2023.04.01/02

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

使徒約翰用了很長的篇幅去記述耶穌在樓房上對他所深愛的門徒作出的臨別贈言。耶穌說他要離開他們去一個他們現在不能同去的地方，又說他要被自己的門徒出賣，最終被人殺害。雖然耶穌也說自己離開是去為他們預備地方，也說自己會從死裏復活。但是，當門徒的心被徬徨、困惑、哀傷和恐懼所充滿，他們就聽不明白，也聽不進去。

耶穌不但是他們的老師，更是和他們一起生活了三年的親人。耶穌對他們無微不至的愛，循循善誘的教導，在危難中大能的拯救，在所有事上堅定的領導，都成為他們人生中最刻骨銘心，無可替代的經歷；也改變了他們對信仰，對生命，對人生意義的看法。耶穌就是他們生命中不可分割的部份，也是他們對將來一切期盼的基石。當耶穌要離開的時候，他們的依依不捨，他們的惶恐不安，他們的難以接受，都是很自然的。

在我們的生命中，也有一些對我們非常重要的人。他們是我們生命中不可分割的部份。例如我們最深愛的家人，最掛念的親人，最珍惜的朋友，還有在信仰路上啟迪我們，與我們同行的牧者和主內弟兄姊妹。當這些人因為不同原因要離開我們的時候，就好像我們生命的一部份要離開我們一樣。我們的心情就好像跌進了一個深淵。

耶穌的暫時離開是上帝的旨意。在上帝預定的時間，耶穌會再次降臨，迎接我們與他一同享受羔羊的婚宴，一同進入新天新地去享受上帝的同在和上帝為我們預備的一切美善和福樂。如果門徒可以從一個天國視野去看耶穌的離開，他們就會明白：耶穌在世上所經歷的一切，他的降生以至他的死亡，都是在上帝的計劃裏面。耶穌的一生，就是要完成上帝給他的使命。

我們的一生也是如此。從上帝呼召我們成為他的兒女那一刻開始，上帝在我們身上那美妙絕倫的計劃就要展開。也許我們會在這裏停留片刻，再往那裏去。也許疾病、死亡要將我們和我們的至愛暫時分開。如果我們都可以從一個天國視野去看事情，願意相信上帝的計劃是美善的，是為着我們和天國的好處而設立的，我們就可以在憂傷之餘，仍然帶着平安去接受。只要離開和留下的人都願意用心去領受上帝的旨意，忠心去完成上帝的使命，人世間的一切生離死別，在上帝的慈愛和憐憫裏面，都可以成為我們的祝福和安慰。

主僕,
陳榮基牧師

2023.02.04/05

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Pastor Francis Chan

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

On the first Wednesday of every month, AYAYA will hold a prayer meeting in Room 200. In the meeting, brothers and sisters sing hymns together to worship God; give thanks to God for his protection, guidance, and provisions; pray and intercede for one another. Brothers and sisters who did not know each other in the AYAYA community can get to know each other in the prayer meeting and watch out for each other. In the past February prayer meeting, 26 brothers and sisters participated. From their sharing, we clearly see the glory of God. Among them, three sisters used “miracle” to describe their recent experience in God.

A sister testified on behalf of her husband. Because they want to apply for immigration, her husband needs to take an English language exam. The result of the first exam was not good, mainly because the oral English examiner had a strong accent, and her husband could not hear clearly and could not respond well. But he didn’t give up, and he didn’t complain. He continued to pray, trusting in God’s grace. In the second exam, he encountered an examiner who he believed to be from Hong Kong. Since the examiner spoke with a Hong Kong accent, her husband could understand and respond well. This time he got a very satisfactory result: from 5.5 points last time to 7 points this time. His score for applying for immigration was met. The sister described it as a “miracle” because only God could have provided an oral English examiner with a Hong Kong accent for her husband.

A sister passed the driving test on her first attempt. She described it as a “miracle”. She is a very nervous person, and she has no talent for driving a vehicle. She bit the bullet and took the driving test because of family needs. On the day of the test, she herself knew that she had made many mistakes. After the exam, the examiner told her about her mistakes one by one, but gave her a pass, nonetheless. She thanked God for providing her with an understanding and kind examiner.

