Pleasant Places
Our branch church in Central, “Carmel 611” officially launched last Sunday. On this launch service, many cell members and bible school students attended, it was a day of exuberance indeed. Unexpectedly, the number of attendance was 61 – God’s hand on us is real! We are thankful to see God’s hand in leading the planting of branch churches, and we are thankful to take this significant step forward in “Planting Trees of Life everywhere”.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Ps 16:6)
“Carmel 611” is our third branch church in Hong Kong, established after “Taipo 611” and “Wonderful 611.” We shall continue to pray for “Carmel 611,” that the pastor couples who are commissioned willingly shall build up a wonderful team, and that the church will grow to be a stout Tree of Life and disciple the nations.
“Wonderful 611” has been operating for over a year now, and in that year, we have seen the Grace of God, expanding their number from 70 to 200! Planting Trees of Life everywhere begins in Hong Kong, and we are looking forward to the birth of the fourth and fifth Hong Kong branch churches – as we move forward until Trees of Life have been planted in all 18 districts of Hong Kong!
2018 shall soon come to an end. From next January until October, it shall be a time of “rest” for the whole church. Ministry activities shall be reduced to half, so that co-workers shall prepare to enter the rhythm of rest. It is never easy for us to rest, as we have many ongoing meetings and affairs to attend to. However, C-Mo and I have endeavored to make time to declutter: how delightful and satisfying it was, to see my desk clean and tidy! Likewise, we strongly encourage all of our co-workers to declutter their homes. Next year, co-workers shall be visiting one another in their homes: sharing meals and conversations, so that deeper relationships can be built.
During this time of rest, we also urge co-workers to be mindful of their physical health. Earlier on, we invited Dr Lin Guangchang to do a health check-up for our co-workers. We were surprised to learn that the coworkers who joined us in the North Point era were healthier than our newer co-workers who joined us after we moved to Wealthy Garden! This reminded us that we had held many health seminars back in the North Point era, hence many of those co-workers would be more health-conscious. Following this health check-up, we are pleased to see our co-workers starting detox diets and improving their eating and exercise habits. We wish for all co-workers to stay healthy for the mission to plant Trees of Life everywhere in 52 years before the Lord.
Besides being physically healthy, it is crucial to be spiritually and emotionally healthy. A cell leader who is healthy in spirit and mind will be strong in discipleship, and lead a healthy cell group. C-Mo and I have noticed that a positive-minded cell leader holds a cell group at fixed time and fixed place: sharing the Word of God, praying for cell members, and building relationship with cell members. No doubt, the Holy Spirit shall work in this cell leader, and bring forth a healthy-growing cell group.
Praise the Lord for granting us the MG12 discipleship structure, which is the backbone of church development. The number of cell leaders determines the size of the church. Dear brothers and sisters, the boundary lines from God definitely fall in most pleasant places for you and me. We must exercise our gifts, and rise up to disciple: become a cell leader, in order that our lives shall grow continuously and experience the blessings of planting Trees of Life everywhere. • [2018.12.23]