letter from the director-2012-10

4
October 2012 Dear mission partners, I had a busy month travelling around our mission field. At the beginning of September, I was with the brothers and sisters at Helsinki Chinese Christian Church in Finland. This is the church we have been sup porting together with our mission partner Scandinavian Chinese Christian Church. Like many other places in Europe, Chinese started to settle in Finland decades ago. A few years back, Finland saw a large influx of Chinese students coming to study. Some of them stayed and they became the new immigrants living there. Therefore, the church is open to a wide variety of people from different walks of life. Many of them came to Christ recently and the followup discipleship training is thus vital for the church to nurture new believers and to build them up so that they can help the church to grow further. In mid September, I visited Chinese Christian Fellowship in Canterbury, home to Canterbury Cathedral. It is one of the oldest and most famous Cathedrals in England. Traditionally, Canterbury is the gateway to Europe and there is a substantial student population brought about by the presence of three universities. Among them, there are many Chinese students. The number of new immigrants is also increasing. It was wonderful to see a group of committed leaders from the Christian fellowship reaching out to these peo ple with passion. This fellowship has huge potential to become an important Chinese gospel outreach centre in the region. Like Finland, they also need our support to help them with outreach and discipleship training. I pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out more workers to reap the harvest field. I also pray that God will help the local Chinese Christians to stand firm in their faith. For this reason, this year’s second COCM Bible Camp was held at our mission centre on 1721 September. More than 80 young students came to study the Book of Job. A week of intensive study is not an easy job and I was very impressed with the endeavors these students put in. Some of them might be future leaders for Chinese churches and fel lowships and it is our desire to provide them with more training like this. We are thankful to the Lord for the outside support we received to do homebased training for these young people. In September, our mission partner from Toronto Mandarin Chinese Christian Church (TMCCC) sent a team of three led by Rev. Samuel Ng to help us at the Bible Camp. Their servant attitude set a great example for the young people. Three other STM teams also came this month to support our ministry in the UK. A team from Hong Kong Grace Baptist Church led by Rev. Vincent Lee went to support our ministry in Hull. Another team from Chinese Christian Church in Somerset USA led by Rev. Peter Wu and Rev. Ian Ma reached out to the students in York. Brother Richard Su from Atlanta Chinese Christian Church USA also came to help out our ministry in Lancaster. We thank God for all the support and pray that together we will be stronger to fight the good fight for the Lord in Europe and beyond. Serving together in Christ, Rev. Henry Lu General Director

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I had a busy month travelling around our mission field. At the beginning of September, I was with the brothers and sisters at Helsinki Chinese Christian Church in Finland.

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   October  2012    Dear  mission  partners,    I   had  a  busy  month   travelling  around  our  mission   field.  At   the  beginning  of   September,   I  was  with   the  brothers  and  sisters  at  Helsinki  Chinese  Christian  Church  in  Finland.  This  is  the  church  we  have  been  sup-­‐porting  together  with  our  mission  partner  Scandinavian  Chinese  Christian  Church.  Like  many  other  places  in  Europe,  Chinese  started  to  settle  in  Finland  decades  ago.  A  few  years  back,  Finland  saw  a  large  influx  of  Chinese   students   coming   to   study.   Some   of   them   stayed   and   they   became   the   new   immigrants   living  there.   Therefore,   the   church   is   open   to   a  wide   variety   of   people   from  different  walks   of   life.  Many   of  them  came  to  Christ  recently  and  the  follow-­‐up  discipleship  training  is  thus  vital  for  the  church  to  nurture  new  believers  and  to  build  them  up  so  that  they  can  help  the  church  to  grow  further.      In  mid  September,  I  visited  Chinese  Christian  Fellowship  in  Canterbury,  home  to  Canterbury  Cathedral.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  famous  Cathedrals  in  England.  Traditionally,  Canterbury  is  the  gateway  to  Europe  and  there  is  a  substantial  student  population  brought  about  by  the  presence  of  three  universities.  Among  them,  there  are  many  Chinese  students.  The  number  of  new  immigrants  is  also  increasing.  It  was  wonderful  to  see  a  group  of  committed  leaders  from  the  Christian  fellowship  reaching  out  to  these  peo-­‐ple  with   passion.   This   fellowship   has   huge   potential   to   become   an   important   Chinese   gospel   outreach  centre  in  the  region.  Like  Finland,  they  also  need  our  support  to  help  them  with  outreach  and  discipleship  training.    I  pray  that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  will  send  out  more  workers  to  reap  the  harvest  field.  I  also  pray  that  God  will  help  the  local  Chinese  Christians  to  stand  firm  in  their  faith.  For  this  reason,  this  year’s  second  COCM  Bible  Camp  was  held   at   our  mission   centre  on  17-­‐21   September.  More   than  80   young   students  came  to  study  the  Book  of  Job.  A  week  of  intensive  study  is  not  an  easy  job  and  I  was  very  impressed  with  the  endeavors  these  students  put  in.  Some  of  them  might  be  future  leaders  for  Chinese  churches  and  fel-­‐lowships  and  it  is  our  desire  to  provide  them  with  more  training  like  this.    We  are   thankful   to   the   Lord   for   the  outside   support  we   received   to  do  home-­‐based   training   for   these  young   people.   In   September,   our   mission   partner   from   Toronto   Mandarin   Chinese   Christian   Church  (TMCCC)  sent  a  team  of  three  led  by  Rev.  Samuel  Ng  to  help  us  at  the  Bible  Camp.  Their  servant  attitude  set  a  great  example  for  the  young  people.  Three  other  STM  teams  also  came  this  month  to  support  our  ministry  in  the  UK.  A  team  from  Hong  Kong  Grace  Baptist  Church  led  by  Rev.  Vincent  Lee  went  to  support  our  ministry  in  Hull.  Another  team  from  Chinese  Christian  Church  in  Somerset  USA  led  by  Rev.  Peter  Wu  and  Rev.  Ian  Ma  reached  out  to  the  students  in  York.  Brother  Richard  Su  from  Atlanta  Chinese  Christian  Church  USA  also  came  to  help  out  our  ministry  in  Lancaster.      We  thank  God  for  all  the  support  and  pray  that  together  we  will  be  stronger  to  fight  the  good  fight  for  the  Lord  in  Europe  and  beyond.        Serving  together  in  Christ,                                                                                                                                                Rev.  Henry  Lu                                                                                                                                                                                                      General  Director  

