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