Offer Up the Best “Ingathering”
In July, right after the Cruise Carnival, in response to the vision of “Planting Trees of Life everywhere in 52 years”, the whole church as one sets her heart on it. All pastoral zones, MG tribes and cell groups have been holding various kinds and different scales evangelistic events, bringing over 1,500 people to Christ in just one month. Our daughter churches swiftly joined us in holding the Sukkot beach baptism on the 16th September, taking the total to 26 branch churches of 10 countries baptizing on the same day. Nearly 500 people have signed up for the beach baptism in our church.
Keeping high hopes for offering the best “Ingathering” to heavenly Father in this Sukkot, little did we expect the most powerful typhoon in history, “Mangkhut” is gaining strength over the Pacific ocean, forecast to sweep through Hong Kong and Macau with speed up to 200km/h on Sunday, 16th September. Some airlines even made unusual suggestions to passengers flying on Sunday and Monday to change their itineraries.
The course of “Mangkhut” is not a random coincidence because what happens in the physical world reflects the battle waging in the spiritual realm. Dear brothers and sisters, we must pray and have faith so that we shall see the wonderful deeds of God. May the Lord Almighty show us His power. As in 2013, Sukkot outdoor service and beach baptism were scheduled in Ma Wan when monster typhoon Usagi was hitting Hong Kong after lashing Kaohsiung. Earnestly we prayed and in faith, led by the Holy Spirit, under the threat of the typhoon, the outdoor service and beach baptism went as planned on the calm and serene Ma Wan. Violent wind and rainstorm came only after all was done and all personnel left safely.
Facing such momentous warfare, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening courses as well as cell group meetings are marshalled to pray in unity for the “916 beach baptism” in church as MG leaders lead brothers and sisters to wage the battle, seeking God to manifest His Might. Brothers and sisters, we have to march forward in faith and we shall see the wonderful deeds of God.
Last Wednesday night, flying to Jerusalem for the “Elders Meeting” hosted by Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations (JHOPFAN), I saw God revealing to us time and again. Being in Jerusalem, I would not have joined the monthly prayer meeting held on Thursday, 6th September. It was a nice surprise that 3M staff made good use of smartphone and connected us in the air, taking monthly prayer meeting to Jerusalem and returning Mercy Seat to Jerusalem, how incredible!
At Ro’sh Ha-shānāh (Jewish New Year) on Yom Teru’ah this year in JHOPFAN, I was assigned to lead the elders into the conference hall holding up the Golden Gate banner for the very first time. (JHOPFAN assigned nations to different prayer watch sessions, Hong Kong and Taiwan are in the Golden Gate prayer watch session). The banner of the Golden Gate used to go in the middle. Entering the Jewish Year 5779, we believe for a brand new start. Today God has chosen Hong Kong to activate worldwide revival. Sharing the vision of “Planting Trees of Life everywhere in 52 years” with leaders and pastors of nations during the convocation, I received a lot of positive comments, reassuring me the vision of “planting the Tree of Life everywhere in 52 years” is truly the will of God to revive the whole earth.
Dear brothers and sisters, Baptism of a Thousand is the best “ingathering” we offer to God in Sukkot. Let us move on by faith, pray with one heart and witness the wonderful deeds of God and the fulfillment of His perfect will in us.• [2018.09.16]