2026 April Prayer Letter

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

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) 

In one of evening revival meetings at the Discipleship Training last December, Pastor Luke Tsai shared this passage of Scripture—one we often think we know well and thus tend to gloss over. However, his sharing has brought me a profound reminder and a great shock. He said: “Repaying kindness is common human nature. When we receive a great gift, our gratitude grows, and we may return a greater gift to that person. For example: if someone gives you a frying pan, you might return something of equal value; but if someone gives you a magnificent gift, such as a free cruise, I imagine your gratitude and reciprocation would be equally large.”  This was Paul’s experience! Why was he able to labor more abundantly than all the other apostles? It was because he felt he was unworthy of the grace God had given him, yet he received it anyway. Therefore, he labored harder than the others!

In our churches, fellowships, (or perhaps among the CWC coworkers), we always see certain coworkers serving the Lord with zeal and toil. They are certainly not seeking fame or putting on a show for others. When we ask them why they serve so enthusiastically, they might answer: “Because I love the Lord; I am doing it for Him.” While this is already an excellent answer, it wasn’t until I heard Pastor Tsai’s sharing last December that I truly understood the logic behind it.  The reason is: I have experienced God’s immense grace. Laborious service is not just a momentary impulse or a burst of personal passion; it is a response to having experienced God’s great grace! Therefore, only when I realize how great God’s grace is toward me will I labor in service more—and more willingly.  It is just as the Apostle Paul reflected: he was originally a persecutor of the church, the “foremost among all sinners,” yet he had received such surpassing grace from God. Perhaps at this moment, you are “complaining” that there is too much ministry and you are about to be burnt out. At such a time, we should withdraw to the Lord’s presence to meditate on and give thanks for how great the grace God has already bestowed upon us. This allows us to renew our strength and joyfully repay God’s grace. “The greater the love experienced, the greater the forgiveness received” (Luke 7:47); this turns out to be a spiritual “Golden Rule.”

This passage (1 Corinthians 15:10) is written within the famous chapter on the Resurrection. In early April, as we commemorate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, this verse serves as an excellent reminder. Thus, Paul concludes by encouraging us to “excel in the work of the Lord.” He says:

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58) How true it is! Let us encourage one another with these words!

The theme of our prayer letter this year is ‘Rooted and Built Up, Attaining to Maturity’ (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 4:13). In this issue, Pastor Danny Li, one of CWC board members, will share with us:  How Did Samuel Build Up Disciples?
How Did Samuel Build Up Disciples
Samuel lived during the time of the judges in Israel—a period marked by a repeated cycle of sin, repentance, sin again, and repentance again. Although God raised up judges such as Jephthah, Gideon, and Samson to help the people, after these judges passed away, the Israelites would once again turn away from God. Samuel was the last judge, and even after his death, his spiritual influence remained. What, then, was the reason? How did Samuel build up the lives of others?

1. Teaching the Word of God

Samuel was not only a judge but also a prophet. One of the most important responsibilities of a prophet is to teach the Word of God. In 1 Samuel 7:3, he said: “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Having grown up during the period of the judges, Samuel clearly understood why the Israelites kept falling into repeated sin. Although there were many mighty warriors during that time, they only delivered the people from immediate troubles. They did not faithfully teach the Israelites to live according to God’s Word. As 1 Samuel 3:1 says, “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”  Therefore, Samuel not only helped the Israelites overcome their difficulties but also continually taught them God’s Word. Seeing the need, he established schools of the prophets (1 Samuel 19:20), and this form of teaching continued even over two hundred years later, into the time of the prophet Elisha.

How did the Israelites respond?  1 Samuel 7:4 says: “So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.”  Today, we do not only need mighty individuals to help us out of difficulties, Samuel shows us that what is more important is building lives through the Word of God, which brings lasting impact.

2. Building a Relationship Between People and God

1 Samuel 7:9 says: “Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.”  Sacrifice represents communion between God and people, restoring the relationship between them. In 1 Samuel 7:5, Samuel said: “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”  Samuel not only led the people in offering sacrifices, but he also regularly prayed for them, helping them maintain a healthy relationship with God. He did not draw the Israelites to himself; more importantly, he led them to come before God personally and offer themselves to Him.

3. Being an Example in Times of Difficulty

1 Samuel 7:7 says: “When the Philistines heard that the sons Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel.   And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.”  When the Israelites were willing to repent, offer sacrifices, and pray, the Philistines came to attack them. Pursuing the Lord will inevitably bring challenges. How did Samuel respond to the attack from the enemy?  In 1 Samuel 7:9, “Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD.”  A burnt offering signifies complete dedication to God. In the face of attack, Samuel led the Israelites not to rely on their own methods but to offer themselves fully to God again. He trusted that everything comes from God and that they belong to Him. Even their difficulties belong to God, and He would surely resolve them.  In the end, they set up a stone and named it “Ebenezer,” meaning, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” This was a spiritual lesson Samuel led the Israelites to learn together.

