Panama Updates (4)

Dear all,
Thank you for your prayer support.

Thanksgiving:
1) 20 students @ Panama IEC Music Camp, they learnt music and Jesus at the same time... Many parents and other families enjoy the closing ceremony which included a drama done by the campers... :P
2) Sharing @ Alliance youth fellowship re: Messages in games
3) Karen arrived safely in Panama
4) Toronto STM for Music Camp safely arrived in Canada

Prayer items:
1) Please continue to pray for Youth Ministries in different Panama churches
2) Lung, brother from the Alliance youth fellowship have his problem changed from brain infection to lung infection. Although not in lift threatening situation, still critical. Please continue to pray for him and his family.
3) Our schedule
Feb 28: Alliance Youth fellowship
Mar 1: Visiting brothers and sisters at Arraijan (a city around one hour drive from Panama)
Mar 2: Panama IEC youth fellowship leaders training
Mar 6: Preaching at Living Water Alliance church
Mar 7: Leaving Panama for Toronto


For more updated photos, you can click *here*...

Panama Updates (3)

Dear all,
Thank you for all the support.

Thanksgiving:
1)Sharing @ Alliance youth fellowship was wonderful. We talked about how to utilize the media and internet to encourage the fellowship among the fellowship.
2)Almost 40 people attending 10th Anniversary of IEC Daniel fellowship, which started because of the Panama youth camp.
3)With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I share His words at IEC Spanish (using English, of course!), IEC Cantonese, and Iglesia Evangelica China de Arraijan, a city around 45 mins drive from Panama City.
4)Enjoying Amador, the great harbour front of Panama city, with the STM from Toronto.

Prayer items:
1)Father of the youth pastor of IEC passed away last Friday (18th) night, please pray for Pastor Louisa and her family.
2)A brother from the Alliance youth fellowship, Lung, was admitted into the emergency Sunday (20th) night. Out of life threatening situation but still critical. Please pray from him and his family.
3)Music Camp @ IEC, Feb 21-25. 20 kids camping at church to learn more about music and God.

For more updated photos, you can go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=276047&id=514761224&l=81e9b95bba

Thanks
kelvin

Panama Updates (2)

Dear all, thank you for your prayer support.

Thanksgiving:

2011 Panama Youth Camp:
The camp was very thankful. The 120 kids are great. There are some challenges during the camp, like without running water or fridge is not cool enough. But God definitely got His hands there and many of the kids willing to committee or re-committed themselves to Christ.

Here are some pictures:
Camp album 1/2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004510&id=168600074&l=b34a8fc43e
Camp album 2/2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004526&id=168600074&l=6aa66a79e1

If you have Facebook account, you can see some pictures and videos thru these links

Camp album 1/2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004510&id=168600074
Camp album 2/2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004526&id=168600074
Talent Show http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150107000081225
Campfire / sharing night http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150107085466225

Alliance Youth Fellowship:
Monday night Valentine's gathering got around 30 people. Pray that they are being encourage about true love by Pastor Howard Ngan of NTCAC (Toronto).
I had a chat / training with the leaders on Tuesday. Definitely we can see the potential and ability in their hearts, just their confidence is lacking a bit. Please keep praying for them.
We will have another training session this coming friday, and most likely next friday too.

IEC (Panama Chinese Church - Iglesia Evangelisa China de Panama) Daniel Fellowship:
Almost 40 people showing up in the past two meetings. Around 30% are Panama-grown, Spanish speaking. Wonderful spiritual sharing and instructions from the youth leaders.

