2026-09-20

牧人心語

我大概有二十年沒有參加社區的教牧祈禱會了，但在昨天早上有一位傳道人提醒我要出席，因在祈禱會中，將會分享有關教會和社區建立關係的機會。於是我就臨時決定出席參加，希望能找到教會可以參與社會關係的資訊。因為在前一天，有位姊妹告訴我，我們計劃參加在城市公園舉辦的中秋節活動可能泡湯。

禱告會有來自不同教會和語言的牧者，有幾位我還認得，其他都是我不認識的。其中一位同工看見我出席，很高興來歡迎我，不過我感覺到他的笑容背後，好像還夾雜了點點驚喜。我心想，我已經二十年沒有出席了，他有這表情並不出奇。誰不知他在我去拿飲料的時候，走到我身邊在我耳邊說，聚會之後，我是否有空可以跟他聊聊？

聚會結束之後，我們找了個地方坐下來談。他告訴我，兩天前，他有位牧師朋友叫他來找我分享他教會所面對的一個困境，看看我有甚麼建議給他，想不到我昨天就在禱告會中出現。於是他就將他正在面對的困境和我分享。我就和他分享處理類似問題的經驗，給他一個處理教會危機的建議，然後為他和他的教會禱告。在離別前，他對我說了一句我不敢當的話：你搭救我出離淤泥，讓我看到了出路。

我在回教會的路上回想這個經驗，看到天父如何看顧自己的兒女和教會。如果不是我知道我們計劃參加的社區活動可能泡湯，我就不會參加這個我已經有二十年沒有參加的禱告會；如果不是另一位牧師鼓勵這位牧師跟我談談他的困境，而我的出席讓他看到神的預備。他可能就不會那麼開放，亳無保留的把他教會的問題與我分享。雖然我不曉得我的建議是否真能幫助他和他的教會，我們都在這個過程中看到了神在做工。如果我們已看到了神的作為，我們就可以有信心和底氣繼續去面對我們人生中的挑戰。

主內的弟兄姊妹，天父爸爸沒有離棄我們，祂的眼目一直看顧著我們。我們絕對可以像大衛一樣，在淤泥中向神發出呼求：求你搭救我出離淤泥，不叫我陷在其中；求你使我脫離那些恨我的人，使我出離深水。（詩篇 69:14）

招牧師

代禱事項

• 1. 感謝讚美神，因祂天天在看顧著自己的兒女，讓我們在患難中有倚靠，落在淤泥中也無需恐懼，祂必出手拯救和幫助我們。感謝讚美神。
• 2. 為教會在十月十日，星期六舉行的傳福音大會代禱。我們已進入最後籌備階段，求神使用這次聚會，激勵全教會弟兄姊妹愛神和愛人的心，同心完成神交付給我們教會的使命。
• 3. 為各堂會正開始邀請弟兄姊妹參與明年教會的各樣服事祈禱。求神幫助各堂會組成同心合一的服事團隊，一起建立教會，推展天國事工。
• 4. 為Pleasanton 分堂今日舉行僑遷十週年感謝讚美神。感謝神守護教會，讚美神讓我們能繼續為祂結果子、傳福音。
• 5. 為教會的門徒訓練事工代禱。求神激發弟兄姊妹渴慕經歷神的心，讓更多人願意接受裝備，成為像主、愛主的門徒。

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From the Heart of a Shepherd

I hadn’t attended a local pastoral prayer meeting for about twenty years, but yesterday morning a pastor reminded me to attend. He mentioned that the meeting would share information about activities in the city. Therefore, I decided to attend on a whim, hoping to find information for our church to get involved in some social services.

The prayer meeting is for pastors who serve at different language churches in the city. I recognized a few, but most of them were strangers to me. One of the pastor friends was happy to see me show up at the meeting and came to welcome me, but I sensed a hint of surprise behind his smile. I thought to myself, “I haven’t attended in twenty years; that might be why he had that kind of facial expression.” Then, while I went to get a drink, he came up to me and whispered in my ear, “Do you have time to chat after the meeting?”

After the meeting, we found a place to sit down and talk. He told me that two days ago, his friend suggested to him to seek advice from me about the problem of his church. He did not expect my presence at the prayer meeting and considered the happening as God’s grace. Therefore, he opened up and shared the struggles he was facing. I shared my experiences with him on handling similar situations and gave him some advice on dealing with his church crises. Then, I prayed for him and his church. Before leaving, he said something I felt unworthy of: “I feel that you rescued me from the mire and showed me a way out.”

On my way back to church, I reflected on this experience and saw how our Heavenly Father watches over His children and His church. If I hadn’t known that the community event we planned to join might not work, I wouldn’t have attended this prayer meeting, which I hadn’t attended in twenty years. If another pastor hadn’t encouraged this pastor to talk to me about his problems, he wouldn’t have been so open and unreserved in sharing his problems with me, because he also saw God’s arrangements behind the scenes. Although I don’t know if my advice will truly help him and his church, we both saw God at work in this process. If we have seen God’s work, we can have the confidence and courage to continue facing the challenges in our lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, our Heavenly Father has not forsaken us; His eyes are always watching over us. We can absolutely cry out to God like David, in the mire: “Rescue me from the mud, and do not let me be trapped in it; deliver me from those who hate me, and bring me out of the deep waters.” (Psalm 69:14).

Pastor Chiu

Prayer Requests

• Praise be to God, for He watches over His children daily, providing us with refuge in times of trouble. Even when we are in the mire, we need not fear; He will surely come to our rescue and help. Praise be to God.
• Pray for the evangelistic conference to be held by the church on Saturday, October 10th. We are in the final stages of preparation. Let us ask God to use this meeting to inspire all brothers and sisters in the church to love God and our neighbor, and to work together to fulfill the great commission God has entrusted to our church.
• Pray for our church campuses we had begun to invite brothers and sisters to participate in the various ministries of the church in 2027. Pray that God will help us form a united ministry team, to build the church and advance the work of the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Praise be to God for the 10th anniversary of the relocation of our Pleasanton campus today. Thank God for protecting the church, and praise God that we can continue to bear fruit for Him and spread the gospel.
• Pray for the disciple-making ministry of the church. Let us pray that God will inspire our brothers and sisters to yearn for experiencing God’s grace in our life, so that more people will be willing to be equipped and become disciples who love the Lord and live like Christ.