Ko’s Memorial Book”. Thank the Lord! 47 brothers and sisters have written articles and many have shared photos of “Pastor Ko and I”, totaling more than 140 pages. Each author deeply appreciates the impact that Pastor Ko has had on their lives. The editing sister told me that almost every article brought her to tears, and I felt the same way! We plan to print in Taiwan in November because: Southeast Asia has more printing options than the United States, so the quality will be better, plus there are some in Taiwan who can help us “proof checked” the printing. We hope that the 20-kilogram (basic packaging) printed books will be shipped to the United States by air and present to the Lord like the first fruit during Pastor Ko’s “Celebration of Life” on December 24. The rest of the books will be shipped by sea or brought back when some brothers or sisters return from Taiwan. Since global shipping has been quite slow in recent years, so please pray for this arrangement.
(2) Progress of Pastor Ko’s “Ministry Memorial Garden”
Now the retaining wall has been completed. And the stone monuments have been completed in China. But due to global shipping, it may not be delivered to the United States until November. We have to put these huge stone monuments before we can continue to finish the “observation deck”. So the progress of the project is somewhat delayed. Please continue to pray for the arrival of these materials, the construction and workers, and soaring prices. If you have a burden on this project and are willing to be a part in this ministry, your offering can be designated as “For Memorial Garden”.
(3) “Celebration of Life” for Pastor Ko:
You may have missed the thanksgiving service for Pastor Ko on March 12 (Pastor Ko had been planning to come and give praise to the Lord with everyone, but did not expect that just two days before the service, his health deteriorated and he could not come), and the burial service on April 23 was limited to family members, coworkers and board members by family’s wishes. Mrs. Ko is looking forward to holding the “Celebration of Life” thanksgiving service at the Winter Conference, which is scheduled for 2 pm on December 24, please reserve time to attend.
Sunday Online Bible Reading & Prayer Meeting
During the pandemic, many churches went online, and Pastor Ko started this Sunday evening Bible study and prayer meeting to lead brothers and sisters continue to have a life of Bible reading, prayer, and spiritaul sharing. Though in sickness, Pastor Ko still had come and led the meeting, and brothers and sisters at the same time had interceded for Pastor Ko’s health before the Lord. Although Pastor Ko has gone to be with the Lord now, we will keep this prayer meeting going to unite brothers and sisters spiritually. We are studying the scriptures in accordance with the progress of Bible Camp to help brothers and sisters prepare in advance. Currently we are in the books of History. We encourage those brothers and sisters who plan to attend January Bible Camp to join this meeting every week. The online Bible reading and prayer meeting every Sunday at 6:30pm (Central Time) via Zoom, the account number is: 8110999917, password: 737903.
Updates on Bus Purchasing, and November Construction Progress
(1) Thank brothers and sisters for the prayers and information sharing. In October we finally bought a satisfactory school bus and installed air condition with the price of $7200.00 and was within our budget . Thank the Lord! With this new purchased bus, we can transport equipment and people during the Winter Conference. God is faithful!
(2) The asphalt company has finally set a time. In early November, they will send workers and large machinery to lay the asphalt from the entrance of Canaan Hall to the “Ministry Memorial Garden” , and also pave the road in front of the maintenance coworker’s house. Total cost is estimated about $35,000.00. Please remember our needs in your prayer for we have decided to finish the paving project this year. If God moves you to support this maintenance project, you can designate your offering to “Building Fund”.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for the Three Meetings in the Winter:
(a) Winter Conference: Pray for a smooth online registration process, for the speakers’ preparation of messages; for the brothers and sisters’ hearts to participate the meeting; for the nonbelievers willingness to come and accept the salvation; for the preparation of short-term mission teams from different churches; for the protection during the meeting from COVID; for good weather, and for the cooperation from the staffs of the Sheraton Hotel, etc.
(b) Discipleship Training: Pray for the speakers’ preparation of messages; for the brothers and sisters’ hearts to participate the training; for good weather, etc.
(c) Bible Camp: Pray for brothers and sisters register early, start writing assigned reports in November, and coworkers have wisdom reading the reports submitted by the brothers and sisters.
- For Co-workers
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- Sylvia Ko: Mrs. Ko is currently with her daughter’s family help taking care of baby grandson. Please pray that the Lord grant her strength physically and spiritually, and bless her daughter’s family through her.
- Sister Cindy Chiang: Sister Chiang has to deal with many administrative works, minister at different churches on weekends, and prepare for winter meetings. Please pray that God will give her heavenly wisdom to accomplish all tasks in limited time.
- Brother Qinglong Liang: May the Lord give Brother Liang wisdom to manage his family and serve the church according to His will. Wisdom for his wife in arranging a workable time schedule for their children. Please pray for the Lord’s favor on the R-1 visa extension.
- Pastor Charles Huang: Pray that the Lord bless Pastor Huang with word of wisdom and spiritual gift shepherding the church in Champagne, also for wisdom in outreach ministry with the co-workers, and strength to help brothers and sisters in Macomb, Decatur, Carbondale resuming the regular in-person Bible study. May the Lord watch over the school work of my three children, especially for my oldest daughter, Faith, in preparing for college next year.
- American coworker Scott Jerome: There are a lot of repairing work of CWC buildings to be done before Winter’s meetings. Sweeping the leaves will be another workload in November. Please pray for strength physically and spiritually, also for his family’s spiritual lives and their ministry, and for the growth of the children in the Lord.
- For Building Coworker: Pastor Harold Shull’s wife was diagnosed with cancer. May the Lord comfort and heal her. Pray for Pastor Harold with full and speedy recovery from his recent gall bladder surgery. Please pray for his whole family.
- Please Pray for the CWC monthly financial need (general fund, building fund, training fund, etc.) asking the Lord to manifest His abundant provision and allow more brothers and sisters to experience the blessings of offering.
- For CWC: Pray that the Lord will bring more co-workers to the CWC ministry for the furtherance of the gospel ministry in the Midwest.
Emmanuel
In the Lord,
Sister Cindy Chiang