4. Continual Watchfulness

1 Samuel 7:16–17 says: “He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.  Then his return {was} to Ramah, for his house {was} there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the LORD.”  Samuel’s work of building up the Israelites was not limited to a single gathering or helping them through isolated challenges. He continually watched over them, maintaining their relationship with God.

Samuel was able to lead the Israelites to continually follow God because he faithfully taught God’s Word, built intimate relationships with God, served as an example in daily life, and consistently interceded for them.  May the Lord likewise help us to build up the brothers and sisters around us to become His disciples.

Special Announcement
2026 Triennial Holy Land Study Tour – Paul’s Missionary Journey (June 16–27) 
In addition to our bi-annual Bible Camps held at the Center, we aspires to lead brothers and sisters to the Holy Land for on-site study to foster a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. Our curriculum follows a rotating cycle: every three years, we travel the “Exodus to Canaan and the Life of Jesus” route; three years later, we follow “Paul’s Missionary Journey.”

In June 2023, 56 brothers and sisters joined us in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. We learned so much and were especially grateful for the timing—we returned at the end of June, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7th. For two full years following that, no groups were able to visit Israel due to the war. With the conflict finally ending last October, travelers are once again able to visit the “Holy Land” of Israel for study.

This time, however, our focus is on the “Paul’s Missionary Journey” route—another vital part of the “Holy Land.” Preparation began two years ago. If you joined any of our meetings held at the  Center, you may have noticed the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board; many have already signed. Due to our regular back-to-back meetings and office workload, I wasn’t able to finalize the details until February 28th of this year.

Tour Details:

Dates: June 16 – 27, 2026

Destinations: Turkey and Greece

Highlights: In Turkey, we will visit all Seven Churches of Revelation and Patmos Island (a special arrangement not typically included in standard tours). From there, we will cross from Troas (the Macedonian Vision) into Greece to follow Paul’s second missionary journey.

Since the next “Paul’s Missionary Journey” tour won’t happen for another six years, please seize this opportunity. Full details are available on the CWC website—please click here.

Our tours are characterized by immersive Bible study. We do not schedule time for shopping or half-day free excursions (if you wish to buy souvenirs, you may do so at the sites we visit). The itinerary is intense—even the travel agencies say so! My response is always: “We are hungry for the Word; we travel halfway around the world to learn as much as possible.”  Every evening after dinner, we hold a Bible study to preview the biblical accounts of the sites we will visit the next day. For example, before visiting  Ephesus, we will study what happened there in the Book of Acts, what the Epistle to the Ephesians teaches, and God’s specific exhortations to the Ephesian church in Revelation. We welcome all who have a heart for deep Bible study to join us.

Following the joint military actions by Israel and the U.S. in Iran on February 28th, some have asked: “Will the study tour still proceed despite the war?”  My answer is that the conflict is in the Middle East, quite far from Western Turkey and Greece where we will be traveling. Furthermore, recent news suggests the conflict may soon reach its end (we pray for a swift conclusion). We should not let fear paralyze us; if we wait until everything is perfectly settled to start planning, we will miss our window. Therefore, we are moving forward. As of today (March 28th), 31 brothers and sisters have already registered.

Regarding rising fuel costs: Yes, they are a factor! Those wishing to join should register and book flights as soon as possible. Interestingly, I noticed three participants flying from Beijing secured tickets for only $700 USD—less than half the price of my flight from Kansas City, Missouri. This is a great opportunity for those traveling from China.

We do not have a fixed date of deadline, but we do have a capacity limit of 44 people (one tour bus). Please register as soon as possible via our website.

Future Meetings
(1) May Discipleship Training (May 17 evening – May 22 noon)
Speakers for the May Discipleship Training include Pastor Allen Chi, Pastor Xiao Yuan, and CWC coworkers. Pastor Yuan currently serves at a church in Washington, D.C., and is well known to many of the brothers and sisters. Pastor Chi completed his M.Div. and Master’s in New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, then returned to serve with Campus Evangelical Fellowship in Taiwan for ten years. He has both burden and experience in student ministry and currently serves at a Chinese church in Atlanta.   The topics they will cover include: the Sermon on the Mount, Understanding the Identity and Authority of Jesus, the Secret to Living in Harmony, and the Path of Disciples. Registration form has been posted on the Center’s website; please download and register as soon as possible. Please click here.
(2) May Lay-minister Training (May 22 evening – May 25 noon)
The Lay-minister Training is specially designed for full-time working brothers and sisters and will be held over Memorial Day weekend. In addition to Pastor Xiao Yuan, speakers also include Pastor David Hsu and Elder Aron Fu. Pastor Hsu currently serves as senior pastor of West Houston Christian Church and has written several expository books; he will teach us how to study the Bible. Elder Fu, formerly a software engineer for many years, has faithfully served in the church and earned a master’s degree in Biblical Studies and Expository Preaching. He now serves as an elder at CCIC–Sunnyvale. His life of pursuit and service is a role model for working Christians. The messages they will share include: Genesis (the inner struggles of faith), the Calling to Be Salt and Light, Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and Drawing Near to God.  There will also be workshops: for full-time workers, “Walking with God in the Workplace”; for general believers, “Serving the Lord in Unity Across Generations.” Many other enriching messages are prepared for you to learn from.  Please reserve your time early, begin preparing yourself, and encourage brothers and sisters to participate. Also, kindly pray for this meeting, the speakers, and the co-workers. Registration form has been posted on the Center’s website; please download and register as soon as possible. Please click here.
(3) Youth Camp in June (Evening of May 31 to noon of June 6)
The youth camp has always been highly anticipated by young people. However, it is not an ordinary recreational camp; rather, it is a discipleship training program similar to that for adults. Participants are required to be born again and to attend the entire camp full-time.  We will have several speakers, including Pastor Steve Tan, who is known by many of us, from Immanuel Baptist Church in Kansas City, and Pastor Berry Edwards, the senior pastor of Warsaw Cedar Grove Baptist Church (formerly a math teacher at Warsaw High School, who frequently teaches at the youth camp). Another speaker is currently being invited.  In addition to water activities that young people enjoy, there will be an afternoon dedicated to outreach at several nearby nursing homes. More detailed information will be posted online soon. Parents are encouraged to reserve time early and motivate their teenage children to register.
(4) August Bible Camp (July 26 evening – August 1 noon)
This year we will study the “Poetry and Wisdom Books”. 47 brothers and sisters have signed up. If you desire to pursuit God’s Word, the reading schedule and registration form are available on our website. The strict registration deadline is June 15. Please register early and begin preparing your assignments. Detailed information is available on the website. Detailed information is available on the website.
(5) Winter Meetings Date Changes
We have announced the date changes for this year’s winter meetings in our last issue as follows:

* Winter Conference: December 23–27 (Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel)

* December Discipleship Training: December 27–January 2

* January 2027 Bible Camp: January 3–9 (Books of Daniel and Revelation)

Please share the information with others and set aside you time early to participate.

Past Meetings Review
March Spring Conference (March 13 evening – March 16 noon)
Praise the Lord for sending Pastor George Hsu and Brother Zhimin Jian to preach the Gospel and also edify the brothers and sisters. We were also blessed by the help of a six-member short-term mission team from the Chinese  Church in Christ- South Valley (CCIC-SV). Over the past year, perhaps due to the impact of strict U.S. immigration policies, there has been a significant decrease in the number of students and church attendees across various regions. Consequently, attendance was not as high as in previous years; nonetheless, we thank the Lord that nearly 100 people, including adults and children, participated. Out of the six seekers (Gospel friends) who attended, four were willing to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. Praise and thank the Lord!

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 ‘Poetry and Wisdom Books’.  In the first 30 minutes, the coworkers will lead everyone in studying the Poetry and Wisdom Books 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. Praise God for His guidance during the March Spring Conference. Please continue to pray for the brothers and sisters who have decided to follow Jesus. May the Lord grant them a smooth spiritual journey, that they may be firmly rooted and grounded in their faith.

2. Please pray for the intensive preparations currently underway for the June Holy Land Study Tour, May Discipleship Training, May Lay-minister Training, June Youth Camp, and August Bible Camp. May the Lord lead various people to attend, and may they be edified and helped through these meetings.

3. Pray for coworkers:

○ Mrs. Sylvia Ko: Praise the Lord and please continue to pray for my spring allergies. May the Lord alleviate my physical discomfort. May He also grant extra grace and protect me with safety on the road as I drive my grandchildren and travel for acupuncture treatments.

○ Sister Cindy Chiang: Giving thanks for the completion of a busy winter meetings, the March Spring Conference, and tax season work. I can now return to regular ministry. Please pray for the preparations for the June Holy Land Study Tour, the two discipleship trainings in May, the June Youth Camp, and the August Bible Camp. May the Lord grant abundant spiritual strength, physical energy, and wisdom, so that in every step I may “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

○ Pastor Qinglong Liang: May the Lord grant a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Jesus more deeply; for courage and diligence in serving at the Christian Witness Center, God’s church in Columbus, and the surrounding areas; for guidance for my wife and three children to live according to God’s heart; and for the heart of Jesus to walk alongside and lead others to become His disciples.

○ Pastor Charles Huang: Please pray for my pastoral and evangelical ministry at the Champaign church; may the Lord grant me the right words and wisdom. Pray for the church’s outreach ministry, that the Lord would raise up more co-workers to be used by Him in outreach and evangelism. Please pray for my elder brother’s family as they move to the U.S., that the Lord would lead them to believe in Jesus. Also, pray for my second son, Jeremy, as he prepares and seeks direction for starting college this year.

○ Coworker Scott Jerome: Please pray for us as we take on new leadership roles in the church. Pray for the healing of Scott’s shoulder injury, and for the three boys in our foster care and their parents.

4. 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.

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