親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

        神就賜福給他們，又對他們說：「要生養眾多，遍滿地面，治理這地，也要管理海裏的魚、空中的鳥，和地上各樣行動的活物。」創世記一28

        感謝神的賜予，讓在德國成家立業的年輕一代弟兄姊妹迎接「嬰兒潮」。最近聽到不少年輕家庭都得到寶寶的消息，單是吉森團契就已經新增有三名寶寶（分別在二、四、五月出生）。一位媽媽在母親節當日誕下女兒，這是她在母親節收到最大的禮物！四月份生產的姊妹已經有三個年幼的孩子，加上新生寶寶，就一家六口，忙不過來。五月份生產的姊妹已有一個年幼的兒子，因為嫁了給德國人，不太會做飯或給她做月子餐。但是感謝神的預備，在團契有一對退休的夫妻，願意服侍弟兄姊妹，他們以前是開飯店的，所以團契哪一家有需要，他們都前往幫忙。他們不定時往一家六口的家庭去，給他們包大量的包子，做幾個大份量的菜，讓姊妹不那麼辛苦！他們也教導剛生產女兒的年輕姊妹如何做月子餐，給她做點吃的。

        上週被邀請去漢諾威的德華福音會（FMCD = Forum for Mission Among Chinese in  Germany）的會員大會分享，看到一些很久沒見的會員，其中一位姊妹跟我說她已經84歲了，與德國先生老弟兄從柏林過來開會。更感恩看到FMCD的創辦人葛忠良牧師，他雖然經歷多次的癌症，但感恩當天他的身體還好，中氣如往常一樣十足，原來他今年也已89歲了。感謝主的恩典，他住在老人公寓，但是依然每週在公寓內和人分享神的話。我們很多從外面來德國的宣教士，都是與FMCD合作，目前有九個單位，很感恩有這樣的一個平台來照顧幫助我們。當天分享的還有一對老夫妻，他們早期就移民來德國，弟兄快六十歲的時候，聽到朱昌錂牧師分享到中福團的創辦人之一，也是老年出去讀神學的，他便大受感動。後來兩夫妻有機會接受神學裝備，出來事奉也有20年，弟兄剛剛過80歲。他說，他們是與神簽合約，只要神使用他們，他們就繼續事奉下去。葛牧師等老前輩都成為我們好幾位即將到達法定退休年齡的人之好榜樣。雖然FMCD有老化的情況，但是感謝神也興起一些年輕人，今年有三位年輕人加入成為會員，他們都開始在第二代的青年營中事奉。

感恩與代禱事項：

1. 感謝主的恩賜，使懷孕的姊妹們都順利產下寶寶！感恩她們雖然沒有父母來幫忙照顧，神卻差派團契的老夫妻去服侍她們！
2. 有一對剛到吉森不久的年輕夫婦，太太不是基督徒，他們只來過團契一、兩次。太太也懷孕，預產期在7月，弟兄的媽媽是基督徒，將從家鄉過來照顧他們。團契姊妹遇見及邀請這位媽媽來團契，她就自己來了。求主保守她的媳婦順利生產！求主讓弟兄和媽媽能做好見證，使太太能早日認識主！
3. 感謝FMCD一直以來對宣教士的幫助，使來自不同地方、不同差會或教會的宣教士有一個平台，可以一起來服事德國的華人！感謝主保守葛忠良牧師的身體與在老人公寓的事奉！
4. 感謝主保守年過八十歲的傳道夫婦有健康的身體，能繼續在當地服侍！
5. 感謝主興起第二代的年輕弟兄姊妹出來事奉！感謝主，感動幾位加入FMCD作為年輕的會員，使FMCD不會有斷層！
6. 年初開始我有些新增的疼痛，上週去看了骨科醫生。感恩沒有骨質疏鬆，但是髖關節有退化，醫生開了止痛藥吃！求主憐憫，透過鍛鍊身體能減慢退化的過程！

        感謝您們的記念與代禱！
        主恩同在！

主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二五年五月十八日

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Dear brothers and sisters,

　　God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

　Thanks to God’s blessing, the younger generation of brothers and sisters who have started families and careers in Germany are welcoming this baby boom. Recently I heard news that many young families have had babies. The Giessen Fellowship has already had three new babies (in February, April, and May), and recently a mother gave birth to a daughter on Mother’s Day. This was the greatest gift she received on Mother’s Day! The sister who gave birth in April already has three young children. With the addition of another baby, there are six people in the family, and they are too busy to handle it. The sister, who gave birth in May, already has a four-year-old son. Because she married a German, who doesn’t know how to cook or take care of her after she gave birth. But thanks to God’s provision, there is a retired couple in the fellowship who are willing to serve our brothers and sisters. They used to run a restaurant, so whenever there is a need in the fellowship, they go to help. From time to time, they would go to the home of the family of six to make a large number of buns for them and cook a few large portions of dishes to make the sister less tired! They also taught the young sister who had just given birth to a daughter how to take care of herself after the baby is born and prepared some food for her.

　Last week, I was invited to share at the membership meeting of the Forum for Mission Among Chinese in Germany (FMCD) in Hanover. I saw some members whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. One of the sisters told me that she was 84 years old and came from Berlin to attend the meeting with her old German husband. I was even more grateful to see Pastor Siegfried Glaw, the founder of FMCD. Although he had experienced multiple cancers, he seemed to be in good health that day and his energy was as strong as usual. It turned out that he was already 89 years old this year. Thanks to the Lord’s grace, he lives in a senior apartment, but he still shares God’s word there every week. Many of our missionaries who come to Germany from outside are working with FMCD, which currently has nine units. We are very grateful to have such a platform to take care of and help us. There was also an elderly couple who shared their experiences that day. They immigrated to Germany early on. When the brother was almost 60 years old, he was deeply moved when he heard Pastor Calvin Chu shared that one of the founders of CEM also went out to study theology at an old age. Later, the couple had the opportunity to receive theological training and have been serving for 20 years. The brother has just turned 80 years old. He said they had signed a contract with God to continue serving as long as God used them. Pastor Glaw and other senior colleagues have become good role models for several of us who are about to reach the legal retirement age. Although FMCD is aging, thank God that it has also raised up some young people. This year, three young people joined as members. They all started serving in the second generation youth camp.

Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:

1. Thank God for His grace, which enables all pregnant sisters to give birth to their babies smoothly! Thankfully, even though they don’t have their own parents to help take care of them, God sent the elderly couples in the fellowship to serve them!
2. There was a young couple who had just arrived in Giessen. The wife was not a Christian and they had only come to the fellowship once or twice. His wife is also pregnant and is due in July. The brother’s mother is a Christian and has come from China to take care of them. A sister in the fellowship met this mother and invited her to the fellowship, and she came to the fellowship on her own. May the Lord protect her daughter-in-law and help her give birth smoothly! Pray that the Lord will enable the brother and his mother to bear good witness and that his wife will be able to know the Lord soon!
3. Thank FMCD for her continued help to missionaries, which provides a platform for missionaries from different places, different missions or churches to serve the Chinese ministry in Germany together! Thank the Lord for protecting Pastor Glaw’s health and his ministry in his senior apartment building!
4. Thank the Lord for keeping the pastor couple who are over 80 years old healthy to serve the fellowship in their area!
5. Thank the Lord for raising up the second generation of young brothers and sisters to serve! Thank God for inspiring several young members to join FMCD, so that there will be no gaps in FMCD!
6. I have had some new pain since the beginning of the year and saw an orthopedic doctor last week. I am thankful that I do not have osteoporosis, but my hip joint has degenerated and the doctor prescribed me some painkillers! May God have mercy on me and slow down the degeneration process through physical exercise!

　Thank you for remembering us in your prayers!

God bless!

Serving Him,
Karen Tang

親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

        「往遭喪的家去，強如往宴樂的家去；因為死是眾人的結局，活人也必將這事放在心上。」（傳七2）

        二月第一週與吉森團契的弟兄姊妹出席一姊妹的婚禮後，第二週很多人（包括成人與小孩）都生病了，因為婚禮那天很冷。第二天週日，我到外城服事後，在等坐火車回家的時候接到噩耗，就是姊妹團契一位姊妹的年輕兒子在之前一晚自殺了。我們聽到這消息都覺得很震驚，沒想到剛成年的孩子就承受不了壓力，想不開便自尋短見。不幸的是，事發當天，年輕人的媽媽腳傷骨折，行動不方便，一切喪事只好由丈夫來處理。喪禮那天，媽媽也是坐著輪椅，很無助！因為不想張揚，參加喪禮的人不多，我和另外一位姊妹主要是去扶持年輕人的外婆，她的情緒比較難控制。到如今她還是接受不了這情況，幾乎天天去墓地問外孫為甚麼這樣做。由於當地城市不大，幾所中學的高年生都被通知這消息，因為他們很多都彼此認識。年輕人的妹妹在同一所學校就讀，有心理輔導人員來幫助她。負責團契的姊妹也很有愛心，頭一週幾乎天天都去陪伴年輕人的媽媽和外婆但這團契姊妹也覺得乏力。感恩她在靈修時得到神話語的安慰與支持。

        有一位從家鄉來探訪女兒的媽媽，一來德國便要求女兒帶她去教會，想了解基督教信仰。女兒剛好收到朋友發的教會聖誕活動單張，便帶她媽媽去教會了。後來得知她們住在吉森，便把慕道的媽媽介紹給團契姊妹認識，以便關顧。她參加了三次團契的查經，都很有感動，最後一次還做了決志禱告才離開德國。

        華人教會最元老的姊妹剛過八十歲，不能自理日常生活，最近更經常出入醫院。教會雖然建立了一個關懷團隊去關心她，但也無法全時間照顧，現在要等候入住老人護理院。另一位弟兄也是剛滿了八十歲，前幾個月在路上摔倒幾次，現在需要進行很多檢查。今早陪他去看眼科醫生，醫生要他做白內障手術。他們都是獨居老人，無論是行動不方便或是語言障礙，都需要有人去幫助他們。

感恩與代禱事項：

1. 一位單親媽媽剛結婚，其兒子現在有後父愛他。求主施恩予這家庭，讓他們有一個幸福美滿的家庭，有基督作他們家的主！
2. 自殺年輕人的媽媽已經做了腳的手術，但是還未完全能走路。求主醫治她的腳傷，更安慰她的心靈！求主安慰不能接受事實的外婆，讓她早日脫離悲哀的日子！求主保守這家的父親與妹妹，讓他們也都得到鼓勵與安慰！求主也保守年輕人的前女友，讓她與家人都得到輔導與安慰！
3. 求主保守那來探親的媽媽，使她的信心堅固，雖然在她家附近沒有教會，但求主保守她自己能堅持讀經來認識神！
4. 求主帶領教會的關懷事工，使更多的弟兄姊妹能付出時間來陪伴老人看病，以及送飯的愛心行動！求主憐憫老姊妹，讓她早日能輪候到護理院病床，得到更好的護理！求主幫助老弟兄，最近有比較多的覆診，需要有人做翻譯，使他安心看醫生，得到適當的醫治！
5. 感謝主賜給吉森團契一名新成員，就是一位姊妹剛滿一週歲的嬰兒！求主加力給她好好養育兩個寶寶！求主保守兩位懷孕的姊妹，讓她們的寶寶在胎裡健康成長，在適當的時間被產下來！

        感謝主的憐憫與弟兄姐妹的代禱，使我們的恩典夠用！

        謝謝主基督復活的大能！

主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二五年三月二十五日

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Dear brothers and sisters,

        “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for death is the end of all men, and the living will take it to heart.” [Ecclesiastes 7:2]

        After attending a sister’s wedding with some brothers and sisters from the Giessen Fellowship in the first week of February, many people, including adults and children, fell ill in the second week because it was very cold on the wedding day. The next day, Sunday, I went to serve in another city. After the service, while waiting for the train to go home, I received the sad news that the son of a sister in the sisters’ fellowship had committed suicide the previous night. Everyone who heard the news was shocked. They didn’t expect that a child who had just become an adult could not bear the pressure and committed suicide. Unfortunately, on the day of the incident, the young man’s mother injured and fractured her foot, making it difficult for her to move, so her husband had to handle all the funeral arrangements. On the day of the funeral, she was also sitting in a wheelchair, feeling so helpless! Because they didn’t want to make it public, not many people attended. Another sister and I mainly went to support the young man’s grandmother, whose emotions were difficult to control. To this day she still cannot accept this situation and goes to the cemetery almost every day to ask her grandson why he did this. Since the local city is not large, senior students from several high schools were notified of the news because many of them knew each other. The younger sister of the suicidal young man was in the same school and had counselling to help her. The sister in charge of the fellowship was also very loving. In the first week, she accompanied the sister and her mother almost every day. Unfortunately, she was also very tired. I am grateful that she received comfort and support from God’s words during her spiritual devotion.

        A mother came from China to visit her daughter. As soon as she arrived in Germany, she asked her daughter to take her to church because she wanted to learn about the Christian faith. The daughter happened to receive a flyer about a church Christmas event from a friend, so she took her mother to church. Later, I learned that they lived in Giessen, so I introduced the seeker to a sister in the fellowship so that she could take care of her. She attended three Bible studies in the fellowship and was deeply moved each time. She even prayed the decision-making prayer on the last occasion before leaving Germany.

        The oldest sister in the Chinese church has been unable to take care of herself since she turned 80 and has been in and out of the hospital frequently recently. Although the church has set up a care team to look after her, they are unable to care for her full-time and she now has to wait to be admitted to a nursing home. Another brother just turned 80. He fell several times on the road in the past few months and now also needs a lot of medical examinations. I took him to see the ophthalmologist this morning and he needed cataract surgery. They are all elderly people living alone, and whether they have mobility problems or language barriers, they need someone to help them.

Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:

1. The newly married sister has a son who was born without a father and now has a stepfather who loves him. May the Lord bless this family and their marriage, with Christ as the Lord of their home!
2. The mother of the young man who committed suicide had surgery on her foot, but she is not yet able to walk completely. Pray that the Lord will heal her leg injury and comfort her soul! May the Lord comfort the grandmother who cannot accept the fact, and let her escape from her sad days as soon as possible! May the Lord protect the father and sister of this family, and may they also receive encouragement and comfort! May the Lord also protect the deceased’s ex-girlfriend, so that she and her family can receive counseling and comfort!
3. Pray that the Lord will protect the mother who is visiting from China, and strengthen her faith. Even though there is no church near her home, she will persist in reading the Bible to know God!
4. Pray that the Lord will lead the church’s caring ministry so that more brothers and sisters can take the time to accompany the elderly to see doctors and perform some loving actions such as delivering meals! May the Lord have mercy on this old sister, so that she can get a nursing home bed as soon as possible and receive better care! May the Lord help this elderly brother. He has many doctor appointments recently and needs someone to translate so that he can feel at ease when seeing the doctor and receive proper treatment!
5. Thank God for giving the Giesen Fellowship a new member, a sister’s baby who just turned one-year-old! May the Lord give this sister strength to raise her two kids well! May the Lord protect the two pregnant sisters, allowing their babies to grow healthily in the womb and be born at the appropriate time!

        Thank God for His mercy and the prayers of brothers and sisters, which make our grace sufficient!

        Thank you Lord for the power of Christ’s resurrection!

Serving Him,

Karen Tang

親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

        「拯救我們的　神啊，你必以威嚴秉公義應允我們；你本是一切地極和海上遠處的人所倚靠的。」（詩六十五5）

        本來以為新的一年有美好的開始，可惜無論是聖誕節在德國的汽車襲擊與新年美國的汽車襲擊或加州大火，都讓受害者的家人和火災的人民無法得到平安。求主憐憫與安慰他們！

        由於吉森團契的成員精力有限，大家只是舉辦小型的聖誕活動，感恩還是有兩家平時不來聚會的朋友來參加，他們平時不來的原因是住得比較遠，但每逢團契有節日活動，他們還是很願意參加的。

        去年十一月初，接待了一位女生來我家住。秋天時，她從職業訓練班畢業，開始找工作。由於她家住得比較偏遠，住在我家交通比較方便出行；因為她投了很多簡歷，也有很多機會面試。在她努力之下，神賜給她一份聖誕新年大禮物，就是在年底前拿到工作的合同，讓她放下一個沉重的負擔。她很感激地說若不是住在我家，她去面試都很困難；由於她的家在小地區，有時候有些班次火車會停駛，耽誤她的面試。感謝主，因為她住在我家，順便也幫助兩位老人家處理他們的問題。接觸這些老人之後，她更體會我要常常面對這些老人所需要的耐力，因為他們都有自己的個性，不那麼容易接受人的建議。

        平安夜邀請了一些弟兄姊妹和慕道友來我家相聚。到開飯前兩個小時，教會最年老的姊妹（95歲）之兒子打電話給我，說他媽媽想來，卻忘記要爬樓梯到我家。當她來到時，我們一人一邊扶著她，爬了三層樓梯，把她接到家。自從Covid之後，因為沒有與人交談，她失去了語言能力，我都聽不懂她說什麼。另外，她經常摔倒，走路也是要人扶著。那天因為大家都和她說話，她又喜歡吃東西，她很開心，到接近半夜還不想離開。第二天她兒子跟我說，他注意到媽媽昨晚可以講到一句完整的句子了，他很開心。可惜，她上週得到腸炎，住在醫院裡，身體非常虛弱。

        除夕那天要接待一位單親媽媽和她五歲的兒子，所以請上面提到的姊妹回家，以便讓位給母子來度假幾天。她們住在南部一個小城市，趁假期她便帶兒子出來大城市玩玩，除夕夜也把兒子叫醒來，看我家附近燒的煙花。自從她搬離了原來住的小村，她兒子去了新幼兒園，發現他乖了一些，有時也會聽勸。可惜媽媽不信主，在教育兒子上面還是有些缺欠。

感恩與代禱事項：

1. 感恩可以接待女生，讓她找到一份工作！求主保守她的身體可以順利通過體檢，因為她有些長期病患和超重，需要減輕體重！求主保守她能夠通過試用期，在當地的城市找到住處，順利搬家！
2. 感謝主使用她幫助一位老人家預約辦理新的護照！由於他不會英語，我陪同他去了柏林的領事館。感謝主的帶領，雖然火車晚點（坐了四個半小時的快速火車），下地鐵後走的路被封了，因而繞了點路，但是我們還是及時趕上預約時間，順利辦妥手續！
3. 感謝主醫治得了腸炎的老姐妹，週一晚已經回家了！由於住了一週的醫院，她身體非常虛弱。求主幫助她的兒女懂得如何照顧她，使她重新恢復體力！
4. 感謝主可以陪伴著單親媽媽，讓她有機會與兒子來大城市走動！求主憐憫她，讓她看到神的眷顧與帶領，能夠有一天接受主的救恩！
5. 週六有一對父母外國來探親，提到他們雖然多年前來德國時已經決志信主，但回國之後就沒有這裡的氛圍鼓勵他們去追求信仰。求主藉這次探親堅固他們的信心，打好根基，無論在什麼地方，繼續跟隨主！

        求主記念眾人的禱告！

        春節快樂！新年蒙恩！

主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二五年一月十六日

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Dear brothers and sisters,

        “By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea.”【Ps 65:5】

        I thought the new year would have a good start, but unfortunately, whether it was the car attacks on Christmas in Germany and the New Year in the United States, or the fires in California, the families of the victims and the people affected by these disasters could not find peace. Pray that the Lord will have mercy and comfort them!

        Due to the limited energy of the members of the Giessen Fellowship, we celebrated Christmas on a small scale. But there were still two non-believing families who usually do not come to the fellowship came to celebrate with us. Their excuse for not coming to fellowship is that they live a bit far away, but they are still willing to participate in the festival activities of the Fellowship.

        At the beginning of November last year, I received a sister at my apartment because in the fall, she graduated from her vocational school and started looking for a job. Because she lives in a relatively remote area, it is more convenient for her to live in my place. Since she has submitted a lot of resumes, she had many opportunities for interviews. Due to her efforts, God gave her a Christmas and New Year’s gift, which was to get a job contract before the end of the year, so that she could let go of a heavy burden. She was grateful that if she hadn’t stayed at my place, it would have been very difficult for her to go to the interviews, because in small places, sometimes some trains would stop running, delaying her appointments. Thank the Lord that because she lived in my place, she also helped two elderly people with their problems. After coming into contact with these old people, she realized the stamina that I need to deal with them all the time, because they all have their own personalities and are not so receptive to people’s advice.

        On Christmas Eve, I invited some brothers and sisters and non-believer to my place. Two hours before the meal began, the son of the oldest sister in the church (95 years old) called me and said that his mother wanted to come and that she had forgotten to climb the stairs to my apartment. When she came, we all helped her up two flights of stairs and took her home. Since Covid, she has lost her ability to speak because she has not been able to talk to people. Even I can’t understand what she is saying now. In addition, she often falls, and she needs to be supported when she walks. That day, because everyone talked to her, and she liked to eat, she was so happy that she didn’t want to leave until it was nearly midnight. The next day her son told me that he noticed that his mother was able to speak a whole sentence last night, and he was very happy. Unfortunately, she got a bacterial infection last week and was hospitalized for a week and she was very weak.

        Since I needed to receive a single mother and her five-year-old son on New Year’s Eve, I asked the sister mentioned above to go home in order to make room for the mother and son for a few days of vacation. Because they live in a small city in the south, she takes her son to the big city to play. She also woke her son up on New Year’s Eve to see the fireworks burning near my place. Since she moved out of the village where she had lived, her son went to a new kindergarten and found that he was a little more well-behaved and sometimes obedient. It’s a pity that the mother doesn’t believe in the Lord, and she still lacks some wisdom in educating her son.

Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:

1. I am grateful that I can receive the sister such that she found a job eventually! Pray that her body will pass the medical examination smoothly because she has some long-term illnesses and is overweight and needs to lose weight! Pray that she will be able to pass the probationary period, find a place to live in the local city, and move smoothly!
2. Thank God for using the sister to help an elderly brother make an appointment to go to the consulate to apply for a new passport! Since he doesn’t speak English, I accompanied him to the consulate in Berlin. Thanks to the Lord’s guidance, although the train was delayed (it took four and a half hours by the fast speed train) and the road we took after getting off the subway was blocked, so we had to take a detour, but we still made it to the appointment in time and completed the procedure smoothly!
3. Thank the Lord for healing the old sister who had enteritis. She returned home on Monday night! She was very weak from a week in the hospital. May the Lord help her children to know how to take care of her so that she can regain her strength!
4. Thank God for being able to accompany this single mother since I knew her and give her the opportunity to visit a big city with her son whenever she wants! May the Lord have mercy on her, let her see God’s care and guidance, and one day accept the Lord’s salvation!
5. Last Saturday, the parents of a couple came to visit from China and mentioned that after returning home they no longer had the atmosphere like here to pursue their faith, although they had already made the decision to accept Jesus’ salvation when they came to Germany many years ago. Pray that the Lord will strengthen their faith this time, lay a solid foundation so that they will continue to follow the Lord no matter where they are!

        Pray that our Lord will hear our prayers!

        Happy Chinese New Year! May God bless the New Year!

Serving Him,
Karen Tang

親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

        「神啊，自我年幼時，你就教訓我；直到如今，我傳揚你奇妙的作為。」詩七十一17

        很感恩，最近參加了一對華人宣教士在德國教會的差遣禮。感謝神的恩典，感動一些年輕的華人弟兄姊妹，回應神的呼召出來事奉神，當中有好幾位已經在德國的神學院接受裝備。以上提到的弟兄，從青少年時代隨家人移民來德國，在他快要完成他的博士學位之前，蒙召作全時間事奉，報讀了在吉森的神學院。在神學學士班的時候，他完成了專業博士論文，又完成了碩士班。結業後，與一位台灣姊妹結婚，加入了德國的海外基督使團（OMF）。在神學院學習期間，他在這德國教會事奉。教會破例接受他們成為他們的本地宣教士，他們每年也會去台灣事奉，弟兄也在神學院教授。由於他們的德語很好，在德、中文化的教會中成為橋樑。

        感謝神，雖然吉森不算是大城市，但有一所研讀聖經的神學院，也有一所規模比較大的德國教會，他們的資源祝福了我們吉森團契的弟兄姊妹。去年又有一位年輕華人弟兄就讀吉森的神學院，他也來參與團契活動，並參與一點事奉。大部份的弟兄姊妹會參加這德國教會的主日崇拜。由於教會也有辦學校，所以團契裡部份弟兄姊妹的孩子都在那所基督教學校讀書，因而參加教會的青少年團契。團契幾位青少年也在這間教會受洗。多年前，有一位德國神學生看了吉森團契的代禱事項，知道需要主日學老師，他便來幫助這一批小孩，教授他們主日學。當他畢業後，他加入了一間華人教會服事，成為我們第二代的好同工。

        當以上那一批小孩長大之後，只剩下一位幼年男孩，父母帶他來團契，因為沒有同伴，他都不想來教會了。父母堅持了一段日子，神又感動了兩家人來參加團契，他們各家有三個小孩，團契時小孩一下子活躍起來。最近兩年，又增添了兩個寶寶，現在有兩位姊妹正在懷孕中。感恩，團契的小孩增加，但是缺乏同工來帶領，求主幫助！

感恩與代禱事項：

1. 感謝神，感動年輕弟兄姊妹接受神學裝備出來事奉神！求主使用這對宣教士，在中、德教會建立美好的橋樑，彼此合作遵行大使命！
2. 求主使用吉森神學院，造就神的僕人！求主幫助正在求學的華人弟兄，因為德語仍然是他的外語！昨天聽他說，有一位埃塞俄比亞的學妹，她10歲來德國的時候是難民身份，現在23歲的她也開始在讀神學。感謝神，帶領不同民族在這神學院接受裝備！
3. 感謝吉森的德國教會，幫助團契的青少年在主裡面成長！求主祝福這家熱心傳福音的教會！
4. 感謝神帶領更多的小朋友來到團契！求主差派工人來牧養這些小羊！
5. 由於去年沒有新生留下來，學生小組需要暫停。團契將會在十一月份辦兩次迎新活動，求主感動新學生來參加，並留下來認識我們的信仰！
6. 感謝神的保守，被火燒了房子的姊妹終於可以回到自己原來的住處，暖氣也修理好！感恩她90歲的先生還是每週開車送她來參加團契活動！求主保守他們的健康！

        感謝神有你們一直的陪伴與支持，願主也祝福您和您一家！
        預祝感恩節快樂！

主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二四年十一月四日

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Dear brothers and sisters,

        “O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.” Psalm 71:17

        I am thankful that I recently participated a sending ceremony of a pair of Chinese missionaries in a German church. Thanks to God’s grace, some young Chinese brothers and sisters responded to God’s call to serve Him in recent years. Several of them have already been equipped in German seminaries. The brother mentioned above, who immigrated to Germany from China with his family when he was a teenager. He was moved to serve God full time before he finished his doctorate degree and enrolled in the theological seminary in Giessen. During his Bachelor program in the seminary, he completed his professional doctoral dissertation, and then completed his Master’s program. After graduation, he married a Taiwanese sister and joined the Overseas Missionaries Fellowship(OMF) in Germany. While studying at the seminary, he served in this German church. The church made an exception and accepted them as their local missionaries. They also go to Taiwan to serve every year, and the brother also teaches in a seminary. Because they speak German very well, they serve as bridges between churches with German and Chinese cultures.

        Thank God that in Giessen, not a big city, there is a seminary that studies the Bible and a relatively large German church. Their resources bring blessings to our brothers and sisters in the Giessen Fellowship. Last year, another young Chinese brother attended the seminary in Giessen. He also came to participate in fellowship activities and did some ministry. Most of the brothers and sisters in our Giessen Fellowship attend the Sunday services of this German church. The church also runs a school, so some brothers and sisters in the fellowship have children who study in that Christian school and therefore participate in the church’s youth fellowship. Several young people in the fellowship were also baptized in this church. Many years ago, a German theological student saw the prayer request of the Giessen Fellowship who asked for a Sunday school teacher. He came to help this group of children teaching them Sunday school. After he graduated, he joined the service of a Chinese church and became a good co-worker of our second generation.

        After the above group of children grew up, there was only one young boy left. His parents brought him to fellowship, but because he had no companions, he no longer wanted to come to church. The parents persisted for a while, and God moved two families to come to the fellowship. Each family had three children, and the children in the fellowship suddenly became active. Two more babies have been added to the fellowship in the past two years, and two sisters are currently pregnant. Thank God for the increase in the number of children in the fellowship, but we lack co-workers to lead them. Pray that God will help us!

Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:

1. Thank God for inspiring young brothers and sisters to receive theological equipment and serve God! Pray that the Lord will use this pair of missionaries to build a good bridge between the Chinese and German churches so as to cooperate with each other to fulfill the Great Commission!
2. Pray to the Lord to use Giessen Theological Seminary to cultivate God’s servants! Pray to the Lord to help the Chinese brother who is still studying in the seminary, because German is still his foreign language! Yesterday I heard from him that there is an Ethiopian girl who came to Germany as a refugee when she was ten years old. Now she is studying theology at the age of 23. Thank God for leading different ethnic groups to receive equipment in this seminary!
3. Thank God for the German church in Giessen for helping the youth in the fellowship grow in the Lord! May the Lord bless this church that is passionate about evangelism!
4. Thank God for bringing more children to the fellowship! Pray to the Lord to send workers to shepherd these lambs!
5. Since there are no new student left from last year, the student group is suspended. The fellowship will hold two orientation activities in November. May the Lord move new students to attend and stay to learn about our faith!
6. Thanks to God’s protection, the sister whose house was damaged by fire can finally return to her original residence, and the heating has been repaired! We are grateful that her 90-year-old husband still drives her to attend fellowship activities every week! May the Lord keep them healthy!

        Thank God for your constant companionship and support, and may the Lord bless you and your family as well!
        Happy Thanksgiving in advance!

Serving Him,
Karen Tang

親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

        「凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。生有時，死有時。」傳三1-2上

        還記得來法蘭克福第二年，第一次為一位姊妹主持安息禮拜，因為當時教會還沒有牧師。那姊妹才四十出頭，得病而離世，留下兩個幼少的兒女。事隔十多年，上次教會辦的燒烤戶外敬拜，還看到她的女兒。

        上個月也為一位年過七十的姊妹主持安息禮拜。這位姊妹在得了癌症的時候，還未信主，後來經過朋友介紹認識了一名基督徒。這名基督徒每天下班都去醫院為她禱告，並邀請另一姊妹向這位病人傳福音，她就決志信主了。可惜的是，她病好後，卻沒有機會去當地的查經班，因為她是說廣東話的；而且沒有上過學，所以不能自己讀聖經。在疫情期間，我們探訪那位為她禱告的姊妹，姊妹帶我們去找她，並邀請她參加線上的查經班，又邀請她參加線上的讀經班，讓我們慢慢認識她。可惜因為一些誤會，她就停止參加線上聚會；但她告訴我還是會跟著我每天發的信息去聽。

        這姊妹在醫院離世的前一天，我剛好要到醫院探訪一位年輕的姊妹，順便邀請那位為她禱告的姊妹一起去看她。沒想到那天，醫生宣佈她沒剩幾天生命，她的兒子與家人正在病房。了解情況之後，我就為她禱告，祈求天父早點接她回到父神的懷抱裡，免受更多的痛苦，結果第二天，就收到消息她回天家了。

        雖然姊妹決志多年，信仰根基仍不深，但是她卻很清楚自己已經決定跟隨主，不會相信別神，所以她生前曾吩咐過兒子，若是她離開世界，要按基督教的儀式來辦理喪事。由於在醫院第一次認識她兒子，他也聽到我為他媽媽禱告，所以他就找我主持安息禮拜；因為他與家人都沒有信主，他們什麼都不懂，就交給我來處理。

        安息禮拜那天，除了她的家人與親戚朋友之外，還有其他族裔的人，包括姊妹的媳婦是泰國人，媳婦也邀請了她的朋友。他們大部份人都是傾向佛教與迷信的，沒有接觸過基督教的安息禮拜。感謝神，藉著這樣的機會來向他們見證神，讓神的話語來安慰姊妹的親戚朋友！

感恩與代禱事項：

1. 感謝神的定時，讓我去探訪年輕病人的那天，不但見到老姊妹的最後一面，並可以在她兒子面前為她禱告！感謝天父把姊妹平安地接回天家！感謝主，使她在生前對兒子的吩咐，讓他在眾多不信的家人朋友面前舉行一個基督教的安息禮拜！求主藉此機會使他們能看到神的恩典與憐憫，讓他們繼續去認識天父的慈愛，接受主的救恩，將來與老姊妹再見！
2. 感謝天父的帶領，讓參與上週同工訓練營的弟兄姊妹有豐富的屬靈收穫！最近一、兩年都看到有好些弟兄姊妹回應神的呼召。這次看到有弟兄們在尋求讀神學的資源。求神帶領這些弟兄們，讓他們找到合適的神學裝備課程，將來能全職事奉！求神帶領一位剛結婚不久的弟兄，他有感動，但是還需要等待妻子的支持！
3. 因漢諾威教會的牧師要回國工作匯報，我七月與八月都被邀請回去分享神的話。感謝主賜下機會，在服事之餘還可以看到一些以前認識的弟兄姊妹！漢諾威與法蘭克福相距大約350公里，以前坐快速火車只需三個小時之內。自從疫情以後，政府有補貼車票，我便利用此補貼來坐火車，但是規定只能坐慢速火車，並且從我家出發要多次轉換交通工具，加上暑假很多地方修路，人手短缺，有時火車晚點甚至不開，所以去一趟漢諾威要花上七個小時！求主保守下一週的路程，火車班次都順利！
4. 求主憐憫一對年過八十的老夫妻，最近被租客燒了部份房子，被逼搬離那房子，之後又有賊進入被封鎖的房子偷了貴重的東西，求主安慰他們的心！感恩丈夫雖是天主教徒，他盡量每週都接載妻子參加團契聚會（他們住在週邊的城市）！

        神沒有應許我們天色常藍，但是祂的恩典夠用！謝謝您們一直的陪伴與支持，為著有需要的人禱告！

        願主恩與您們同在！

主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二四年八月十五日

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Dear brothers and sisters,

        ‘There is a season for everything, and a season for everything under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

        In the second year after coming to Frankfurt, I held a funeral service for a sister for the first time because the church did not have a pastor then. The sister was only in her early forties, fell ill and passed away, leaving behind two young children. More than ten years later, I saw her daughter at the last barbecue outdoor worship held by our church.

        Last month, I also conducted a memorial service for a sister who was over seventy years old. It turned out that this sister had not yet believed in the Lord when she got cancer. Later, she met a Christian through a friend. This sister went to the hospital where she was staying after work every day to pray for her. She also invited the sister who led her to believe in the Lord to preach the gospel to the patient and she decided to believe in the Lord. Unfortunately, after she recovered from her illness, she did not have the opportunity to go to the local Bible study fellowship because she spoke Cantonese, and she had not read the Bible much because she had not gone to school. During the pandemic, we visited the sister who prayed for her, who brought us to see her and invited her to participate in an online Bible study class, and then invited her to participate in an online Bible reading class. We gradually got to know her. Unfortunately, due to some misunderstandings, she stopped attending online gatherings. But she told me that she would still listen to the messages I sent every day.

        The day before the sister passed away in the hospital, I happened to be visiting a young sister who was just admitted to the same hospital.  Therefore, I invited the sister who prayed for her to visit her with me. Unexpectedly, that day happened to be the day when the doctor announced that the sister had only a few days to live. Her son and his family were in the ward. After understanding the situation, I prayed for the sister, asking our Heavenly Father to take her back to God’s arms as soon as possible to avoid further pain. As a result, I received the news the next day that the sister had returned to heaven.

        Although the sister had made her decision to accept Christ for many years and had little foundation of her faith, she was very clear that she had decided to follow the Lord, and she would not believe in other gods. Therefore, before she died, she had told her son that if she left the world, she would have her son to conduct her funeral according to Christian rites. Because I met her son for the first time in the hospital, he also heard me praying for his mother, so he asked me to hold the memorial service for her mother. Neither he nor his family believe in the Lord, he didn’t understand anything regarding Christian service, so he asked me to handle it.

        On the day of the memorial service, in addition to her family, relatives and friends, there were also people from other ethnic groups, including the sister’s daughter-in-law, who is Thai, and she also invited her friends. Most of them are inclined toward Buddhism and superstition and have never been exposed to Christian service. Thank God for giving us this opportunity to witness to them and let God’s words comfort the sister’s relatives and friends!

Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:

1. Thank God for his timing! On the day I went to visit the young patient, I not only saw the old sister for the last time, but I was also able to pray for her in front of her son! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for taking my sister back to heaven safely! Thank you, Lord, for allowing her to command her son during her lifetime to hold a Christian memorial service for her in front of many unbelieving family members and friends! Pray that God will take this opportunity to enable them to see God’s grace and mercy, let them continue to know the love of our Heavenly Father, accept the Lord’s salvation, so that they will see the old sister again in the future!
2. Thank our Heavenly Father for His guidance, which enabled the brothers and sisters who participated in last week’s co-worker training camp to gain rich spiritual gains! In the past year or two, we have seen many brothers and sisters respond to God’s calling. This time I saw some brothers looking for resources for studying theology. Pray that God will lead these brothers to find a suitable theological seminary and will serve in full-time ministry after equipping themselves! Pray that God will guide a brother who has just been married. He is moved by God’s calling, but he still needs to wait for his wife’s support!
3. Because the pastor of Hannover church has returned home for furlough, I was invited in July and August to share God’s words. Thank God for giving me the opportunity to meet some brothers and sisters I knew before while serving! Hannover and Frankfurt are about 350 kilometers apart. It used to take only less than three hours by high-speed train. Since the pandemic, the German government has subsidized tickets, and I have used this ticket, but I can only take slow trains. Starting from my home, I have to change transportation multiple times. In addition, there is a lot of road construction during the summertime, and there is a shortage of manpower. Sometimes the train is late or even cancelled. So, a trip to Hannover took seven hours last time! Please pray that the Lord will protect the journey next week and all train rides will go smoothly!
4. Pray to God to have mercy on an old couple who are over eighty years old. Recently, part of the house was burned down by a tenant, and they were forced to move out of the house. Later, thieves entered the blocked house and stole valuable things. Pray that God will comfort their hearts! Thank God that although the husband is a Catholic, he tries his best to drive his wife to fellowship meetings every week (they live in a nearby city)!

        May the Lord’s grace be with you!

Serving Him,
Karen Tang

親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：

        「不可忘記用愛心接待客旅；因為曾有接待客旅的，不知不覺就接待了天使。」希十三2

        疫情後，人們恢復昔日往來探訪及旅遊。由於法蘭克福飛機場是一個國際樞紐，很多客旅，包括弟兄姊妹都會從這裡上、下飛機。有些弟兄姊妹從別城來法蘭克福搭早班機的，都要早一天來法蘭克福找地方過夜。也有一些弟兄姊妹是路過法蘭克福，再往別城去的。因此，從去年年底開始，我家就經常接待這樣的客旅。一月份的代禱信已經提過，沒想到這樣的接待持續不斷。

        三月份接觸了一位16歲剛高中畢業的男生，他的媽媽來德國出差，他也跟著來，自己出去觀光，我的朋友介紹我們認識。當他們來法蘭克福的時候，我邀請他來我家吃飯，我們聊得很投機；雖然他有佛教背景，並受傳統中國文化影響，但也不排斥其他宗教。吃完飯，我帶他去教會參加主日崇拜，可惜他趕著與下班的媽媽匯合，聽完詩歌就要離開。不過，他對我們教會還是留下一個好的印象。

        四月份，一直支持我的教會有姊妹來旅遊，來我家住了幾天，除了讓我們彼此認識更多之外，她更帶給我一個驚喜，她與她團契的弟兄姊妹送我一份禮物，超過我的所求所想，因為正是我合用的。正如經文所說，接待姊妹，不知不覺就好像接待了天使。

        五月接待了一對年老夫妻，他們多年前從德國回香港退休。弟兄今年80歲，與團契的弟兄姊妹給他慶祝生日，他很感動！特別是第一次上飛機時，姊妹在機場幾乎暈倒，被送去醫院。隔了一週，她恢復健康後又可以上機了。

        這幾天有姊妹來開會，順道帶著第一次出國的弟弟（剛退休）來借宿，讓他可以到處觀光。雖然第一次見面，還沒說上幾句話，他就已經好奇地問我為何從美國來到德國。我便把我的蒙召見證告訴他，因為他還不是基督徒，還問了好些有關教會的問題，希望他繼續尋求基督信仰。

        疫情間，認識了一位年輕媽媽，她有一年幼的兒子。由於她的婚姻出現問題，我一直藉電話關心她，因為她住在德國的小村落，很孤單。幾年下來，離婚手續已經辦好，但仍要面對很多問題。有時候，她要來法蘭克福辦事，也會住在我家。以前她都是面帶愁容的，上週她來我家吃飯時，看到她有笑容了。她對另外一位姊妹說，是受到我的感染，可以把一些事情放下，可以笑起來了。她還沒有信耶穌，但是每次為她禱告，她都是願意的。這週她說要來住幾天。

        每天跟我一起讀經的老弟兄姊妹都知道，我要接待弟兄姊妹，她們開玩笑說我家可以當作旅館，只要收一點點的費用，都可以幫補我的宣教經費。我說我不會那樣做，因為這是神賜予我的地方，有機會接待不同的人，包括非基督徒，希望提供給她們住宿之餘，還可以為主作見證，讓她們感受到神的愛與認識神。

感恩與代禱事項：

1. 感謝主賜我地方，可以做接待弟兄姊妹的事工！
2. 感謝主讓我有機會接待弟兄姊妹，讓我可以更多的認識她們，建立更緊密的關係！感謝主差派天使送來禮物，感謝弟兄姊妹的愛心！
3. 感謝主讓我接觸不同年齡階層的非信徒，讓我可以把信仰介紹給他們！求主帶領他們，使他們回到自己的國家，繼續去尋求認識神！
4. 感謝主有機會藉著提供住宿幫助那些有需要的人，特別是在情緒低落的時候，有經濟困難的時候！求主幫助年輕媽媽能靠著真神的力量，解決她的困境。
5. 求主保守那對年老的夫妻，讓他們在德國探訪親友時都平安！求主醫治老弟兄的咳嗽！

        求主眷顧保守你們身體健康，祝福你們手上所做的工！

主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二四年六月六日

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Dear brothers and sisters,

        ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.’ Hebrews 13:2

        After the pandemic, people resumed visiting and traveling as they had in the past. Since the Frankfurt International Airport is an international hub, many travelers, including brothers and sisters, board and disembark their planes here. Some brothers and sisters who came from other cities to Frankfurt to take an early flight had to come to Frankfurt a day earlier to find a place to stay overnight. There are also some brothers and sisters who pass through Frankfurt and go to other cities. Therefore, since the end of last year, I have been receiving such travelers frequently. I mentioned this in my January prayer letter, but I didn’t realize that this kind of hospitality would continue.

        In March, I met a 16-year-old boy who had just graduated from high school. His mom came to Germany on a business trip, and he went out sightseeing on his own, and my friend introduced us. When they came to Frankfurt, I invited him to my home for dinner, and we had a great conversation. Although he has a Buddhist background and traditional Chinese culture, he does not reject other religions. After lunch, I took him to our church Sunday service, but unfortunately he was in a hurry to meet his mom from work and had to leave after listening to the worship songs. However, he still left a good impression of our church.

        In April, a sister whose church has been supporting me, came to visit me from US. She stayed at my home for a few days. We had a chance to get to know each other better. She surprised me with a gift from her and the brothers and sisters in her fellowship, which was more than I could ask for because it was exactly what I needed. As the scripture says, to receive a sister without realizing it is like receiving an angel.

        In May, I received an elderly couple who went back to Hong Kong to retire from Germany many years ago. The brother was 80 years old and was touched by the birthday celebration he had with our fellowship brothers and sisters! He was especially touched when his wife almost fainted at the airport on her schedule flight and was taken to the hospital. After a week, she recovered and was able to get on the plane again.

        In the past few days, a sister came for a meeting and brought her brother (who just retired), who was going abroad for the first time, to stay with me so that he could go sightseeing. Although we met for the first time, he didn’t say much, but he was already curious and asked me why I had come to Germany from the USA. I told him my testimony of my calling. Since he was not yet a Christian, he asked me a few questions about the church. Pray that he would continue to seek the Christian faith.

        During the pandemic, I got to know a young mother with a toddler. Because of her marital problems, I kept her company by phone because she lived in a small village in Germany and was very lonely. After a few years, the divorce was finalized, but she still had to face many problems. Sometimes she would come to Frankfurt for business and stay at my home. She used to have a sad face, but last week she came to my place to let me do some work for her. At dinner, I saw that she was smiling. She told another sister that she was infected by me, and that she was able to let go of some things and could smile again. She is an idolater and has not yet believed in Jesus, but every time I pray for her, she is willing to do so. This week she said she wanted to come and stay for a few days.

        The older brothers and sisters who are in my Bible reading group know that I have been hosting some brothers and sisters. They joked that my place could be used as a hotel, and that it could help cover my expenses by charging a small fee. I said I wouldn’t do that because this is a place that God has given me to host different people, including non-Christians, and I hope that while providing them with lodging, I can also be a witness for the Lord, so that they can feel God’s love and know Him.

Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:

1. Thank our Lord for giving me a place to host brothers and sisters!
2. Thank our Lord for giving me the opportunity to receive brothers and sisters so that I can get to know them better and build closer relationships! Thank our Lord for sending angels to send me gifts! Thank God for the love of our brothers and sisters!
3. Thank our Lord for allowing me to reach out to non-believers of different age groups so that I can introduce my faith to them! Pray that the Lord would lead them to continue to seek to know God when they return to their own countries!
4. Thank our Lord for the opportunity to help those in need by providing accommodation, especially in times of depression and financial hardship! Pray that the young mom would be able to resolve her situation by relying on the power of the true God rather than idolatry!
5. Pray for the Lord’s protection over the elderly couple as they visit friends and relatives in Germany! Pray for the Lord’s healing of the old brother’s cough!

        Pray for our Lord’s blessing to keep you in good health and bless the works of your hands!

Serving Him,

Karen Tang