沙加緬度福音中心

當我們感到前路艱難時，神馬上施展祂的奇妙作為，超越我們的期望與想像。去年，紐約總會請我們寫下今年新計劃的發展方向。我心裡感到困難，因為明知人手不足，怎能再勉強同工們加倍工作？

疫情之前，在我們事奉的第三年，曾經嘗試開展兒童事工，但未能成功。去年這個時候，我們再次向神呼求，祈求祂為我們預備義工。神的話語便臨到我們：「你們尚未開口，我已經為你們預備工人了，我知道你們的需求。」

果然，神為我們預備了一位在香港聖保羅學校，擁有20多年教學經驗的中文老師，她教導小朋友學習中文粵語。看到孩子們快樂的面容，並每期都有小朋友在等待後補名額，讓我知道神的恩典何其豐富！我也開始與他們的父母建立聯繫，等待傳福音的良機。同時，核心同工吳師傅也在週六下午，教導12至16歲的青少年學習詠春拳。所以，我們週六的活動安排得非常充實。

今年，我們大膽增加了受薪員工的人數和工作時間，並開始聘請合適的人員，為中心做清潔及管理設施工作。雖然面臨每月赤字的財務壓力，但神要我們像摩西一樣，勇敢地邁步進紅海，祂就會為我們將海水分開。

When we feel the road ahead is difficult, God immediately reveals His wondrous deeds, surpassing our expectations and imagination. Last year, the New York Headquater asked us to outline the plan for this year’s development. I felt this was challenging because we already knew that we were short of manpower—how could we push our coworkers to work even harder?

Before the pandemic, in our third year of ministry, we tried to start a children’s ministry, but it was unsuccessful. Around this time last year, we once again cried out to God, asking Him to provide us with volunteers. Then, God’s words came to us: “Before you even opened your mouth, I had already prepared workers for you. I know your needs.”

Indeed, God provided us with a Chinese teacher who has over 20 years of teaching experience at St. Paul’s School in Hong Kong. She came to teach the children to learn Cantonese. Seeing the happy faces of the children and the waiting list for enrollment in each session, I realized how abundant God’s grace is! I also began to build connections with their parents, waiting for the right opportunity to share the Gospel. Meanwhile, Mr. Wu, a core coworker, teaches Wing Chun to youth aged 12 to 16 every Saturday afternoon. As a result, our Saturday activities are very well-packed.

This year, we boldly increased the number of paid staff and extended working hours. We also began hiring suitable people to handle cleaning and facility management for the center. Despite the financial pressure of running a monthly deficit, God wants us to be like Moses, bravely stepping into the Red Sea, and He will part the waters for us.

每個星期五及星期六早上，都有一大群朋友來中心打乒乓球，在半小時的下午茶後，一位球技精湛的女士很感慨地跟我說：「我在這裡打球很快樂，但回到家裡便很憂愁。因為我女兒有很嚴重的精神問題，不知如何應付？」我在閒談中帶出福音，但她心裡仍有猶豫，求主憐憫她一家。

另一位患有癌症第三期的女士，在講座之後不願離開，向我請教為什麼她那麼愁苦，對丈夫怨恨，如何是好？我說：「答案就是信耶穌。」

還有一位在越南社區中的「撈家」，他的妻子是我們熱心的協工，從他大力反對，到如今常常來中心接妻子回家，是何等大的改變！

昔日主耶穌看見人們被疾病、饑餓、貧困所纏擾，就憐憫他們、醫治他們，餵飽聽道的5,000人。「角聲」的同工及協工就是效法耶穌，並回應神的呼召，擔負這個神聖的使命。

明年，我們將專注於與其他分會合作，推動音樂佈道、支持中國兒童村的事工，並參與中國福音旅遊。相信神會繼續引領我們，走在祂的道路上，成就超過我們所想所求的事。願所有榮耀歸祂的名！為更多人帶來生命的轉機。

Every Friday and Saturday morning, a large group of friends come to the center to play table tennis. After a half-hour tea break, a highly skilled female player shared with me, “I feel happy playing here, but I am very sad when I return home. My daughter has a severe mental condition, and I don’t know how to handle it.” I gently introduced the Gospel during our casual conversation, but she was still hesitant in her heart. I pray the Lord will have mercy on her and her family.

Another lady, who has stage 3 cancer, was reluctant to leave after a seminar. She asked me why she felt so bitter and resentful toward her husband and what she should do. I replied, “The answer is to believe in Jesus.”

There was also a “gangster” from the Vietnamese community whose wife is one of our enthusiastic volunteers. He went from strongly opposing her involvement to regularly coming to the center to pick up his wife. What a remarkable transformation!

In the past, when Jesus saw people troubled by sickness, hunger, and poverty, He had compassion on them, healed them, and fed the 5,000 who came to hear His teachings. The coworkers and volunteers of CCHC follow Jesus’ example, responding to God’s call to undertake this sacred mission.

Next year, we will focus on collaborating with other branches, promoting music evangelism, supporting the Children Home in China, and participating in gospel trips to China. We believe God will continue to lead us on His path, accomplishing things beyond what we ask or imagine. May all the glory be to His name! May this bring transformation to more lives.