親愛的代禱夥伴：
感謝主，四月份有兩位姐妹受浸歸入基督。黃姐妹在中國福建省出生，從小就不喜歡偶像祭拜的事。她在中國時，有一位基督徒姐妹主動無償的幫助她出國，至今她還是不明白那位姐妹為何願意幫助她。她在信主前是一個脾氣暴燥的人，行事為人都以自我為中心，做事時又缺乏自信，很不快樂。後來，有一位信主的阿姨常來關心她，和她講有關上帝的事和基督的信仰。她的感觸很深，慢慢也能體會真道，並且對照自己的行為反省，願意順從真理而行。信主之後，她的脾氣改變不少，不再動不動就發怒氣，自信心也增強，願意努力嘗試，也學會了將自己的重擔交託給上帝掌管。現在她能理解別人，對人關心，對生活和前景充滿盼望。黃姐妹的經歷提醒我們，若有能力幫助有需要的人，千萬盡力去做。另外，我們應該盡力將聖經真理與人分享，撒下真理的種子。
認識孫姐妹已有十五、六年，但是，很少有機會能和她交談，談信仰只有一，兩次。在信主之前，她是一個心靈很空虛、人生道路曾有不少波折的單親媽媽。幸好，她經營的事業小有成就，能供應兩個孩子的生活及學費。她雖然事業有成，但是心靈卻沒有歸屬感，沒有依靠，以致她生活、言語及行為隨波逐流，離開上帝很遠，甚至不敢尋求上帝。但是，神從來沒有忘記她。她的生活圈中有一位姐妹一直對她很有負擔，許多年來，一直關心她，用愛心接近她，和她做朋友，並且邀請孫姐妹去聚會。其實在孫姐妹心中，她也一直期盼能有機會脫離舊生活，得到主耶穌的真愛。她分享提到她真的感受到主耶穌對她的愛，願意與上帝坦誠相交，將心交給上帝。就這樣，她信了主。她信主後，心裡就常常充滿喜悅，她要感恩，要用她的行為見證主已經住在她心中，她要榮耀主，要照著主的意思去生活。孫姐妹的見證提醒我們，世界上有許多的人盼望脫離罪的綑綁，有人落在空虛之中，無法自拔。他們需要被愛和關心，求主給我們有敏銳的心，關心別人的需要。
前幾個星期我們途經布鲁芳登，順便探訪那裡的弟兄姐妹，多年沒見面，人事有一些變遷，有一些舊友已經遷離，有一些的舊友仍然一起查經聚會。雖然經過不少的滄桑，但神保守屬於祂的人。「耶和華的眼目看顧敬畏祂的人，和仰望祂慈愛的人。」（詩三十三18）現今教會以福清來的弟兄姐妹為主體；感謝神，有福清青年人參與教會的事工，神也興起靈性成熟、年紀較長的福清弟兄姐妹承擔起附近城鎮福音小組及主日教導的工作，求主使用那裡服事的同工興旺福音。
我們有機會去探望安娜麗姐妹，她是南非荷蘭更正教會Jan長老的太太，我們多年事工的夥伴。三十年前布鲁芳登的華人教會就是從他們的家開始，他們一直愛心服事華人社區。因為他們的服事，許多華人信主。安娜麗姐妹胃癌復發，已停止化療，進入安寧靜養。我們見到她時，她精神奇佳，平靜安詳如常，和我們快樂的交談，關心我們的家庭和事工近況。Jan長老還開玩笑説他妻子安娜麗姐妹的天國簽證已經準備好了，現在等待登機。他們有著在主裡永遠的平安。之後，我們為她祈求，求主恩待她和她全家。怕影響她休息，我們就向她道别。我們沒悲傷，因為我們確信在天國裡還要與她相見！
請你為這些事項代禱：
- 請為安娜麗姐妹安寧靜養代禱，求主看顧恩待她，也安慰Jan長老及他的全家。
- 感謝神，慕道友黃姐妹和孫姐妹已經受浸歸主。求主保守她們的信心，引領她們靈命繼續成長。
- 請為教會的楊弟兄手傷代禱，現在仍在復健醫療中，求主保守他的手能完全康復。
- 請為張弟兄患焦慮症的女兒代禱，她近況已經好很多，但仍在治療中，求主保守她。
- 請為我們外出各地事工時，行車和出入的平安代禱。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零一九年五月
下載 PDF 格式 （中文）
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Dear Prayer Partners,
Praise the Lord! Two sisters were baptized in April. Sister Huang was born in the Fujian Province of China. She rejected idol worship since she was a little girl. When she was in China, a Christian lady paid for all her expenses so she could go overseas. Until now, it is still a mystery to her! She used to be a bad-tempered person, very self-centered but seriously lack of self-confident and was very unhappy. Then she met an older Christian lady who showed kindness towards her and told her about God and the Christian faith. She was deeply moved, started to comprehend the truth and gradually changed her ways. After she accepted Christ as her personal Savior, she became a lot calmer, no longer as quick-tempered, more self-confident and not afraid to attempt new things. She also learnt to put her trust in the Lord, to put herself in other people’s shoes and to care about other people. She now views life with hope! This really encourages us to continue to do good to others, share the truth and sow the seed of the gospel whenever the opportunity arises.
We knew Sister Sun for more than 15 years but did not have many chances to talk to her. There were only once or twice that we were able to share the gospel with her. Before she accepted Christ, she had no purpose in life. She is a single mom with two children. Even though she has a successful business and is able to support her children abundantly, she used to feel empty and insecure. As a result, she followed the way of the world. She knew she was far away from God but was