Only Tree of Life is the Way Out
Praise the Lord! Last Sunday in the 2nd service, Pastor Zhong Yi and his wife were commissioned as Senior Pastor of “Heavenly Spring” 611 in Kaohsiung, as we continue to plant Trees of Life everywhere in 52 years.
That afternoon, the Tree of Life Kindergarten graduation ceremony was held at the Wealthy Garden Main Hall. Everyone was deeply moved to see the children, wearing graduation gowns, entering the hall one by one. At the graduation this year, teachers encouraged their students to be true to themselves instead of organizing a large-scale performance. Each graduate gave a thanksgiving speech (also not pre-arranged by teachers) at the front as they received their graduation certificate. We are seeing the Kindergarten grow up as a steady green sprout, after years of cultivation.
Praise God! At the beginning of this year, our heavenly Father led us to connect with the Renoir Primary School of Taiwan. Its founders and their family members have received Jesus, and are willing to help us build the Tree of Life Primary School with “tree of life education” qualities. As we believe that God is using our church greatly to raise up education, may I urge everyone to pray for “Tree of Life education”. Besides the comprehensive development of our kindergarten, our application for a primary school is in full swing. Beyond the primary school, we are looking forward to establishing a Tree of Life secondary school and even University.
The “Garden of Eden” project in Cheung Chau is progressing well. After comprehensive assessment and planning from surveyors is complete, development shall commence right away. Praise the Lord for the two tracts of wetland in the garden, which means that the water source can be
effectively purified and the creatures on the land can multiply in diversity. We shall further cultivate this “fertile soil” step by step. Firstly, a greenhouse and a covered agricultural land will be built. Then, retreat camp sites shall be developed to provide you and I a place of peace and tranquility amidst our busy and fast-pace lives.
As the church is entering a time of rest, God is at work, bringing in good news. Our Youth Army and 3M departments have moved to their new office at Young Ya, following the HK Government waiving the “land use change premium”: they recently instituted an amendment, allowing media industry to use the land for five years without paying “land use change premium”. Therefore, after it is renovated, the multimedia center on the ground floor can be used at the end of this year. By then our festive celebrations, our creativity, our life stories, and our messages on the biblical truth can all be made into films, and broadcast to the world through the Internet.
The Youth Army opened up last “Friday Night” to the youth regarding the recent disputes over amendment of “Extradition Bill”. Praise God! After genuine and honest dialogue and healing, the children received care and love from the church. Facing the heated social controversy and turbulent social outlook of Hong Kong, the youth understand more what a godly response looks like: neither radical binary opposition, nor side-taking.
Brothers and sisters, society is in constant argument and on the verge of being torn-apart. The Tree of Life alone is the way out, and Jesus alone is the way out. We must continue praying and believing that the risen Lord, “the resurrected Lord, the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation,” is the One who rules over history. Let us rise up and respond. As a church, you and I are to be healthy Trees of life to shoulder the responsibility to disciple this generation.• [2019.06.30]