Here are some prayer request:

(1) My schedule ahead
-Feb 18 Alliance Youth Fellowship leaders training
-Feb 19 IEC Youth Fellowship 10th Anniversary
-Feb 20 IEC Chinese Worship
-Feb 21-25 Music Camp @ IEC
-Feb 25 Alliance Youth Fellowship leaders training

(2) Panama Youth Ministry
As different churches putting more effort in youth and 2nd generation ministry, there are more and more attending churches in Panama, Panama City and other gospel stations around Panama.
However, at the same time, challenges surfacing during these growth.
-Rev. Beltran is a missionary from Columbia. He is now the pastor of Alliance Church serving all Spanish-speaking congregation. His wife has been diagnosed with some kind of tumor in her body, fortunately, latest news is those cells are not cancer.
-Pastor Esther, the pastor of Living Water Alliance, is also the pastor of the Alliance Youth Fellowship. She was diagnosed with Lymph Nodes Cancer and is now being treated in HK. Pastor Michael, her husband, will head back to HK in March to take care of his wife.
-The Alliance plans to build a youth centre to help out with the youth ministry in Panama. Original budget was about $400k. However, due to the inflation rate and other unexpected cost, that might cause to a increase in the building cost. Please pray for the financial supply.
-Among those trained leaders of the IEC Daniel fellowship, most of them either getting married or moving back to China. The next generation need time to develop their potential to pick up the ministry. Please pray for the development.

(3) Other STM
- Calgary West Alliance (Living Water Alliance)
- North Toronto Alliance (Panama City and Chitre)
- A group of youth from Toronto (IEC Music Camp)

Please keep us in prayers.
Thanks
Kelvin

Panama Updates

Thank God for having me here in Panama.
Things are great and so far so good. I have been going out with the youth fellowship of IEC (Panama Chinese Church - Iglesia Evangelisa China de Panama) for the weekend and we have a good chat.

This coming week (Feb 7-11) will be 2011 Panama Youth Camp. Theme: My Future is not a Dream.
There are 116 kids there, 51 of them are first time campers. Please pray for their hearts.
Also please pray for the message by Rev. Michael Lau from York Region LBC of Toronto.

and here is a list of gatherings / workshops after the camp

Feb 12 Alliance Church Young Adult fellowship leadership training (by Rev. Lau)
Feb 14 Alliance Church Young Adult fellowship Valentines day EM (by North Toronto CAC)
Feb 15 Alliance Church Young Adult fellowship leadership training
Feb 16 Alliance Church prayer meeting (sharing about Youth and Young Adult ministry)
Feb 19 IEC Youth Fellowship
Feb 20 IEC Chinese Worship

And here are some pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=276047&id=514761224&l=81e9b95bba

Thank you for your support.
kelvin

CMC Day 3 Notes

CMC Day 3 Morning Message

現今的機會 — 今日中國教會及海外華人教會的宣教挑戰
王美鍾院長

反省：我們對現今的宣教有負擔感嗎？

創11：31，12：1-2
— 亞伯蘭的父親理應到迦南，卻停在哈蘭，並死在哈蘭。
— 反省：我們是否安於現狀，而忘掉我們應去的目的地？

中國，我們真的了解中國嗎？
— 建設先進，人才配出
— 經濟、軍事的突出
— 十年後的中國，民族掘起、國家興起，可是屬靈的光境又會是怎樣？

宣教的中國
— 中國製造的商品(made in China) 比比皆是，哪麽中國製造的宣教士呢？Missionaries made in China...!
— 我們可以怎樣去幫助中國的教會明白麥子的宣教呢？
— 福音進中國、福音在中國、福音出中國
— 廿一世紀的海外華人就好像廿一世紀的約瑟，不但成為身處國的祝福，亦能成為父家—中國—的祝福
— 蒙召的目的：成為祝福，成為本國、鄰國、中國、華人的祝福

現今的機會：委身的宣教行動
— 這呼召是一個永恒的呼召

CMC Day 3 Exposition

如何能夠承擔神的使命
出3：1-15
黃子嘉牧師

神給我們使命是要我們承擔神的事工、成就衪的工作。對我們基督徒來說，就是主耶穌給我們的大使命。

遇見神：是神找到摩西，遇見神的地就是聖地。遇見神是承擔神的使命的基礎。

1。認識神是又真又活的（7-8）
— 摩西對神懷疑：以色列民正在受苦。明明已經第四代，為什麼仍在別國受苦？
— 摩西不明白苦難是成熟基督徒必須要面對的（參羅馬書5：1﹣5）
— 我們是否覺得神是又真又活的？
— 要承擔神的使命，必須認識神的又真又活。無論遇見多少困難，也因神而剛強起來。
— 我們出去打仗是神帶我們去的。

2。認識神是聖潔公義的（2-5）
— 明白我們是不完全的，我們是須要神的幫助的
— 明白自己的不配、要求神的憐憫
— 人若自潔，脫離卑賤的事，成為貴重的器皿

3。認識神是恩典憐憫的（9-10）
— 神在苦難之中仍保守以色列人
— 祂看見的、聽見的、知道的，有甚麼難處，是可以向神說的。

4。認識神是自有永有的（13-15）
— ＂我就是＂

5。認識我們是微小的（11-13）
— 上帝的工作，不是靠我們，仍是我們靠衪的靈來成事。

6。認識使命崇高而勇於承擔（3：1，4：20）

CMC Day 3 Evening Message

陳世協牧師
「為什麼是我？」
約書亞記一：一至十八節

今天我們所缺乏的不是對宣教的意識或知識，而是對宣教的行動。
問：「為什麼是我？」

一至五節:
「為什麼是我？」還有其他人嗎！
「神的僕人死了。」(v1-2)兩次提到神的僕人死了。每一代的領袖、每一代神的工人都會死掉、都會過去的。每一代的約書亞都要起來承擔使命。

- (v5)神對約書亞說：「我怎樣帶領摩西，也會怎樣帶領你。」
- 時代的轉變，宣教的年代也改變了。現代的宣教中心經已轉移，宣教士也不再是紅毛綠眼的了。
- 中國人很懂計算，可是就是太會算了，左算右算，都是其他人去更好吧！可是，如果神真的跟我們算，請問又應怎樣算？
- 要成為神的工人，數學不可以太好。若我們太好數學，我們只會繼續坐在我們的安樂窩之內。

六至九節:

- 約書亞真的懼怕。真的，因為聖經不是一次，不是兩次，是三次的叫約書亞要剛強壯膽。
- 約書亞經歴了很多，包括探索迦南地，他亦知道神怎樣帶領摩西，可是他同時亦知道裡面很多難處。
- 可是神就是提醒約書亞衪怎樣帶領摩西。
- 神吩咐約書亞要
1。handle with care
2。謹守神的話語
3。遵行神的話語
- 謹守和遵行神的話語方法：神話語不可離口，晝夜思想，多多講論。多講論，就多思想。多思想，就自然能謹守和遵行神的話語。
- 神提醒約書亞，他是受神的吩咐。「神吩咐」= 有神的應許，帶有神的能力。

十至十八節

約書亞把上帝的話語化為行動。
其餘的兩個半支派，可以留下，不過要先兌現承諾，男丁先帶領其他人過河。必需要有合一的心。

Reflection:
My question was, "Why me? Why not others?"
Nope. Others gone already.
My question should be "Why not me?"

Do I want to respond to God? What will my answer be?

CMC Day 2 Notes

CMC Day 2 Morning Message

跨洋之前先跨街 - 胸懷世界,始於腳前
Cross the street before cross the ocean - A "Glocal" (Global & Local) Perspective
Dr. George Verwer

Matthew 9:35-37, Acts 12-13, Isa 6:1-8, 1 John 2

- Not only listen to the Bible but put into action
- Being a missionary can be a career...!
- Am I able to tell God: "God, here am I, send me !!"
- the biggest question: "Am I available (to God)?"

CMC Day 2 Exposition

我不甘心無份救恩
約書亞記2：1-24，
陳世協牧師

經文焦點在放喇合的身上
- 兩個對話：
1。耶利哥王的人和拉合的對話
2。約書亞的人(探子)和拉合的對話
- 喇合的身份：妓女
- 喇合不願意救恩没有她的份兒
- 她知道神的作為，郤説是「你們的神」，她雖不敢認，可是郤已經在步向信神的道路上。

有人聽聞福音
- 我們是跘腳石，還是在帶人信主？
- 最大的跘腳石：1。教會中的衝突。2。教會缺乏自律性、自省性。 3。教會跟世界一樣。
- 世人覺得我們教會是愛嗎？
- 我們基督徒與世界有一個正確的溝通的方法嗎？

有人珍惜救恩
- 願意付出來爭取得到救恩的權利
- 上帝有祂的預備，若人願意，神救恩的門便會人而開，好像探子到喇合的家一樣
- 我們認同神工作、神預備的大能嗎？
﹣ 喇合的相信是因為相信、並有相關的行動。（來11：31， 雅各2：25）

單純的信心讓我們認識上帝，並全家得救。
外邦人因為神的作為而產生信心，反觀已信主的郤未能有這個信心。

相信神是永遠不會太遲。。。所以我們也不可小看自己的身份，探子是上帝福音的見證人，連他們自己也不知道。所以我們必須要作隨時的預備(we have to be anytime ready).

