牧者心聲
可敬可愛的長者群體
劉雪芬牧師
2023 年 5 月 27 日 / 28 日
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多年前認識一位長者弟兄，他聽力不好，平常也要持枴杖上街，但他卻風雨不改的，每週都在太太陪同下出席崇拜和團契，他的出現常常為團友帶來鼓勵，團友覺得他如此多限制，仍然堅持回教會聚會，自己實在沒有藉口可以不出席。
疫情前，教會的聖餐杯是需要人手預備的，有幾位長者姊妹，多年來每個月都忠心地謹守崗位，將葡萄汁斟滿每一隻聖餐杯。不要以為這個動作很簡單，其實好需要耐性，手也要穩定，葡萄汁才不會濺出杯外。
一位姊妹表示從前認識一對長者夫婦，他們竟能在 80 多歲時離開膜拜多年的偶像，改信耶穌，接受洗禮，實在很奇妙和令人感動，因此她自己也嘗試到教會認識耶穌，最後更信主受洗。
還有，由長者組成的錫安詩班一直努力練習，不單將讚美獻呈給神，也在安息禮拜及福音聚會中服事見證主。同時也有長者學習如何傳福音，恆常出隊，將福音傳給未信的朋友。
長者看似有很多限制和軟弱，但他們對神的忠誠、對信仰的堅持，叫他們仍能夠為神作見證。他們的得救見證也著實鼓勵了其他的弟兄姊妹，叫人認定自己家中未信的長者仍是有機會信主的。還有，長者們常常忠心地為家人、為教會、為弟兄姊妹擺上禱告，成為親友和教會的祝福。
近年隨著疫情及社會的快速變化，團契聚會的影音支援需求大量提升，而長者的關顧需要亦非常多，感恩過去有一班導師長期委身服事（有些事奉已超過十多年），讓眾長者得著關心，投入團契生活。面對未來，教會中的長者人數將不斷增多，我們懇求神感動更多的弟兄姊妹參與長者事奉和協助。
未信的高齡長者因體弱多病，以致活動能力降低，社交圈子收窄，信主的子女或親友，可能是他們接觸福音的惟一途徑。記得有一位在海外工作的弟兄，每次與香港父母通電話，都鼓勵他們信主，後來媽媽罹患癌病，他們終於表示願意接受主，弟兄便聯絡教會去探望，並表示希望他們受洗，教會一直關心他們，後來這位媽媽離世，而弟兄的爸爸因不用照顧太太，便開始穩定出席崇拜和團契，後來更積極地在長者團契中服事。
求神祝福北宣家的長者繼續為主作工，見證主的恩惠。弟兄姊妹，不要放棄向家中長者傳福音，使他們得著永生的盼望。
Many years ago, I knew an elderly brother with hearing impairment. He also needed to use a walking stick as he went outside. Nevertheless, he in his wife’s company attended worship services and fellowship meetings every week despite the weather conditions. His attendance always brought his fellowship members encouragement. They felt that if this brother with his many limitations still insisted coming to church for meetings, they really had no excuse for not attending.
Before the pandemic, the communion cups used to be prepared by hand. Several elderly sisters faithfully took care of this every month for many years. They filled each cup with grape juice. Make no mistake, the task is by no means simple. It requires much patience and steady hands to prevent the juice from spilling.
A sister shared before that she knew an elderly couple in their eighties surprisingly gave up the idols they had been worshiping for a long time, believed in Jesus and received baptism. That was truly amazing and touching. So the sister tried to go to church and know Jesus. Finally, she even believed in Jesus and was baptized.
Also, the Zion Choir that consists of the elderly always makes a great effort to practice. Not only do they offer praises to God but they also serve and testify God at memorial services and evangelistic meetings. Other elderly learn how to share the gospel and regularly take part in evangelistic outreach to bring the gospel to unbelievers.
The elderly may seem to have many limitations and weaknesses and yet their faithfulness to God and steadfastness in faith enable them to still be able to testify God. Their conversion testimonies indeed encourage other brothers and sisters and assure them that the unbelieving elderly in their homes still have opportunities to believe in God. The elderly also faithfully remember their family, the church and brothers and sisters in prayers. They are a real blessing to their relatives and friends as well as the church.
Due to the pandemic and the rapid changes in society recently, there is a huge and increasing demand for audio and visual support for fellowship meetings. At the same time, there is a great need for care services for the elderly. We are grateful that in the past, a group of counselors have committed themselves to ongoing service (with some having served for over 10 years). They have helped to make the elderly feel cared for and participate in fellowship life. In the future, the number of elderly in the church will continue to grow. We earnestly pray that God will move more brothers and sisters to serve and help the elderly.
Some late elderly who are unbelievers may see their social circle dwindling as their health deteriorates and their mobility reduced. In that case, their children or relatives who are believers may well be their only channel for hearing the gospel. I remember a brother who worked overseas would encourage his parents in Hong Kong to believe in God every time he called them on the phone. His mother had cancer later but both parents finally expressed willingness to receive the Lord. The brother therefore contacted the church to visit them and hoped they would be baptized. The church cared for them continually. When the mother passed away, her husband no longer had to take care of her and so he regularly attended worship services and fellowship meetings, and even actively served in the elderly fellowship later.
May God bless the elderly of the NPAC family so they can continue to serve the Lord and testify His grace. Brothers and sisters, never give up on sharing the gospel with the elderly in your home so they, too, will share in the hope of eternal life.
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