牧者心聲
40 年差關
莊明偉牧師
2023 年 9 月 2 日 / 3 日
Click here for English
差關小組組長收到了來自宣教士的訊息，知道宣教士即將做腦部手術，於是大家便著力為手術禱告。感謝主神垂聽禱告，使手術順利完成，腫瘤得以切除，而宣教士之後的視力測試也正常，可以繼續在工場駕駛私家車代步。
疫情期間，一位宣教士有事回港辦理，為免家中長者感染新冠病毒，他先自行在酒店隔離。差關小組成員知道他隔離的地點，就拿各樣物資支援他，而且煮餸菜和買宣教士喜歡吃的食物給他。
宣教士在前方拼搏，差關小組就是支援他們的後方英雄。差關小組努力在背後為宣教士和工場上的福音需要代禱，給予最為重要的屬靈支持。他們持續關心宣教士，成為宣教士的力量。還有，他們也關心宣教士在港的家人，代替宣教士回應在港家人的需要。
其實，一些差關小組成員也有各自的困難，但他們仍堅持為宣教士禱告。在一些差關小組中，有幾位成員得了重病，其實他們也是需要被關顧的一群，但他們仍繼續參與小組的事奉，弟兄姊妹互為代禱，而整個小組也鍥而不捨地為宣教士祈禱。此外，也有為了照顧患重病家人而未能參加差關小組的，其他組員便在參加小組的時候為他們代求。大家抱持同一使命，所以小組成員之間其實也有一種團契生活，偶爾他們亦會一同歡聚，各自帶上喜愛的食物，互相分享。
北宣家現時有 16 個差關小組，大家都是帶著使命去參加的。北宣家自 1983 年成立第一個差關小組開始，至今已 40 年了，原來以前的差關小組已很著力關心宣教士。就在差關小組成立的第三年，宣教士在台北市郊開荒植堂，但某天竟然收到有生以來最大的生日蛋糕，原來是當時的差關小組訂購給他的，宣教士一家都驚喜不已。
滕近輝牧師曾經說過，宣教是神的心意，每個人都要參與，不是在前方作宣教士，就要在後方支援宣教，並且作代禱勇士。不論在前方或後方，你找到了你的差傳服事崗位嗎？
The leader of a missionary care group received the news from a missionary that his brain surgery was imminent. So, the missionary care group immediately sprang into action to pray for the operation. Thanks be to God who answers prayer, the operation went well. The tumor was removed and the missionary tested normal for eyesight after the surgery. He could continue to drive in the mission field as his transportation.
During the pandemic, a missionary returned to Hong Kong to take care of some personal business. To prevent the seniors in his home from catching COVID, he first stayed in a hotel for self-quarantine. Members of one missionary care group knew where he was staying and so they brought him various supplies, cooked some dishes and bought his favorite food to show support.
While missionaries work hard on the frontline, the missionary care groups are the heroes who render support on the home front. The groups pray fervently for the missionaries and the gospel needs in the mission fields, providing essential spiritual support. Their sustained care for missionaries gives them strength. They also care for and attend to the needs of missionaries’ families in Hong Kong on their behalf.
In fact, some missionary care group members have various difficulties of their own. However, they still insist on praying for the missionaries. In some missionary care groups, a few members have serious illnesses. They are also among those who need care and attention. Nevertheless, their service in the group continues unabated. They also pray for one another, and the whole group prays for the missionaries without ceasing. There are a few others who cannot participate because they have to look after their family members who are seriously ill. Other group members would then pray in supplication for them. They embrace the same mission and so the members also have their fellowship life. They hold gatherings occasionally, bringing and sharing their favorite food with one another.
Currently, the NPAC family has 16 missionary care groups. Each and every member joins the same mission. Forty years have now passed since the first missionary care group was formed in 1983. All along, the groups have worked hard to care for missionaries. In the third year since the inception of one group, a missionary involved in pioneer church planting in Taipei suburbs received the largest birthday cake he had ever received one day. It came from a missionary care group. The family of the missionary was greatly pleasantly surprised.
Rev Philip Teng has said mission is the will of God and everybody should participate. If we are not missionaries on the frontline, then we should be mission supporters on the home front and be prayer warriors. Whether on the frontline or on the home front, have you found your serving role in mission?
| 返回頁首 Back to top |