Gospel to the Unreached in LCA 4

Thanks be to God! After serving in southern region of Negeri Sembilan for few months, I experienced His gracious hand in reaching out to the local community.

I was blessed by Christ Church Melaka by her offering items given by parishioners during Harvest Thanksgiving service. All these gifts of love came at the right time. I distributed all to four needy families in the district of Tampin. All of them were overjoyed to meet us and touched by the love of God!     

Through the ministry of serving the needy, I could sense God is pulling down the wall of rejection in people’s heart. Of all families I visited, I discovered one Chinese family which needs my further care and concern. This family of 6 members stays in Hutan Percha about 18km from Tampin town. Mr Heng Chong Ming is the sole breadwinner. He takes cares of a sick mother and family members who depend on his unstable income.  

Besides Tampin, I made frequent visits to Gemas. The residents there are friendlier and received us with open arms. They began to address me “Pastor Gan”, a gesture of acceptance into their community. During my visits there, main focus is on Mr Loo Ting Yu, the renowned Chinese education defender, encouraging him to grow deeper in Christian faith. He told me he read a few Chinese bibles and one of which was presented by Mr Huang Lung Yue (黄润岳), one of the Chinese Education Movement activists.

                       

As regard to the ministry in St Chad’s of Kampong Geddes, one family of the church is going to move out the end of December. Church members and I will miss Chua’s family very much. Since I was pastoring there about 10 years ago, this family was helpful in my ministry there. As Mr Chua was getting old and sick, his children who work in Singapore invited him and wife to stay in a new house they purchased in Bandar Jaya Putra.

Their new home was prayed and blessed by me on November 24. House blessing, Bible study and prayer meeting were conducted to inaugurate their new mileage in family life. May God keep them safely in His gracious hand! They may continue to walk with Him and remain strong in Christian faith.

Gospel to the Unreached in LCA 3

Time really flies… without my realization, I have been serving in LCA for more than 8 months. Thanks for the prayers of Diocesan Bishop and the support I have from Christ Church Melaka especially Bishop Jason and Rev Jun Jer. Through their blessings and spiritual coverings, God sustained me in the progress of my ministry in LCA.

Apostle Paul says, for I am not ashamed of this Good news about Christ, it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). This proclamation has been my encouragement and motivation force for outreach work. I believe this powerful Gospel would be spread far and wide. However, preliminary work needs to be done.

As God sees relationship as His top priority, my ministry began with connecting myself to the people in the community. Under God’s guidance, I connected myself to Tampin, Gemencheh and Gemas community in many ways. Social network is one of the means I used to relate myself to the people. I joined the Tampin community through Facebook which provides me a platform to interact with the community.

A joyous moment with Mr Low and his wife at their home.

Besides that, I make effort to visit patients whom I met in General Hospital. This is done with good will, not only I could follow up their conditions but also show concern to them particularly the old and the sick. Under God’s guidance, I visited Mr Low Bock Teck, 65 years old, who is an asthma patient undergoing medical treatment in Tampin General Hospital. From his initial suspicious attitude towards me, now he has changed himself to sharing life experience with me. Praise the Lord!

Pray that I could connect myself to more people in Tampin, through this gesture of love I would connect them to Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, God did His wonderful work in Gemas too. I was given an opportunity to visit Mr Lu Ting Yi.（陆庭谕）. He is respected by Malaysian Chinese for safeguarding Chinese Education in the 60’s. There are three main Defenders or Heroes of Chinese Education, namely Lin Lian Yu（林连玉）, Sheng Mu Yu （沈慕羽）and him. Mr Lu is the only surviving leader and enjoying his green old age at 85.

I visited Mr Lu Ting Yu in Gemas Baru, Johor.

Mr Lu is open to gospel and welcomes my visit. From now on, I would make frequent trips to Gemas. My focus is to strengthen Lu in his faith. I know that if he were to commit to Christ wholeheartedly, his testimony would bring impact to the Chinese community in Malaysia. He is only free and available at night, so pray for my journey mercy when I make night travelling. At present, Lu’s close friends help him to publish his biography and history and do personal recordings before his death. I am invited by them to take part in some of this meaningful ministry.   

