2022.11.05/06

From the Pastor’s Desk:Pastor Jeanie Au Yeung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Recently, a popular term in the food industry: “Eat without boundary”, which means that you can drink or eat as much as you can for a special kind of food , that is, food serving unlimited “All you can eat”. It is not a new idea and certainly good news for some people who can eat a lot.

I just returned to Prairie Theological Seminary not long ago to attend the school’s centennial celebration. The college is located in a quiet town, where I met with many teachers and classmates from the past. We had several times gathered at the only Chinese restaurant in the town, and we all loved the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet at there restaurant. We selected what we like and enjoyed to food to the full. There were several “all you can eat” restaurants in Richmond and Vancouver in the past, but they existed no more due to many eating too much gluttonous diners.

Unlimited, “take whatever you want”, how good it is! This reminds me of a Bible verse, “from the fullness of His grace, we have all received, grace upon grace!” (John 1:16). In God’s abundant grace, we can indeed receive ultimately and continuously, and we are freely received without paying any price. It is a pity that we often ignore God’s grace, and we often don’t even realize how blessed we are, and we always take God’s grace for granted.

Thinking of the grace of God, a hymn written by Annie Johnson Flint rings in my mind: “The Lord’s Grace is More Rich” I would like to share with you:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision
Our God ever yearns His resources to share
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing
The Father both thee and thy load shall upbear

When we have exhausted our store of endurance
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources;
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Chorus: His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

Whenever I think of God’s grace, I am always moved by the fact that the grace of the Lord had poured on me since I was young, even before I was born, when the time I didn’t really know about God , or didn’t know how to count God’s grace, and didn’t know how to appreciate God’s grace. The grace of God has never been withdrawn due to my ignorance, only keeps added. As what the hymn says: “His love has no limit; His grace has no measure. His power has no boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He give, and give, and give again.”

Have you ever thank God for His never cease grace keeps pouring on you? Let us always be thankful, count His blessings always, and give Him praise!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Jeanie Au Yeung

2022.11.05/06

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

近年來在飲食界流行的用語：“放題”，意即在某範圍之內可開懷暢飲或儘量的吃，即無限量的“任食”。這對一些人來說是可以極盡享受之餘，盡可大快朵頤。我上月剛回草原神學院參加學校的百週年慶典，學院座落於寧靜的小鎮，與昔日多位師長及同學共聚。我們有好幾次相約於小鎮內唯一的中國餐館，大家也喜愛吃餐館所設的任選任食的中式自助餐。以前在列治文及溫哥華也有好幾間“任食”的食肆，但因食客無限量的狂食也至終做不住。

無限量的“任取”，這是多麼好的設合心意，按自己所需領取或領受的方式啊！這令我想起一節經文，「從祂豐滿的恩典裡，我們都領受了，並且恩上加恩！」(約1:16)。我們在神的豐盛的恩典裡，實在是可以無限量的不斷領受，而且是白白的領受，絲毫不用付出代價，是從神無限無量的豐盛中源源不絕地傾流出來賜給我們的。可惜我們往往忽略神的恩典，甚至常常察覺不到，也會視神的恩典為平常。

想及神的恩典，一首詩歌縈繞於腦際：“主恩更豐富”(青聖ll #65)。願在此和大家分享。歌詞提到：

重擔越加重，主的恩典越豐厚；勞苦越加增，主的能力越大；
患難越加多，主的憐憫越豐盛；試煉越是加倍，主平安越增。

當我們疲倦，一切的力量用盡，工作未完成，已感能力不夠，
當我們能力的來源已到盡頭，那時父的洪恩正開始傾流。

副歌：主愛無限無疆，主恩無可測量，主大能遠超過世人所能想， 都從無限無量豐富的主耶穌，主施恩，又施恩，又再次施恩。

每當想起也很令我感動的是，主的恩典從我年幼開始，甚至尚未出生，尚不知曉，不懂數算，不懂思恩時，早已臨到這不配蒙恩的我，而且主的恩典從來沒有收回，只有不住加添。正如詩歌所言：“主愛無限無疆，主恩無可測量，主大能遠超過世人所能想， 都從無限無量豐富的主耶穌，主施恩，又施恩，又再次施恩。”

您可曾想過主的恩典從不間斷的加給您？讓我們常感恩、數恩、念恩及頌讚主恩！

主僕
歐陽鑽玲傳道

July 9/10, 2022
From the Pastor’s Desk :Pastor Jeanie Auyeung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

During the past weekend, there was a singing in the Cantonese service and one of the lyrics touched my heart. It says: “God’s faithfulness lives in my heart, God answers the prayer of a childlike heart”. Certainly, God will answer the prayer of a childlike heart. This reminds me of a sharing while my sister and brother-in-law came to Vancouver for a visit. They shared one of their experiences in the Philippines while they worked there as Bible translators.

When their daughter Clara was 4 years old, her dad drove 400 miles from the Translation Centre, taking the family back to Romblon Island by ferry before Christmas but the crew on the ferry asked for bribes. Little Clara said: “Don’t give them money, Jesus said ‘no’.” Her mom asked how she knew what Jesus said. Clara told her mom that she prayed to ask Jesus if mom and dad should give them money. Jesus let her saw a big Red X mark. Jesus used a simple way that a child could understand to answer her prayer.

As they refused to give bribes to the crew, cars that came later moved on board but their car was still waiting even they were the 2nd to arrive. Finally after all the cars boarded the ferry, then my brother-in-law drove onto the ferry under the indication of a crew member. As soon as he parked the car, another car which had given bribes tailed his car. The crew wanted to ask him to leave. They knew that it was the last ferry to Romblon before the Christmas season. Suddenly a miracle happened, the crew made a way for that late coming car by asking other cars to squeeze tightly in. Their family could celebrate Christmas with Romblon Islanders at last.

Thank God that He will reveal His will to simple childlike hearts. As Jesus says: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. ” (Luke 10:21)

May we always have an open childlike heart to listen to God!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Jeanie Auyeung

2022.07.09/10

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

在過去的崇拜中，“赤子的祈禱”詩歌的歌詞中提到：「活在我內心，上帝的信實，赤子的真心，求主可應允！」是的！禱告在於真誠，神必應允出於真誠的祈求。詩歌引我聯想起舍妹及妹夫在前一陣子來溫共聚，分享他們在菲律賓倫布島從事聖經翻譯時其中的一個經歷，在此也想與大家分享。

九八年聖誕前夕，妹妹一家由差會中心經過約四百公里的車程，抵達呂宋島南面的描東碼頭，預備乘搭十六小時的渡輪，前往他們作聖經翻譯的倫布島。由於臨近聖誕，船運甚為緊張。他們儘早到達，辦妥一切登船手續。排隊輪候上船。

船員過來幾度施壓，要索取賄賂的金錢才確保車輛可登上渡輪。在壓力重重，威迫利誘下，那時剛滿四歲的小女兒說:「媽咪，主耶穌說不要聽從他們的話。」我妹妹好奇地問她怎麼知道主耶穌這樣說？她滿懷信心地回答:「因為我祈禱問主耶穌，爸爸媽媽要不要給他們錢？主耶穌立刻給我看見一個紅色的大交叉，所以我便告訴您不要給呀！」小小年紀的女兒凱晴雖然不大明白發生甚麼事，卻在默默地祈禱求問主耶穌。主耶穌竟然以小女孩能明白的方式來回應她的求問。
由於他們堅持不賄買船員，本來他們是排在最前第二位的車輛，眼巴巴地看著其他後來的車輛陸續登船也不輪到他們。當全數比他們遲來的車輛也登上船後，他們興幸是最後一輛可登船的車。怎料，剛把車子停好在甲板上，還有一輛車子趕著他們車尾硬碰要登上船。因著那車的人賄買了船員，船員吩咐妹夫把車子駛離船倉回碼頭去，以讓那輛車可以登船。他們深知那是假期前最後的一班船，但仍堅持不賄賂。正當他們按照指示倒駛車子，準備離船時，奇蹟出現。天父竟然感動那些船員回心轉意，要求其他車輛迫得緊貼些，讓那遲來的車輛可以登船，他們便可如期回島和村民共渡聖誕了。

感謝主向孩童單純的心指示祂的心意。是的，誰願意向神全然打開他的心，神的心意必然會向他顯示。主耶穌也說：「父阿，天地的主，我讚美你，因為你把這些事向智慧和聰明的人隱藏起來，卻向嬰孩顯明。父啊，是的，這就是你的美意。」(路10:21)

願我們向神常存單純如孩童一般的赤子之心，與神關係沒有阻隔。

主僕
歐陽鑽玲傳道

2021.11.20/21
From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Jeanie AuYeung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

In the midst of the pandemic, food delivery service has flourished due to high demand. There is nothing new under the sun. The story of “meal delivery service” has long been recorded in The Book of Kings. God told the prophet Elijah to stay at Kerith Ravine during the famine, and wait for His guidance. There, he lacked food for his living. God ordered a “food delivery service” for him. The ravens served as couriers to deliver food on time to him every day for his needs.

The lesson of faith that the prophet Elijah learned during the famine was a lesson from God. Every time I read this passage, I am deeply touched and inspired. God’s provision to Elijah was so precise and wonderful, a really amazing act of God’s care for Elijah!

We can see God’s lessons to Elijah in the following aspects:

1. God’s timely and good supply (Learn to trust God for His timely care, He is God, the almighty)

The ravens came to deliver meals to Elijah every day, and brought food sufficiently till the creek dried out. During the period of famine, there was meat and bread, a balanced food supply with protein and carbohydrates. God understood his needs well that he was provided for in an environment where it was impossible to get food. God is our provider, just as Jesus teaches us to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” We may ask, what about tomorrow? Don’t worry, just for today there is enough for us to carry on.

2. God’s surprising and unexpected supply (Learn to rely on God, not on others)

The scripture describes “ravens” as a plural number, which means different birds. God didn’t just send one specific crow to deliver meals to Elijah. There is uncertainty about whether the bird that appeared today will come tomorrow. It is not controlled by human beings. However, Elijah is not relying on the crows, but relies on God who is the One to supply his needs. If we miss the right focus, we will be disappointed. God will make a way when there seems to be no way.

3. God’s supply is beyond normal (Learn to look beyond what we see, just focus on God”)

The raven is among the unclean birds in Leviticus. According to the raven’s dietary habit, it is possible that the birds might bring carrion to Elijah, but they brought him good and edible food every day. There is no set way for God’s provision, but it must be “tailor-made fit” for us, just learn to trust Him and not to rely on people or the reliable environment, but only focus on Him by faith. God can make the impossible possible.

When I was studying in the seminary, our president often taught us to learn to live by faith. “Do not put your trust on people, but only rely on God.” By faith, I experienced God’s faithful provision again and again in the impossible. God provides everything I need at His best timing, I lack nothing indeed.

During the pandemic, I came into contact with some brothers and sisters who lost their jobs or faced great difficulties. I often remember them in my heart, as I am not God, and I can only help them in limited ways. Through the promises of God in the Bible, I encouraged them and prayed for them in private, trusting that God understands every need, He will take care of His children, all who belong to Him shall not be in want.

Surely, God recorded Elijah’s story of His impossible supply in the Bible in order to encourage us to rely on Him wholeheartedly and experience His care and provision by faith.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Jeanie

