牧者心聲

去年 10 月，我到了非洲科特迪瓦（舊稱象牙海岸）的雅穆索戈，參加四年一度的「世界宣道會團契」，這剛好是第 50 屆。這次普世宣道會的聚會，讓我對「宣道會」有更深刻的理解。

會後所訂立的《雅穆索戈宣言》，很值得所有宣道會的弟兄姊妹深思。宣言指出，宣道會自宣信博士成立至今，已在全球發展到超過 670 萬名成員，雖然相對於 80 多億的世界人口仍屬少數，但這規模已相當可觀。值得留意的是，如今約 90% 的宣道會成員來自全球南方——包括亞洲部分地區、非洲及拉丁美洲。相對地，昔日基督教較為興盛的歐洲與北美，如今聚居的會友僅佔整體宣道會成員不到 10%。

與其他基督教宗派相比，宣道會一向重視差傳，目前共有超過 1,700 名宣教士在世界各地投入福音工作。《雅穆索戈宣言》提到，儘管宣教運動不斷推進，世上仍有 81.5% 的非基督徒從未親身接觸過基督徒——這提醒我們，福音禾場依然廣大。宣言亦指出，當前全球局勢動蕩，但其中蘊藏三大挑戰與契機：

1. 衝突與人道危機——許多未得之民生活在戰亂地區，教會當付上資金與人力，在這些區域見證基督；
2. 全球離散浪潮——越來越多未得之民被迫離開原居地，到了可以公開傳福音的地方，這是教會宣講耶穌基督的契機；
3. 持續的屬靈爭戰——真正的邪惡勢力就是那惡者本身，宣教的核心必須是奉基督之名與之對抗。

此次聚會讓全球各地的宣道會領袖齊聚一堂，反思如何回應當代福音的需要，並探索如何更有效地整合資源與經驗，使神的福音工作達至更大的果效。舉例而言，近十多年來部分非洲國家的基督徒人數急速增長，其中宣道會的信徒也增加不少。他們領受異象，希望將福音傳至其他以穆斯林為主的非洲地區，但因資源有限，往往難以差派宣教士。此時，像香港這些擁有較多資源的宣道會群體，卻可長期委身，奉獻支持非洲教會的宣教使命。

由此可見，全球宣道會若能彼此配搭、同心協力，必能更有效地將福音傳揚到未得之民當中，使神的名在萬國萬民中被高舉。

我們香港宣道會，在全球宣道會當中又領受了怎樣的角色？在普世福音工作中，我們又可以怎樣獻上自己的分？我們每位北宣家的弟兄姊妹作為宣道會的一員，又可以有何參與呢？

In October last year, I traveled to Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire (formerly known as the Ivory Coast) to attend the Quadrennial Convocation of Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), which marked AWF’s 50th anniversary. Participating in this convocation of the global Alliance gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of “The Christian & Missionary Alliance” (The Alliance).

The Yamoussoukro Declaration adopted after the meeting is worthy of serious reflection by all Alliance brothers and sisters. The declaration notes that since its founding by Dr. A. B. Simpson, The Alliance has grown to more than 6.7 million members worldwide. Although this remains a small proportion compared with the world’s population of over eight billion, it is nevertheless a significant number. It is particularly noteworthy that today approximately 90% of Alliance members come from the Global South—including parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. By contrast, in Europe and North America, where Christianity once flourished, Alliance members now account for less than 10% of the global total.

Compared with other Christian denominations, The Alliance has consistently placed strong emphasis on missions. At present, more than 1,700 missionaries are engaged in gospel ministry around the world. The Yamoussoukro Declaration points out that despite ongoing missional efforts, 81.5% of non-Christians worldwide have never personally encountered a Christian. This reminds us that the harvest field remains vast. The declaration also observes that the current global situation is turbulent. Yet, within it lie three major challenges and opportunities:

1. Conflict and humanitarian crises: A significant portion of the unreached peoples live in regions afflicted by war. The church must invest financial and human resources to bear witness to Christ in these areas.
2. Global migration and diaspora: An increasing number of unreached peoples are being displaced from their homelands and arriving in places where the gospel can be proclaimed openly. This presents a significant opportunity for the church to preach Jesus Christ.
3. Ongoing spiritual warfare: The true source of evil is the evil one himself. At the heart of missions must be standing against him in the name of Christ.

This convocation brought together Alliance leaders from around the world to reflect on how to respond to contemporary gospel needs and to explore ways to integrate resources and experiences more effectively so that God’s gospel work may become more fruitful. For example, over the past decade or more, the number of Christians in certain African countries has grown rapidly, including many within The Alliance. They have received a vision to bring the gospel to other Muslim-majority regions in Africa. Yet, limited resources often prevent them from sending missionaries. At such a time, Alliance communities in places like Hong Kong, which have relatively more resources, could commit themselves long-term to support the missionary calling of the African churches.

It is evident that if the global Alliance can partner with one another and work in unity, we will be far more effective in bringing the gospel to the unreached, so that God’s name may be exalted among all nations and peoples.

What role, then, has the Hong Kong Alliance been entrusted with within the global Alliance family? How might we offer our part in the universal work of the gospel? And how can each brother and sister of the NPAC family, as part of The Alliance, participate in this mission?