家訊(2022.01.15/16)

2022.01.08/09
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Every year at the beginning of the year, we have an installation service for the new elders, deacons and deaconesses who will be serving in the new year. We are enormously thankful to all the people who serve so faithfully year in and year out. This is especially so when we have just gone through 2 years of the Covid pandemic and to see how we carried on the Church ministries using all sort of means and methods. It is so gratifying to witness that as our people serve God faithfully despite all the setbacks we experienced. All of you will receive the commendation from Jesus Himself: Good and faithful servants!

Here in 2022, after a year of roller-coaster ride through the Covid pandemic with our hopes down, up and down again, we are facing the Omicron variant that has spread rapidly through the population with number of cases of infection up to over 4,000 daily. Yet, just as the Lord brought us through the past two years, I am confident that the Lord will again help us through. We shall overcome!

The new team is characterized by new vitality of new board members and coworkers, and the continuation of stability of experienced board members and other faithful team members. We are also grateful for a strong team of pastoral workers and administrative team. Praise the Lord! Leaders, let us together with our members return to Scriptures to seek guidance on how to lead the Church forward.

The Spirit leads me again to the story of Moses and the problem he had in trying to lead about 2-million people through the wilderness, as found in Exodus 18. Moses was totally exhausted, and he tried to deal with all the problems brought to him, both big and small. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law saw Moses and was very concerned about him, because Moses was sitting from dawn till dusk judging over the people’s affairs. When Moses was asked why he did that, he replied: “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. When they have a dispute, it is brought to me and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.” (15-16) Jethro couldn’t believe what he heard and said: “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you and you cannot handle it alone.” What follows as his advice to Moses what I like to call the 3 “Jethro Leadership Principles” which I would like to share with you here.

#1 – Teach others the Words

Moses had to learn to teach others the laws of God so that they know how to live by them. Teaching (and preaching) is the most important thing a leader can do in his or her ministries. Before dealing with the “how’s”, a leader must show those he leads the “what’s” and the “why’s.” Unfortunately, in our pragmatic society, both the leaders and those who are led value more the “how’s” over the important truth that is the reason and basis of what we do and want to achieve.

Paul in encouraging Timothy in his ministry to be above all diligent in God’s word, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:14-16) We should all lead based on His Word.

#2 – Delegate others to serve

Moses was instructed to “select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials … have them serve as judges for the people at all times.” (21-22) The character of the leaders we elect and appoint is critical to doing the task well, they include the qualities of God-fearing, trustworthiness and integrity. A problem we face today in the leadership of the church around the world is that these qualities are being replaced by self-confidence, self-trust and worldliness, a version of the power and politics of the secular world.

Again, Paul teaches Timothy in 2Tim. 2:1,2, “You then, my child, …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Train the trainers, teach the teachers. I hope we can do this at RCAC.

#3 – Take on the most difficult cases

Moses should concentrate on the most difficult tasks which are his major responsibilities and leave the rests to others whom he had appointed. A good example is found in Numbers 36 where the issue of land inheritance for women came up. Moses had to exert his leadership in resolving the issue. Senior leaders must be empowered to deal with the major issues and not be handcuffed in exercising his authority. There must be trust given to the senior leader, and of course, the senior leader must also earn the trust of those he leads by personal example. Paul instructs Timothy with this words: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1Tim 4: 12) We hope that all our leaders, in our own areas of responsibility, will lead by example.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.01.08/09
作者:李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

每逢一年之始，我們也會為即將於新的一年內事奉的新任長老及執事舉行就職典禮。我們衷心感謝所有年復一年忠心地事奉的眾肢體。尤其是在我們剛經歷了兩 年的新冠病毒大流行，並看到彼此各展其謀、竭盡全力地推展教會事工時取得可喜的成果。見證了各人儘管經歷到不同的困難挫折，仍忠心地為神擺上，這真是令人欣慰。你們都能得著耶穌自己的稱讚為：良善忠心的僕人！

2022 年，在經歷了一年有如乘坐過山車般的新冠大流行之後，我們的希望再次幻滅，我們現正面臨著 Omicron 變種病毒已在人群中迅速傳播，每天的感染病例高達4,000 多宗。然而，回望主怎樣帶領我們度過已過的兩年，我深信主必定會再次幫助我們度過難關。我們必能靠主克勝！

長議會新團隊的特色是由具備活力的新成員和同工組成，配合經驗豐富的長議會成員和忠心事奉的團隊得以延續穩步向前。我們也感謝同心合力的教牧同工和行政部同工的事奉。讚美主！讓我們一眾領導團隊一起回到聖經去，尋求神話語教導我們如何帶領教會前進。

聖靈再次引領我回到出埃及記 18章摩西的故事中，探討他如何嘗試帶領大約 200 萬人穿越曠野時所遇到的問題。摩西試圖處理所有帶到他那裡的各樣大小問題，以致他完全筋疲力盡。摩西的岳父葉忒羅看到他的情況，極為關切，因為摩西從早到晚都坐著審判百姓的事。當摩西被問到他為什麼這樣做時，他回答說：“因為人民到我這裡來求問神。他們有事件的時候，就到我這裡來，我就在雙方之間施行審判，使他們認識神的條例和律法。” （15-16）葉忒羅不敢相信他所聽到的並說：“你這樣作不好。你必疲乏不堪；不但你自己，連與你在一起的人民也必疲乏不堪，因為這事太重，你不能獨自一人去作。” 接下來是他對摩西的建議，我形容之為 3 項“葉忒羅領導原則”，我想在以下與您分享。