   二零一二年十月    親愛的宣教夥伴們,            九月的行程十分緊湊,我在歐洲的宣教工場上四處奔走。九月初,我探訪了芬蘭赫爾辛基華人福音堂的弟兄姊妹。在過去的很長一段時間中,我們跟北歐華人基督教會共同支持芬蘭教

會各項事工的開展。跟其他歐洲國家一樣,華人很早就已經在芬蘭定居,近年來,越來越多的

中國大陸留學生湧入芬蘭,他們其中的一些人在畢業後留在當地工作,是新移民群體的主要組

成部份。因此,教會敞開大門,接待來自大江南北、五湖四海的朋友。他們其中的一些人成為

基督徒,因此跟進栽培的工作顯得尤為重要,這不僅能幫助這些剛剛信主的信徒在信仰上成熟,

同時也能藉此建立起成熟的領袖團隊,幫助教會持續成長。

九月中旬,我前往坎特伯雷探訪了那裡的華人基督徒團契。坎特伯雷大教堂是當地最著名

的景點,也是英國聖公會領袖坎特伯雷大主教的轄區,是英國最古老也是最負盛名的基督教堂。

坎特伯雷一向是歐洲大陸通往英國的重要關口,因著當地的三所大學,坎特伯雷的學生人口比

例也在英國各大城市中位居前列,其中中國留學生的數量十分龐大,新移民的人數也在近年不

斷上升。看到這樣的需要,華人團契中的弟兄姊妹熱心傳福音,我也很欣喜地看見,若給予適

當的人力支持,坎特伯雷的團契在將來有可能成為東南部沿海地區的福音站。

我禱告這位莊稼的主能打發更多工人來歐洲收割,我也禱告神能興起更多本地的華人基督

徒在主裡積極追求成長並能擔負起教會團契中領袖的職責。因此,9月 17日至 21日在 COCM宣教中心舉辦的讀經營就正是為著這一目的。有超過 80 位來自英國各地的學生前來參加,用一周的時間學習約伯記,如此密集式的課程安排對任何人都是一個不小的挑戰,我十分佩服這

些年輕學生們在學習神話語上所付出的努力。他們其中的一些人在未來可能會成為歐洲各地教

會和團契的領袖,因此,我們也很有負擔要繼續為這些年輕的信徒提供進一步訓練的機會。

感謝神帶領來自其他地方的弟兄姊妹支持我們在英國本地的訓練和栽培事工。這個九月,

由吳國寶牧師領隊,來自加拿大多倫多國語華人基督教會的三位弟兄前來協助我們的讀經營。

他們生命的見證和謙卑的服事也為這些年輕人樹立了美好的榜樣。當我們進入十月的時候,有

三隻來自不同地區的短宣隊陸續前來幫助我們在英國各地的事工。首先,何錦洪牧師的母會香

港懷恩浸信教會在李國雄牧師的帶領下在豪城服事;同時,來自美國美德中華基督教會的短宣

隊,也在吳國滁牧師和馬益安牧師的帶領下,在約克幫助教會開展學生事工;來自美國亞特蘭

大華人基督教會的 Richard  Su弟兄則在蘭卡斯特幫助我們在當地的事工。 我感謝神的豐富供應,我也禱告我們能一同在主裡剛強壯膽,將來能在歐洲甚至是在更廣

的版圖中為神打那美好的仗。

 在主裡與你們同工的,            呂子峰牧師  總幹事  

   二零一二年十月    亲爱的宣教伙伴们,            九月的行程十分紧凑,我在欧洲的宣教工场上四处奔走。九月初,我探访了芬兰赫尔辛基华人福音堂的弟兄姊妹。在过去的很长一段时间中,我们跟北欧华人基督教会共同支持芬兰教

会各项事工的开展。跟其他欧洲国家一样,华人很早就已经在芬兰定居,近年来,越来越多的

中国大陆留学生涌入芬兰,他们其中的一些人在毕业后留在当地工作,是新移民群体的主要组

成部份。因此,教会敞开大门,接待来自大江南北、五湖四海的朋友。他们其中的一些人成为

基督徒,因此跟进栽培的工作显得尤为重要,这不仅能帮助这些刚刚信主的信徒在信仰上成熟,

同时也能藉此建立起成熟的领袖团队,帮助教会持续成长。

       九月中旬,我也前往坎特伯雷探访了那里的华人基督徒团契。坎特伯雷大教堂是当地最著名的景点,也是英国圣公会领袖坎特伯雷大主教的辖区,是英国最古老也是最负盛名的基督教

堂。坎特伯雷一向是欧洲大陆通往英国的重要关口,因着当地的三所大学,坎特伯雷的学生人

口比例也在英国各大城市中位居前列,其中中国留学生的数量十分庞大,新移民的人数也在近

年不断上升。看到这样的需要,华人团契中的弟兄姊妹热心传福音,我很欣喜地看见,若给予

适当的人力支持,坎特伯雷的团契在将来有可能成为东南部沿海地区的福音站。          我祷告这位庄稼的主能打发更多工人来欧洲收割,我也祷告神能兴起更多本地的华人基督徒在主里积极追求成长并能担负起教会团契中领袖的职责。因此,9月 17日至 21日在 COCM宣教中心举办的读经营就正是为着这一目的。有超过 80位来自英国各地的学生前来参加,用一周的时间学习约伯记,如此密集式的课程安排对任何人都是一个不小的挑战,我十分佩服这

些年轻学生们在学习神话语上所付出的努力。他们其中的一些人在未来可能会成为欧洲各地教

会和团契的领袖,因此,我们也很有负担要继续为这些年轻的信徒提供进一步训练的机会。          感谢神带领来自其他地方的弟兄姊妹支持我们在英国本地的训练和栽培事工。这个九月,由吴国宝牧师领队,来自加拿大多伦多国语华人基督教会的三位弟兄前来协助我们的读经营。

他们生命的见证和谦卑的服事也为这些年轻人树立了美好的榜样。当我们进入十月的时候,有

三支来自不同地区的短宣队陆续前来帮助我们在英国各地的事工。首先,何锦洪牧师的母会香

港怀恩浸信教会在李国雄牧师的带领下在豪城服事;同时,来自美国美德中华基督教会的短宣

队在吴国滁牧师和马益安牧师的带领下,在约克帮助教会开展学生事工;来自美国亚特兰大华

人基督教会的 Richard  Su弟兄则在兰卡斯特帮助我们在当地的事工。          我感谢神丰富的供应,我也祷告我们能一同在主里刚强壮胆,将来能在欧洲甚至是在更广的版图中为神打那美好的仗。    在主里与你们同工的,          吕子峰牧师  总干事  

   

   

The  leadership  team  from  Helsinki  CCC  in  Finland  芬蘭赫爾辛基華人福音堂參與服事的弟兄姊妹

Canterbury  Cathedral  –  the  oldest  and  most  famous  Chris-­‐tian  church  in  England  

在英格蘭久負盛名的坎特伯雷大教堂

   

Young  people  studying  the  Book  of  Job  together  for  a  week  

年輕人在一周的時間中共同學習約伯記

A  team  of  three  led  by  Rev.  Samuel  Ng  (middle)  from  TMCCC  with  the  young  people  at  Bible  Camp  

由吳國寶牧師(中)領隊,從加拿大多倫多國語華人基

督教會前來服事的三位弟兄與參加讀經營的年輕人

   STM  team  from  HK  Grace  Baptist  Church  serving  at  Hull  來自香港懷恩浸信會的短宣隊員在豪城服事

STM  team  from  Somerset  USA  serving  among  the  students  in  York  

來自美國美德教會的短宣隊員在約克的學生中服事