2021.11.20/21
作者:歐陽鑽玲傳道

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

在疫情之中，送餐服務平台因應需要而蓬勃興起，成行成市，只需要落單，快速送達家門。日光之下並無新事，列王紀中早已有「送餐速遞服務」的事跡記載。先知以利亞在饑荒時期退居基立溪畔，等候神的差遣時，面對缺糧缺食，神為他特訂「送餐服務」，由烏鴉充當速遞員，每日按時送餐，供應以利亞所需。
先知以利亞在饑荒時期所學習的信心功課，是神對他的信心教導。每次讀到這段經文，也令我深受激勵。神的教導盡顯於細微之處，實在令我驚嘆神的奇妙！
神對以利亞的教導起碼有以下幾方面：
其一：神及時適切的供應 (學習:“供應充足，唯主能賜”)
烏鴉每天也來送餐給以利亞，從不間斷，讓他得到飽足。饑荒時期有肉有餅，蛋白質與碳水化合物兼重，是均衡食物的供應。神很明白他的所需，在無可能得著食物的環境中，叫他不致缺乏。神是賜“每日所需之糧”的主，正如主教導我們所祈求的:“日用的飲食，今日賜給我們。”明日如何？不用擔心，今日夠用已足可渡過了。
其二：神出人意表的供應 (學習:“不仰賴人，只仰賴神”)
經文形容“烏鴉”是眾數字，意即指不同的鳥兒。神不單差派一隻特定的烏鴉送餐給以利亞。鳥兒今天來，明天會否出現毫無把握，實在不由人控制，但以利亞倚靠的不是烏鴉，而是聽命於供應他所需的神。我們若放錯對象，就會失望。在人看來無可能的，在神能夠成為可能。
其三：神超越常規的供應(學習:“不看環境，單注目神”)
烏鴉是不潔的鳥，以烏鴉的飲食常規，大有可能叼來腐屍腐肉，可是卻為以利亞每天帶來可吃的食物。神的供應沒有既定方式，但必定為我們度身訂做，為叫我們不仰賴人或既定的環境，而單單憑信心注目於祂！當環境看似沒有出路時，神就是出路。
我在神學院就讀期間，院長常教導我們學習憑信心生活“不仰賴人，單仰賴神”，透過信心的學習，我一次又一次的在無可能中經歷神信實的供應。神在我需要時供應一切所需，令我一無所缺。在疫情中接觸到一些工作受影響的肢體，心中也常記掛他們。我不是神，能做到的很有限，唯藉著聖經中神的應許，勉勵他們，也在暗中為他們禱告，深信神明白我們的需要，祂必看顧祂的兒女，叫屬祂的人必不致缺乏。
是的，神把以利亞在無可能之下得著祂的供應的事跡記載下來，為叫我們全心倚靠祂，憑信心經歷祂的看顧與預備。

主僕,
歐陽鑽玲傳道

Jul 03-04, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Jeanie Auyeung

Seeing the need for the gospel in Richmond, a six-person committee was formed by the Vancouver Chinese Alliance church in June 1977, to plan and start a new church. Ten members from the Vancouver Chinese Alliance Church committed to this new church with the vision to expand God’s kingdom.  This vision was echoed by members who lived in Richmond. The first worship service of about 50 people was held at Bethel Mennonite Church on No. 5 Road until the purchase of our present location in February of 1979.

The church grew after moving to the new facility.  With the congregation growing, the old building was torn down to construct a larger building. A new building was completed in June of 1984.  In 1999, a new wing of the church was constructed to meet the needs of increasing attendance.

By God’s grace, our church has flourished since 1977 for forty-four years.  Over the years, brothers and sisters from all over the world have committed to build God’s kingdom together, and within these past years, many have been nurtured to grow spiritually. We have over thirty brothers and sisters who have dedicated themselves to the Lord serving as pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers in different places all over the world. May we follow the dedication of those who were before us, take up the mission of the kingdom of God, and pass on God’s grace and blessings to our coming generations, so that we can bless the community and enable more people to share the Lord’s grace.

I would like to congratulate the church on its forty-fourth anniversary with the following “not in-styled poem” to encourage each of us, to stand firm in one spirit, contending as one church for the gospel, in order to expand the kingdom of God.

Carry on the great commission of God’s Kingdom and move forward in Richmond.

Preach the gospel, honour the past, and move on to meet the challenges of the Lord.

Forty-four years we have relied on the Lord’s grace to build our family together.

Do not forget the past visions with the cross always in front.

From “the Four seas and five lakes” we gather to lift the name of the Lord high.

Renew our vision every year to reach new peaks and march to the 50^th year.

Jul 03-04, 2021
歐陽鑽玲傳道

一九七七年溫哥華華人宣道會的執事會議決，選派六人成立委員會以籌備列治文開設教會事宜，並於當年六月開始借用西人門諾會聚會。溫哥華堂有十位會友參加，亦得到居住在列治文的會友熱烈響應，聚會人數達五十人。

教會於七九年二月購得及遷入現址，聖工得以進展。至八三年，因教會增長，地方不敷使用，舊堂拆卸後興建新堂，於八四年六月落成，沿用至今。教會亦於九九年新翼建成並舉行獻堂禮以增加使用地方。

蒙主恩眷，本會自一九七七年成立以來，已歷四十四載。多年來，來自各方的肢體在此一同成長，共建神家，其間亦造就不少全時間獻身事主的教牧同工。願我們追隨先賢腳縱，肩負神國的使命，將神的恩典與福氣傳遞出去，福蔭社群，使更多人同蒙主恩。

謹以下列不成文體詩句祝賀教會四十四週年堂慶，彼此互勉，同為神家擺上，齊心協力，拓展神的國度。

列市立會肩負神國使命同向前

宣揚福音繼往開來為主迎挑戰

四十四載靠賴主恩神家齊共建

十架在前毋忘往昔異象心志堅

四海五湖肢體共聚主名得彰顯

年年更新再闖高峰邁向五十年

Apr 17-18, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Pastor Jeanie Auyeung

I have read a testimony sometime ago. It was about a brother named Randy who was stranded in the desert and how he experienced God’s help in an unexpected way.

