Dear Brothers and Sisters, peace to you in the Lord!
Entering December, all the coworkers at CWC have been fastening their belt getting ready for the busiest season of the year. Although the meetings are one after another, and it seems quite difficult, but we know that this is the mission God has bestowed on us, and we are confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in us will perfect it until the end.
These three meetings are different in nature: Winter Conference consists of different subjects: gospel, ministry service, Bible study and spiritual revival which is suitable for both Christians and gospel friends. We usually may have only one or two evangelistic meetings in our local church, but ten during these four-day Winter Conference where gospel friends can listen to gospel messages shared by speakers who God uses and who have a special burden on evangelism so that they can accept Jesus as their Savior. And for Christians, Winter Conference is the meeting that, at the end of the year, everyone come together for a spiritual revival! The Discipleship Training is to systemically equip brothers and sisters on the Bible, theology, life, and ministry. Bible Camp enables brothers and sisters to study the Bible in depth in a series. Thinking of these meetings dedicated to the Lord, we, as servants of the Lord, are ready to shepherd the sheep that the Lord has entrusted to us joyfully, because they are the new force for the Kingdom of God! Hope you will come to at least one of these meetings and be equipped before the Lord. We also ask that you especially remember each of the coworkers and all meetings in your prayer.
Learn to Hear God’s Word
(by Rev. Dennis Wong)
We need to learn to hear God’s Word. The word “hear” is an important word in Deuteronomy 4:1. Beginning in chapter 4, Moses calls on Israel to “listen to” God’s Word (4:1). Then, from chapters 5 to 11 there are three major messages (5:1-6:3; 6:4-8:20; 9:1-11:32) all begin with ” Hear, O Israel!” as an opening statement (5:1; 6:4; 9:1). How should we hear God’s Word?
［1］We should hear verbatim. Deut. 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” We must not add to God’s Word, but listen without compromise, and that is true hearing.
［2］We must not make idols. Some people may ask: what does idolatry have to do with listening? Idols can “neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.” (4:28) Therefore, they do not enlighten people, but were shaped by man according to their own ideas and imaginations. We should listen to the full revelation of the true God, and not use our own ideas to shape the image of God to our liking.
［3］Let us hear with a heart of prudence. “Prudence” means “be careful”. From the beginning of Chapter 5, Moses said: “Hear…in your hearing, you may learn them and observe them carefully” (5:1) to the end of 6:3 “…listen and be careful to do it”. Proper “listening” involves careful study to make sure that we understand God’s mind in the right way. And we are to be careful to follow it to make sure that we live God’s will according to His will.
［4］We should hear with reverence. We should obey all His commandments with a fearful heart (5:29). What mercy we have received when we realize that the Bible can be obtained from the mouth of a majestic God to the hands of a sinner!
［5］We should preach God’s Word from generation to generation. In 6:3-25, Moses instructed us to diligently teach God’s Word to our children whether sit in the house and when walk by the way and when lie down and when rise up. Talk about God in every aspect of our life (6:7-9), so that we may keep God’s Word for generations to come (6:21-24).
［6］We should hear God in the midst of affluence. When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they were to watch themselves, lest, in their abundance, they easily forget the God who brought them from the land of Egypt (6:10-12). We are to “carefully obey” God’s Word so that we can live victorious lives by the power of the Lord in the midst of affluence (6:17-19).
［7］We should listen to God in the face of our enemies. God commanded the Israelites not to be afraid of the many enemies of Canaan （7:1, 17-18, 21）, let alone make covenants with enemies (7:2-3). Instead, they are to “well remember” the mighty power of God (7:18-19) and know that the God with them is a great and awesome God (7:21). Today, no matter how difficult and terrible our situation, we should still keep God’s Word and to be pleasing to Him (7:11).
［8］We should listen to God in trials. Whether it’s the ordeal of the wilderness (8:2, 16) or the temptation of abundance (8:11-14), God’s purpose is to test our willingness to keep His commandments (8:2), making us understand that “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” (8:3).
［9］We should humbly obey God. The Israelites should understand that they themselves are often rebellious, hard-necked people (9:6, 13). Had it not been for Moses’ intercession and God’s mercy, they would have perished long ago (9:13, 19). Since it is so, man should not be arrogant and self-righteous (9:4-6), but to walk humbly with God.
［10］We should hear with the heart of loving God with all our heart and with all our soul. Love God with “all your heart” and with “all your soul” were mentioned in 6:4-5, 10:12 and 11:13. Deut. 11:18 God says, “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul…”, therefore “with all our heart and soul” is inseparable from keeping God’s Word. When speak of the “heart,” we should circumcise our heart, and no longer stiffen our neck. (10:16), and beware that our hearts are not deceived and serve other gods and worship them (11:16).
May we retain a truthful God-seeking heart to “hear” God’s Word when reading 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. We ask everyone to register online to save time in registration processing. Detailed meeting arrangement has also been posted online, you may download and print it out for invitation. Registration deadline is 12/18 (Sunday) and will be automatically offline at 4pm. Please do not hesitate and register early. As shared in last newsletter, 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. The topics they will share are new and relevant to the needs of the current age. please do not miss this opportunity. Please click here for registration and details, 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. Registration deadline is 12/18 (Sunday) at 11:59pm.
(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. 77 brothers and sisters have registered and begun to write their assigned topic reports. Please pray for the attendees, and also for the coworkers’ wisdom from God on reading the reports. If you missed the deadline for Bible Camp, please join the December Discipleship Training so that you will be eligible for the August Bible Camp next year.
Remembering Pastor Ko:
(1) Pastor Ko’s Memorial Book
Editing for “Pastor Ko Memorial Book” has completed in early November, with a total of 47 authors and 142 pages, and is being printed in Taiwan in mid-November, which will take about two weeks. We plan to have 10-12 copies (about 5 kg) mailed by air that brothers and sisters will be able to browse this book during the Pastor Ko’s “Celebration of Life” during the Winter Conference. As for the rest of the books, in order to save shipping cost, some will be shipped by sea, some will be mailed to those who live in Southeast Asia, and some will be brought back by those brothers or sisters who go back to Taiwan. We decided to print 400 copies, which cost about US$4,000 for printing, and with shipping, total cost is approximate $5,300. Some Missouri alumni in Taiwan who were grateful for Pastor Ko and the training they had received at the Christian Witness Center in the past voluntarily initiate a fundraising for the printing cost when they knew that printing job is being done in Taiwan, and by November 20, they had raised $4,000. If you also would like to contribute, please contact the center and we provide you with the contact information.
(2) Progress of Pastor Ko’s “Ministry Memorial Garden”
Thank the Lord! Four days before Thanksgiving, the three large stone tablets for Pastor Ko’s memorial garden have arrived at CWC campground, the stones were purchased in China and India, and are very beautiful. We plan to have them installed early next year, and then the American coworker will continue to complete the observation deck, purchase additional chairs and, if possible, add a pavilion. 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 spiritual 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 the Lord! After a year of searching, in October we finally bought a satisfactory school bus and installed air condition with the price of $7200.00 and was within our budget. With this new purchased bus, we can transport equipment and people during the Winter Conference. God is faithful!
(2) the asphalt road from Canaan Hall to the “Ministry Memorial Garden” and the maintenance coworker’s house has been completed in Mid-November. Total cost is $35,000.00. If God moves you to support this maintenance project, please designate your offering to “Building Fund”.
Prayer Requests
1. 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.
2. For Co-workers
- Sylvia Ko: Thanks to the Lord, my grandson is growing every day, we are overjoyed and have witnessed the Lord’s hand protecting him. As I am getting old, may the Lord grant extra grace on my shoulders and arms and fingers so that I can hold the growing baby, and rejoice always, pray unceasingly, and give thanks in every circumstance.
- Sister Cindy Chiang: In the extremely busy December, please pray that God gives her heavenly wisdom and clear mind to make good use of time dealing with various tasks, and ask the Lord to especially protect her physically, mentally and spiritually.
- Brother Qinglong Liang: May the Lord give Brother Liang an obedient heart 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 application of R-1 visa extension.
- Pastor Charles Huang: Pray that God give Pastor and Mrs. Huang wisdom as they co-labor with the church ministering brothers and sisters, strengthen Pastor Huang spiritually and physically in the upcoming three CWC meetings, and also pray that the Lord will watch over Mrs. Huang as she takes care of three children with their daily needs and schoolwork.
- American coworker Scott Jerome: there are a lot of work of preparation needs to be done before Winter Conference. On December 17, Brother Scott will load all necessary equipment onto the bus and head for Kansas City, then after unloading everything, preparing the meeting halls. Please pray for a safe journey, and also pray for his wife Becci who, along with their children, will help cleaning all the dormitories, and continue to serve in children’s program with their church coworkers in all the three winter meetings. Please pray for his family’s spiritual lives and their ministry, and for the growth of the children in the Lord.
3. For Building Coworker: Pastor Harold Shull’s wife was diagnosed with cancer. May the Lord comfort and heal her. Thank the Lord, Pastor Harold has recovered from his recent gall bladder surgery and is now back to serving. May the Lord bless the work of his hands.
4. 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.
5. 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