Reflective question: "I could have done more, but we didn't"

CMC Day 2 Evening Message

James Taylor 戴繼忠牧師
從中國基督教史看宣教
約書亞記4：19-24

我們必須從宣教士的經驗中反省。。。
石頭的意思：
1. 要使地上萬民都知道，耶和華的手大有能力.
2. 要使你們永遠敬畏耶和華你們的神。』」

內地會宣教六原則

(reflection: 相比戴德生六個月的交通、為什麼我們現在連幾個小時也不願意？)

一。爲百萬靈魂的負擔、心裡焦急
— 海外的中國人、中國教會必須對屬靈的需要與托付放到主的面前
— 每個月一百萬個靈魂奔向一個沒有基督的永恆
》廿一世紀五大未得之民：unreached or underreached 回教徒、佛教徒、印度教、華人、西方人

二。入進隨俗、向誰像誰
— 我們願意入鄉隨俗、學習他們的文化嗎？語言、風俗
— 真正的跨文化

三。信心禱告、神的供應
— 禱告：先學習在本土傳福音
— 禱告：學習默默等候神的供應《耶和華以勒、以便以設耳(以便以謝)》
— 戴德生曾說:「我們需要的並非偉大的信心，而是信靠一位偉大的神。…按照神的方式作神的工作，斷然不會缺乏神的供應。」
— 約書亞:四十年前，神使紅海水乾了，今天衪使約旦河水乾了

四。合一多元、同心合一
— 合一不可忽略多元，多元亦不能破壞合一
— 不擔心宣教士(宣教事工)沒有錢，是害怕有錢但沒有宣教士(宣教事工)
— 宣教中的合而為一：跨文化、超宗派

五。全體動員、各盡其職
— 不可只靠教會牧師領袖，是全教會總動員
— 平信徒也十分重要，使用職埸活出信仰 Your profession as profession (of faith)
》宣教的水果？ 不是passion fruit，而是，mango = man + go

六。建立本土的教會、蒙恩施恩

Prayer: 願感動戴德生的靈加倍的感動我們

CMC Day 1 Notes

CMC Day 1 Morning
黄子嘉牧師

從聖經看宣教

1. (from introduction of speaker) The elder of the church who hire 黄子嘉牧師 told us when hiring, the church said to Rev. Wong:"我們是一個國度的教會，若是為了國度的緣故，你要出去多少次，都未有所謂。＂ The elder testified: "要從神的國度看，不要小氣。"
2. Kingdom of heaven (in Matthew) = Kingdom of God (else in the Bible)
3. To truely understand Kingdom of God, have to live in the kingdom of God, summit to God, 順服於神的管治之下。
4. 要明白神的國，要明白主耶穌到世上的意義：傳神的國的福音，要人悔改。
5. 約翰福音中＂見＂跟＂到＂是一樣的。(3:36, 8:51-52)
6. 我們傳福音 = 我們把神的國度帶到我們生活之中，帶到我們的社會之中。

CMC Day 1 Exposition

陳世欽牧師
列下7：1-20
豈可閉口不言？

從閉口不言到傳神的話語

1. 認清一切全是恩典 （5-7）
-感恩的心、催迫我們不能不說
-謙卑的心
-屬靈的驕傲是屬靈的盲點

2. 深感他人迫切需要 （8-9）
-明白他人身處的境況
-明白自己的保留是不對的
-明白自己的責任是要報好消息

3.跨越自己、承擔挑戰 （3-5,10-11）
-累、還是要去
-機會轉眼即逝

CMC Day 1 Evening

Raymond Lee
Esther 4:12-17

What is your role God have in you for the world?

Say Esther, it may be a bad time as a woman, bad time as a Jew, even a bad time as a queen. But that is not an excuse for us to ignore the role God has given to us.

There is always a reason behind His plan, no matter how bad the situation it is, if it's your role, it's your role.

CMC Workshop Day 1

網路宣教

- 你們要去使＂網民＂作我的門徒
- ＂沉迷上網＂ 現在已經沒有一個確實的定義或標準
- John Edmiston : Ten Ways the Internet Is Changing Evangelism and Missions
資訊、理性、尋索、統合、動員等等
- Because of the web search, no one can claim they are the lone expert
- Parents / adults have to make sure what they say, what they teach
- using website to bring people back to Christ
- Why no visit to Christian website? they focus on experience, interest, caring... Does the website has characterizes? professionalism, reformation, usage, enjoy the process of usage not the process of building
- for Christian? Or including non-Christians too?

MAM Training Camp today...

Prayer items for MAM2010

1. Despite the cancellation of MAM Sudbury, praise the Lord that we have MAM Niagara Falls and MAM London with a total of 17 members.
2. Please pray for the preparation for each team, as the trip is only 2 months away.
3. Pray for the unity among teams, as team members are coming from different churches with different expectations and experiences.
4. Pray for the relationship with God for all members, as it will be a tough spiritual war.
5. Please remember all the leaders, as many challenging decisions will have to be made ahead.

Panama Update (4)

Time really flies, and I can’t believe that I only got two weeks more here in Panama.
The past week were wonderful and a very good experience for me.

(1) 10th Anniversary of Panama Youth Camp

As mentioned in the last update, the camp was very successful. Among 138 participants, 38 of them dedicate their lives to God first time, while many of them rededicate themselves to God, there are four of them willing to offer themselve to God as full-time minister if God's will. Please keep continue to pray for the youth, as a lot of follow-up work have to be done by the local ministry here in Panama. Also, please pray for the ministers so that they will have wisdom and strength to feed these new sheeps.

Here are some photos:







If you have facebook, you can also take a look here at the camp memories for the past ten years.

(2) Dr. Hanson Wong free medical treatments

I have the chance to involve in the medical mission trip by Dr. Hanson Wong. His team travelled around different countries to give free treatments to help people relieved from their physical pain, while at the same time, evangelise them so that they can also be relieved from their spiritual pain.




Among the five days here, I was glad that I was able to help out with two days. In both days, I mainly help in putting the medicine into the needles, while the local ministers preaching to the patients while they are waiting. It was an eye-opening experience for me, as I eye-witnessed how Dr. Wong preached the gospel while needling people (yes, strange, but it works…!), and how many people turn themselves to Christ in the clinic.

This is what the gospel is for: relieving people from their pain, physically and spiritually.

(3) Chinese New Year Celebration Event in Panama

For the past few years, not only that the Chinese community started celebrating Chinese New Year together, they started to have events involving the main-stream community. The church, of course, will not give up this great opportunity and have a booth there at the “market”. We hand out gospel tracts and bookmarks, and people are willing to take them. I was told that there was a university student later called the church because he saw the booth at the event. Praise the Lord. Click here for the photos…

This year, beside the “market”, the Chinese community leaders have a joint venture with the 中國海外交流協會 for a wonderful show and 春茗after the show. More than 1500 people were at the show while 2500+ were at the dinner. ()
So many people showing up at the show and dinner indicating the life style of Chinese community here had been changing rapidly in the last five years. When I came here the first time in 2005, closing down for Chinese New Year is not common and spending $30-50 in these entertainments is almost impossible. Wednesday night, thousands of people are gathering around for the one-hour firework show before midnight, and people are holding up their digital cameras and video cameras. However, while their life-style is improving, at the same time, the door of gospel is also opening wider and wider. Please pray for Panama Chinese community.

(4) Gathering with youth and their families

Having some reunion time with the youth during a picnic trip Monday afternoon and attending birthday party at night make my trip much fruitful. Not only I have a chance to talk with some youth leaders, I also have the chance to communicate with their non-Christian parents.




