親愛的代禱夥伴:
今年的聖誕節是在星期三,所以連著週末和新年就有七天的假期,許多人都選擇去旅遊或回國探親;許多開工廠的弟兄姐妹都回國了。在德班開店的華人,因十二月底是商店旺季,大家都會留在德班過聖誕節。所以,每年在聖誕節那一天,我們都會辦聖誕崇拜。德班教會今年來參加聖誕崇拜的有七十多人,有聖詩獻唱、鋼琴演奏、福音見證及證道;會後,一起享用愛宴。感謝主,聖誕節這天是我們在德班三個聚會點的弟兄姐妹一年一次齊聚一堂的日子,大家同心慶祝聖誕,也藉著聖誕的信息向我們的朋友傳揚福音。
前個星期收到教會一個年青弟兄家人的電話,告知這個年青弟兄前一週外出之後和家人失聯,家人希望大家能幫助尋找。我們這段日子没法安排去那個城市服事,也沒有他的音訊,真是令我們著急,我們只能迫切的為他的安全祈求。感謝主,第二天就得到消息,那弟兄已經和他的家人聯絡上了。原來他去到三小時外的國際機場,可是,他在機場將錢包和手機丟失了,無法求救和聯絡人。就在那個焦急時候,他被教會一位搭飛機返國的弟兄看見了!那弟兄知道大家都在找尋他,就幫助他和他的家人聯絡,感謝主!事情就如此結束。太神奇了!他的家人對教會弟兄姐妹非常感謝。其實,他們應該感謝的是神,神行事奇妙!求主幫助他和他的家人溝通,修復他們的關係。感謝主!在急難時,保守了弟兄的安全!也藉著這件事提醒我們要全心信靠交託!神聽禱告!
年底時,接到教會姐妹程太太的短訊,邀我們共進午餐,到達時才知道程先生也來,程先生一向公務繁忙,很少有機會見到他。會談之後,知道他們已經決定退休,即將返回台灣,所以特來道別。因為大家有兩年很好的相處,所以難免不感傷。程太太兩年前信主,之後她的靈命有極大的成長,人也快樂了許多。她信主的過程實在奇妙,因為她丈夫是國際知名公司派駐南非的主管,工作極繁忙,生活在德班兩個小時外的工廠,地區偏遠,她就像一隻關在籠中的金絲雀一般生活。孩子都已成年成家,她多年孤獨生活,除了照顧丈夫生活外,沒有別的事,沒有朋友,也沒有社交生活。教會裡的一位弟兄在她丈夫工廠找到一份工作,有機會將我們介紹給她。我們去探訪她,送她屬靈書籍,和她聊天,從人生聊到信仰。神在她心中動工,不久她就信了主,她從信仰裡得到力量,人也喜樂起來。之後,弟兄也離開了那家工廠。在她最需要神的時候,神奇妙的將我們空降在她的生活中,使我們有機會幫助她信主和成長。現在神又將她帶回台灣。程太太分享說她到南非來最大的得著就是認識了神!在南非事工就常會面對要分離,因為大家都不會久留。提醒我們要多作主工,不要遲延。
請你為這些事項代禱:
- 請為程太太返台後尋找到合適的教會代禱,求主也保守她身心靈的健康。
- 請為那位青年弟兄和他的家庭和睦相處禱告,求主賜智慧並引導我們去幫助他。
- 請為德班教會的姐妹朱媽媽第五次化療後的恢復代禱,最近她的體力較弱,求主保守她。
- 請為新加入教會的梁姐妹和兒童主日學的孩子們學習真道和靈命成長代禱。
- 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
二零二零年一月
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Dear Prayer Partners,
This year’s Christmas was on a Wednesday; with the following weekend and New Year’s Day, a lot of people chose to take a seven-day vacation or a longer stay in China. This year, many of our brothers and sisters in the factories returned to China for holiday. As the Christmas season is the most profitable time for retail businesses, most of the Chinese merchants remain in Durban. Our church in Durban, therefore, holds a special Christmas worship every year. This past Christmas, over 70 people attended the service. In addition to the regular program, we had special choir and piano performances as well as personal testimonies. After the service, everyone enjoyed a delicious love feast. Praise the Lord! This is our once-a-year get-together for all our brothers and sisters of the three meeting groups in Durban. We not only rejoiced in the celebration of the birth of Christ but also shared the Christmas message with our families and friends.
Last week we received a call from one of our brother’s family. They had not been able to reach him since he left home a week ago and asked us if we knew of his whereabouts. Due to other ministries, we did not have any contact with our brother since our last visit two months ago. We were so worried and could only pray for his safety. Thank God; he contacted his family the next day. He was at the international airport (about a three-hour drive from his city) but lost both his wallet and cell phone. Another brother of the church happened to be there catching a flight to China and spotted him. How wonderful! His family was greatly thankful to the church; in fact, they should be grateful to God! May the Lord help him reconcile with his family through open dialogues. Our Lord is good; He kept our brother safe! This incident also encourages us to put our trust in God in time of crisis! He answers prayers!
Before the end of the year, we received another call from Sister Cheng. She invited us to lunch. We were kind of surprised to see her husband when we got there. Due to Mr. Cheng’s busy schedule, we rarely had the chance to meet him. They told us that he had just retired and planned to move back to Taiwan. Therefore, that was a farewell lunch. We will miss her! She was baptized two years ago, and she has been growing in the Lord and changed to be a much happier person. Mr. Cheng was the South Africa Director of a world-famous company, and his time was fully occupied by his job. Their factory is in a small town about two-hour drive from Durban; and she used to feel like a canary in a cage. Because their children are all grown up and have their own families, she spent most of her days alone – no friends, no social life! Two years ago, one of our brothers got a job at that company and introduced us to her. We visited her, gave her Christian literatures, chatted with her on topics from life perspectives to Christianity. God worked in her heart, and she accepted Christ as her Savior. Her faith gives her strength and joy. Soon after, our brother left the company. In her times of need, God brought us into her life to lead her to Christ and help her grow. Now God is leading her back to Taiwan. She shared with us that knowing God was the greatest treasure she found in South Africa! In our ministry, we have to say a lot of goodbyes! Since many people plan to move on sooner or later, we need to take every opportunity as our last chance to tell them about Christ.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for Sister Cheng’s adjustment in Taiwan. May the Lord help her find a suitable church so she can continue to grow in her faith.
- Please pray for our brother’s family relationship. May the Lord also grant us wisdom in guiding him to resolve the conflicts in his family.
- Please pray for Sister Chu’s speedy recovery after her fifth chemo treatment.
- Please pray for the spiritual growth of a new church member Sister Leung as well as the children in the Sunday School.
- Please continue to pray for our safety as we travel to different cities and towns.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina