October, November 2025 Prayer Letter
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
After the short-term mission in August and September concluded, I took a short trip back to Taiwan early October. Upon returning, I am now focusing on preparing for the three winter meetings: December Winter Conference (Dec. 20–24), December Discipleship Training (Dec. 24–28), and January Bible Camp (Dec. 28–Jan. 3). All information has been posted online and ready for registration except that online registration for the Winter Conference which will open in mid-November. Please start preparing your hearts to register and encourage brothers and sisters from your church to join together.
Theme of our prayer letters this year is “Proclaiming the Gospel and Making Disciples.” In this issue, Brother Robert Kao, one of our board members, will share a message:
Walking in the Light of the Lord
(Brother Ko)
We all love to see the Northern Lights, which are natural light phenomena that occur when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s upper atmosphere, especially near the poles. Typically, the auroral belt encompasses Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Norway, and Svalbard; however, in recent years, several northern states in the United States have also been able to observe the auroras. This reminds us of the prophet Isaiah’s calling to His people to repent and turn back to walk in the light of the Lord, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2:5 NKJV) The reason Israel needed to turn back was to deal with the evil practice of idolatry.
In these last days, we should not only look at the light of Jehovah, but also turn to God, knowing that He calls us to be children of light and walk in His light. Let our eyes be opened, and we turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Moreover, through faith in the Lord, we can be forgiven of our sins and share the inheritance with all those who are sanctified (Ephesians 5:8; Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:12-14).
Let us learn together from Psalm 89:14-15 (NKJV), ” Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.” We can be blessed people, receiving His lovingkindness and truth, and in all kinds of circumstances, whether difficult or smooth, and encountering all kinds of changes in the political and economic landscape, we can still receive God’s enlightenment and favor.
I. The glory of the Lord has come
When the prophet Isaiah mentioned, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” (Isa. 60:1, NJKV), the light of the Lord has come, and when His glory is revealed and shines, darkness will no longer cover the earth, and we will no longer walk in darkness. His glory will be revealed to us. This is not only the glory given to His people Israel, but also the light of revelation to the Gentiles. When we are in darkness or loneliness, light will become our guide and hope. Because of His presence and comfort, we will no longer be lost and afraid.
Christ is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32). This is in response to the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). The salvation that the Lord Jesus will accomplish is what God has “prepared before all nations”, including not only the “Israel” people, but also the “Gentiles”. Christ is not only a light for revelation to the Gentiles, but also does not reduce or remove the “glory of Israel”. Instead, the “glory of Israel” will be more fully realized.
II. Jesus is the light of life
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John 8:12, NKJV) This is what the Old Testament Book of Isaiah predicted several times that the Messiah would also become the light of the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6, and 51:4). When we do not know Christ, do not know the true God, and are still slaves to sin, we are walking in darkness.
But once we receive the light of life, we will have the life of the Lord within us as our light, and we will be able to see what is condemned by God and what is justified by God. 1 John 1:7 (NKJV) also said, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” If we can have fellowship with God in the light, we will be able to have more and more of His abundant life and nature.
III. We become children of light
Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” After we have been blessed to become children of light, we should, on the one hand, abandon our past darkness and rebellious behavior, and on the other hand, live a real life of light and bear the fruit of light, which is goodness, righteousness, and truth.
The Apostle Paul once warned believers, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5) We should not only live in the light, but also have the character of light, because we are no longer of darkness, but have become “sons of the day.” Believers also believe in the true light and become people with light in their lives, and can live because of eternal glory.
IV. All Saints Share God’s Inheritance
When Paul was sent to preach to the Gentiles, the Lord said to him: “… to whom I am now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:17b-18, NKJV) The eyes of unbelievers are blinded by the god of this world, but the gospel of Christ is here to illuminate our eyes and enable us to share the inheritance with the saints (Col. 1:12). Whatever we do in the Lord today, we will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward (Col. 3:24).
Apostle Peter also spoke of the inheritance reserved in heaven, “… the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3b-4, NKJV) This heavenly inheritance does not refer to earthly things, but to heavenly and spiritual things. It is also the substance of the hope of all believers, “that those who are called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15b)
In summary, we need to walk in the light of the Lord. Jesus’ disciple Matthew once reminded us, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glory your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NKJV) Believers should have the function of light, illuminating those in darkness and bearing witness to the glory of God. We should walk like children of light, revealing and illuminating, and dispelling all darkness. We should not only “illuminate those who are in the house” or just all the children of God, but should also let the light we receive from the Lord shine upon all around us. If we live according to this heavenly life, we will have the light of life (John 1:4; 8:12) shining before others, and they will see the manifestation of God in us, and thus give glory to God.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (Rom. 13:12, NKJV). Paul refers to the good deeds of believers as the armor of light, which are sharp weapons used to deal with the powers of darkness. They are the spiritual virtues that can be lived out from the life of the Son of God within us (1 Thess. 5:8; Eph. 6:13-17).
Apostle Peter also talked about promoting virtues, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV), God has called us “into His marvelous light” with grace, “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of Son of His love” (Col. 1:13, NKJV), making us God’s people and receiving mercy. Therefore, believers who are in the light should also “offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Heb. 13:15, NKJV). Amen!
September Short-Term Mission Report
In September, more than ten churches from both the East and West Coasts, as well as from Texas, sent out short-term mission teams — a total of 74 participants. This may be the largest mission team sent out in CWC history by far. Their footsteps reached far and wide — from Grand Forks (ND) and Duluth (MN) near the Canadian border in the north, to Midland and Lubbock (TX) in the south, to Hays (KS) near the Colorado border in the west, and to Montgomery (AL) near the Gulf of Mexico in the east. The teams covered about 1,300 miles north to south and 1,100 miles west to east. We divided them into more than ten teams and sent them to Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Illinois — a total of thirteen states. We thank the Lord! After the mission, some team leaders shared that not only were their members greatly blessed, but that God also used them to lead many people to Christ. Some churches in the Mid-west region also told our coworkers that the short-term mission brought tremendous help and encouragement to their congregations. To God be all the glory and praise!
Future Meetings
(1) December Winter Conference (Evening of Dec. 20 – Noon of Dec. 24)
This year’s Winter Conference will be held at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. Please plan your schedule early — not only to attend yourself but also to invite your church members and gospel friends to come. God has prepared many uplifting messages for both believers and seekers this year: Pastor. Johann Lai will lead the Revival Meeting: “The Way of Faith towards Glory,” and also speak on “Exploring Spiritual Issues”; Pastor Tsu-Kung Chuang will lead the Gospel Meeting “The Pursuit of Life,” and share the gospel message “Discussing the Life”; Rev. Brian Lam will lead Bible Exposition: “Behold! Your God,” and “Facing the Controversial Social Issues”; Minister Rosie Hao will conduct a Family Workshop: “Enhancing the Happiness of My Home”; Mrs. Esther Lai will teach “Ten-Step Exegetical Study on the Book of Jonah”; Elder Manchild Yu will share “Church Governance and Growth.” All these topics were prayerfully discussed with the speakers, focusing on areas today’s believers are eager to learn about. The English group speaker will be Pastor Albert Yip, among others. Please do not miss this spiritual feast! Details and registration forms are already on our website. Online registration begins November 15 and the strict deadline is December 14 at 4:00 PM.
(2) December Discipleship Training (Evening of Dec. 24 – Noon of Dec. 28)
Immediately after the Winter Conference ends, we will begin the December Discipleship Training that same evening. To align with the conference schedule and not overlap with the January Bible Camp (since many schools resume right after), we have shortened the training to four full days. Although the duration of the meeting is shorter, full-time participation is required. We thank the Lord that Pastor Luke Tsai, President of Christian Witness Seminary, and Minister Rosie Hao from New York Faith Bible Seminary, will come to teach the following topics: How to Creatively Lead a Bible Study; Spiritual Secrets of Apostle Paul; The Song of Songs — Song of Solomon; Freedom, Self-Control, and Wisdom — Exposition and Application of 1 Corinthians 5–7; Ten Questions About the Genealogy of Jesus Christ. Please reserve your time and invite brothers and sisters from your church to come and be spiritually equipped together. The registration form is on our website click here. The deadline is December 14.