Gospel to the Unreached in LCA 2.

Thank God for His guidance and leading in several areas of my ministry. Although I encountered some cold responses from the people whom I met, the Lord encouraged me tremendously through some progress accomplished by Him.

Tampin is an area where God has done wondrous work. I have been praying for this district so that people here would turn their hearts to the living God. Under His guidance, I made visits to patients in Tampin General Hospital with my wife Shally. Many patients there were impressed by our visits. They were happy to engage in conversation with us.  

Through the visits, we came to know the needs of Tampin people. There was a boy just 8 years old, who was ill-treated and abused by his own mother, admitted to hospital while waiting for interrogation by Welfare Department.  He was a smart boy studying in Chinese Primary School. We offered to give him free tuition if his parents allow us to do so. Pray that God will bless his family and give us opportunity to serve the needy.  

Apart from Tampin, God also opened way for me in Gemas and Gemencheh gradually.  I succeeded in meeting up with my ex-colleague, Mr Ng Kim Bong, a retired Nanyang Siang Pau reporter who stayed in Gemas Baru.  He was excited to see me since I left press office for full time ministry 12 years ago. He is open to Christianity and attended church service before. I was welcomed into his home and Ng promised to help me identify the poor and needy residents in Gemas for my ministry there.

In Gemencheh, God led me to come into contact with Mr Fong Yong Wei, a Christian who served as a volunteer in Gospel Hall Jasin. My meeting with him was a joyous and   encouraging occasion. He engaged in the youth ministry through basketball game with the teenagers and youths in Gemencheh. I shared with him my plans of serving the elderly community there to which he agreed to give me a helping hand.

Lastly, the Sunday service in St Chad’s saw the attendance of few new faces. Mostly are elderly Chinese residents who encountered problems in life and came to church to be prayed for. I am thankful to God for enabling me to serve the needy people there. Pray that St Chad’ will be a beacon to Kg Geddes community, more and more people will be attracted to God’s House for eternal Gospel and salvation of their soul.    

Gospel to the Unreached in LCA

Thanks be to God! He is ever merciful and gracious, especially to the people who have not known Him. After few months of my ministry in Tampin, I discovered this superstitious town needs Gospel of Christ. It takes efforts and much work in scattering seeds. The process needs my patience and perseverance.

At present, I focus Tampin Hospital as my main area of ministry. This is the place where people need comfort and encouragement. Most patients approached by me are willing to respond and talk to me. From the conversations I introduced to them my identity and  ministry of Anglican Church. So far, I have gathered their names in my visiting lists.

Recently, social security has not been good. Burglary and break-ins in residential areas were common occurrence nowadays. Last month, three break-ins took place within less than two hours. An old couple was not spared in this incident.  Residents were infuriated and requested the authorities to beef up security measures.

Weeks ago, I visited an old patient at his home in Taman Indah. He was Low Hock Seng. Unfortunately, his house was ransacked by burglar.  He did not report to police for the loss of wallet and hand-phone though saddened by this incident. After in-depth study of Low’s background, I found out he lives from hand to mouth, life is a struggle for him. I committed him to the Lord so that some kind of help may come to him. 

Later, two parishioners were touched by my ministry and they contributed RM150.00 to this old man. I handed over this gift of love on their behalf during my last visit to Low’s family. This is a gesture of Christ love towards the needy and marginalized in Tampin. When I took the first step in to serve the poor and needy there, God’s spirit will move among the unreached. One day people will come to know Him through this ministry.

Not only Tampin is progressing, I also witnessed St Chad’s positive developmet. Its congregation is increasing and friends are coming in to join the service. The Sunday service is conducted trilingually.  Sermon is preached in English and Mandarin by me, and followed by Tamil interpreted by Esther Maniam who is the Lay reader there. Pray that God will bless this church and more souls will be won for His Kingdom.  

St Chad’s kindergarten will undergo transformation next year. Thanks to the efforts made by Ven. Charles Fraser. Under his supervision, Esther has charted out plans to take in Chinese students. Miss Ong who is an experienced teacher has agreed to teach in the Chinese class. She used to teach in a kindergarten in Bahau. For  reason of her health condition, she decided to move back to her home in Kg Geddes. Your prayer is much appreciated for the future development of St Chad’s.

