∼印度／謝麗娟和廖華才宣教士夫婦／2016年9月代禱信∼
中文 English
親愛的弟兄姊妹平安:
從印度東北的 Siaha向您問安!
“為什麼愈來愈少人長期委身於牧會?”
七月回台灣時,麗娟有機會和幾位牧長們談,他們有一個共同的傷感：”為什麼愈來愈少人委身於長期牧會,連神學院也愈來愈重視神學進修部,而不是專注於為教會培養牧者.”神學院大概是因應現今的需求而這樣做的吧！愈來愈多牧者在教會事奉幾年後,就想走神學教育,於是進神學院繼續進修,有些人則直接從道碩念到神學博士, 然後進神學院教課.為什麼愈來愈少人願意長期委身於牧會事奉?為什麼許多教會找不到年輕人願意長期牧會?為什麼到神學院教課比牧會更吸引人?除了個人恩賜不同的理由之外,我想做老師要比牧會容易許多吧!牧會很難,要受長執同工們來的壓力,有許多會眾的要求及期待.但也許這些困難並不是無法長期委身於牧會的主要原因吧!我不曉得從社會來的不合聖經的價值觀在這個現象中有多少影響?比如說：在我們的社會裡消費者主義掛帥.有許多的選擇可以讓我選,我要選擇哪條路,就走哪條路.如果我不喜歡這個事奉,我可以換一個.如果我覺得這個事奉的要求太多,我可以換一個容易地做. 我可以選一個大家都得聽我的事奉(比如在神學院教書),而不要一個我得聽大家的事奉(像牧會).我們的社會講求快速,什麼都要快,工作也要有快的成效.但是,牧會的成效很慢,做與人有關的事通常都很慢,人際關係對牧會很重要,但要花很長的時間去建立.我們的社會看重舒服,但是,要和其他的罪人做朋友,或一起同工,並不讓人覺得舒服,反而常令人受傷.可是,和書本及電腦為伍很容易又舒服.
也許我們應該停下來想一想：我們是否讓這些不合聖經的價值觀控制我們, 並影響我們事工的選擇？我們是否真正讓主耶穌在我們的生命中作主,並引導我們進入祂要我們做的事工?我們是否不管服事有多困難,不管有無快速的成效,不管令不令人覺得舒服都願意順服祂的呼召? 主耶穌謙卑順服天父的呼召,直到死在十字架上, 我們是否願意學習祂的樣式? 我並不是反對那些蒙神呼召到神學院教導的人,我們很需要有敬虔的老師,可以按正意分解真理,並以生命引導學生成為好牧人.我只是擔心:也許我們容許屬世的價值觀影響我們事奉的選擇,而不是尋求神的心意而順服祂.如果我們不省思且改變我們屬世的價值觀,恐怕在不久的將來,神在台灣的羊群就沒有牧人來餵養他們了. 也許您不是牧者,但您是否也讓屬世的價值觀影響您的生活及事奉?
旅行與事工
謝謝您為麗娟回台灣募款的行程代禱,神實在保守一切行程期間的天氣.她在七月7日從Saiha出發,七月9日抵台北,抵台之後便馬不停蹄的開始開會,拜訪.感謝神賜下許多機會拜會教會,團契及一些個人,也到南部拜訪教會及個人.她也機會拜訪台南的一個浸信會教會,這個教會成立已50年,卻尚未開始參與神的普世宣教事工,感謝神,他們願意透過支持一位印度東北的宣教士開始參與,求神施恩祝福他們.感謝神感動一些弟兄姊妹的心,讓他們為印度東北的宣教士補助計畫慷慨的奉獻,求神繼續鼓勵那些應許要支持我們的宣教士的教會及團契,幫助他們記得他們的承諾.華才也在 七月22-30日出差前往Shillong參加聖經翻譯的會議,也拜會沿途的同宗派(ECM)的教會,感謝神保守他旅程的平安,並施恩給各樣的會議.回來之後,他在七月31日到八月7日在ECM的Bethany教會連續有八天的講道及教導,求神繼續對會眾說話,幫助他們的生活能與蒙召的恩相稱.