(3) January Bible Camp (Dec. 28, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026)
This time we will continue from the Pauline Epistles to read the General Epistles. Praise the Lord! During the August Bible Camp, everyone read with great enthusiasm and resolved to continue studying. So far, more than 60 brothers and sisters have already registered. Pastor Daniel Shen will be the teacher. The registration deadline is November 15, and the registration form and reading schedule are posted on our website. Please check online click here and begin your preparation early.
Sunday Online Bible Study & Prayer Meeting
Every month we post the prayer requests on our website. You can remember us in your personal prayers, or pray for us at your church’s prayer meetings. However, a great opportunity to pray together with the center’s coworkers is during the Bible reading and prayer meeting led by the coworkers every Sunday night at 7 PM. This prayer meeting also has the purpose of helping everyone to start preparing for the Bible Camp in advance, so that when the time comes, you won’t be caught unprepared and think about giving up. Of course, if you are not attending the Bible Camp, you can still systematically study the Bible with us. This semester, we will be studying the ‘General Epistles.’ In the first 30 minutes, the coworkers will lead everyone in studying the General Epistles chapter by chapter plus guidance on how to study, write outlines, and topical reports. In the second 30 minutes, we will pray in one accord for CWC ministry and coworkers according to the monthly prayer calendar. So if you are willing to pray for us, you can join our Bible reading and prayer meeting. In order not to affect the brothers and sisters’ work and school the next day, we have shortened it to one hour (7:00-8:00 PM Central Time). We will use Zoom, with the ID: 85888709271, and the password: 567482. We invite everyone to come and study the Bible together and pray for the center .
Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests
1. Thank God’s provision — and thank you for your prayers! The Lord has prepared this year’s Winter Conference venue at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. Please reserve Dec. 20–24 to attend. This is a new change for us, so please continue to pray for smooth adjustments and cooperation with the hotel staff.
2. Pray for brothers and sisters who will attend the December Discipleship Training and January Bible Camp, as well as for the coworkers that God grant sufficient grace and strength.
3. Thank the Lord for guiding and blessing the August and September short-term mission teams with good health holistically, travel safety, and that they had borne much fruit in many places.Please continue to pray for the follow-up work in those regions.
4. Pray for coworkers:
○ Mrs. Sylvia Ko: Praise the Lord for answering prayers and granting safety while driving. Although there were a few near-miss situations, the Lord had protected me with His grace. My routine check-up on Oct. 22 also went well — thank the Lord! Please pray that I may continue to love the Lord with a pure heart and live peacefully and joyfully for Him in my later years. I also thank the Lord for giving me faithful prayer warriors.
○ Sister Cindy Chiang: Starting this month, she will be fully focused on preparing the three upcoming winter meetings. Pray for wisdom and strength. Also pray for her weekday office work and weekend ministry at various churches — may she be a blessing wherever she serves.
○ Pastor Qinglong Liang: Pray for a spirit of hunger for God’s Word and deep experience of biblical truth. May the Lord guide him in preparing the Winter Conference, Discipleship Training, and Bible Camp. Pray for his ministry in the Columbia area, that he may shepherd and lead believers to grow together in love for the Lord.
○Pastor Charles Huang: Pray for his family in Taiwan, that on Nov. 2 they will remove idols from the house, asking that they will experience peace from the Lord. Pray that his parents will have a stable church life to be rooted God’s Word. Also pray for his ministry at the Champaign Chinese Christian Church and for the three upcoming camps at the Christian Witness Center. Pray for the spiritual growth and school work of his three children.
○ Coworker Scott Jerome: Pray for his two daughters, Chiara and Macenzie, as they are both pregnant and due in January. Praise the Lord that Scott’s mom is home from the nursery home and doing well. Prayers for the foster boys that we have taken in and for their mom.
5. Financial Needs: 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 giving.
6. 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