Dear Brothers & Sisters,
When God called me to Bethel, I knew God had called me to come alongside brothers and sisters to help rebuild the church. Rebuilding a church is not an easy task. However, it can be done when everyone in the church does not stand on the sideline but starts contributing. Apostle Paul reminded us in Romans 12 that each believer must not forget how God has mercifully saved us from our spiritual blindness. Why? Lest we forget; if we do not live for Jesus Christ; we would be risking going back to the pattern of our sinful nature. Jesus died in place of us on the cross so that we have a second chance to live differently!
People who start a new family do not aim for failure. All of us are trying our best to build a warm loving family. Unfortunately, a problem-free family seems like an ideal that no one can achieve. Families that do not know how to resolve issues and sometimes ignore the signs of trouble will soon find themselves in an overwhelming situation where relationships are strained. Not so with Bethel! God sent His Son Jesus Christ to the world so that whoever believed in his way of life would have everlasting life! The question is whether each family has followed the way of Jesus so that transformation can take place.
Our church consists of many families longing to receive wisdom from God to transform our immediate family. The church is a platform where we can practice the way of Jesus with other families so that we can test and approve what God’s will is. How will we practice the way of Jesus without serving one another? How will we learn how to resolve conflict when we avoid participating in church life? How can we prove the word of God is true unless we try it in a community of faith?
I have a vision. I long to see our church becoming a sacred place where each member of the church feels safe to practice being more like Jesus Christ without being judged. Through love and tolerance, everyone in the church takes up their calling as a spiritual grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother, sister, son, and daughter. Apostle Paul has advised us in Romans 12:3-8 that each of us needs to be humble and relearn our roles and responsibilities following the instruction of God. We as a family must not look to our own interests but must offer our gifts and talents to help the church grow mature. Each of us must not downplay our importance and give excuses not to contribute to building up the people of God. No one is ever too old to serve; no one is too young to serve. As long as we are still breathing, each one is a member of the church and has a gift or talent to offer.
For this reason, I want to encourage every member of the church to consider serving once a month in a particular role. If any of you lack confidence, there is one particular ministry in our church that can help us gain such confidence one small step at a time: Family and Children Ministry. We have established various manageable roles and responsibilities that are designed to equip and train people for more challenging roles. This ministry is also designed to help all of us relearn how to build a healthy family that is different from the world. Both grandparents and parents can relearn how to nurture and discipline children in the way of Jesus Christ. Young people can learn how to honor their predecessors and mentor the younger teens. Teens can learn how to lead young children by setting good examples. Everyone of all ages can benefit because we can witness God transforming our church and families in our church when we serve with purpose.
Please talk to me to arrange a time to envision how to rebuild our children's ministry together! Please also reserve Saturday, September 7th, for the Parents Meeting in the fall.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at peter.chong@bethelmb.org. Please continue to pray for our church. Thank you.
親愛的兄弟姊妹們,
當神呼召我來到頌主堂時,我知道神在呼召我與眾弟兄姊妹一起重建教會。重建教會並不是一件容易的事,然而,當教會中的每個人都不做旁觀者而開始貢獻時,這是可以做到的。使徒保羅在羅馬書12章提醒我們,每個信徒都不能忘記上帝如何憐憫地將我們從屬靈的盲目中拯救出來。為什麼?是免得我們忘記;如果我們不為耶穌基督而活;們將返回我們罪惡本性的模式。耶穌代替我們死在十字架上,是為了讓我們有第二次機會以不同的方式生活!
組織新家庭的人不會想著朝向失敗的方向前行。我們所有人都會盡最大的努力建立一個溫暖、充滿愛的家庭。可惜的是,一個沒有問題的家庭是一個不切實際的夢想。由於不懂得處理夫婦問題或者忽視現存不好的徵兆,許多家庭很快就會發現自己處於關係緊張危險的景地。頌主堂則不然!因神差遣祂的兒子耶穌基督來到世上,使凡相信祂的人都得永生!問題是每個家庭是否都遵循了耶穌的道路,以致發生更新轉化的生活。
我們的教會是由許多的家庭所組成,我們可以祈求從上帝那裡獲得智慧來改變我們的關係。教會是一個一起實踐耶穌生活方式的平台,我們可以一起察驗上帝的旨意是什麼。如果不能彼此服事,我們將如何實踐耶穌的教導?當我們避免參與教會生活時,我們將如何學習解決衝突?除非我們在信仰的團體中嘗試,否則我們怎麼能證明上帝的話語是真實的呢?
