During my trip to China, I had the opportunity to meet some students who had previously studied at New South Wales University. They had participated in the campus community EMBS and had also come to the Chinese Presbyterian Church (CPC).
Students are the most unsettled group for fellowship. After graduating from university, some return to their home country, while others move to different cities. How much influence can the fellowship and Bible study in the campus have on them? This is a question I often think about.
In the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to have dinner and chat with some students I have not seen for a long time. Obviously, life does not become easier after becoming a Christian. They shared with me the challenges and struggles after graduation, especially after returning to China. The pressures of life, the busyness of work, and the difficulties experienced at church are all so real. In these sharing, I saw God at work.
Some people have gone down the wrong path and left God, but for various reasons, they have returned to the church and grown to be patience and obedience. Some students encountered various challenges in serving the church, but their faith became more mature. They all missed the campus fellowship they once participated in, and still remember what they learned. Some of those experiences in community life became their encouragement and comfort.
In these sharing and conversations, God reminded me that he has never stopped working. Human work is limited, and I cannot follow up and help these students every moment, however God's work in their lives is continuous and transcends time and geography. I believe that God will use them and bless them, and bless more people through them. God's plan is far-reaching!
Therefore, I also reflect on our work. The service we do is like a small piece of a giant jigsaw puzzle. No matter how grand or insignificant the work seems, as long as it is in God's plan and will, it is meaningful. God's deeds often exceed what we ask for - just like the birth of Jesus Christ and his redemption.
God's personal guidance and companionship gives us the motivation and enthusiasm to serve, because in the process, we can expect to see and experience God's wonderful deeds, which are unparallelled. "So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5
在我這次回國休假的行程中，有機會和一些之前在新南大學讀書的學生見面，他們曾經參與過校園社團EMBS，也曾經來過CPC。
學生是最不穩定的群體，大學畢業以後，他們有的回國，有的去了別的城市。短短兩三年的校園時間，在團契裡的相交和聖經的學習，對於他們能夠產生多少影響？這常常是我會思索的問題。
過往幾週裡，我有機會和一些久未見面的當年的學生一起吃飯聊天。顯然的，生活並沒有因為成為基督徒而變得容易，他們跟我分享了畢業以後，特別是回國後的各種挑戰和掙扎。生活的壓力，工作的忙碌，教會的艱難，都是這樣的真實。就在這樣的分享中，我看見神的作為。
有些人曾經走過彎路離開神，卻又因著各種原因，重新回到教會，並且學會了忍耐和順服；有的在教會服事中遇到各種挑戰，但是信心反而更加成熟了。他們都懷念當年參加的校園社團，還記得在團契裡學到的東西，當年社團生活中的一些經歷成為他們的鼓勵和安慰。
在這些分享和交談中，神告訴我，祂從來沒有停止過工作。人的工作是有限的，我無法一直跟進和幫助這些學生們，然而神在他們一生中的工作是持續的，是超越時間和地域的。我相信，神會使用和祝福他們，藉著他們祝福更多的人，神的計劃何其深遠！
我也因此反思我們的事工。我們所做的服事，好像拼圖中的一小片，不管事工看起來多麼聲勢浩大，或是多微不足道，只要是在神的計劃和旨意裡，就是有意義的。神的作為常常超過我們所求所想，就好像耶穌基督的降生和祂的救贖，哪裡是人所能期待和想得到的呢？神親自的帶領和同在，給予我們服事的動力和熱情，因為在這過程中，我們可以期待看見和經歷神自己奇妙的作為，這才是無與倫比的。
「叫你們的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎神的大能。」—林前 2:5
