牧者心聲
牧顧長，你是誰？
程續戰牧師
2024 年 1 月 20 日 / 21 日
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在城市花園道的路上，我正和一位少年人的媽媽煩惱著她兒子的事，迎面見到一位牧顧長，這牧顧長在中學擔任社工多年。在彼此介紹後，我和這個媽媽便順道為她和兒子的困難情況請教牧顧長。牧顧長耐心聆聽，也提供了智慧的回應，當我們談到少年人容易會「心存僥倖」，因而跌進「死口不認」和「被迫」說謊的漩渦中，牧顧長便細心引導，讓我們知道在這情況下切記不要和少年人硬碰、拉鋸和長篇大論地說教，但可以扼要地將自己的感受告訴他，等候雙方冷靜過後才再傾談，並且一起商量將來要如何面對同樣的情況，目的是要讓少年人有分參與，從而學習在讀書和打機等事情上承擔責任。我們三人就這樣站在路邊，傾談了30多分鐘，這是我和牧顧長未經預約的服事。道別時，我們分享說，這次傾談讓我們發現，與少年人同行的路其實是充滿盼望的。感謝天父，祂愛這位媽媽和我，在我們無助疑惑時，祂透過這位熱心的牧顧長增添了我們的信心、盼望和愛心。
在2024-25年，天父為北宣家賜下了36位牧顧長（lay-pastor）。北宣家的牧顧長是專心致志培育與關顧弟兄姊妹的信徒領袖，他們的事奉是配合教牧同工的牧養工作，讓整個信徒群體得到更緊密的牧養。牧顧長會應教牧同工的邀請，一起探訪不方便回教會的長者和傷健人士等；他們也會參與招聘同工的服事，一起與牧者約見應徵者；他們又會與教牧一起參與紀律小組、重建弟兄姊妹的事奉。牧顧長可說是牧者不可或缺的好拍擋。
那麼，我們會在哪裡見到牧顧長呢？我們可以在崇拜、團契、主日學、栽培班、不同班組和事工小組中看到他們服事的足跡，他們的職分包括：擔任崇拜主席、崇拜後為會眾代禱、帶領查經和小組、教授主日學和關顧弟兄姊妹等；同時，他們也會在小事上忠心服事，在課室幫助間板、擺放椅子和執拾團櫃等。
願我們記念牧顧長的需要：
1.求主為牧顧長和他們的家人賜下平安、喜樂、力量和健康的身體；
2.為牧顧長得智慧分配時間和優次禱告，求主使他們能清心服事，以選擇天父的心意為要，不會過度忙碌，在事奉中常常細察和經歷主的臨在。
牧顧長，你是誰？在城市花園道路上所遇見的那位牧顧長告訴我們，他們是一群隨時隨地與牧者一起熱心建立基督身體的領袖（弗四12）。
The other day on City Garden Road, I was talking to a worried mother about her teenage son when we saw a lay pastor passing by. For many years, the lay pastor has been working as a social worker in a secondary school. After some brief introduction, I and the mother sought advice from the lay pastor concerning the difficulties this mother and son were in. The lay pastor listened patiently before giving a wise response. We were talking about teenagers who often think they will “never get their fingers burnt” and fall into the swirl of refusing to admit mistakes and “being compelled” to tell lies. The lay pastor gave us some careful guidance, stressing that we must not combat teenagers head on in such situations, nor should we be lecturing them or letting the matter unduly drag on. We can frankly tell them the gist of how we feel. It is a good idea to revisit the topic when both sides have calmed down and discuss how to tackle similar issues in future. The intention is to engage the teenagers, to let them learn to take up responsibility on matters of their studies, video games, etc. The three of us spent more than 30 minutes talking at the roadside. That was some unscheduled service of the lay pastor’s and mine. When we parted, we shared that the road of walking together with teenagers is full of hope. Thanks be to our Heavenly Father who loves this mother and me. In all our puzzlement, He added to our faith, hope and love through our encounter with this devoted lay pastor.
In 2024-25, our Heavenly Father blesses the NPAC family with 36 lay pastors. They are lay leaders who focus on nurturing and caring for brothers and sisters. They complement the pastoral work of the pastoral team, providing more comprehensive pastoring for the whole faith community. Pastors would invite them to join visits to home-bound seniors, disabled persons and the like. They also participate in the services of staff recruitment, attending candidate interviews with pastors. They also join pastors in the ministry of discipline groups to rebuild brothers and sisters. They are essential partners of our pastors.
Where would we see lay pastors? We will see them in worship services, fellowships, Sunday School, training and other classes and ministry groups. Their ministry roles include: serving as Chairpersons at worship services, praying for the congregation after worship services, leading Bible studies and small groups, teaching Sunday School and caring for brothers and sisters. They also serve faithfully in details such as setting up classroom partitions, chairs and tidying up fellowship lockers.
Let us pray for the needs of our lay pastors:
1. May God give them and their family peace, joy, strength and good health.
2. May God give them wisdom to allocate their time and priority. May they serve with pure hearts and choose to follow the will of the Heavenly Father as the most important. Pray that they will not become unduly busy, but in their ministry be able to notice and experience the presence of God.
So lay pastors, who are you? The lay pastor who we talked to on City Garden Road has the answer. They are leaders who, working with pastors anytime, anywhere, are devoted to building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
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