我有一個願景,就是盼望頒主堂成為一個主臨在的地方,讓教會的每個成員都感到安全,可以學習更像耶穌基督,而不受批判。透過彼此相愛和寬容,我們每個人都承擔起我們作為屬靈祖父、祖母、父親、母親、兄弟、姐妹、兒子和女兒的角色與呼召。使徒保羅在羅馬書12:3-8中提醒我們,我們每個人都需要謙卑,並按照上帝的指示重新學習我們的角色和責任。作為一個家庭,我們不能只顧自己的利益,而必須奉獻我們的恩賜和才能幫助教會長大成熟。我們每個人都不能低估我們的重要性,不要找藉口不為建立上帝的子民做出貢獻。沒有人太老或太年輕而不能服事,只要我們還有氣息,每個人都是教會的成員,有恩賜或才能都可以奉獻為活祭。
出於這個原因,我想鼓勵教會的每一位成員考慮每月在特定角色中服事一次。如果你們中有人缺乏信心,我們教會中有一個特別的事工可以幫助你們一步一小步地獲得這種信心:這就是家庭和兒童事工。我們已建立了各種崗位和職責,旨在為更具挑戰性的角色提供裝備和培訓。這個事工也旨在幫助我們所有人重新學習如何建立一個與世界不同的健康家庭。祖父母和父母都可以重新學習如何以耶穌基督的方式養育和管教孩子。年輕人可以學習如何尊重他們的前輩並指導年輕的青少年。青少年可以通過樹立好榜樣來學習如何領導幼兒。所有年齡段的每個人都可以受益,因為當我們有目的地服事時,我們可以見證上帝改變我們的教會和教會中的每個家庭。
請與我本人聯絡,安排時間探討如何一起重建我們的兒童事工!也請預訂 9 月 7 日星期六的秋季家長會。
請繼續關注未來的更多細節。如果您有任何問題或疑慮,請隨時與我聯繫 peter.chong@bethelmb.org 。請繼續為我們的教會禱告。謝謝。
亲爱的兄弟姊妹们,
当神呼召我来到颂主堂时,我知道神在呼召我与众弟兄姊妹一起重建教会。重建教会并不是一件容易的事,然而,当教会中的每个人都不做旁观者而开始贡献时,这是可以做到的。使徒保罗在罗马书12章提醒我们,每个信徒都不能忘记上帝如何怜悯地将我们从属灵的盲目中拯救出来。为什么?是免得我们忘记;如果我们不为耶稣基督而活;们将返回我们罪恶本性的模式。耶稣代替我们死在十字架上,是为了让我们有第二次机会以不同的方式生活!
组织新家庭的人不会想着朝向失败的方向前行。我们所有人都会尽最大的努力建立一个温暖、充满爱的家庭。可惜的是,一个没有问题的家庭是一个不切实际的梦想。由于不懂得处理夫妇问题或者忽视现存不好的征兆,许多家庭很快就会发现自己处于关系紧张危险的景地。颂主堂则不然!因神差遣祂的儿子耶稣基督来到世上,使凡相信祂的人都得永生!问题是每个家庭是否都遵循了耶稣的道路,以致发生更新转化的生活。
我们的教会是由许多的家庭所组成,我们可以祈求从上帝那里获得智慧来改变我们的关系。教会是一个一起实践耶稣生活方式的平台,我们可以一起察验上帝的旨意是什么。如果不能彼此服事,我们将如何实践耶稣的教导?当我们避免参与教会生活时,我们将如何学习解决冲突?除非我们在信仰的团体中尝试,否则我们怎么能证明上帝的话语是真实的呢?
我有一个愿景,就是盼望颁主堂成为一个主临在的地方,让教会的每个成员都感到安全,可以学习更像耶稣基督,而不受批判。透过彼此相爱和宽容,我们每个人都承担起我们作为属灵祖父、祖母、父亲、母亲、兄弟、姐妹、儿子和女儿的角色与呼召。使徒保罗在罗马书12:3-8中提醒我们,我们每个人都需要谦卑,并按照上帝的指示重新学习我们的角色和责任。作为一个家庭,我们不能只顾自己的利益,而必须奉献我们的恩赐和才能帮助教会长大成熟。我们每个人都不能低估我们的重要性,不要找借口不为建立上帝的子民做出贡献。没有人太老或太年轻而不能服事,只要我们还有气息,每个人都是教会的成员,有恩赐或才能都可以奉献为活祭。
出于这个原因,我想鼓励教会的每一位成员考虑每月在特定角色中服事一次。如果你们中有人缺乏信心,我们教会中有一个特别的事工可以帮助你们一步一小步地获得这种信心:这就是家庭和儿童事工。我们已建立了各种岗位和职责,旨在为更具挑战性的角色提供装备和培训。这个事工也旨在帮助我们所有人重新学习如何建立一个与世界不同的健康家庭。祖父母和父母都可以重新学习如何以耶稣基督的方式养育和管教孩子。年轻人可以学习如何尊重他们的前辈并指导年轻的青少年。青少年可以通过树立好榜样来学习如何领导幼儿。所有年龄段的每个人都可以受益,因为当我们有目的地服事时,我们可以见证上帝改变我们的教会和教会中的每个家庭。
请与我本人联络,安排时间探讨如何一起重建我们的儿童事工!也请预订 9 月 7 日星期六的秋季家长会。
请继续关注未来的更多细节。如果您有任何问题或疑虑,请随时与我联系 peter.chong@bethelmb.org 。请继续为我们的教会祷告。谢谢。