牧人心語

有一對已移居洛杉機多年的前匯點人夫婦，星期二晚約我在線上會面。他們和我分享搬到羅省後，就一直參加這個教會的聚會，但愈來愈感到很難投入在這個教會中。特別最近他們主動和牧師聯絡，開始參與教會服事後，他們就愈發感到是外人，沒有被看為是「家」裡的人。

我問他們為甚麼會有這樣的感覺？他們說，很多弟兄姊妹和他們一樣，只是回來教會幫忙服事，彼此間沒有團契溝通；他們亦不清楚教會想要怎麼發展，大家都只是奉命而行。如果他們不是主動聯絡牧師，他們仍然只是來參加敬拜聚會的人。

每個教會都有一些只是來參加敬拜聚會的人，並沒有把教會看作是自己屬靈的家。所以，我為這對年輕夫婦能主動找牧師尋找服事機會感謝神。保羅提醒我們：你們不再作外人和客旅，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人了。（以弗所書 2:9）

耶穌升天後在地上設立教會，讓每個相信祂，願意跟隨祂，服事祂的人都有一個屬靈的「家」，讓他能在「家」裡和其他弟兄姊妹一起成長，被建立成為像主的門徒，和可以完成基督使命的軍旅，讓我們可以和祂一起搶救失落的靈魂。但我發覺有些弟兄姊妹並不明白保羅這個提醒的意義，只把教會看作為一個讓基督徒來聚會的地方，並且這裡有甚麼不好、有那些不是。

事實上，每個教會都有自己需要面對的問題。但當我們發覺教會有問題時，我們是袖手旁觀？大喊大罵？離家出走？還是一起想方法解決問題，建造一個能榮耀神的「家」呢？

我希望大家把匯點看作你屬靈的家，讓自己在這裡可以和其他弟兄姊妹互助成長，一起面對困難和挑戰，完成神交付給教會的使命。主內的弟兄姊妹、匯點人，讓我們再次成為人與神之間的交匯點！

這個星期五（四月廿四日）晚八點鐘，我們在San Leandro分堂有國語聯合培靈會。講員為華人策略聯盟總幹事李燕光牧師。講題為 「轉化荒年的奧秘。」有即時中文字幕翻譯。歡迎弟兄姊妹出席參加。

招牧師

代禱事項

• 1. 感謝讚美神San Leandro Campus 有一百位小朋友出席復活節的尋蛋遊戲，並已有卅多人報名參加這星期日舉辦的手工班。求神使用這機會引領更多慕道家庭到教會認識神。
• 2. 為星期五晚的國語培靈會代禱。求神使用講員的信息激勵會眾追求靈命成長，把握機會服事神。
• 3. 為我們當中的基督徒家長代禱。求神加添智慧和敏銳的心，懂得如何與子女溝通和幫助他們進一步認識神。
• 4. 為仍在尋找工作的弟兄姊妹代禱。求神賜平安，並指引他們尋找工作的方向和方法。
• 5. 為青少年暑期短宣的籌備工作代禱。求神幫助Pastor Hankin和他的團隊在籌募經費和安排短宣各項事宜上都順利妥當，讓參加者得造就。

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From the Heart of a Shepherd

A couple, former members of the Crosspoint Church who had lived in Los Angeles for 6-7 years, met with me online Tuesday evening. They shared with me that since they moved to Los Angeles, they have been attending a church. However, they increasingly felt a lack of engagement after they proactively contacted the pastor and began to serve as a greeter on Sunday. They felt like outsiders, not considered as part of the church family.

I asked them why they felt this way. They said that many brothers and sisters were like them, only coming to church to help with some works, but without much fellowship or communication. They also didn’t understand how the church wanted to develop. Everyone was following orders from the pastor. In fact, if they hadn’t proactively contacted the pastor, they would still just be regular attendees to the worship service.

Every church has some people who only attend worship services and don’t see the church as their spiritual home. I thanked God for this young couple because they took the initiative in seeking out opportunities to serve. Paul reminds us: You are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with God’s people, members of God’s household. (Ephesians 2:9)

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He established the church on earth, providing a spiritual “home” for everyone who believes in Him. This “home” allows them to grow together with other brothers and sisters in Christ, to be built up to become Christlike disciples, and part of the army capable of fulfilling Christ’s mission in rescuing the lost souls. However, I noticed that some brothers and sisters don’t understand the meaning of Paul’s reminder. They see the church merely as a place for Christians to gather, and they disapprove this and that of the church.

Indeed, every church has its own problems. When we discover problems in the church, do we stand idly by? Shout and yell? Run away? Or do we work together to find solutions and build a “home” that glorifies God? Yes, it depends on how we consider the church as our spiritual “home.”

I pray that you will see Crosspoint Church as your spiritual home, a place where you can grow in Christ, help you face difficulties and challenges, and be enabled to fulfill the mission God entrusted to the church. Brothers and sisters, members of Crosspoint Church, let us once again become a cross point between man and God!

This Friday (April 24th) at 8 PM, we will be holding a joint Mandarin revival meeting at the San Leandro Campus. The speaker will be Pastor Lambert Li, General Secretary of the Chinese Strategic Alliance. The topic of his talk is “The Mystery of Transforming Famine Years.” Instant Chinese subtitles will be provided. All brothers and sisters are welcome to attend.

Pastor Chiu

Prayer Requests

• Praise be to God that one hundred children attended the Easter egg hunt at the San Leandro Campus. Over thirty of them have registered for this Sunday’s craft class. Pray that God will use this opportunity to lead more families seeking to know Christ at our church.
• Pray for the Friday evening’s Mandarin revival meeting. Pray that God will use the speaker’s message to inspire the congregation to pursue spiritual growth and seize opportunities to serve God.
• Pray for the Christian parents among us. Pray that God will add wisdom and sensitivity to their hearts while they try to communicate with their children and help them further know God.
• Pray for the brothers and sisters still looking for job. Pray that God will grant them peace and guide them in their job search.
• Pray for the preparations for the summer mission trip for our teenagers. Pray that God will help Pastor Hankin and his team to successfully raise funds and arrange all aspects of the mission trip, so that the youth will be edified.