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二○二一年二月二十七日/二十八日                                                                                         Click here for English

「宣道會」尋根:我們的名字

黃彩蓮牧師


自出生以來,我經歷過兩次更改名字。首先,出生不久,家人把我的出世紙名字由「燃」改為「蓮」,純粹因為不喜歡前者。到了小學,他們再把我的英文姓氏譯音由「Wong」改為「Ng」,皆因父親的姓氏是採用後者。原來我的出世紙寫錯了,故必須附加宣誓文件,改回父親的寫法。長大至今,有無數人曾問及我的奇怪英文姓氏,為何會譯「Ng」?我也無數次回答說,因為我是外省福建人。所以,名字對我來說,是相當複雜的歷程,也會引來別人的好奇。你的名字,又帶給你甚麼故事和感覺?說到這裡,其實我和你有一個共通的名字,就是「宣道會」。

「宣道會」這名字,你知道其意思嗎?當我翻查《大英百科全書》,開首便如此說:「宣道會,是宣教與福音的運動(missionary and evangelistic movement),由宣信創立 ⋯⋯」1 這解釋相當正確,宣道會是宣信牧師(Rev. A. B. Simpson)1887 年創立的,最初是兩個分別推動靈命進深與宣教運動的組織,目標是要把福音傳至未得之民、未得之地,十年後二者合而為一,成為「宣道會」(The Christian and Missionary Alliance),以集中與加強相關推動。起初,宣信按此舉辦的聚會,主要在主日下午舉行,目的讓不同宗派的弟兄姊妹參與,而不影響自己主日早上的教會生活。故此,我們本來不是甚麼宗派,只是一個跨宗派的運動。及至 1974 年,「宣道會」方正式在文件上承認自己是一個宗派。

「宗派」與「運動」有何異同?兩者可以有共同信念,但前者自設教會,屬一個有會友、更有架構的組職,而後者卻是跨群體,且帶有推動性。我們本是一個運動,然後才成為一個宗派,這是我們的歷史。對大家來說,可能這段歷史並不重要,況且我們大多只是在偶然下加入北宣,然而,我們能否問問上帝:「祢建立這組織的原意是甚麼?祢為何帶領我加入這個大家庭?我能否及如何延續原初的運動精神?」

我十分喜歡自己原本的名字「燃」,求主「燃燒」我們的生命,從而「燃亮」別人的生命,一同承擔「宣道會」原初的運動精神。今季崇拜不斷宣講「佈道」的信息,正是要如此幫助我們,願主使用復興我們,在宣教與福音使命上,齊操練,齊承擔!

1. 譯自 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christian-and-Missionary-Alliance









Pastor's Sharing
How the Name “C&MA” Came About

Rev Kinia Ng

My name has been changed twice since my birth. The first change happened to the Chinese first name on my birth certificate. It was changed from “Yin” to “Lin” because the original name was not preferred. When in primary school, the last name on my birth certificate was also changed from “Wong” to “Ng” to align with my father’s last name in English. The original English surname was a mistake. Name changes on birth certificates had to be affirmed by a statement under oath. We provided that for the change. But my father’s last name in English appears strange to many as it does not adopt the usual translation. So since then, I have received countless queries on my last name “Ng”. Each time my reply is that it is because my family is from Fujian. So, names to me are a complicated experience, which would also stir up considerable curiosity. What is the story of your name? How do you feel about it? In fact, you and I do share a name, which is “Christian and Missionary Alliance” (C&MA).

“Christian and Missionary Alliance” - Do you know what the name stands for? I flipped open the Encyclopedia Britannica, and it says up front: “Christian and Missionary Alliance, missionary and evangelistic movement that developed from the work of Albert B Simpson….” The explanation is accurate. The C&MA was founded in 1887 by Rev A B Simpson. It emerged as two organizations engaged in advocating deeper spiritual life and mission movements respectively with the objective of spreading the gospel to unreached lands and peoples. Ten years on, the two merged to become The Christian and Missionary Alliance for better focus and synergy for mutual promotion of the movements. The initial meetings were mostly held on Sunday afternoon to allow for participation by brothers and sisters of various denominations without disrupting their Sunday morning schedules. As such, we did not start out to be a denomination, but an inter-denominational movement. It was not until 1974 that C&MA declares itself a denomination in writing.

What are the similarities and differences between a denomination and a movement? They can both have their own convictions. But the former sets up its own churches, with its own congregation and organizational structure. The latter is cross-community, and serves to mobilize. We started out as a movement and ended up as a denomination. That is our history. To many, such history may not be important. Moreover, most of us only happen to be in North Point Alliance Church. Nevertheless, can we ask God: “Why did You set up this body in the first place? And why did You lead me into this big family? Can I, and how do I, sustain the initial spirit of the movement?”

For me, I like my original Chinese first name, which means burn. May the Lord set our lives on fire so we can light up others’ lives and live out the initial spirit of the C&MA movement. “Evangelism” is the main focus of the proclamation in our sermons for this quarter. May God help us and revive us so, together, we will practice and be committed to evangelism and the gospel mission!