#1 –以神的話語作教導

摩西必須學習以神的律法教導人，讓他們知道如何遵行這些律法。教導(和講道)是領袖在事奉中佔首要的。在 “如何”(how) 處理事情之前，受領導者必須向擔任領導崗位者展示“什麼是領導”(what)和“為什麼領導”(why)。不幸的是，在我們務實的社會中，領導者和被領導者都更看重“實行領導” 過於真理的重要性，這是我們希望達至目標的原因及基礎。

保羅鼓勵提摩太在他的事奉中，首先要勤奮地遵從神的話語，“你應當遵守所學和確信的；你知道是跟誰學的，並且知道自己從小就明白聖經，這聖經能夠使你有智慧，可以因信基督耶穌得著救恩。全部聖經都是神所默示的，在教訓、責備、矯正和公義的訓練各方面，都是有益的，為要使屬神的人裝備好，可以完成各樣的善工。”(提後3:14-17) 我們都應該根據神的話語作領導。

#2 – 分工合作善於委派

摩西被指導“要從人民中間選出有才能的人…就是敬畏神、忠實可信、恨惡不義之財的人，設立他們…去管理人民…讓他們隨時為人民擔任法官。” (21-22) 我們選舉和任命的領袖的品格，對於做好這項任務至關重要，其中包括敬畏神、值得信賴和具備純全正直的品格。我們今天在世界各地的教會領導中面臨的問題就是，這些品格正在被自信、自恃和世俗取向所取代，以謀求世俗的權力和政治手腕作藍本。
再者，保羅在提摩太後書 中教導提摩太: “我兒啊，…應當把你在許多見證人面前從我這裡聽見的，交託給那些又忠心又能夠教導別人的人。”  (提後2:1-2)。 培訓教導人的導師，培育教師。盼望我們列宣家也能如此。

#3 –不畏艱難承擔重任

摩西的主要職責應常專注於最困難的任務之上，其餘的任務則分派給各指定人選去承擔。民數記第 36 章就是一個很好的例子，其中提到了處理婦女的土地繼承問題。摩西必須發揮他的領導作用來解決這個問題。在實行職務時必須賦予在上的領袖以處理重大問題的權力，而不是在行使權力時受到制肘。要信任在上的領袖，在上的領袖也必須要以身作則，贏得下屬的信任。

保羅用這樣的話教導提摩太：“不要因為你年輕，就讓人看不起你，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心和純潔上為信徒樹立榜樣。“(提前4:12) 盼望我們所有的領袖，也能夠在我們自己的職責範圍內，以身作則。

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2021.12.25/26
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

A. Living in a dark world with artificial light

• ⁴  … the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor. 4:4)
• The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Mat. 4:16)

B. Pointing a dark world to the true light

• “And you, child (John the Baptist), will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Lk 1:76-79)
• Jesus said, “… I am the light of the world.” (Jn. 9:5) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12)
• For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:5-6)
• And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Rev. 21:23)

C. Being the shining lights to the dark world

• … Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
• Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.³⁵ Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. (Lk. 11:34, 35)
• But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
• But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (I Pet. 2:9)

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Simon

2021.12.25/26
作者:李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

一.活在五光十色的黑暗世界

 這些不信的人被這世代的神弄瞎了他們的心眼，使他們看不見基督榮耀的福音的光；基督就是　神的形象。(哥林多後書4:4)

…住在黑暗中的人民，看見了大光；死亡幽暗之地的居民，有光照亮他們。 (馬太福音4:16)

二.指黑暗世界走向世真光

孩子[施洗約翰]啊，你要稱為至高者的先知，因為你要行在主的面前，預備他的路，使他的子民，因罪得赦，就知道救恩。因我們神的憐憫，使清晨的陽光從高天臨到我們，光照那坐在黑暗中死蔭裡的人，引導我們的腳，走上平安的路。(路加福音1:76-79)

耶穌說：「… 我在世上的時候，是世界的光。」(約翰福音9:5)；耶穌又對眾人說：「我是世界的光，跟從我的，必定不在黑暗裡走，卻要得著生命的光。」(約翰福音8:12)

我們並不是傳揚自己，而是傳揚耶穌基督是主，並且為了耶穌的緣故成了你們的僕人。因為那說「要有光從黑暗裡照出來」的神，已經照在我們的心裡，要我們把　神的榮光照出去，就是使人可以認識那在基督臉上的榮光。(哥林多後書4:5-6)

這城不需要日月照明，因為有神的榮耀照明，而羊羔就是城的燈。(啟示錄21:23)

三.成為光輝照耀黑暗的世界

照樣，你們的光也應當照在人前，讓他們看見你們的好行為，又頌讚你們在天上的父。(馬太福音5:16)

你的眼睛就是你身體的燈，你的眼睛健全，全身就明亮；如果不健全，全身就黑暗。所以要謹慎，免得你裡面的光黑暗了。(路加福音11:34-35)

我們若行在光中，像他在光中一樣，就彼此心靈相通，他兒子耶穌的血也潔淨我們脫離一切罪。(約翰一書1:7)

然而你們是蒙揀選的族類，是君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國民，是屬神的子民，為要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。(彼得前書2:9)

主僕,
李耀全牧師