(5) Joint Alliance Retreat

I have participated in part of the retreat for all Panama Alliance churches. I also have the chance to communicate with the young adult group during the retreat.

(6) Prayer items and upcoming schedule

2.18 – Helping local missionaries to update their computer systems
2.19 – Visitation and Bible studies (Iglesia Evangelica China de Panama)
2.20 – Sharing at Daniel Fellowship 10th Anniversary Gathering (Iglesia Evangelica China de Panama)
2.22/26 – Sharing at Alliance Joint Young Career Fellowship (Iglesia Alianza)
2.25 -- Visiting Santiago Ministry (Iglesia Alianza)
2.26 –Bible study (IEC Panama)
2.27 – Sharing at Daniel Fellowship (IEC Panama)
2.28 – Preaching at Iglesia Evangelica China de Panama
2.29/3.4 – Training for Daniel/Timothy Fellowship (IEC Panama)
3.5 – Leaving for Canada

Panama Update (3)

Dear all, thank you for your prayer support.

The 10th Anniversary of Panama Youth Camp was very successful. Among 138 participants, 38 of them dedicate their lives to God first time, while many of them rededicate themselves to God, while four of them willing to serve as full-time ministers. Please keep continue to pray for the youth, as a lot of follow-up work need to be done by the local ministry here in Panama. Also, please pray for the ministers so that they will have wisdom and strength to feed these new sheeps.

Today. I have the opportunity to help out with an evangelical clinic held by a Chinese-American doctor. Not only I learn how to fill up 600 needles in a hour, I also learn the pain of the patients, as I was needled too...!

Photos will be up soon, stay tuned...

Sunday (14th), I will particpate in Chinese New Year event similiar to what we have in Toronto, although a bit smaller in size. But the traffic should be huge. The Panama Chinese Church will have a booth at the event, please pray for the ministry.

Monday (15th), there will be a boat cruise where the youth fellowship and their families will enjoy the day on the sea. Of course I will be there too...! Please pray for the evangelical work, especially pray for the young people.

All Panama Alliance Churches will have a joint retreat Monday to Tuesday. Although not confirmed with my schedule, as there will be another clinic on Tuesday (and I am very interested in helping out), mostly I will be able to join the retreat Tuesday evening. Please pray for the retreat and please pray for the clinic.

Again, thank you for your prayer support... and... Happy Chinese New Year...!
May God bless you with a fruitful year of Tiger...!

Panama Update (2)

Enjoying the past weekend very much.

Friday nite, I shared my experience of "how to be a person following God's will". What I actually did is to share my mistakes in the past and to encourage them to learn more about God thru the Bible.

Saturday, pre-camp was successful. At night, the youth fellowship of IEC go out for visitation as their program. The visitations go better than we expected. My team headed to the new mall for visitation... yeah...! Grandma of one of the youth turn to Christ during this event. Praise the Lord.

Starting Monday, for five days, 136 teens will be at the 10th Panama Youth Camp. Please pray for these teens as most of them have yet to confirm their faith. Also, please pray for the committee, as there will be 170 people in the camp, and many things for the committee to handle: meals, games, bible studies... and please pray for the speaker.

Some photos here... take a look...

Panama Update (1)

Give thanks to God that brings me safely arrive to Panama.

My first lesson during this trip: "Bestbuy Express".

Yes, I am so outdated. I really cannot imagine that I cannot find a pop machine nor machine for chips or chocolate bar at the airport, but an auto-selling machine for ipods, headsets and camera.

I am thinking... will there be a day that we might have a "Devotion express", that we will have Bibles and devotional books available...

In Panama, my first day already a fulfilled one.

Not only that I had the opportunity to have dinner with some young adults here to update their recent lives, also I spent most of the day learning the latest development of the youth ministry here in Panama City. Things have changed a lot here for just one year.

Here are some prayer items.
(1) I will be speaking for a youth group in one of the Alliance churches here on the topic "How to understand the will of God". Not only pray for the youth here, but also pray for me as I don't think I am experience enough to "give a workshop" but simply "share my experience and mistakes".
(2) There are already a record-breaking 130+ teens register for the youth camp, and more to come. Please pray for the teens so that they can understand more about God.
(3) Two members from Calgary already in Panama but two more will arrive Friday afternoon while two from Toronto will arrive late night. Please pray for a safe trip.
(4) Pre-Camp training will take place Saturday afternoon.