本月 23日,華才要對一些準宣教士做團隊事奉的訓練,麗娟則在八月24-26日幫他們做跨文化的訓練,求神賜下智慧及體力. 麗娟需要完成一些戒毒中心計畫的寫作,求神賜智慧.華才及他的聖經翻譯團隊極需要神的智慧及毅力,求神賜下.他主持的教會革新委員會,也求神賜下引導及智慧,好叫他們能提出ECM迫切需要的改革建議.
SIM印度東北宣教士
在肯亞宣教的Peny目前回國述職中,在印度東北支持她的一些個人只對她承諾支持三年,所以,她回國之後就停止了,她很需要在印度東北募集足夠的支持費,以便明年能返回工場繼續事奉,求神施恩幫助. ECM 的準宣教士Damary 目前在申請迦納的簽證,求神施恩幫助,使她能在九月初順利前往工場. ECM的準宣教士Sathei 牧師夫婦準備前往泰國宣教,求神幫助泰國簽證的申請.
家庭
感謝神在我們夫婦出差期間保守家裡孩子們的平安,頌恩也在我們出差期間考完了期中考, 我們的姪兒也在這星期考完,求神幫助他們每科都能及格.麗娟因出差及旅程過累,回家就生病了,感謝神是回到印度才生病,有家人可以照顧,目前已逐漸恢復. 華才也在出差回來後感冒了,一邊咳一邊講完八天的道,有時晚上會被自己的咳嗽吵醒,求神醫治他.在台灣期間,麗娟有機會邀大姐到信友堂的板新分堂聚會,求神鼓勵她繼續去聚會,也求神賜她屬靈的導師.麗娟也拜訪了父母,他們的身體狀況還穩定,父親藉吃藥而免去固定洗腎的困難,求神幫助麗娟的家人能早日信主.
非常謝謝您對印度東北宣教士的關心,及慷慨的奉獻,麗娟在台期間也謝謝您的關心及照顧.再次謝謝您對我們一家的關心,支持及代禱.使我們能在此地事奉神.願神親自報答您,願主的恩惠常與您同在.
您的宣教同工
華才, 麗娟及頌恩
Fachhais' prayer letter, Aug 2016
Greetings from Siaha, North East India!
Why there are less and less people committed to long-term pastoral ministry in the church? Debbie had chances to talk to a few church leaders in Taiwan in July. There is a common lament among them, "There are fewer people committed to long term pastoral ministry in the church. Even the seminaries are focusing more on providing higher theological studies for people than training pastors for churches." Seminaries probably just respond to the current demand as more and more pastors want to do further study and enter full time teaching ministry in seminaries after serving in churches for a few years. Some people may want to study theology straight to get a PhD and then teach in seminaries without serving in the church. Why there are less and less people who want to serve as pastors in churches long term? Why many churches cannot find committed young people to serve as pastors for long? Why is teaching in seminaries more preferable than pastoring in churches? Besides the reason of spiritual gifts, I guess it is easier to be a teacher than a pastor. It is not easy to serve in churches, with all the pressures from the leadership (elders and deacons, etc.) and the demand from the congregation. I guess that these difficulties may not be the main causes of short-lived pastoral ministry. I wonder how much role do the unbiblical values that we get from our society which have rooted in us deeply play in this issue? Ex: The consumerism- there are so many choices out there for us to choose and we can choose whatever we want. So if I do not like this ministry, I will change another one. If this ministry is too demanding and not comfortable, I will choose an easier and more comfortable one. I can choose a ministry in which people need to listen to me (like teaching ministry) instead of a ministry in which I have to listen to people (like pastoring). Our society values speed. Everything needs to be fast and work must have result fast. But in pastoring ministry we cannot see result fast and things related to people do not usually go fast. Relationship is very important in pastoring ministry but takes time to build. Our society values comfort. But building relationship with fellow-sinners is not always comfortable. We get hurt sometimes or often. It is easier and more comfortable to deal with computer and books than with people.
