August 26/27, 2023

From the Pastor’s Desk – Rev. Francis Chan

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

In churches established by Hong Kong immigrants from the 80s and 90s, the average age of the Cantonese-speaking congregants has been increasing as time goes by. As at now, the average age would be around 60 if not older. Meanwhile, their second, third, and even fourth generations, if they have remained in their church, most of them would have settled in their English-speaking congregation. Given this trend of development, the number of Cantonese-speaking congregants is expected to decrease over time, while the number of English-speaking congregants is projected to increase.

Starting from the latter half of 2020 however, there has been a continuous flow of Hongkongers immigrating or returning to Canada. Since the Canadian government’s “lifeboat program” for Hong Kong residents came into effect on June 8, 2021, a substantial number of Hongkongers have come to Canada through Stream A to study and Stream B to work. As our church is located in one of the cities with the highest number of Hong Kong immigrants, we have naturally attracted many newcomers from Hong Kong. Despite a decrease in physical attendance across our 3 Cantonese-speaking services after COVID, the influx of new Hong Kong immigrants has helped maintain a weekly average of over 600 attendees for our 3 Cantonese-speaking services. For this, we are most thankful to God.

Recently, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) announced the relaxation of educational requirements for Stream B work applications from August 15, 2023, until August 31, 2026. Accordingly, any Hongkonger with a valid work permit, regardless of his educational background, regardless of the type of work, can apply for Canadian permanent residence (“PR”) so long as he has either completed one year of fulltime work or accumulated 1,560 hours of parttime work within 3 years. This relaxation also applies to Hongkongers coming to work in Canada through the Working Holiday visa, which is available for those aged 18 to 30 and who have purchased round-trip tickets. Another popular route to obtain work visas is through Stream A. When a married fulltime student receives her study permit through Stream A, her spouse will be eligible to apply for an open work permit. In such a case, even if the fulltime studying spouse is unable to complete the specified course within 2 to 3 years, as long as her spouse begins fulltime work upon arrival and continues for a year, the working spouse will be eligible to apply for PR after completing one year of fulltime work. It follows that whether the studying spouse could eventually complete her course will not affect their family’s immigration plan if her working spouse can successfully applied for PR.

Due to the relatively lenient conditions for work visa applications and the requirement of only one-year fulltime work for PR applications, Canada has recently become the most favored immigration destination for many Hongkongers. Against this backdrop, it is highly likely that more young people and young families from Hong Kong will come to our city in the next 2 to 3 years. As a church established by Hong Kong immigrants, how should we respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as those faith seekers from Hong Kong? How can we prepare ourselves to answer God’s calling and fulfill his will?

His Servant
Pastor Francis Chan

2023.08.26/27 

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

隨着八、九十年代香港移民老化，由香港移民建立的教會，其廣東話會眾的平均年齡亦與時並進。時至今日，就算不到60歲，也相差不遠。而他們的第二代，第三代，甚至第四代，如果沒有離開自少成長的教會，大部份都已經在教會英語部落地生根。從這個發展趨勢來看，廣東話會眾的人數應該逐漸減少，而英語會眾的人數就應該逐漸增加。

但從2020年下半年開始，不斷有香港人移民或回流加拿大。自從2021年6月8日加拿大政府針對香港人的救生艇計劃生效以來，大量香港人透過Stream A來加讀書，亦有透過Stream B來加工作。我們教會位於其中一個最多香港移民聚居的城市，自然吸引了不少新來的香港人。雖然COVID之後，實體參與教會崇拜的人數有下降趨勢，但得到新來的香港人補充，整體廣東話會眾的每周平均實體崇拜人數，仍然能夠維持在 600人以上。實在感恩。

加拿大移民難民和公民部(IRCC) 較早前宣布，從2023年8月15日直至2026 年8 月31日，放寬透過 Stream B來加工作的學歷要求。任何香港人，不論學歷，不論工作種類，只要循合法途徑來加全職工作滿一年，或者於三年之內能夠兼職工作滿1,560小時，就可以申請成為加拿大永久居民。此計劃亦包括透過工作假期(Working Holiday) 獲得工作簽證來加工作的香港人，而工作假期的申請資格就是年滿18歲不超過30歲，已購買來回機票的人士。另一個熱門獲得工作簽證的渠道，就是透過Stream A來加讀書人士的配偶。所有已婚全時間學生的配偶，一經申請，都會獲得工作簽證。在這情況下，就算全時間學生未能在兩至三年內完成指定課程，只要其配偶一到步就開始全職工作，一年之後，其配偶就可以申請成為永久居民。因此，全時間學生最終能否完成課程，亦不會影響一家人的移民計劃。

由於申請工作簽證條件相對寬鬆，加上申請成為永久居民所要求的工作時間只是短短一年，加拿大現已成為很多香港人最熱衷的移民國家。在這背景下，在未來的兩至三年，應該會有更多香港年青人和年青家庭來到我們的城市。作為一間由香港移民建立的教會，列宣家應該如何回應香港弟兄姊妹和慕道朋友的需要呢？我們又應該如何準備自己，去回應上帝的召命，去滿足上帝的心意呢？

主僕,
陳榮基牧師

Aug 19/20, 2023

From the Pastor’s Desk : Pastor Karen Quan

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

“Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he’s done.” Phil 4: 6

This has been our Memory Verse during the month of July for Bible Time (the Children’s Ministry Sessions that parallel the Worship Services). So simple, yet so challenging to put into practice.

Together with the kids, we traced the lives of Ruth, Hannah & Samuel. We saw over and over again that God provided what was needed. Whether that was for the individual, for their family and how it blessed their greater community. Our personal God stepped in and recognized personal needs. He further met those needs and demonstrated the great lengths to which he would care for his people.

The verse begins with a negative command “Don’t worry about anything”. It’s not a suggestion or just a good idea, it warns us, “Do Not do this…” As Paul writes, he knows full well the frailty of our humanness. But he does not leave us with just a negative command as the sentence continues with “..instead pray about everything.” Knowing that our human nature will often fail, Paul instructs us to replace worry with prayer. God inspires Paul to write in such a way that the quiet act of praying strengthens our souls by turning our attention away from ourselves and instead re-directing our attention to God.

Further, we are commanded again, “Tell God what you need & thank him for all he’s done.” God knows that our human nature is to complain but rather than allowing ourselves to indulge, he again redirects us to focus on himself & what he’s done in our lives.

While children are often perceived as care free, I actually feel that this was a very timely verse for us. As the WHO declared COVID 19 over as a Global Health Emergency (as of May 5, 2023), we continue to live with managing the effects of this health threat. This generation of kids have witnessed the worry/fear/confusion of all the adults in their lives and experienced first hand the weight of uncertainty. We continue to see the cautiousness of some kids when gathering and the impact of a lack of opportunity to navigate social situations due to few interactive experiences.

What a joy it is to be able to teach kids from an early age what to do when worrying comes. There is a fine line between “Thinking” about a matter and how easily that can cross over into “Worrying”. Scripture prepares us that worrying will come but when it does, God has given us a way to deal with it. Our Almighty God invites us to talk to him about everything: every concern, difficulty or challenge. We get to go directly to God & tell him what we need and in his time, he will show us how he responds.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Karen Quan

2023.08.19/20

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

「應當毫無憂慮，只要凡事藉著禱告祈求，帶著感恩的心，把你們所要的告訴神。」(腓立比書4:6)

這是我們七月份兒童事工聖經時間(與崇拜同步進行)背誦的金句。如此簡單，但付諸實踐卻極具挑戰。我們與孩子們一起探索路得、哈拿和撒母耳的生命。我們一次又一次地看到神供應我們的需要，無論是個人、他們的家庭以及祝福延申至他們的社區。我們的上帝介入我們的生命並認識到我們個人的需要。祂不單滿足了這些需要，並展示了祂關心祂的子民。

這節經文以肯定的命令“應當毫無憂慮”開始。這不是一個建議，也不單是一個好主意，它告誡我們，“應當這樣…”正如保羅所寫，他完全知道我們人性的軟弱。但他並沒有給我們留下一個消極的命令，他繼續說“只要凡事藉著禱告祈求”。保羅知道我們人性常常會失敗，因此他吩咐我們以禱告代替憂慮。上帝感動保羅教導我們透過安靜的祈禱，堅固我們的信念，我們再不是只看到自己而是轉眼仰望我們的上帝。

此外，他再次吩咐我們：“告訴上帝你的需要，並感謝祂所做的一切。”上帝知道我們人本性軟弱時就會抱怨，但祂沒有讓我們沉迷，而是再次引導我們將專注力轉向上帝及祂為我們所做的一切。

雖然孩子們一般被認定是無憂無慮的，但實際上我覺得這節經文對我們來說是非常及時的金句。隨著世界衛生組織於2023 年5 月5 日宣布新冠肺炎(COVID-19) 不再是全球突發衛生事件，我們仍然繼續應對這一健康威脅的影響，這一代的孩子目睹了所有成年人在生活當中的擔憂、恐懼、困惑，及親身體驗那前境不明朗的重壓。我們仍會看到一些孩子在聚會時步步為營的態度，以及由於互動的體驗減少，以致缺乏社交應對機會，所帶來的影響。

能夠教導孩子從小就認識當憂慮來臨時該如何去處理，是多麼令人欣慰。“思考”某一件事情，很容易會轉變為“憂慮”，兩者之間只是一條很微小的界線。聖經告訴我們憂慮會來臨，但當憂慮發生時，神早已給了我們一個處理它的方法。我們全能的上帝邀請我們把一切事情告訴祂，每一個憂慮、困難或挑戰。 我們可以藉著禱告直接去告訴上帝我們的需要，上帝按著祂的時間，祂會向我們展示祂的回應。

主僕，
關潔玲傳道

2023.08.12/13

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Mark Liu

Dear Brothers and Sisters of RCAC, it is by God’s Grace that I can use this column to share with you some of my recent thoughts.

Two weeks ago, RCAC was was very busy as the American and Canadian Chinese Alliance Church Associations used the RCAC as the venue to hold their bi-annual conference. In the meeting, not only we learned about what the association has been doing in promoting more cooperation among difference Chinese Alliance Churches, but also some of our missionaries work in different parts of the world.  The corner is about the development of missionary ministry. Missions is in our DNA. We need to actively respond to the call of Jesus Christ to bring the gospel to every corner of the world.

Speaking of missions, we must mention the Joint Missions Conference (JMC) held after the CCACA conference. This year’s theme is “Go Into All the World”. What does it mean to RCAC?

When we think of the World, we see the mission trips to different countries.  This is a very natural thinking as we are charged to bring the gospel to the end of the world.  That said, however, we may need to have a different interpretation of the meaning of the “world”.  To some of us, this may mean to the family members, or the neighbours living besides us.  This can become our world.  This can become the world which God puts in our heart.  On the other hand, there are many communities here and we ought to bring the gospel to them.  The Rosewood Manor ministry is about this where we bring the gospel to the senior residents living there.  They have difficulties coming to church and we are bringing the gospel to them.  There are many communities which are reluctant to come to church, will we then bring the gospel to them.  When Jesus was preaching about the Kingdom of God, He did not sit at one place waiting for the people to come, He went to meet with people, especially those who were despised by the society.  Will we have the heart to bring gospel to them.  Will these communities become our “world”?

In Philippians 1:7 ” ⁷It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”  We are all partakers of grace.  This grace is the gospel.  Partaking the gospel mean we receive and at the same time we share.  This is who we are.  This is RCAC.  Are we ready?

May God bless you all.  May God bless RCAC.

His servant,
Rev. Mark Liu

2023.08.12/13

弟兄姊妹大家好。感謝神的恩典，讓我能夠在這裡和你分享一些心聲。

今年的聯合宣教大會主題為“到遠方”。我對“遠”這個字有一些思考，想和你分享。

“遠”這個字，通常是使用在距離的形容。但是，對“遠”的定義卻不是每一個人都一樣的。我記得在剛來加拿大讀大學的時候，有一次希望能夠到“附近”的超級市場買東西。對於一個從香港來的留學生來說，最多在十五分鐘內就可以找到一家超級市場。當時，問了一下同學在哪裡有超級市場，他告訴我大概一個街口(one block)。無知的我，以為只要十五分鐘就可以了，誰知道這一個街口，我走了快45分鐘。那是我第一次知道，如何解讀“遠”是因人而異的，每個人都可以有不同的解讀。

宣教大會所講的“到遠方”，我個人覺得不是一定要去到一個非常遠的國家宣教。任何地方，只要是離開我們的舒適圈的，都可以被定為“到遠方”。這個“遠”可以是很近的。可以是與家人傳福音，或者是和鄰舍傳福音。或者是到另外一個國家傳福音。重點不是距離，而是我們是否有一個願意傳福音的心態。和家人傳福音可以是很遙遠的事。比較起來，搞不好和一些素未謀面的人傳福音可能還比較容易。我想講的就是，重點在於傳福音的心態，而不是一定要去到遠遠的地方傳福音。列宣家是一個蒙神祝福的教會，我們是否可以把福音帶給有需要的人，而不是等人來到教會呢？我們在老人院的事奉就是這樣，把福音帶給住在老人院的朋友們。社會上還有很多這些機會，我們是否願意踏出我們的舒適圈，我們是否願意“到遠方”呢？哪裡就是我們的“遠方”呢？我們願意讓神來帶領我們嗎？

在腓立比書 1:7“我為你們眾人有這樣的意念，原是應當的，因你們常在我心裡，無論我是在捆鎖之中，是辯明證實福音的時候，你們都與我一同得恩。”在這裡，中文翻譯所講的“意念”，其實，更準確一點講，應該是心態。我們有的心態，應該是和初期教會的使徒們一致的，那就是把福音傳開。在任何一個地方，無論是：“遠”和“近”，我們都要把福音傳開。這個是我們應當擁有的心態。我們預備好了嗎？

願神祝福大家。願神祝福列宣家。

主僕，
劉展權牧師