真人真事 @ 羅省一浸：朱永新 Gerry Gee
出生、成長、埋葬
教會請我分享一個故事，說明為何自我出生以來就選擇留在羅省第一華人浸信會。我是羅省一浸建立以後第一個出生的孩子。雖然今年教會慶祝六十三週年紀念，但我亦未夠六十三歲。讓以下的故事說明為何羅省一浸成為我屬靈的「家」。
在 初中時期，Kenny是我少男團的輔導員和籃球教練。他是一個非常嚴格的教練，他教我勤奮，堅毅和不要馬虎渡日的價值觀。我們一群年輕人常在偷懶閒聊；但 每當Kenny走過來，我們就會立即停止，直到他離開我們視線範圍後才繼續。他如何在籃球訓練上緞練我的毅力，此刻仍然瀝瀝在目。我承認我是一個受保護的 男孩，在籃板下常常被推來推去。在籃板球訓練時，他要求我在籃下反射球。第一次他從我身後阻擋我。第二次他更撲打我的球，而令我失球。那一刻我幾乎哭出 來。Kenny搖搖頭說：「看著！」我們換轉位置，我站在他身後。他回彈著球，挺起臀部製造空間和假象，反射上籃。「現在到你！」自此之後，身後的球員不 能再阻礙我射球。
有一年的夏令營我被編到Kenny的營舍。當我知道後，我差點兒哭了出來。其實也沒有那麼糟糕，但我可以告訴你，我並不期 待參加那年的夏令營。正如我所料，當我們拿著行李進入營舍後；Kenny第一件事就是列出一系列營舍規則。夏令營一向都是以玩樂和閒聊為主，只有 Kenny自己訂下營舍規則，其他的宿舍都沒有甚麼規則。就在那一年，我學習到如何在適當的時候玩樂和閒聊的重要性。多年後，當我成為營會輔導員時，你知 道我和我的營友第一次聚集時做的是甚麼嗎？你猜對了。我向他們列出營會的規則。我體會到秩序與紀律的價值，並且孩子會因此而更加享受營會中的樂趣。晚上我 能睡得好，又可以確保營友有足夠睡眠；不用擔心營友夜晚偷走外出遊玩，而日間在崇拜時睡著了。
多年後的某日，我的太太Suzie回家告訴 我，我們要為Kenny祈禱。他病得很嚴重，而且情況並不樂觀。其實那時候我已經有一段長時間沒有與他聯絡。若不是太太提起他的情況，那些年我都沒有想起 他。我心中有很多疑問。Kenny還有返羅省一浸嗎？他仍與神同行嗎？他依然有輔導他人嗎？當我禱告時，我知道這些答案在那一刻都不重要了。我只是誠心向 神祈求，就好像我自己的生命視乎神的應允我的禱告一樣，求主使Kenny的身體得到康復。他是我的良師益友。我想他能活著；不只是活著，而是再次委身他的 生命給神，為祂而活。雖然經過漫長的掙扎，但神真的使Kenny恢復健康。這故事最美的部份是Kenny再次回到少男團事奉。他在身心靈上確是一個新造的 人。
為何我以羅省第一華人浸信會為我的家？多年來，很多人來來去去這個家。很多牧師來了，又離開，但那一位是不變的？神忠心地守護著祂的教 會。神的恩典也透過這地方使我得著救恩。我見證著生命得到重生。神又賜我很多接觸和支持教會肢體的機會。這個家就是我出生、成長、和(主若願意)埋葬的地 方。富有戲劇性，但很真實。
真人真事 @ 羅省一浸 : Kevin Leong
Amor House-building by Kevin Leong
“Today I give you the keys to a new home here on earth, but I also want to share how you can have the keys to a house in heaven” – Pastor Luis
The quote above is slightly paraphrased, but it’s something I’ve thought a lot about since the time I heard it. You see, for many years I thought that the people we built homes for with Amor Ministries were Christians—members of a church whose pastor submitted their names for a new house. Later, I found that many are not, but contacted a local pastor affiliated with Amor and told him of their need. The pastor then gave their names to Amor, and they–Christian or not– were added to a list and patiently waiting up to two years for a group like ours to come and build them a new home.
Not surprisingly, this revelation drastically changed my outlook on the work I had been doing. No longer was I simply doing a “good deed” by building someone a home; now I was a part of giving a person an opportunity to receive the gospel. As the pastor told us about how he would share those words with families as he gave them the keys to their new home, I couldn’t help but think about all those families I previously assumed were believers. Were they already Christians when we met them? Did they eventually come to know Christ? Were we good examples of Him as we worked and in the ways we interacted with them? Was there more we could have done?
When I tell people that I have been a part of 12 house-building trips over the past 9 years, many are surprised and think that it’s a lot—and I guess in many ways it is. But when I think about the number of people who need homes out there, and who need to hear about the love and saving power of Christ, 12 homes for 12 families doesn’t even make a dent. It’s merely a tiny percent of the thousands in Mexico who have had to live with very little, and hope for very little. This is what drives me to grab my tools and pack my bags each year, sleep in a tent for three nights, and struggle against the various challenges that arise with building a house by hand. But when all is said and done, when the bags are unpacked and the dust has settled, it is truly amazing to know that a simple, newly built house here on earth can one day lead to houses being built in heaven.
Kevin Leong
真人真事 @ 羅省一浸 : Kristina Yano
Amor House-building by Kristina Yano
Eight years ago, I went on my first Amor trip to Tijuana, Mexico. I decided to go because I had a heart for Spanish speakers, and the idea of building a house caught my interest. In two days, I was captivated by the interaction with the Mexican people, serving them in a very tangible, hands-on way, and seeing how the house brought so much hope. It was a magnetic experience that has drawn me back four times since then. God has grown my love for the Mexican people and affirmed how much a house blesses the families. I keep going to Mexico, sleeping in tents, and mixing endless tubs of concrete because of an ongoing desire for the Mexican people to experience the love of Jesus.
Participating in these house-building trips has allowed me to see beyond the comfortable, yet so easily complained about life here in the US. It is striking to experience the joy and generosity of the Mexican people, though materially, they have so little; it puts how much I have and what it means to be grateful into perspective. This has propelled me to use what God has given me – two hands and broken Spanish – to serve Him, allowing me to see Him work through my humble willingness. The fact that in two days, a team of non-construction people, without power tools, can build a foundation and erect the frames of a house is a testimony in itself to God’s power and grace!
Every year at the end of our last workday, I am burdened with the hope that the family experienced God’s love because of our work and that this would bring lasting spiritual change in their lives, even after we leave and the house is completed. I hope and pray that out of God’s grace, they would not just receive a house, but receive His salvation. May God use our work and the houses we build to be a powerful and enduring testimony of the hope, goodness, and love of Christ both to the family and to the community.
Kristina Yano
為中國城代禱
齊來為中國城代禱。代禱是為別人代求。當我們在中國城步行，讓我們為學校及它們的學生，商界老闆／專業人仕，藍領階層，居民，屬靈的復甦及我們向社區作延伸的外展事工禱告。
- 社區安全：除掉幫派活動，塗鴉和人為破壞
- 求神幫助本會在面對中國城的景觀、民族組成及文化環境的改變中，懂得如何接觸不同群體。
- 為工人，遊客和居民的屬靈狀況禱告，他們能夠與耶穌基督建立關係；他們在日常生活中及面對挑戰時，令他們思想、親近神，因祂就是真正的保障和答案。
為協和醫院代禱 Pray for Pacific Alliance Hospital & Medical Center
- Continued good relationship with FCBC; it would find favor
in us throughout our business dealings (ie. parking lot.) - Hospital will continue to operate well and service patients
with integrity, professionalism and excellent medical
treatment. - As patients receive physical healing and help, they would
find God as the ultimate Healer, Helper, Savior & Lord.