afraid to approach Him. God never forgets her! A sister in Christ had a burden to help her. She remains a trusted friend to her over the years and invites her to Bible studies. Sister Sun longed to leave her way of life and experience the love of Christ. God is faithful! She experienced His love when she came to Him truthfully and opened her heart to Him. Now she is full of joy and thanksgiving. She is determined to glorify Him by living a godly life! Sister Sun’s testimony truly reminds us that there are many in the world that wish to be free from the bondage of sin and are looking for the purpose of life. May we be sensitive to other people’s needs and show them God’s love.
A few weeks ago, we traveled through Bloemfontein and visited some brothers and sisters that we had not seen for years. Some had already moved away, and we met others at their Bible study. Each person had been through different hardship of lives, yet God was with them through it all. “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love.” (Ps. 33:18) The church’s current congregation is mainly from Fuqing. We thank God that some of them have been actively serving in the church; a few of them are also involved in outreach missions in nearby cities as well as leading Bible studies and preaching. May the Lord continue to bless their service for the gospel.
We also paid a special visit to Sister Annali. Her husband, Jan, was of one of the elders at the Bloemfontein Dutch Reformed Church. They were instrumental in establishing the Chinese church some 30 years ago. They love the Chinese, and many came to know Christ because of them. Sister Annali just experienced a relapse of her stomach cancer. The doctor had stopped all treatment, and she just moved back to her own home. When we saw her, she was calm and in good spirit. She was keen to know how we were doing and wanted to hear all the updates of our ministries. Elder Jan even joked that Sister Annali already got her visa and was waiting to board her flight for the Kingdom of God. They were full of the eternal peace in Christ! We said our last goodbye after we prayed for her and her family. There was no sadness, because we knew we would see each other again in heaven someday!
Prayer Requests:
- Thank God for Sister Mei. They had made a commitment to operate their new business honestly and legally. Please pray for all the preparation in starting the new business and for them in finding a suitable auditor and a good employee.
- We praise the Lord for Sister Jie Ying who accepted Christ as her personal Savior. We have arranged for her to attend Basic Christianity classes and for her baptism. Please pray for her continued faith and growth in the Lord.
- Please pray for complete recovery for Brother Yang.
- Please pray for Brother Zhang’s daughter. She is suffering from anxiety disorder, and this last year of high school causes more stress on her. Please ask for comfort and peace from the Lord as well as effectiveness of her medication.
- Please continue to pray for our safety as we travel to different cities and towns.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina
