祈求和感謝
2005 年 1 月

短宣與我
馬玉玲 溫哥華自立中華基督教會

剛過去的夏天，是我十一年內第七次到英國短宣；更特別的是，今年是我首次踏足北愛爾蘭貝爾發斯特的十週年。當年參加兒童營的小孩子，今日已是十多歲的少年人，當日的年青人亦都上了大學或投身社會。最令我們興奮的是，他們穩定參加教會聚會，亦參與崇拜領唱或帶小組等事奉。

為什麼參加短宣？為什麼一次又一次去英國？驅使我參加短宣的原因很簡單，就是神給祝福我，短宣體驗亦叫我蒙福，讓我可以全心全意去服事那些需要福音的人，成為他們的祝福。雖然教會常呼籲更多人承擔領導和事奉，但我們必須承認，我們的教會實在人才濟濟，甚至足夠有餘。宣教，就是與別人分享我們的福氣，讓他們得嚐主厚賜與眾人的恩惠。但是，我是經過了好一段日子，才體認到這個道理。

自小信主的我，成長時得到許多牧師和講員的教導，挑戰我們把生命獻給主。多年來，我雖曾經歷許多懼怕和傷痛，但神總是加倍地對我施恩拯救。只是，我一直不肯完全順服於主，深怕祂會把我帶到我不願去的地方，令我不能回家！但神不斷提醒我，祂不會把我帶到祂恩典不夠我用的地方。祂逐步移開我自訂的界限：就是我認定只會作這些事奉，不作那些事奉的界限。在這過程中，祂教導我如何去愛人，作教導和領導，亦讓我分辨到要在那裡為主獻上時間和精力。

在第二次短宣旅程中，我對主說：「神啊，好吧，無論?領我往那裡去──或留下──我都願意。」在短宣中我們有何參與？探訪英國土生土長的華人青年，及他們辛勤工作的父母；帶領青年和兒童營；分享見證以及栽培初信者；但最重要的是，我可以安靜下來，仔細聆聽和觀看主在我和短宣隊友身上的作為。許多時候，人所作的不多，但我深信，主的話語大有能力，決不徒然返回。當我願意順服於神的時間和方法，我的信心亦隨之增加。

為什麼去英國？自從我第一次踏足英國，事奉英國的負擔就已放在我心裡。上宣教課時，學習到宣教工作可分為幾個階段：第一個階段是「創啟」──宣教士踏足工場，建立據點和傳揚福音；第二個階段是「牧養」──宣教士教導和栽培初信者；第三個階段是「夥伴」──宣教士和本地信徒合作成立教會和植堂；最後階段是「參與」──由本地信徒以領導身份承擔本地福音事工，宣教士則以參與者身份協助。不少宣教士窮其一生精力創啟工場，福音也未能落地生根。而我有幸在貝爾發斯特一班英語華人群體身上，親睹此四個階段的演變。短宣隊實在沒有可誇口的地方，只是「前人種樹，後人得果」，因著許多人忠心的事奉，今日我們得見其果效。

如果對某事不感興趣，英國人會說：「太麻煩，犯不著。 ( I can't be bothered)」多年來參加短宣隊，我一直問神會否為我安排一個長期的事奉工場。目前，神告訴我，我的「長期」事奉工場是家庭、教會和工作。能參與短宣是我的福氣，不時領略到與人分享福音的喜樂，而神亦不嫌其煩地使用我和其他弟兄姊妹，在英國成為祂所愛兒女的祝福。

Short-term Mission and I
Mona Ma   Christ Church of China, Vancouver

This past summer's short-term missions (STM) trip was my seventh one to the United Kingdom within 11 years. It was particularly special this being 10 years since the first time I visited Belfast, N. Ireland. The wee children from the Kids' Camps are now teenagers and the young teens we met then are now in university or working. What thrilled us most this time was seeing so many of them regularly attending their church youth groups and learning to lead worship or small groups.

What motivates me to go on STM and to keep returning to the U.K.? The simple answer to the first part is that I've been greatly blessed by God and STM, in turn, allows me to make a purposeful, whole-hearted effort to be a blessing to others who need the LORD. We must admit that though our church congregations always seek more in leadership and membership, we are actually very rich and blessed. Missions is sharing our blessings so that others also have a part of what God offers for everyone. It has been, however, a process for me to recognise that.

I became a Christian as a child and grew up admiring many speakers who challenged us about committing our lives to God. Through the years, I've had my fears and hurts, but never without a double portion of God's goodness and deliverance. Yet, for a long time, I hesitated in submitting fully to Him, afraid that He might put me somewhere I didn't like and that I wouldn't be able to go home! But God constantly reminded me that His will never lead me where His grace cannot keep me. He gradually erased the lines I drew for myself regarding what I would and would not do in serving Him. In the process, He taught me how to love people, to teach and lead, and to discern where I should invest my time and energy for Him.

It was the middle of my second STM trip before I actually said to the LORD, "Alright, God, wherever you want me to go-or to stay-I'm willing." What happened on those trips? We visited British-born Chinese youth, met their hard-working parents, led youth and children's camps, shared our testimonies, started to disciple new Christians. But, more importantly, I had opportunities to be quiet enough to hear and see what God can do with me and my teammates. Often, it didn't seem that we had much to offer although I'm convinced that the Word of God does not go out and return without accomplishing what He intends. My faith grew as I became willing to let God guide in His time and His way.

Why the U.K.? That burden has stayed on my heart since my first trip there. In the study of missions, there is a concept of stages of missionary work. The first stage is pioneering: of the missionary initially stepping into the field to establish a presence and to begin sharing the Gospel. The second stage is parenting where the missionary teaches, leads and continues to disciple new Christians. The third stage is partnering: the missionary and local Christians work together to plant and build the church. The fourth and final stage is participating, where the local Christians are able to develop their own ministry and provide leadership, and the missionary may be invited to participate. It's not unusual for missionaries to spend lifetimes pioneering in fields where God's Word has yet to take root. I feel that, in a microscopic way, I've had the unique privilege of witnessing all four stages amongst a group of English-speaking Chinese youth in Belfast. Lest our STM teams take any credit for that, though, someone once aptly observed that we simply had the honour of reaping where many others had faithfully sown.

The folks in the U.K. have an expression when they don't have an interest in something: "I can't be bothered." After years of going on STM trips, I've asked the LORD whether He has plans for me to be someplace for the long term. I believe He's saying that, for now, my family, church and workplace are where I'm to continue serving "long-term". But I have the privilege of taking short trips that renew my joy of sharing with others that God "can be bothered" to use me-to use us-to bless His people in the U.K.