Brothers and Sisters, Peace in the Lord,

During the days of Covid-19 epidemic, I greet you in the Lord. May the peace of Christ fill your hearts. May the places where you set foot not be infected by the virus. But you can infect others that they can enter into the Lord’s peace and love and receive the Lord’s Gospel and new life.

 

In Season and Out of Season

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Recently people are filled with fear because of the shocking news each day. The news makes us sleepless and worn. Church attendance dropped or just cancelled meetings. We understand this is because of fear. But what we do not understand is: we can stop meeting as a church to avoid the virus, yet we still go to school and work. We go to the classes with 100 classmates, but we are afraid going churches with far fewer people. We continue working at the office or factory with hundreds of people. But the phrase “church meeting” fills some with fear. We continue shopping at grocery store or even at the mall, but we are afraid of the church meeting. Why? Is it because we lack of faith? No. it is not. Because we still believe that God will protect us and keep our routine lives, so we continue going to work and school as usual. It seems we have found a “big reason” not going to the churches. But it shows that we don’t love the Lord enough and we are afflicted with spiritual laziness. We are so afraid to meet unexpected and unsafe people at church. But we still continure shopping at Chinese grocery stores and eating at Chinese restaurants. Does it mean that we only trust God will protect us at the Chinese grocery store, so that we will not meet any one who is a virus carrier? But don’t we believe that God can also protect us at the churches? Some people say, “Don’t go to places where a lot of Chinese people are at. So don’t go to church”. During this period, sometimes we feel people discriminate Chinese when we walk on the street. But when we Chinese say “don’t go to places where a lot Chinese people are”, do we not discriminate? This is truly sad! Some people’s office have over half Chinese staff. Why can we go to any place but not the church? If a tiny virus can badly defeat our spiritual lives, how can we witness for the Lord in front of others? If we can’t stand firm in the US where the risk for the virus currently is rather low, could we face the risk of being monitored by police by attending church meetings when we return to our home country one day? Unless we are elderly,of poor health, or usually not going out of the house a lot, stopping attending church will show that our spiritual lives are weak, we did not love the Lord enough, and we are not determined to prioritizing following the Lord. If we cannot be the Lord’s faithful disciples, then we are not good soldiers, but deserters!

Paul says, “Be ready in season and out of season”. It should be the same as for church attendance. We should be faithful to attend with or without difficulties. We can overcome all kind of difficulties when we trust on God’s power. When we face difficulties, we should still go to church, without much attention to whether we should go or not. It seems like this pestilence will last a few months. Are we going to skip going to the churches for months? The Bible says, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near,” (Hebrews 10:25) What will the church be like after we stop gathering? Will it still be a home? How cohesive is the fellowship, the Bible Study group? Lack of loving communication and encouragement among brothers and sisters is a big loss from the body life. If people do not attend church for several months, people will habitually not go. It will be very hard to invite them to come again. It is not to the point that we need to stop meeting yet in North America during this epidemic. No matter in season or out of season, let us be faithful going to church despite how bad the rumors outside.

From the aspect of spreading the Gospel, Paul reminded us, ”preach the Word.” This is to remind us that sharing the Gospel is a duty for everyone. It is our mission. The Lord has helped us in different kind of difficulties. Let everyone share the Gospel with perseverance and bear much fruit for the Lord. “Be ready in season and out of season”. If we say, “Now is not a good day to share the Gospel, then we have wasted the good days for sharing the Gospel. Because every day is a good day to share the Gospel. As long as we are willing to go out and share the Gospel, we will see the Lord’s wonderful and mighty hands. Once I led a short-term mission team to Mississippi and a hurricane was approaching. I called the local church leader to find out if they have arranged any meeting on the weekend. The local coworker told me that when we arrived, the hurricane should have just past. We might see fallen trees and broken wires on the road, street lights and traffic lights out, some houses collapsed, but the timing will be great because all the schools were closed due to the hurricane! All the libraries, labs, offices were closed. It was a great opportunity to share the Gospel because everyone was off and most had nothing to do. We hurried to that campus and a lot of people were willing to let us visit them. An exceptionally large number of people came to the evangelistic meeting. God led many to believe. Thanks to be God! God uses difficult situation to do wonders. The ones who are willing to trust God in difficulty are working with God, then you will see the Lord’s wonderful works. Therefore, Paul encouraged us, “Peach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”

Spring Break Gospel Camp is almost here! This is a good chance to share the Gospel. We pray the Lord to help us grasp this opportunity to spread the Good News. When people are afraid to attend church or places where a lot of Chinese congregate, it lets us see that in the past, people thought death was very far away from them. Now they have the sense that death stands at their side. They are not only afraid of pain, but also death. Not only do they worry about themselves, they worry also about their families on the other side of the sea. People start to think about not just this life, but also about eternal life. In the past, they said there was no God. Now they ask you to pray for them and their families. In the past they did not want to hear you talk about the Gospel; now their hearts have softened, waiting for us to share the Gospel to them. Jesus said, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:35) Please take good advantage of the March Gospel Camp and quickly invite others to come. This is a critical moment. Let us share the Gospel together to bring others to the Lord.

1. This is also the best time to show God’s love. Seeing others returning from mainland China, we cannot say, ”You need to take 14-day voluntary quarantine. Don’t come to the churches.” We can tell them:
2. “Our church is willing to pick you up from the airport.” Brothers and sisters can drive two vehicles to the airport. We will give you the unlocked vehicle at the airport with the car key in it. You can get on that car and drive it to your home. The two drivers from our church will drive another car leaving the airport after seeing you drive the car away.
3. “We can help brothers and sisters’ in their two-week quarantine.” You may give us a shopping list of what you need to our coworker or to the one you choose. We will do our best to buy all the groceries and put them at your doorstep. You can pay us back later.

“We can help your family.” The one who just returned from China must stay home for two-weeks. Churches can arrange for other family members who did not return from China to stay at other brothers and sisters’ homes for two weeks. Family members can prepare two weeks groceries and needs at home beforehand for the quarantined people. In the midst of quarantee period, if that person still have other needs, other family members can deliver them at the doorstep too.
May the Lord help us practice the lesson of loving one another. If you have colleagues, classmates, or relatives who are not from church and just returned from mainland China, you may feel free to use the method above to let them experience the Lord’s love. It may be easier for them to believe in the future. This is the best time to witness for the Lord and share the Gospel. Let us grasp this opportunity to show God’s love and spread the Lord’s Good News with one accord.

March Gospel Camp (March 6-9)

Gospel Camp will begin in the few days. Let us continue to be reminded: In season or out of season, preach the Gospel. Christian Witness Center is located in the woods by a lakeshore with a small population and fresh air. It is far from concentrated populations. Till now, no visitors can travel from heavily infected areas to US. US residents and citizens coming in from infected areas need to voluntarily quarantine. You can feel safe to join the Camp. Many people’s hearts have softened. If we can invite them, they will be more willing to join than the past. The attendees are more receptive to the Gospel than before. Let us pray for the Gospel Camp and invite more people to come. Gospel Camp is not just for the nonbelievers, but believers as well. We have revival and edifying workshops. Let us share the Gospel on one hand and be established on the other hand. The theme for the camp is “New Life and New Mission”. Speakers are Rev. Tsu-Kung Chuang and Rev. George Hsu. Mission team form California Chinese Church in Christ-South Valley will help evangelize. Please pray fervently for this camp’s speakers and the nonbelievers. Pray the Holy Spirit to do great works. All the expanses for the Camp are free will offering. We have mailed application forms to all the churches. You can either apply online or mail application form to CWC. Please click here for detail.

Each Coast March Disciple and Coworker Training Camp (March 11-15)

The purpose is to build up brothers and sisters at the East Coast to be the Lord’s disciples and equip coworkers for campus ministry and churches and bring revival to the East coast. Trying to match the spring break from most campuses, this camp will be held in two tiers from March 11 to 15. The location is at Christian Servant Renewal Center near Raleigh, NC. Speakers are Sister Grace Lee, Rev. Billy Ko, and other pastors. There is a free will offering. Contact email is TrainingInEC@gmail.com

May Disciple and Coworker Training Camp (May 17-22)

After the Covid-19 epidemic, China will have big changes in politics. It may be stricter or more lenient. Sharing the Gospel maybe more difficult than before or easier. But no matter which direction leaders go, we need to build up laborers to be witnesses for the Lord’s name, to share the Gospel, and be steady witnesses for the Lord. We pray the Lord will allow more brothers and sisters to stay in US for a few more days. Though missing home, not hurrying to return home as soon as final is over. Instead choosing to first come to this training camp to be equipped and be built up themselves. When they return home, they can be solid believers to witness for the Lord. Let us pray for the training camp and encourage more brothers and sisters to come to the camp. Our speakers are Brother Eric Wu and CWC coworkers. Firm deadline is May 15. For details please go to CWC website.

