‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ’ - Ephesians 1:3
This week I have a praise report to present to you all, as part of our CPC church family. The past week has been one where God has reminded us of His goodness and promise for the church, especially in our NextGen space.
Firstly, praise God for our CYA youth and youth leaders who were at KYCK - a youth camp organised through Katoomba Christian Convention - over the weekend. In a way that only God’s gospel can work, over half of our youth had the confidence to proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Moments like these are a credit to the prayers of our community, the commitment of our youth leaders and most of all the faithfulness of Christ. Our leadership will endeavour to follow up with each and every one of these youths. My hope for our CPC family is to pray for our CYA youth and leaders but also to take the time to encourage them when you do see them. Discipleship is a community effort.
Secondly on the same weekend we had the opportunity to do our first combined Cantonese Student Fellowship and 4pm Evening Service event. We started off with trivia as a group, worshipped together in the 4pm time slot and then shared a meal together (and for some, even dessert!). The turnout was great but more than that, seeing our NextGen come together in fellowship, to listen to God’s word and to break bread with one another was another reminder that God has placed in us precious disciples that will be pillars of our community in the future, if the Lord wills. I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit is powerfully at work in our younger members, as He is in our more seasoned brothers and sisters in Christ.
In my time at CPC thus far, I am often impressed by God’s faithfulness towards us in the past, but now more than ever I am even more grateful knowing that God has a future for our Church as well. Churches and communities pray earnestly for the privilege to build up younger generations of devoted disciples, and here we are in a time where our Father has allowed us this very reality this season. If I can encourage us this week, please pray in thanksgiving to God for this special season in CPC and for our CYA youth who have proclaimed their faith in Christ over the past week.
「願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神！他在基督裡曾賜給我們天上各樣屬靈的福氣。」(以弗所書1:3)
這個星期，作為我們華人長老會大家庭的一份子，我有一份讚美報告要向大家呈獻。神透過過去一週再次提醒我們祂對我們教會的良善和應許，尤其是對我們的下一代。
首先，讚美神賜福給我們英語青少年團契在上週末參加了在藍山舉辦的KYCK青少年營會。藉著只有神的福音才能作成的工，我們有超過一半的年輕人憑信心宣告耶穌基督為他們的主和救主。這樣的時刻要歸功於我們群體的禱告，我們青年領袖的奉獻，最重要的是基督的信實。我們的領導層將努力跟進這些少年中的每一位。我對我們華人長老會大家庭的期望，是不僅為我們英語青少年團契的青少年和領袖們祈禱，同時當遇見他們時，也願意花點時間鼓勵他們。門徒訓練是一個社群共同的努力。
其次是在同一個週末，我們有機會首次舉辦粵語學生團契和下午四時英語崇拜聯合聚會。我們以小組問答遊戲開始，然後在下午四時一起敬拜，之後一起共享晚餐（有些人甚至還逗留分享甜點時光！）。聚會的人數很多，但更重要的是，看到我們的下一代聚集在團契中，一起聆聽神的話，一起擘餅，這再次提醒我們，神已經在我們中間安置了寶貴的門徒，若是主願意，將來會成為我們社群的支柱。我堅信在基督裡，聖靈在我們年輕會友中的工作，與祂在我們經驗豐富的弟兄姊妹身上一樣大有能力。
從我開始在華人長老會服事至今，我常常被過去神對我們的信實所感動，現在我比以往任何時候都更加感恩，因為我知道神為我們的教會安排了未來。教會和群體都當懇切地祈求，有機會能建立年輕一代敬虔的門徒，而我們正處於天父要讓我們把這事實踐出來的季節。如果我能在本週鼓勵大家，請為華人長老會這個特別的季節，和在過去一週宣告了他們的信仰的英語青少年團契的少年們向神感恩禱告。
