牧者心聲

曾經有弟兄姊妹詢問，年度差傳認獻的金額為何需要幾千萬呢？的確，乍看之下，2027 年度差傳預算需要接近四千一百萬，無疑是個龐大的數字，但其實這些預算分別用在不同範疇，包括海外及本地宣教與福音事工方面。

首先，本堂共差出 32 個宣教士單位，分佈在世界不同地區服事和傳揚福音。這些以個人或家庭組成的宣教士單位，是經過教會和差會辨識，並得到教會認同，為著福音的緣故，離開自己熟悉的地方去宣教。他們的服事就是代表著教會回應普世福音的需要，效法主耶穌道成肉身到當地服事；教會則以長期穩定奉獻的承諾，作為對他們實質的支持，而預算中的一千多萬就是用來支持本堂差出的宣教士單位。

除了本堂差出的宣教士之外，北宣家作為重視普世宣教的教會，奉獻也涵蓋支持其他堂會差出的宣教士。他們參與的宣教工作分佈在世界各地，而他們有些加入香港宣道差會，也有些是透過其他差會或機構參與宣教工場的服事。

不僅宣教士有金錢奉獻的需要，差傳機構同樣也有需要，好讓他們的福音工作得以繼續擴展。這些機構所服事的範疇包羅萬有，包括聖經翻譯、穆斯林福音工作及學生福音工作。北宣家弟兄姊妹透過金錢奉獻給這些機構，也代表着在這些福音事工上參與有分。當然，北宣家也按自身的力量，投入更大的力度，參與在個別地區的宣教服事上，例如支持印尼宣道會的神學院培育工人，以及興建兒童院等。事實上，曾任北宣堂主任的滕近輝牧師，也曾在印尼加里曼丹參與宣教一年呢！

每年差傳認獻亦包括支持本地差傳及福音事工。因著人口流動造就福音契機，一些對基督福音封閉國家的人民，在本國並不容易聽到福音信息，但當他們來港定居或短居數年，本地差傳機構便積極與他們建立關係、傳揚福音。另外，也有些機構致力於服事本地的貧窮人士、青少年、兒童及醫院病人等福音對象；也有些機構並非直接傳揚福音，而是在社會中努力推崇基督信仰價值。這些都是不可或缺的福音工作，而北宣家亦有參與支持它們。

「多給誰，就向誰多取；多託誰，就向誰多要。」（路十二 48）慈愛的神多年來賜恩給北宣家，讓教會充足，就是要讓北宣家成為祝福的管道，繼續參與普世福音工作。願天父得著榮耀！

  Some brothers and sisters have asked why the annual mission pledge needs to be in the tens of millions. Indeed, at first glance, the 2027 mission budget of nearly 41 million is undoubtedly a huge sum. In fact, however, this budget is allocated across different areas, including overseas and local mission as well as evangelistic ministries.

  First, our church has sent out 32 missionary units, serving and proclaiming the gospel in different parts of the world. These missionary units, made up of individuals or families, have undergone discernment by the church and their mission agencies and received the church’s affirmation. For the sake of the gospel, they leave their familiar environments to engage in mission. Their service represents the church’s response to the needs of the gospel worldwide, following the incarnational example of the Lord Jesus by going to serve among local people. The church, in turn, provides them with practical support through a long-term commitment to regular giving. More than 10 million of the budget is used to support the missionary units sent out by our church.

  Besides the missionaries sent out by our own church, the NPAC family, as a church deeply committed to global missions, also gives to support missionaries sent out by other churches. Their mission work is spread across different parts of the world. Some serve with the Hong Kong Alliance Mission, while others serve on mission fields through other mission agencies or organizations.

  Missionaries are not the only ones who need financial support; mission organizations also have needs, so that their gospel work can continue to advance. The ministries of these organizations span a wide range of areas, including Bible translation, gospel ministries among Muslims and students. By giving financially to these organizations, brothers and sisters of the NPAC family are also participating in these gospel ministries. Of course, according to its own capacity, the NPAC family also makes more substantial commitments to mission work in particular regions, such as supporting seminaries of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Indonesia to train workers, and building children’s homes. In fact, Rev. Philip Teng, who once served as Senior Pastor of NPAC, also spent a year doing mission work in Kalimantan, Indonesia!

  Each year’s mission pledge also includes support for local mission and gospel ministries. Population movement creates gospel opportunities. People from countries that are closed to the gospel of Christ may find it difficult to hear the gospel message in their own countries. Yet, when they come to Hong Kong to settle or stay for several years, local mission organizations actively build relationships with them and share the gospel. Other organizations devote themselves to serving local people in poverty, young people, children, hospital patients and other groups they seek to reach with the gospel. Still others do not proclaim the gospel directly, but work in society to promote Christian values. All these are indispensable forms of gospel ministry, and the NPAC family also participates in supporting them.

  “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Our loving God has graciously blessed the NPAC family over the years and provided abundantly for the church, so that the NPAC family may become a channel of blessing and continue to participate in gospel work around the world. May our heavenly Father be glorified!