牧者心聲

北宣作為你屬靈的「家」，你在其中有著怎樣的故事？我在北宣接受洗禮已超過 40 年，回望過去不同的階段，一張張熟悉的「家人」面孔浮現眼前。原來牧靈工作從來不是單向的教導，而是一段「與人同行」的旅程。教會作為信仰群體，肩負著牧養與陪伴的使命，而「牧靈護家」正是將這使命具體化的一種視野與行動。

在不同的人生與信仰階段中，我們或曾在初信時克服過疑惑；在尋求婚姻伴侶時、在探索事奉或工作方向時，經歷過群體的辨識與同行；養育子女時跨過種種挑戰；在照顧長期病患家人時遭遇過沉重壓力。在這一切歷程中，牧者與信徒彼此傾聽、接納，也一起看見神的同行。這份陪伴使我們在脆弱中不孤單，在掙扎中不迷失，在破碎中仍看見盼望。

記得我在讀神學時，母親罹患癌症，是長者團的弟兄姊妹持續探訪與代禱，讓我在不知如何祈禱時仍真實經歷神的安慰與同在。在牧職旅程中，我也曾陪伴一些家庭走過至親離世的哀痛；見證有人在生命最後階段願意接受洗禮；也曾遇過有弟兄姊妹在沒有預料即將離世前，神感動牧者前來探訪，使臨終家人得到祝福與安慰。雖然過程中滿有眼淚，但卻更深體會到神的同在與醫治。

我也見證了信徒群體中真摯的愛與守望：有人為下一代彼此代求；也有團契在團友患病期間輪流探望、送上湯水與營養品、細心陪診。這些不只是物質的支持，更是一種愛的具體表達，讓人切身體驗到神愛的真實。

最近北宣的崇拜普查結果顯示，參與團組的人數雖有上升，但仍有超過三成會眾未加入任何團契或小組。在一間人數眾多的教會，信徒若只參與崇拜而缺乏團組生活，往往容易會感到孤單、被忽略，支援也相對薄弱。神藉著信徒群體賜福我們，並呼召我們各按各職，建立基督的身體，在愛中一同成長（弗四 11-16）。

牧靈並非牧者一人的工作，而是整個屬靈家庭的共同承擔。每一位信徒都被呼召去彼此扶持、建立，從而叫自己的信仰得以成長，也使我們成為其他「家人」的祝福，將主的愛延伸至家庭與社會。這正是信徒群體的使命——以愛彼此守望，以行動支撐軟弱，以祈禱托起需要。

當教會願意成為一個安全、彼此接納支持、真誠相待的空間，「牧靈護家」的力量便會在信徒群體中不斷延伸，帶來醫治、更新與成長。

As your spiritual “home,” what kind of story do you have in NPAC? I was baptized in NPAC more than 40 years ago. Looking back over the different stages, familiar faces of “family members” come to mind one after another. I have come to realize that soul care has never been one-way teaching, but a journey of “walking alongside others.” As a community of faith, the church carries the mission of shepherding and companionship. “Nurturing the soul and protecting the family” is a vision and a concrete expression of this mission.

At different stages of life and faith, we may have overcome doubts when we first believed; chosen integrity in the face of temptations at work; experienced communal discernment and companionship when seeking a marriage partner; navigated various challenges in raising children; or faced immense pressure while caring for chronically ill family members. Throughout these journeys, pastors and believers listen to and accept one another, and together witness God’s presence with us. This companionship allows us to not feel lonely in our vulnerability, to not be lost in our struggles, and to see hope even in brokenness.

I remember when I was in seminary, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Brothers and sisters from the Elderly Fellowship faithfully visited and prayed for her, allowing me to truly experience God’s comfort and presence even when I did not know how to pray. In my pastoral journey, I have also accompanied families through the grief of losing loved ones; witnessed individuals who were willing to be baptized in the final stages of life; and encountered situations where, before the unexpected passing of a brother’s or sister’s family member, God prompted a pastor to visit, bringing blessing and comfort. Though the process was filled with tears, it led to a deeper experience of God’s presence and healing.

I have also witnessed the genuine love and mutual care within the community of believers: some intercede for one another for the next generation; and some fellowships take turns to visit members who are ill, bringing soup, nutritional supplements and accompanying one another to attend medical appointments. These are not merely material support but tangible expressions of love that allow others to experience the reality of God’s love.

Recent results from NPAC’s worship service survey show that while participation in fellowships and groups has increased, more than thirty percent of the congregation are still not involved in any fellowships or small groups. In a church with a large number of congregants, if believers only attend worship services without fellowship life, they can easily feel lonely or overlooked. The support they receive would also be relatively limited. God blesses us through the community of believers and calls each of us to fulfill our roles in building up the body of Christ, growing together in love (Ephesians 4:11–16).

Nurturing the soul is not the responsibility of pastors alone, but a shared commitment of the entire spiritual family. Every believer is called to support and build up one another, so that our own faith may grow and that we may become a blessing to other “family members,” extending the Lord’s love to our families and society. This is the mission of the community of believers—to watch over one another in love, to support the weak through action, and to uphold those in need in prayer.

When the church is willing to become a safe, accepting, and supportive space for one another marked by sincerity, the power of “nurturing the soul and protecting the family” will continue to spread within the community of believers, bringing healing, renewal, and growth.