Urbana Day 4

Reflections on Day number 4.

We know that we should not stay in the darkness but walk in the light. However, there are so many wounds and issues that we do not want God to touch us and wanna cover up ourselves in the darkness.

Sometimes we are deep in these kinds of situations that even we hear the saving-call from God, but we seems like get stuck in the crowded stadium while you cannot find the exit.

That's me.

But the evening message give us the solutions: Prayer...!

We know how to pray, but sometimes our prayer just repeating the facts that God already know. We just forget what role did God has in our prayers. We forget His power. We forget His almighty. We forget HIM.

Pray with our full heart. Tell Him what is in our heart. Tell Him truly what we would want to ask Him. That is what the prayer is for.

There will only be one exit in the crowded stadium: Pray truly to God.

Urbana Day 3

Coming to day 3, everyone of us feeling tired, and... overwhelming.
So many information regarding mission, so many things about our inner lives, so many things about our future...

Really need time to sit down and digest...

Few things that I need to reflect on today

(1) John 2:11 saying that the miracle of turning water to wine was the first of the signs through which Jesus revealed his glory. If I were Jesus, what kind of changes do I want to become the first sign...?

(2)Since last nite, thru this morning, till this night... "Trust in God's providence" running around my head... Am I trust God enough regarding his providence?

(3)One speaker said, God do not want "helicopter missionary". Yes, I am now involving a few mission projects, but do I really have root in them?

(4)John 15 talking about abiding in God. Learning the word of God without obedience just like knowledge without live. Obedience... A huge hole for me to improve.

(5)Give is always better than get. Speaker today reminding me: Get is not bad, but its all about self-center. Give is something we should learn, experience and put in practice. Am I willing to give without thinking of getting?

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Tomorrow... commitment nite... hmm...

Urbana Day 2

A few questions today which really makes me to reflect on my own spirituality...

First Question, during the morning Bible study on John 1:35-42:
"If you really trusted God's role in bringing your friends to a place of belief, how would it affect the way you think about evangelism? What blocks you from inviting people to 'come & see'?"

Second reflection, during the exposition session on John 1:43-51...
Together with John 1:35-42, Jesus told the two disciples "Come and See" and they can see the Messiah. Philip told Nathanael "Come and See", that turns Nathanael declaring that Jesus is God.
Then, question to myself, am I good/faithful/trust-worthy enough for other to take my "Come and See"...?

Third reflection... for us, as a pastoral leader, our mission road should be like "Transformation -> Covenant -> Mission".
Do I Transform enough so that my testimony can display what God grace has cast upon me? Is my covenant with God a good testimony of my relationship with God? Will my direction of Mission be not in the right focus?

Urbana Day 1

After 15 hours of driving in a mild snow storm, we finally arrived in St. Louis safely.

And... the tiredness did not block the message of God in the very first day, given that its a short one.

First reminder: Despite any expectation of coming to Urbana2009, it won't make any difference unless we allow it to make some difference to us. Yes, I really have to open up my heart in order for His Message to flow thru my mind...

First message from Urbana2009:
John 1:14. God use "Incarnation" to (1) use as a mean to communicate with us (2) sending us a message and (3) be a model for us.

Speaker reminds me that Jesus did not save us by inviting us to his place, but coming to our world instead, a place where not the most comfortable.

My question to myself: Why I am working on campus with students?
Reflection: Simply because campus is the most comfortable place for students.

Yes, that is campus mission...

Panama Mission Trip Recap

感謝神於今年二月至三月份，給予我及兩位於福音千里行作領袖事奉的弟兄姊妹一個到巴拿馬作短宣學習的機會。今次我們有兩個使命：(一)參與第九屆巴拿馬中西文青少年營及(二)參與巴拿馬華人基督教會(巴京堂)的青年事工。

於青少年營內，作為講員的我，抱著既興奮、又緊張的心情，一半因為過去幾次於營內多是參與遊戲或總務的角色，作講員時心情卻有點不同的感覺。另一半則是預備工作上所遇到凡困難，比較於預備加拿大的營會時多；不單是年齡領域上較大 (參加者由十一至二十歲不等) ，成長背景亦有很大的差異。可是神的恩典卻是大於我們的所想所求，我在當中所學習的亦較我想像的多。是次令會以「導向人生」為主題，在預備其中一天的資料時，神感動我應以「彼此相愛」為題，不知為何卡我內心深處卻存有很大的疑慮，可是我仍抱著信心的去分享。在最後一晚營火會內的分享時間，出乎我意料之外的，是大部份的分享都是圍繞在「彼此相愛」對他們的影響，神的意念真是較我們的意念為高。

更令人感到雀躍的是，藉著訊息、查經、遊戲、話劇、電影及各導師組長的引導，營內約五十名未信主的年青人，有三十九名決志信主，於全營會120人內，亦有18人願意奉獻作全時間的事奉的立志，請為這些巴拿馬的青少年人禱告，求神堅定他們對神的信心。

在青少年營之後，我們藉著「潑水節」假日，與巴京堂青年團契的弟兄姊妹一同到巴拿馬城以外約個半小時車程的El Valley旅行。藉著與他們在行山、游水等節目與他們多點時間相處，更深入了解他們的生活及掙扎，從而能在之後兩星期的訓練之中，給予更適合的訊息。

感謝神於這次短宣之中，讓我們學習到更多對宣教的認識，對使者福音千里行事工亦能作出適當的改善，藉此給予加拿大的學生一個更多學習的宣教體驗。

馮耀宗
多倫多學生事工助理統籌

Kelvin's Panama Updates

Dear all,
Time flies so fast, here we come to the last seven days for my five-weeks mission trip.

Thank you for His opportunity, He let all of us who are in the youth camp learn a lot within those five days, serving or participating, including myself. Among the 112 participants, almost 50 of them are first-time comers. And almost 50 of these teens are non-Christians. The topic: Look for your purpose of life – Trust in the Lord, with the theme verse Proverbs 3:5-6, helping everyone of us to know more about our real meaning of life, especially how to love one another. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 39 decide to become Christians, 96 (obviously including some recent converts) dedicate their daily lives to God, and 18 among all willing to commit for full-time ministry if that is the willing of God. Praise the Lord. Please keep praying for these teens. You can see their pictures here: http://stupidxteam.blogspot.com/2009/02/photos-in-panama.html

We were then able to visit el Valley, a dead volcano turned village, to have some fun for four days. We spend 5 hours to conquer a 900m-high mountain (the name of the mountain: sleeping princess), and we also spend a few hours at the beach (the water is really salty). You can go to my photos at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=68902&id=514761224&l=7c07e and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=68906&l=d3c07&id=514761224. We had a wonderful trip as we all learnt together how to support each other during difficult times, especially when we are walking up the hill. Also because of some miscommunication, some of us have to head back to Panama City before our trip ends, but that miscommunication also teaches every one of us how to care about brothers and sisters around us.

These events also help the short term mission team to ease up some of the tension among the youth fellowship which due to the rapid growth. The fellowship has now 40 people compares to the 20-25 last year. Please pray for the fellowship. Pray that God will give them strength and wisdom so that everyone in the fellowship can enjoy a healthy spiritual grow.

Also have to give thanks to God despite the snow storm in US kept them from return to Canada for a day due to flight cancellation, they are now safely back home. Please keep praying for me, as I will have two trainings on Thursday and Friday night, while having a workshop during Saturday fellowship. And pray for me for a safe trip back on Tuesday night.

Again, thank you for your prayer support.
Kelvin in Panama

Photos for Compañerismo Daniel

#1 Valentine's Day (Feb 14, 2009)
#2 8th Anniversary (Feb 21, 2009)
#3a Fellowship Outing #1 (Feb 28, 2009)
#3b Fellowship Outing #2 (Feb 28, 2009)

Photos for Campamento 2009

Camp Photo #1
Camp Photo #2
Camp Photo #3