淡邊開展宣教事工

淡邊鎮深具發展潛能。

在永平圣士提反堂事奉近8年後，西马教区拿督黄满兴主教於今年3月份，委派我到森美兰州进行植堂工作，焦点地区是淡边（Tampin）、利民济（Gemencheh）和金马士（Gemas）。据黄主教向我透露，森美兰州南部是教区较少堂会的领域，因此在这些地方开荒拓土，是提升教区（Diocese）为教省（Province）计划的一部分。

我感谢黄主教对我的委派。在开始阶段，我花了一些时间踏足这些地区，实地考察人口结构、地理环境、社会概况和宗教背景等，再呈报告给黄主教参考。迩後，经过一番祷告和思索後，他决定让我投入森南区的宣教工作。虽然一切从零做起，但是有上帝的引导和黄主教的祝福，时候到了必看见祂的荣耀作为。

自从我2005年加入西马教区（Diocese of West Malaysia）以来，心里积压了无可言喻的重荷，把宣教视为教会信徒必须履行的使命。也正因此，当我在永平圣士提反堂牧会的时候，鼓励教会领袖和信徒积极参与宣教工作，强调一切活动都要以此为核心。在基督大使命感召之下，我看到教会信徒在质与量方面，这段时日经历了长足的增长，感谢教会领袖的搭配，荣耀归给上帝！

今次，我从柔佛州调派来森美兰州，事奉环境大为转变。在永平的时候，那里设备完善，并且人才济济，协助我完成宣教活动，全不费吹灰之力。可是，这回我来到森州南部，面对人生地不熟的窘境，需一步一脚印地默默耕耘，的确是一项信心的考验。记得有一回，当我跟一位同工分享宣教历程时，他对我投以诧异目光，似乎暗示我：难为也！

在茫无头绪的日子，上帝让我经历祂奇妙的引领，祂感动淡边中国报记者罗风，在一次面晤的场合中，主动为我写一则新闻，介绍我在森南区的事工计划。除了感谢上帝之外，我也要感激他“拨笔相助”；新闻不只刊登在中国报，同时也出现在星洲日报。

與中國報記者羅風先生（右）茶敘。

时至今日，我深切体会到在崭新禾场展开事工，不再是个人的工作，它关乎到整个社区，也涉及教会的整体见证，以及上帝国度的具体展现。冀望各位教牧同工为我祷告，好让宣教与关怀事工能够造福社区，福音传遍，荣神益人！

范榮真《上帝宣教之民》讀後感

《上帝宣教之民》封面

当我读完范荣真《上帝宣教之民》这本著作，它帮助我对教会宣教观有深一层的认知与理解，不仅激发我在理性层面的思考，也为我提供落实宣教的应用策略，可谓理论和实践两者兼顾，反映出作者的用心和认真态度。虽然我首次翻阅此书，从字里行间可感受到范氏热血沸腾，在书中为读者厘清何谓教会的入世使命，引述圣经中所记载的宣教原则，为现今教会提出一个可行的宣教策略。

作者著述此书时，手头资料异常丰富，以《圣经》原则和例证为主，历代教会史和传统为副，站在“检讨过去，瞻望未来”的岗位上，为地方教会勾勒远大的宣教愿景。范氏的思维既深且广，甚至还说一句令我诧异的话，他扬言“语意学”的研究，在丰富人们对教会本质的理解，其贡献微乎其微。众所周知，语意学在神学研究扮演要角，为神学词语作出鉴定。然而，从范氏的研究经验中，告诉我们语意学在某种情况下，的确有不足之嫌，尤其是定义“教会本质”此词汇。

我个人认为，范氏对其著作的研究进路，并不是我可以采取的，除非我像他做足准备工夫。范氏对圣经原则持坚定立场，是宣教学者必须抓牢的基准，如此才能建构出合乎主道的论据。此外，范氏非在学术象牙塔内做学问，他既有丰富的二十年神学工作，更有置身墨西哥宣教的实战经验，此书非纸上谈兵或天马行空之作，的确是方法论与实践的结晶。葛拉瑟院长评论说，它需仔细阅读，审慎推敲研究，切勿因传统束缚、既定的兴趣、过份谨慎或惰性，而无法掌握宏大主题。

此书不算厚，可是作者功力深厚，论点步步进逼，令读者无法招架。针对教会的本质，范氏见解让我眼前一亮，如今仍在琢磨这句话。根据他的见解，教会本质经常不断地变化、改进、革新和成长，没有任何两天是一样。在我刻板观念中，教会本质和主的道一样，从前一样，现在一样，以后也一样，永不改变！怎能说它变化无止境？别说平信徒难以接受，连我服侍多年的牧者，要消化此话也颇感困难。然而，当我冷静下来作深层思考后，发现作者直指属世教会的本质，非指未来荣耀的天上教会，这两者无论在形体和本质上，根本不能相提并论。

有了这个基本概念，我就明白范氏所说教会本质的有机性，由于教会是一个有机的群体（Organic Body），它好像人体中的细胞一样，每分每秒都在新陈代谢，没有一分钟是一样的，这个说法毫无夸张。问题是，教会本质的变化向着何方？这才是我关心的前提。作者书中厘清，当教会成长时，它是朝向基督前进，惟有祂是万有之君王，也是教会之元首。确然，教会跟世上任何组织不同，它拥有属天的目标和终点，总有一天会脱胎换骨，转化成基督那完美无瑕的样式。

放眼今日教会，在世状况欠奉，大家心照不宣。范氏不讳言，教会非肉眼所见样子，它圣洁但也犯罪，合一但也分裂，普世但也独特……，这一切足让我灰心丧志，垂头丧气，不明白教会为何如此？事实上，圣经早有明言：上帝乐意使用软弱者，为祂成就伟大计划，叫地上有智慧、有权势者见羞愧，彰显出祂的恩典与主权！当然，教会信徒绝不能耽溺于祂恩典中，忽视自己当尽的本分和使命，反而更要战战竞竞跟上帝搭配，经历灵命上的更新与转化，让教会本质可以早日趋向完全。如此一来，我们才可以完成基督大使命，促成上帝的国度降临世上。

有关教会本质系于宣教，范氏论点掷地有声，引发基督教圈子省思；而他对教会服事社区的洞见，令人有语惊四座之叹。他在书中指出，教会藉由它在地上的事工找到自己的本质。这句话含鞭策意味，一般信徒读了会反弹。除了耶稣基督，还有谁可赋予教会当有本质？难道地上事工可定夺教会本质？乍读之下，我还以为作者本末倒置，正如英谚有云：“把马车误置马前”，令人啼笑皆非。当我作深层思考後，发觉基督用“非以役人，乃役于人”原则（可10：45）服侍人群，突显服事社区的赤诚之心，教会若不效法基督服事社区，有一天它不仅找不到本质，甚至还会从社区遗失本质；眼下欧洲和英国有些教会关闭，即是最佳佐证。

最後，我想在此评论范氏某些见解，虽说他不属于任何派别，论述丰富而平衡，惟他提出“一些人会成为先知”这个观点，我对此有所保留。他引述以弗所书第四章，形容先知是建立教会其中一个职份，有关先知的职事全本书只出现一次。按我个人立场，先知职份在当今教会不复存在，因为圣经的启示已经完成。不过，我同意先知性的信息传讲，当传道人站在教会讲台证道时，扮演着历代先知的角色，用上帝的道训诫祂的百姓。作者虽没有清楚交待，他正好扮演先知的重要角色，呼吁上帝的子民回到讨神喜悦的道路，在这世代依靠圣灵大能为主发光，参与教会的宣教和关怀事工，并在周遭的文化环境中活出信仰来。

化敵視為寬容

经文：51耶稣被接上升的日子将到，他就定意向耶路撒冷去，52便打发使者在他前头走。他们到了撒玛利亚的一个村庄，为要为他预备。53那里的人不接待他，因他面向耶路撒冷去。54他的门徒雅各、约翰看见了，就说：“主啊，你要我们吩咐火从天上降下来，烧灭他们，像以利亚所作的么。”55耶稣转身责备两个门徒说：“你们的心如何，你们并不知道。人子来不是要灭人的性命，是要救人的性命”，说着就往别的村庄去了。（路加福音9：51-56）

五十多年前，在台湾有一个12岁的女孩，患了一种严重的关节炎。她的家人非常担心，带她到处去看医生，花了不少钱。这位女孩名叫杏林子；从患病开始，她的病情一直没有好转，反而恶化，到最后，全身有90％以上的关节都损坏。

这场病使她双腿不能行走，双手不能弯，头部不能自由转动。如果你给她一片面包，比较硬的话，她的嘴巴没有办法咬下去，只能吃一些松软的食物。此外，她所穿的衣服不可以太厚，因为她的身体不能承担重量；而每一天的生活如洗脸、刷牙、洗澡和梳头，都要靠母亲代劳。杏林子患病以后，没有办法上学，只能在家里自己看书。

然而，上帝没有忘记她，非常恩待她。在她16岁的时候，有机会听福音接受主。当牧师在床边为她施洗后，生命得到平安和喜乐，找到了生存的意义和价值。虽然有许多朋友关心她，当中有一位曾经为她祷告说：“上帝啊，我的好朋友杏林子日子过得太惨了，她浑身疼痛，医生也没有什么好办法，我看她受那么大的折磨，实在不忍心，希望上帝慈悲，把她带回祢那里去吧！”

杏林子很感谢朋友的关心，她自己深受感动。可是，她领悟到对付苦难最好的方法不是逃避它，而是面对它、打败它，因为耶稣已经在十字架上胜过一切。她说了一句话：“疾病困住了我的身体，却困不住我的心。我爱家、爱朋友、也爱这个世界，大至中东战火、越南难民，小至邻家嫁女、朋友生病，我都关心，愿意分担他们的忧虑，也分享他们的喜悦。”

这位姐妹对生命的热爱和盼望，使我们这些好手好脚的人感到羞愧，因为有很多时候，我们没有为着已经得到的祝福感谢上帝，却为那些自己得不到的东西埋怨上帝。要知道，杏林子失去很多，不只失去健康，连她晚年的平静生活，也被她身边的女佣剥夺了。四年前的一个早上，家人发现她被女佣虐待和殴打，造成她多处瘀伤和骨折，头部受重伤，送到医院不到几个小时，便不治身亡。

任何人遇到无理的对待，都会感到非常忿怒，杏林子的家人也不例外。他们想把女佣告上法庭，不过由于杏林子在死前有交代，原谅这位女佣的错误，家人放弃上诉的念头，把她送回自己的国家。各位弟兄姐妹，要原谅一个曾经伤害我们的人，绝对不是一件容易的事情。不过，杏林子靠着上帝给她的慈爱，她做到了，她学习去爱自己的仇敌，这也是主耶稣曾经教导我们的原则。

路加福音第9章51至56节，是描写主耶稣如何教导自己的门徒爱仇敌，我们可以从门徒的身上有所学习，他们原本的生命是多么的败坏和可怜，经过耶稣的指导和纠正以后，他们得到一百八十度的改变。在51和52节里如此记载：“耶稣被接上升的日子将到，他就定意向耶路撒冷去，便打发使者在他前头走。他们到了撒玛利亚的一个村庄，为要为他预备。”这是耶稣最后一次上耶路撒冷，他知道时候到了，要在那里被钉十字架。在抵达耶路撒冷之前，他特地经过撒玛利亚村庄，打算在那里住下来。他这样做有两个目的，一是得到他们的服侍，二是得到他们的友情。然而，真想不到，这两个他都得不到。

为什么撒玛利亚人不肯接待耶稣呢？这里有他们的历史背景和因素，我们必须了解为什么犹太人和撒玛利亚人彼此间没有来往，甚至到一个地步变成了仇敌。公元前721年，离现在有两千七百多年的历史，当亚述王攻打以色列国后（王下17：24－41），这些敌人和以色列人的女子通婚就生下后代，称为撒玛利亚人。在正统犹太人的眼中，撒玛利亚人不是纯正的犹太人，是混种人。那时候开始，犹太人轻看撒玛利亚人。由于这种偏见，两个族群彼此不能沟通，产生了许多误会，彼此间的关系也紧张起来。在耶稣的时代，如果犹太人经过撒玛利亚的城市，他们不受欢迎。因此，犹太人宁可绕一个大圆圈，也不要经过撒玛利亚人所住的地方。

难怪，当主的门徒雅各、约翰看见撒玛利亚人不欢迎耶稣，他们就在54节说：“主啊，你要我们吩咐火从天上降下来，烧灭他们，像以利亚所作的么。”我们可以想象到，这两个门徒心里当时很生气，觉得应该好好的教训他们一顿，给他们颜色看看。他们为耶稣打抱不平，认为这些人太不像话了，不懂得耶稣是谁？顶顶大名的耶稣，用五饼二鱼喂饱五千人，医好许多病人，甚至叫死人从死里复活……。难道他们都没有听说过吗？没有看见过吗？如果眼睛有问题，要不要借用眼镜看一下，好让自己看得清楚一些。

讲到这里，我们或许会想不通，这些门徒在主耶稣的教导下，已经受过到少三年的训练，为什么还会用恶毒的话来对付看不顺眼的人。在我们的生活里面，是否也有类似的情况出现。为了某一些事情，我们会用十分恶毒的话语来辱骂人，甚至严重到一个地步，还会咒诅别人。各位，如果有的话，我们必须在上帝面前审察自己，要知道我们所说的一切，如果不是事实的话，有一天在上帝的审判台前，我们要为自己所讲的每一句话，来向上帝交账。除非我们不相信有审判这回事，否则，我们有必要承认自己的亏欠，求上帝赦免，请人原谅，不要再重犯。

当约翰和雅各要求耶稣用火来审判撒玛利亚人的时候，很有可能，在他们的脑海中，想起旧约时代的先知以利亚，怎样祷告上帝，降下天火来燃烧以利亚所献上的祭物，然后再审判850位假先知。可是，主的门徒已经误解了，以利亚的情况和撒玛利亚村庄的情况完全不同；以利亚所面对的是拜假神的人民和假先知，上帝这样做是为了彰显他自己的荣耀。可是，撒玛利亚村庄不是拜偶像的问题，而是两个族群之间的误会，不必用这样的方式来解决。

当主耶稣转身回答两个门徒的问题时，他绝对不是微笑跟他们说话，而是正如第55节所形容那样，主带着严厉的语气责备两个门徒说：“你们的心如何，你们并不知道。人子来不是要灭人的性命，是要救人的性命”。这两位门徒，在他们的生命旅程中，学习了宝贵的功课。在往后的日子里，他们才可以做一个优秀的门徒，为主做美好的见证。

今天，我们不再看到犹太人彼此分裂，他们当中不再分谁是纯正犹太人，谁是混种的撒玛利亚人。现今的以色列政府，欢迎分散各处的犹太人回国，一起同心建立他们的国家。据说有一些住在非洲的犹太人也回来了。以色列人要达到这个地步，真的不容易，乃是上帝的手介入以色列人的历史，给他们经过许多的苦难，才有今天的光景。 

我们是属灵的以色列人，我们本身所遇到的误解，可以透过爱心和忍让的心来处理，总有解决的一天。须知，上帝给我们有选择权。不好等到有一天，上帝对我们不耐烦了，要他亲自动手为我们解决的话，后果是相当可怕的。好象以色列人那样，经过多少的教训，多少的牺牲，包括在第二次世界大战中死了六百多万的犹太人同胞，到最后，他们才学习到同心合一的功课，这种代价太大了，太惨重了。

我们不盼望上帝亲自动手来解我们的误会，因为他是满有怜悯和恩典，但是他也是烈火，如果我们还是执迷不悟的话，等到他发怒那一天来到，没有一个人可以承担得起。但愿我们向主的门徒学习，在开始阶段犯了错误，到后来经过主的指点改过自新。也盼望我们可以向台湾的杏林子学习，就算被人折磨了，她还是可以用基督的爱去爱仇敌。我知道，这些功课都不容易学习，但是有许多的见证人好象云彩一般围绕我们，他们是我们的鼓励，是我们往前的力量。