While on a two-year trip around the world in a Volkswagen camper, Rendy was stranded in the Sahara Desert for several days. The Hoggar is an area in Algeria where the Sahara stretches; it is a harsh landscape. The punishing terrain caused two shock absorbers in the camper to explode simultaneously, breaking the chassis. After sitting for three days, he saw a traveler pull up behind him in a small van. On the roof of his vehicle, he had some welding equipment. Unfortunately, neither the traveler nor he knew how to weld, and he had no welding rod. Randy prayed and then remembered the steel coat hangers he had packed away. With a torch on one and and a coat hanger in the other, he climbed under the camper and somehow managed to weld the broken chassis back in place.

What touches me about this is that Randy discovered the man with the welding outfit had started his journey in the desert long after his own, but before his crisis had occurred. This reminded him of the word of God in Isaiah 65:24. The Lord says, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”

Years ago, I heard a missionary couple from Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) shared their experiences in the mission field. The missionary met an old man there. What surprised him was that the old man told him, God had promised to send someone to tell them about Him 15 years ago while he was still a teenager, he did not know God would send him to Upper Volta in 15 years. More amazing is his wife shared that God told her to bring a wedding gown before she left for the mission field, while she met her husband there later.
There have been countless times I have seen God’s presence and help in my life. We never know what crisis or difficulties might lie ahead or what will happen in front of us. But by faith, we can know that God is on the way even before we call. Let us put our trust in Him. No matter what difficulty we will face, God is in it with us.

Apr 17-18, 2021
歐陽鑽玲傳道

曾讀到一位弟兄名叫Randy的見證，分享他在駕著野營車環遊世界時的一次被困於撒哈拉沙漠的經歷。當他正在沿著霍加爾路徑，在阿爾及利亞橫越撒哈拉沙漠時，那段路徑極為崎嶇不平，在路上駕車簡直就像在火車軌上奔馳。嚴峻的路面狀況令野營車的兩個減震器同時爆裂，擊破了車的底盤，他被困在那裡足足三天。其後，一輛小貨車在他的車後停下來，貨車的車頂上竟然有一套完備的接焊工具。可是，那人 和他自己也不懂得接焊(燒焊)，也沒有接焊棒。Randy便禱告，然後他記起，在行李箱中有一個鋼鐵制的衣架。他在毫無經驗下拿著電筒和衣架趴在車底，左弄右弄的竟把爆裂的車底焊接上，車子便能開動了。

Randy在後來才知道，令他很受感動的是，自己已進入沙漠很久，那帶著接焊工具的人是在他發生意外之後才起行的，卻在他需要幫助時及時遇上。這事令他想起聖經的話：“他們尚未求告，我就應允；正說話的時候，我就垂聽。” (賽65:24)

在我就讀神學院時，聽到一對前往非洲宣教的夫婦分享。夫婦二人分別在不同地方到上沃爾特(現稱Burkina Faso)宣教，並在宣教工場認識。奇妙的是，神卻在這位姊妹在出發到工場前指示她，要帶同婚紗到上沃爾特，在其後遇到弟兄，並成為她的丈夫。她丈夫也分向見證：在工場曾接觸一位長者，這位長者對他說：“我知道你會來，因為在15年前，神已告訴我，祂會差派一個人來，教導他們認識神的話。”。令他十分驚奇的是，原來在15年前，在他還是青少年時期，對自己前途一無所知的時候，神已早有計劃。

在我的身上，也曾經歷神數不盡的奇妙恩典。其實神的手一直在帶領及引導著我們的人生，在每天的大小事上向我們施恩，只是我們常不察覺，或沒有留意。要知道，無論有甚麼事發生，在我們尚不曉得為自己祈求以先，神早有預備。讓我們信靠神去面對未可知的前路，放心將一切交在祂手中，祂知我們的需要，祂的預備和安排必定是最好的！