We may need to pause and think how much do we allow the worldly value to control us and influence which ministry we take? Do we allow God to be our Lord to guide us into ministry that he wants us to do and obey His calling no matter how difficult it is, no matter it is speedy or not, comfortable or not? Do we follow the humility, obedience and perseverance of our Lord Jesus who obeyed the course of our God Father till death? I am not against people who are called by God to teach in seminaries. We need godly teachers in seminaries who can expound God’s word correctly and mentor students to become good shepherds for God’s flocks. But I am just afraid that we have allowed worldly values to influence many of our decision-makings instead God's calling.
If we do not reflect and change our worldly perspectives, we may not have pastors to look after God’s flock in Taiwan in the future!! You may not face the situation of pastors in Taiwan where you are/ But do you also allow some unbliblical worldly perspective to influence your daily life and ministry?
Travelling and ministry: Thank you for your prayers for Debbie's fund-raising trip to Taiwan. She left Saiha on 7 July and arrived in Taipei on 9 July and started meeting straight away. Thank God for all the opportunities for her to meet various churches, fellowship groups and individuals. She had a chance to meet leaders of one Baptist church, which has been established for 50 years but has not participated in God's worldwide mission. They are willing to start supporting one missionary of SIMNEI. May God bless this church through their participation in God's mission. Thank God for His work in prompting people to give generously toward our SIMNEI missionary assistance project and for churches/ groups to support individual missionaries. May God continue to grant us favor by speaking to those who have promised to give or support SIMNEI missionaries. Laiu went to Shillong on 22 July till 30 July to attend Bible translation meetings and visit Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM) churches on the way and in Shillong. Thank God for good meetings and safe journey. He had a one -week preaching in ECM Bethany local church from 31 July to 7Aug. Pray that God will continue to speak to the congregation to live a life worthy of their calling.
Laiu will give training on teamwork on 23 Aug to ECM local missionary candidates and those who will serve with SIM in other countries. Debbie will give 3 days cross culture training to ECM local missionary candidates on 24-26 Aug. Please pray for wisdom and God's guidance. Debbie needs to do some paper works for SIM and ECM partner project- Maraland Rescue and Rehab Center. Please pray for wisdom for her. Laiu needs great wisdom in Bible translation. Please pray for the committee of church reform which Laiu is leading that God will give them wisdom and guidance to propose needed reformation for ECM.
SIMNEI missionaries: Peny serving in Kenya among the street kids came back for home assignment in June. Some of her supporters in North East India (NEI) promised to support her only for 3 years when she was in the field. Please pray that God will raise churches and individuals in NEI to support her so she can return to the field with full support next year. Damary from ECM will go to Ghana in the beginning of September. Please pray for her visa application, her preparation for leaving to the field and for her adjustment in the field. Rev Sathei and Tracy from ECM have been accepted as missionary appointees to serve in Thailand. Please pray for their visa application.
Family: Thank God for keeping our family well in our absence (Debbie travelled from 7-30 July; and Laiu from 22-30 July). Thank God for helping Vanoh finish his exams from 26-30 July. Pray that he will be able to pass all the subjects. Our nephew Thatha also finished his exams today. Some subjects were difficult for him. Pray also that he will be able to pass all subjects. Debbie was exhausted after her trip to Taiwan and fell sick after returning home. Thank God for family’s care for her that she is recovering well. Laiu also fell sick after returning from his trip. He used to be waken up by his coughing or snoring at night! J Debbie was glad to meet her eldest sister in Taiwan and invited her to attend a church nearby her house. Please pray that she will continue to go to church and there will be people following her up. Debbie also visited her parents in Taiwan. They are doing well health wide. Please continue to pray for her family's salvation.
Thank you so much for your prayers, concern and generous giving for SIMNEI missionaries. Thank you so much for your care and kindness to Debbie when she visited Taiwan. Thank you for your love, care and prayers for our family in Saiha. Without your prayers and love, we will not be able even to live here or do any other ministries. May God reward you with His abundant love and grace.
Together in His vineyard,
Debbie, for the Fachhais
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首頁＞宣教禱告網＞華神校友宣教士＞印度／廖華才和謝麗娟宣教士夫婦
華神校友宣教士