The sister who testified used to work as a registered nurse in Hong Kong. Now in Canada, she hopes to continue to work as a nurse and has taken a nursing license course. In the process, she needs to pass many exams. Recently, the school prepared a mock exam for its students, which require them to take more than 4 hours to complete. Many of these questions are not easy to answer. Although the sister studied very hard, she had no confidence in passing the exam. She said that even experienced nurses could not be sure of the correct answers to some of the questions in the exam paper. Consequently, she could only make guesses for many answers. After the exam, she thought she could only get about 350 points, but in the end, she got 1,000 points. She said it was a “miracle” because it was impossible for her to achieve it herself. The results of this mock exam have greatly increased her confidence in eventually obtaining a nursing license.

From the three testimonies above, we can understand that brothers and sisters who have just arrived in Canada face many difficulties and challenges in life and work. At the same time, because they are willing to trust God, they also experience a lot of grace and provision. In the prayer meeting, not only did God receive the glory He deserved, brothers and sisters were also strengthened in their faith because of the testimonies they heard. Glory be to God!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Francis Chan

2023.02.04/05

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

每個月第一個星期三，AYAYA 會在200號房舉行祈禱會。當中，弟兄姊妹一同唱詩敬拜上帝；為着上帝的保守、帶領與供應獻上感恩；為着弟兄姊妹的需要互相禱告代求。在 AYAYA 群體裏面本來互不相識的弟兄姊妹，在祈禱會中能夠互相認識，互相守望。在剛剛過去的二月份祈禱會，有26位弟兄姊妹參加。從他們的分享，我們清楚看見上帝的榮耀。其中有三位姊妹，都用「神蹟」來形容他們最近在上帝裏面的經歷。

有一位姊妹代表她的丈夫作見證。他們因為要申請移民，丈夫需要考英文公開試。第一次考試成績未如理想，主要因為在英語會話的環節，考官有很重的口音，他聽不清楚，也不能作出理想回應。但他沒有放棄，也沒有埋怨。他繼續祈禱，相信上帝有恩典。第二次考試，他遇上一個他相信是從香港來的考官。由於考官說話時有香港口音，弟兄聽得明白，也能作出好的回應。今次他得到非常理想的成績：由上次 5.5 分提升至今次 7 分。他申請移民的分數達到了。姊妹形容這是一個「神蹟」，因為只有上帝可以為她丈夫預備一個有香港口音的英語會話考官。

有一位姊妹第一次考車牌就合格了。她形容這是一個「神蹟」。她是一個非常緊張的人，而且自覺對駕駛車輛亳無天份，只是因為生活需要才硬着頭皮去考車牌。考試當天，她自己也知道犯了不少錯誤。考試完畢，考牌官將她的錯誤一一告訴她，但最後仍然給她合格。她感謝上帝讓她遇上一個既體諒又仁慈的考牌官。

有一位姊妹在香港任職註冊護士，來到加拿大希望可以繼續做護士，所以再讀書，預備考取本地護士執照。在過程中，她需要通過很多考試。最近，學校為學生預備了一個模擬考試，大家用了超過4小時才完成。其中很多問題，就算是經驗豐富的護士也無法肯定正確答案，她只可以靠估。考試完畢，她以為自己只能得到350分左右。結果，她得到1,000分。她說這是一個「神蹟」，因為她自己無可能得到這個分數。而這次模擬考試的結果，就大大增加了她對自己最終能夠考獲護士執照的信心。

從以上三個見證，我們可以明白新來加拿大的弟兄姊妹在生活和工作上，都面對很多困難和挑戰。與此同時，因為他們願意信靠上帝，也經歷不少恩典和供應。在祈禱會裏，弟兄姊妹同心禱告，彼此守望，不但上帝得着當得的榮耀，弟兄姊妹也因為所聽的見證，信心就得着堅固。你有參加祈禱會嗎？願一切榮耀歸於上帝！

主僕
陳榮基牧師