親愛的代禱夥伴：
最近經由一位南非教會姊妹的介紹，在網上幫助一位基督徒，脱離她的家暴生活。她因為在原生家庭中沒有得到愛和照顧，故此很渴望得到愛和人對她的關注，以至她過著一個只懂遷就人，很容易被人利用、沒有尊嚴、受虐的生活。感謝神，她現在悔改及尋求神的幫助，張姊妹分享：「我只是覺知自己的軟弱吧！若不緊緊抓住神，我就要滅沒在活人之地了！神救我，會救我！前題就是我要盡心盡意盡力聽神的話。」我們成立查經小組，藉著查考聖經人物來重新建立她的人生目標和價值觀，希望能建立她的自信心和對神的信心。感謝神，因為從姊妹的回應中，我們已經看見她的改變，對神也有信心。她分享：「神要潔淨我，修復我！恢復祂初造我時的美好！祂要把那些被蝗蟲吃掉的歲月都還給我！我是有進一步看見，不看別人，也不看自己，單單注目主耶穌。」
今天收到南非週三查經小組的一位弟兄轉寄來自約翰尼斯堡歐弟兄的見證。歐弟兄曾經住在開普敦，近兩年才搬去約堡。我們與他熟識是因為他的太太是開普敦福音教會的姊妹。歐弟兄慕道已有一段時日，他們夫妻間有時會因為基督信仰而爭執，姊妹為著信仰背負了不少重擔。她有時會慨嘆其難處，但她仍然有對主堅定不移的信心。我們和歐弟兄相處融洽，曾經多次在他們的公寓聚會。後來姊妹的公司調派她返回約堡總公司，所以我們便沒有聯絡了。我們一直感到很可惜，因為和歐弟兄已經建立了友誼和互信的基礎。可惜沒有更多的時間跟他分享信仰，及幫助他們的婚姻關係。但是神有祂的時間和方法，神的道路高過人的道路。歐弟兄因為突發肝癌需要換肝，經歷許多神的幫助。神徹頭徹尾的改變了他，也更新他們的婚姻關係。我們驚嘆神的奇妙作為！神實在以格外的恩慈對待歐弟兄。
這提醒我們神工作直到如今（約五17），無論人多叛逆抵擋神，神還是能改變他，拯救他。所以，我們千萬不要放棄慕道友。第二，姊妹在主裡為丈夫的犧牲終有美好成果，而且得神記念。姊妹尊主為大的生活，她的丈夫必要因她而改變，姊妹的付出絕對不浪費。
請您為這些事情代禱：
- 感謝主使查考聖經人物的查經小組正常運作。求主幫助我們能有效的帶領查經小組。
- 請為張姊妹前面的道路代禱，求主幫助她早日脱離困境。
- 請為歐弟兄身體得康復代禱。
- 求主保守當地網絡能正常運作，使我們能繼續透過網路，與南非兩個教會的弟兄姊妹一起敬拜和查考聖經。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零二三年八月
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Dear Prayer Partners,
Recently, we were introduced to Sister Zhang by one of our sisters in South Africa. She was in a bad relationship and suffered from domestic violence. As she was growing up, she was not loved and was being neglected. She tried desperately to seek love and other people’s attention. As a result, she was being lured into an abusive and undignified living situation. We thank the Lord that she is now determined to leave this way of life and ask God for help. This is what she shared, “I know I am very weak. If I do not hold on to the Lord, I will never be able to hang on. God saves me; He will save me as soon as I turn back and follow Him with all my heart, all my mind and all my strength.” We started a new Bible study group with her. Through specific characters of the Bible, we are helping her to re-establish her purpose of life and value system as well as her self-confidence and faith in God. We praise the Lord as we have already started to see changes in her. She told us, “The Lord is going to cleanse me, heal me and return me to the way He first created me! He will give me back those days that were destroyed by locusts! I have learned to put my eyes on Jesus, not on other people nor myself.”
Today we received a copy of Brother Ou’s testimony from a brother in Johannesburg. Brother Ou had stayed in Cape Town for about two years before moving to Johannesburg. We met him through his wife who was attending our Cape Town church. Brother Ou was not a believer at the time and had frequent conflicts with our sister due to her faith. We had counseled her a number of times, and she maintained a strong faith in the Lord. We had a good relationship with Brother Ou, and we were able to hold a few Bible study meetings at their home. As our sister was being transferred back to Johannesburg, we were not able to continue with our well-established rapport and our support in their marriage.
However, the Lord has His way and timing. A few months ago while he was visiting China, he was diagnosed with liver cancer and urgently needed a transplant. With unbelievable speed, a match was located, and he had a successful operation. He has become a total changed person! God also saved his marriage! We were in awe of God’s wonderful deeds! He showered Brother Ou with amazing grace and mercy.
This is a reminder to us that God “is always at work to this very day.” (John 5:17) No matter how one resists God, He is able to turn him around and save him; so we must not give up on anybody. Moreover, our sister’s sacrifices for her faith were not in vain; they are being remembered by God. When she persisted in honoring God in her life, her husband was being won over.
Please pray for the following:
- May the Lord help us to effectively lead our new Bible study group.
- May the Lord continue to lead Sister Zhang out of her difficulties.
- May the Lord continue to help Brother Ou in his recovery.
- May the Lord continue to bless our on-line Bible study meetings and worship services.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina