Believing in God’s Unchanging Election

C-Mo and I responded to God’s calling and election 20 years ago, returning from Canada to Hong Kong to establish our church. We arrived in Hong Kong from Taipei on 24 April 2001, and started our first service on the second Sunday of May. We started at a very low point. C-Mo had a serious metrorrhagia in Taipei just ten days before departure. Her body was often in a fatigued and weak state after coming to Hong Kong, due to uterine fibroid bleeding. We had barely 2 dozen people attending our first service – and they were our friends and relatives! The gathering venue was rented. The next Sunday, our service had only six people attending – including myself and C-Mo.

God is real. He has elected us, and so He keeps giving us grace and mercy. Today, we have services in our own Mercy Seat, which can accommodate 1,200 people. Moreover, we have 1,070 active cell group leaders! The number of congregation and branch churches we have now is far beyond what we could have imagined 20 years ago!

The key to the continuous growth over the past 20 years is following God by faith. Though we had a congregation of only 2 dozen in the early days, we already held two separate services: one Mandarin and one Cantonese. We even hired five co-workers! This was incredible in the eyes of many people. To me, hiring co-workers was like exploring for water and digging wells. The more water we had, the more people we could supply. We never let our financial status decide how many co-workers we hire.

I believe that when our co-workers rise up to disciple people, more people will be brought to church. Over all these years, I have been thinking in this way. I don’t set my eyes on money but rather, I look upon God and follow Him in faith. Today, we have more than two hundred co-workers and they are all God’s reward! God has brought us through all the difficult situations one by one, and after each situation we become stronger and more blessed.

Currently facing the difficult circumstances of the world, many people in Hong Kong want to emigrate. But I keep saying at the pulpit and during morning devotions: we are to follow God instead of seeking to emigrate. I have two reasons for this. First, if we pursue in our heart the protection and sense of security offered by this world, then we cannot follow God. The authorities and powers of this world will be over one day, but only Yahweh our God endures forever. No matter what the world becomes, He is forever in control. Second, as God has planted 611 Church in Hong Kong to become a Tree of Life to bless the world, we cannot evade and escape when encountering difficulties. God’s will and election are irrevocable. He will keep us until the end.

In the midst of the pandemic and economic distress, God will continue to take us to surpass all the difficulties. He has worked countless signs and wonders over the past 20 years, and will continue to grant us grace and rewards in the days to come. Dear brothers and sisters, let us just believe in and respond to His election and follow closely!■[2021.05.02]