Memorial Day Weekend Lay-minister Training Camp (May 22-25)

There are many visiting scholars coming to the US each year. We believe that the Lord’s will is for them to come to the Lord and be built up to follow God and be used by God to teach their students not just the knowledge from books, but knowledge of the True God, the Bible, when they return to China. In the North American campuses, who can build them up for the Lord’s use? Professors and brothers and sisters working in universities are the ones God uses to reach out to the visitor scholars because they have similar background, age, knowledge and career. They can easily make friends with the visiting scholars and lead them to the Lord, equip them, so they can be used by God when they return. Lay-minister Training Camp only will be held once a year. Please grasp the opportunity. CWC has family housing and children’s program for the needs of families. Fulltime attendance is required. We suggest brothers and sisters considering taking off half a day on Friday May 22, so they can arrive at CWC camp by 5:30pm to join the meeting. Our speakers are Brother Eric Wu, Elder Johnson Lee and CWC coworkers. Deadline is May 15. Please sign up early. Please click on CWC website for detail. Fulltime students (RA, TA and PhD students who are not counted as fulltime working people) must first attend the Disciple and Coworker Training camp—the next one is May 17-22—in order to stay for the Lay Minister camp.

Youth Disciple Training Camp (May 31-June 6)

It is best for youths to be equipped to be the Lord’s disciples at early ages because their potential is high. God can change them easier, so their whole lives can live for the Lord. CWC youth disciple training camp is to build up youths to allow them to know the Truth since they are teenagers. When they go to college, they can witness for the Lord on their campuses and lead their classmates to the Lord. After college, they can still serve in the churches while working fulltime, to be laborers for God’s kingdom in their own churches. The camp is for English speaking youths to be disciples. It is not a playground for young people, but a base for youth disciples and future missionaries. Our speakers are Pastor Jonas Caruncho, Pastor Steve Tan, and Pastor Barry etc. It is in the planning stage. Please pray for us and check CWC website for updates.

Prayer requests:

1. Pray for the epidemic of Covid-19. May the Lord heal the soul and body of people. May people can look up to Christ and believe in God.
2. Pray for the preparation work for March Gospel Camp. May the Lord strengthen the coworkers as they are preparing for the camp.
3. In the time of people’s hearts filled with uncertainty and fear, may the Lord arouse more people to sense their need for the Gospel, to seek God, and to sign up for the Gospel camp.
4. May the Lord increase the desire of brothers and sisters to pursue God and spread the Gospel. They not only first sign up for Gospel camp, but also invite many nonbelievers to come.
5. Pray for the speakers of Gospel camp that the Lord will give them wisdom and strength.
6. Pray for May disciple and coworker training camp that the Lord prepare more people to come to be equipped and be the Lord’s disciples.
7. Pray for youth camp that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the speakers and the youth to pursue Him and prepare to follow God all their lives and live for the Lord.
8. May the Lord touch more people to join CWC to be coworkers to serve Him.
9. Pray for the physical health and ministry of CWC coworkers that their body and spirit are both thriving.
10. Pray for the health of Mrs. Ko. May the Lord continue to heal and strengthen her. May God bless Pastor Ko’s ministry in different campuses and travel mercy.
11. Pray for March Each Coast disciple and coworker training camp. The Lord will be at work. Also pray for the camp expansion plan and funding need.
12. Pray for Brother Qing-Long Liang and his family’s ministry in Columbia MO. May the Lord give him ability and wisdom to shepherd the Lord’s house and his ministry on different campuses and churches.
13. Pray for Sister Cindy Chiang for her busy daily administrative work and her weekend ministry at different campuses. Pray for travel mercy and God uses her more.
14. Pray for the month operation need for CWC. May the Lord reveal his abundant supply and let more people experience the blessing of giving.

2020 CWC offering receipts:

We have mailed out all of your offering receipts. If you have not received yours, it may mean it had an old address or otherwise wrong address and was returned to the CWC. Please contact CWC. We are grateful for your financial support to CWC. In the new year, please continue to remember our needs. May the Lord continue to increase the efficiency of our ministry to help more people to believe in the Lord, to build up more disciples, and to train more coworkers to serve the Lord.

Emmanuel!

In Him,
Pastor Ko