牧者心聲
短宣的悸動
莊明偉牧師
2024 年 2 月 24 日 / 25 日
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我還沒蒙召作傳道以前，曾經兩次跟北宣弟兄姊妹出隊去東南亞短宣。回想那兩次的幾日旅程，確實是我靈程的重要經歷，過程中我讚歎神在宣教士身上的奇妙工作，也奇妙地經歷了神的同在看顧，更抓住了生命服事的印證⋯⋯
我信主幾年後參加了北宣的泰北短宣隊，當時知道能探望宣教士，心裡感到莫名的興奮，畢竟在北宣聽過很多關於宣教士委身服事的事蹟呢！我在短宣中親身接觸了多位宣教士，最令我印象深刻的，是香港宣道差會的何智雄宣教士，他們一家五口當時在泰國工場服事。何宣教士與我們分享了在泰文考試前，神用奇妙的方式告訴他考試題目；接著他又提到天花板的風扇掉下，但神卻保護了他的孩子。我第一次這樣聽宣教士的親口見證，心中不禁嘖嘖稱奇！
在何宣教士的分享中，我亦深深感受到宣教士對當地人的情，宣教士心裡焦急，很渴望當地人能得著寶貴的福音。他帶領我們短宣隊唱了一首詩歌「你讓我生命改變」，我當時心裡十分感動，想到宣教士的確經歷了很多事情，生命不斷被神更新、改變。這首詩歌就成為了其中一首我最喜歡的詩歌。
在這次短宣中，我更是真切的遇見神，就像約伯記所說的「從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你」！當時我們要從曼谷乘坐七個小時的長途車到孔敬，為了節省時間，我們選擇坐夜車，隊員們要在車上睡覺。我從未試過在旅遊車上能睡得著的，當時知道有此安排，心裡就很擔心，要是整夜沒睡的話，第二天一定會沒有精神和體力去服事。但我在車上經歷了非常奇妙的事情，在各樣不利的因素下（包括坐在電視機面前的座位、椅子的手把是壞的），神回應了我一個微小的禱告，我竟然能一覺睡到下車的時間。我心裡甚是震撼！
一年後我又參加了柬埔寨短宣，當時我已經開始尋求全時間讀神學和全職服事的可能性。到達柬埔寨後，無論是與短宣隊隊員的閒談中，或是在靈修中，又或是與宣教士的互動中，神都給我很貫徹的信息——以生命影響生命。我就是這樣領受著神的感動，繼續走神帶領的道路。
這些都是我在短宣中的寶貴體驗，回想起來仍覺十分珍貴。之後的每次短宣，我也一樣經歷著神滿滿的祝福，神是否也在短宣中觸碰你的生命呢？
Before I received my calling to be a pastor, I had joined brothers and sisters of NPAC on short-term missions to South-east Asia twice. Looking back at those two trips that lasted but a few days each, they were, nonetheless, significant experiences in my spiritual journey. I was amazed by God’s wondrous works on the missionaries. I also experienced God’s amazing presence and keeping. I even had the confirmation of the ministry for my life…
A few years after my conversion to Christ, I took part in an NPAC North Thailand short-term mission trip. When I knew that I could visit the missionaries there, I was thrilled as I had heard many stories about the commitment and dedication of missionaries in serving. Among a number of missionaries I visited personally on the trip, the most memorable is that of Missionary C. H. Ho of the Hong Kong Alliance Mission. His family of five served in the Thailand field. Missionary Ho told me how, before his Thai language test, God miraculously let him know what the test questions were like. He also told me about how a fan fell from the ceiling and God’s protection of his children. That was the first time I heard a missionary’s personal testimonies, which left me greatly amazed!
Missionary Ho’s sharing also showed me the missionaries’ love for the local people. The missionaries eagerly desired that the locals would receive the precious gospel. Missionary Ho led our short-term mission team to sing the song “You Transformed My Life.” I was immensely touched as I thought about the host of things that missionaries had indeed been through, and that their lives were continually renewed and transformed by God. That worship song has become one of my favorites even to this day.
During this short-term mission trip, I also closely encountered God, just like Job who said, “My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you”! We had to travel from Bangkok to the city of Khon Kaen by coach for seven hours. To save time, we chose to travel at night and team members had to sleep on the coach. When I knew about that arrangement, I was very worried as I had never been able to sleep on a coach before. If I could not sleep at night, I would certainly not have the energy nor strength to serve the next day. But then I experienced something miraculous on the coach. Despite all the unfavorable factors (such as being in a seat right in front of a TV set which also had a broken armrest), God answered my humble prayer and let me sleep all the way until we had to get off the coach. How thrilled I felt!
A year later, I joined a short-term mission trip to Cambodia. At that time, I was already seeking the possibilities of full-time theological training and full-time ministry. After we arrived in Cambodia, whether it be in the conversations with the short-term mission team members, in my devotionals, or in the interaction with missionaries, I received a very consistent message from God, which is to influence life with life. That was how I was gradually moved by God and continued on my path under His guidance.
Those were valuable experiences in my short-term mission trips. They are still precious to me as I think about them. I also experienced God’s abundant blessings each time I went on short-term mission after those trips. Has God also touched your lives through your short-term mission trips?
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