2026-08-23

牧人心語

星期三，我和教牧同工們分享如何訂定事工目標。我們談論不單要定下S.M.A.R.T. 的目標，更要有S.M.A.R.T.E.R. 的目標。S.M.A.R.T. 的意思，是說我們的目標要Specific具體、Measurable可衡量、Attainable能實現、Realistic切合實際、和要有Time Bound時限，但除此之外，我們還要經常Evaluate評估分析、Review審查調整進度和方向。

有同工提出教會事工很難用數字衡量。比如教會崇拜的出席人數並不能決定教會是否 「興旺」，但若再加上受浸人數，參加查經班和門徒訓練的人數，我們就可以知道教會整體發展是上行還是下滑。而S.M.A.R.T.E.R. 是用來幫我們去籌劃事工，並不是單純去評估事工。

天父爸爸賜給我們思考和籌算的能力，這是祂給我們的禮物，我們不用，不單是浪費，更是辜負祂的恩典。但與此同時，我們必須記住，「人計畫自己的道路；但上主導引他的腳步。」（箴言16: 9）意思是在我們籌劃的過程中，不要忘記尋求天父的指引，因為祂說：「我的道路高過你們的道路；我的意念高過你們的意念。」（以賽亞書55: 9）

讓我鼓勵大家在籌劃自己和家人要走的道路時，不要只從自己的願望、需要著眼，要學習從天父為我們設計和安排的計劃著眼，尋求祂的指引。因為祂說：「我自己知道我為你們所定的計劃，是使你們得平安，而不是遭受災禍的計劃；要賜給你們美好的前程和盼望。這是耶和華的宣告。」（耶利米書 29:11）

主內的弟兄姊妹，我們在籌劃自己和家人要走的道路時要尋求神的指引，那麼，我們在教會裡的事奉就更應尋求祂的指引。祂為我們預備了一個屬靈的家，不單希望讓我們得到照顧和支援，更希望我們能團結力量作主工，出去替祂收割已熟的莊稼。我們已經為自己籌劃了很多事情，讓我們也花點時間，S.M.A.R.T.E.R. 地籌劃天父吩咐我們去做的工作。

招牧師

代禱事項

• 1. 感謝讚美神，讓我們有一連串邀請家人、朋友認識基督信仰的機會。求聖靈指導我們如何去邀請他們一齊來參加這些活動。
• 2. 為下主日張瑪莉女士在Pleasanton的分享見證聚會祈禱。求神激勵弟兄姊妹要努力嘗試邀請親友參加。
• 3. 為Milpitas青少年事工代禱。教牧正考慮調整牧養他的重點和策略，也需要有更多義工能幫忙。求神賜智慧給教牧同工，讓他們能明白神心意，並願意彼此配搭服事。
• 4. 為陳志輝牧師夫婦及Gary弟兄夫婦到烏克蘭和波蘭的短宣旅程祈禱。求神賜平安，並讓他們在旅程中能獲得啟發，知道應如何在那裡拓展福音事工。
• 5. 為San Leandro分堂即將於星期六早上開始的中文品格班和其他社區活動代禱。求神賜福參加者和他們的家庭，並讓他們有機會能認識我們的教會和神的愛。

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From the Heart of a Shepherd

On Wednesday, I shared with my pastoral colleagues how to set ministry goals. We discussed not only setting SMART goals, but also SMARTER goals. SMART means that our goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. However, in addition to these, we also need to regularly Evaluate, and Review to adjust progress and direction.

Some colleagues pointed out that church ministry is difficult to measure numerically. For example, the number of people attending worship services does not determine whether the church is “prosperous.” But if we add the number of baptisms, Bible study groups, and discipleship training, we can know whether the church’s overall development is on the rise or decline. SMARTER is used to help us plan our ministry, not simply to measure success.

Our Heavenly Father has given us the ability to think and plan; this is a gift from Him. To not use it is not only a waste, but also a betrayal of His grace. At the same time, we must remember, “Man plans his own ways, but God directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). This means that in our planning process, we should not forget to seek the Father’s guidance, for He says, “My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

Let me encourage everyone, when planning the path for yourselves and your families, not to focus solely on your own desires and needs, but on the plan that the Father has designed and arranged for you, and to seek His guidance. For He says, “I know for myself what my plans for you are, that they may bring you peace and not harm, that they may give you a good future and a hope,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Brothers and sisters in the Lord, if we seek God’s guidance when planning the path for ourselves and our families, then we should seek His guidance even more in our service in the church. He has prepared a spiritual home for us, not only hoping that we will receive care and support, but also hoping that we can unite our strength to do the Lord’s work going out to reap His ripe harvest. We have already planned many things for ourselves, so let us also take time to plan, in a SMARTER manner, the work that our Heavenly Father has commanded us to do.

Pastor Chiu

Prayer Requests

• 1. Praise be to God for giving us several opportunities to invite family and friends to church. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide us on how to invite them to attend the church activities.
• 2. Pray for Ms. Mary Cheung’s sharing in Pleasanton next Sunday. Ask God to encourage brothers and sisters to make an effort to invite relatives and friends to attend.
• 3. Pray for the Milpitas youth ministry. The pastors are considering adjusting the focus and strategies of our English ministry. We need more volunteers. Ask God to grant wisdom to the pastoral staff so that they may understand God’s will and be willing to cooperate in serving one another.
• 4. Pray for Pastor Thomas Chan and his wife, and Brother Gary and his wife, on their short-term mission trip to Ukraine and Poland. Pray for peace and that they may gain inspiration during their trip, knowing how to expand their evangelistic ministry there.
• 5. Pray for the Chinese class and other community activities that planned to begin at the San Leandro campus on Saturday morning. May God bless the participants and their families, and give them the opportunity to come to know our church and God’s love.