牧師的話
“舉目觀看 收割莊稼”
胡忠倫 牧師
今年我們台福教會的總主題是 —「得人」。得人指的自然是主耶穌在2000多年前，在加利利海邊時，對著正在捕魚的彼得和安德列兩兄弟所說的：「來跟從我，我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣」(可1:17)
我小的時候，常有機會跟三兩好友，到台北近郊的烏來去釣魚，凡是釣過魚的人都知道釣魚的學問其實很大，例如：某些魚是在某些時候才會覓食的，某種魚是只吃某種魚餌的，某些魚是在某些流水或棲息地才會出現的…話雖如此，釣到魚有時候也得碰運氣，一個經驗豐富的釣客，也常有槓龜的時刻。無論如何，我相信一個要為主贏得靈魂的基督徒，與一位釣客之間是有幾項共同點：
1. 要預備 --- 一位準備向人傳福音的人，必然對於要傳福音的對象要有更深入的了解與認識，例如：他的背景、興趣、需要或目前內心的期望，否則「話不投機半句多」連第二次機會都沒有；因此不論對方是有無宗教信仰，我們自己對神、對世界、對世人及對人生都得先整理好一套看法，隨時可準備與對方分享或討論，自己都搞不清楚如何與對方對話？甚至邀請他？
2. 要付代價 --- 主耶穌花了三年多的時間在門徒身上，食、衣、住、行、醫病、趕鬼…通通在一起，我們準備花多少時間在一個慕道友身上？今天的文化，要我們快速、效率、以小搏大、計算成本效益，我始終覺得「No Pain, No Gain」，主耶穌說：「你們哪一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下來計算花費？恐怕安了地基不能成功，看見的人都笑話他！」屬靈生命建造真的沒有捷俓，我碰到許多人總希望「一炮而紅」，「一呼百應」，「點石成金」，「百發百中」沒有付出辛勞流汗代價，就算僥倖成功，事過境遷落花流水的
比比皆是，此外，傳福音本是屬靈的爭戰，若缺乏為自己與對方禱告及依靠聖靈大能，成功機會恐怕不大，一般而言，我們付的代價與最後結果常是成正比的。
3. 要有信心 --- 為主得人，在團契中服事，在工作中服事，我們須認知我們永遠只是在做「撒種、栽種、澆灌」的工作，唯有神能叫人「生長」，我們只是與神同工的，成功也不必在我，因此我們也不必輕易灰心失望、動搖；耶穌勉勵我們：「我所作的事，信我的人也要作，並且作比這更大的事」「因為凡從神生的，就勝過世界，使我們勝了世界的，就是我們的信心」我們被人拒絕，被人誤會，攻擊，環境困難，灰心喪志都在意料之中，然而靠著愛我們的主，我們在一切的事上將得勝有餘！展望2006年，眼見教會中各部門的服事，棒棒相傳，揚帆待發，主也不斷的將新朋友及新事工的感動帶給我們，我們也彼此互勉，並謹守此三原則，我相信主自己一定要帶領我們教會進入另一新的境界。
Words from Our Pastor
“Behold, the harvest is ready.”
Pastor Allen Hu
The annual theme of all EFC churches for 2006 is “Be a Fisher of Men.” This of course is taken from Mark 1:17, where Jesus, while walking beside the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake and said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
I used to go fishing, when I was young, with some of my good friends in the outskirts of Taipei. The knowledge of fishing is quite profound if you into this activity. For example, you need to know that some fish only come out for food during a certain time of the day, that others only eat a certain type of baits, and that still others only appear in certain areas of the river. Also, you need to have luck as well. Without luck, it is very common for an experienced angler to spend the whole day fishing and get nothing in return. Between an angler that angles for fish and a Christian that wins over souls for Jesus, I see some similarities.
1. Both need to be prepared.
A person ready to spread the Gospel must know his target well, e.g. the person’s
background, interests, needs, or expectations of life. Otherwise, you may have nothing to talk about with him and, therefore, lose the chance to speak to him again. In other words, no matter what religion your target believes in, you need to have some systematic ideas about what you believe in first, about God, about the world, about people and life. If you don’t have a good idea about your own faith, how can you share or discuss it with your target and invite him to church?
2. Both need to be willing to pay a price.
Jesus spent over three years living with his disciples. He ate with them, traveled with them, healed the sick with them, cast out demons with them, and so on. How much time are we willing to spend on a person who is just beginning to seek the Lord? In today’s society, we are taught to do everything quickly, efficiently, cost-effectively while minimizing our risk. For me, I still believe “no pains, no gains.” “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower,” our Lord Jesus said. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him.” (Luke 14:28-29) There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity. I have seen people who want to harvest without sowing. They may succeed, but the success is often short-lived. Spreading the Gospel is engaging in a spiritual warfare. Without depending on the power of the Holy Spirit and praying for yourself and your target, it is unlikely that you will succeed. Most of the time, what we pay is in proportion to what we get.
3. Both need to have faith.
As we try to win people over for the Lord while serving at work, we have to understand that what we can do is just sowing the seeds, planting them, and watering them. To make the seeds grow, it is God’s job. We are only His co-workers. Therefore, we don’t have to feel shaken or discouraged if we don’t see the growth. Jesus has encouraged us. He said, “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these. (John 4:12)”. ”For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)” So if we get rejected, misunderstood, attacked, or if we encounter difficulties or discouragement, we
don’t have to be surprised because these are all expected. And with Jesus that loves us, we can overcome them all. As we get ready to serve in 2006, God at the same time has brought us many new friends and given us many new visions. Let’s encourage each other with the abovementioned three principles. And may God lead us all to a new height in each of our ministries.
Senior Pastor Allen Hu & Jenny Hu
胡忠倫主任牧師及師母 Jenny
Assistant Pastor Anita Liu
劉玉蘭助理牧師
