親愛的弟兄姐妹平安：
「加利利人哪，你們為甚麼站著望天呢？這離開你們被接升天的耶穌，你們見祂怎樣往天上去，祂還要怎樣來。」（徒一：11）
懷著期待的心情寫此信，因為即將與你們再見面，到時就可以面對面與你們分享神的奇妙作為！
感謝神藉著造就營講員的信息與弟兄姊妹的經歷，讓一位慕道友在營會生日那天接受救恩，成為神的兒女；讓我們教會即將受洗的姐妹的信心得以堅固；也有多人蒙呼召願意獻身服事神，其中也有幾位是我們教會的姊妹，但是她們都有家庭有孩子，有的先生還沒有信主，需要等待神的時間。
感謝主讓15位的弟兄姊妹接受洗禮，其中有4位是青少年！由於是次洗禮的弟兄姊妹來自本教會與附近三個城市的查經班，所以參加人數是我見證最多的一次。因為事前有預期受洗者會邀請他們的德國朋友或講德語的外國人來參加，所以都有翻譯見證，讓少去教會的來賓也可以明白。教會有一位姊妹知道這些青少年要受洗，找到幾張多年前在營會帶兒童主日學時拍的照片（當年她還沒有來到我們教會），認出其中兩位當年還是小朋友，轉眼就是當天要受洗的青年人，感嘆日子過得真快，但是看到她們都成長，很得安慰感恩！
忙完洗禮之後，有一些個別的服事機會，由於是比較特別的經歷，等我們見面的時候再分享比較適合。接下來本週日是教會20週年的感恩崇拜，感謝主的帶領與保守；六月初有4天3夜的生活營，比起過去幾年只有一個週末多了幾天的聚會，盼望弟兄姊妹有更多的彼此認識與交通。
感謝主的帶領，有一位女傳道已經轉到我們附近的達姆查經班來服事，六月第二週會為她舉行一個就職禮。因此，我將於六月十六日才能回到灣區，直到九月十六日離開。期待著這夏天能與你們相見，述說神恩！
感恩與代禱事項：
- 感謝神藉著造就營的兩位講員造就信徒，激勵他們委身事奉主！求 主保守他們的心志，準備自己，等待神的時間！求 主也保守當中已經開始上一些神學課程和準備報讀神學課程的弟兄姊妹，使他們所學的能應用到他們的服事裡面！
- 感謝神感動15位弟兄姐妹接受洗禮！求 主堅定他們的信心，特別是那幾位青少年，因為他們的同學裡面大部份都是非基督徒，對她們的信仰有很大的挑戰！
- 感謝 神保守教會經過20年的歲月！求 主繼續保守，使教會不斷增長，弟兄姐妹樂意事奉與同心合意興旺福音！
- 求 主帶領生活營的籌備過程，使得參加營會的弟兄姊妹都有豐富的屬靈收穫！感謝 主帶領營會的講員歐華神學院的院長預備信息來鼓勵我們！求 主也帶領營地的德國差會的神學生為兒童主日學預備適當的活動，使小朋友也有所得著！
- 感謝 神帶領更多的傳道同工來德國服事！求 主祝福女宣教士的就職典禮，使她 在當地的事奉都滿有能力，與團契的同工都有美好的配搭事奉！求 主供應她經濟上的需要！
- 求 主帶領回灣區的腳步，與眾教會和弟兄姐妹有美好的分享！
謝謝你們一直以來的關心與代禱！
願 主恩與你們同在！
主的使女，
鄧秀珍
寫於基督升天假日
二零一五年五月十四日
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Germany – Karen Tang’s prayer letter May, 2015
Dear brothers and sisters,
And said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
With a feeling of expectation I’m writing this letter to you because pretty soon we will meet each other again. By then, we would share God’s wonderful works face to face!
Thank God for the messages of the Easter Camp speakers and the sharing of brothers and sisters; one seeker came to accept God as her Savior on her birthday in the camp; a sister’s faith was strengthened just before she was baptized in our church one week later; some brothers and sisters accepted God’s calling to serve Him with their life, some of whom were sisters from our church. However, most of these sisters have family and kid(s), and one husband is still not a believer yet. They need to wait for God’s timing in order to come out to serve.
Thank God for the baptism of 15 brothers and sisters, 4 of them were teenagers. Since these brothers and sisters came from our church and 3 neighboring bible study groups, there was a record high attendance since I came to this church. Because we knew before that the baptismal candidates would invite their German friends or German speaking friends to attend the service , we interpreted all the testimonies so that these guests who might not go to church could read for themselves. One sister who knew that the teenagers were going to be baptized, she identified two of them in some old photos which were taken many years ago when she taught them Sunday school in an Easter Camp. They were still small kids then. She was amazed how time flew and was glad to see them grown!
After the baptism, there were a few personal services. Since these were quite some experiences, I think it is better for me to share them with you in person. Next, there is this 20th anniversary of our church this Sunday. Thank God for His guiding and keeping; then comes our church camp in early June. We used to have it for one weekend. This time we will spend 4 days 3 nights. We expect our brothers and sisters will have more time to get to know each other.
Thank God for bringing a female missionary to come to serve in Darmstadt bible study group. There will be an installation ceremony for her on the second week of June. Because of this ceremony, I will return to Bay Area on June 16, and will leave on September 16. I look forward to meeting you this summer and share God’s grace with you!
Thanksgiving and prayer items:
- Thank God for edifying brothers and sisters to commit their life to serving Him through the messages of the two speakers in the Easter Camp! Pray that God will keep their heart and equip them while they are still waiting for God’s timing! Pray that God will also keep those who have already taken some theological studies and those who are preparing to apply for theological study so that they could apply what they learned in their service!
- Thank God for touching the 15 brothers and sisters to be willing to be baptized! Pray that God will strengthened their faith especially those teenagers many of whose classmates are non-believers. These classmates will be a great challenge to their faith.
- Thank God for keeping the church for the past 20 years! Pray for His continuous keeping so that she will grow and that brothers and sisters will serve one another willingly and participate in the gospel.
- Pray that God will guide our preparation for the coming church camp! Pray that the participants will be blessed richly! Thank God for our speaker, the President of OuHua Seminary to share His message with us. Pray that God will also guide the German seminarians of the mission organization of that camp site who will help out with our children programs! Pray that the children will learn something from the bible too!
- Thank God for bringing more missionaries to serve in Germany! Pray for the installation ceremony of our new missionary. Pray that she would have the necessary power to serve and good relationship with the co-workers to serve together! Pray that God will provide for her funding also!
- Pray for God’s guidance as I return to the Bay Area to share His works and pray for His blessing on all the meetings with churches and brothers and sisters!
Thank God for your concern and prayers since the beginning till now!
May God ‘s grace be upon you!
Serving Him,
Karen Tang
Writing on the Day of Ascension holiday!
