Manna issue 80 - We Live to Do Meaningful 活出有意義的生活
A sister's journey of faith and
service.
一位姐妹信仰和服事的旅程
I-Ju Fang—Taipei, Taiwan
台灣台北 方顗茹傳道
"You did not choose Me, but I chose
you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit…”
(Jn 15:16)
16不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，
(約 15：16)
Every believer in the true church has
been chosen by God, and His will
for us is to manifest His image and
bear fruit for His glory. I would like to
share with you my journey of faith,
and how I came to have a deeper
understanding of God through my
experiences in life and my service to
Him.
真教會的每個信徒，都是神所揀選的，
祂放在我們身上的旨意，就是要我們可以顯出祂的形象，
因著祂的榮耀結出果子。
我要分享我信仰旅程的經驗，
經由自已生活上的經驗，及服事神，
我是如何對神有更深一層的認識。
EARLY YEARS IN TAIWAN 台灣早期
I was baptized into the True Jesus
Church together with my mother
when I was young. I grew up in the
church, attending Religious Education
(RE) classes and enjoying church life.
However, my father was not a believer
and would sometimes object to our
participation in church activities. I
always wished that he would accept
Christ, but he stubbornly refused
even to set foot in church.
小的時候，我和媽媽一起在真耶穌教會受洗。
我在教會裡面長大，參加宗教教育課程，享受教會生活。
然而，我的父親並不是信徒，有時候會反對我們參加教會活動。
我一直希望他可以來接受基督，
但是他一直很頑固的拒絕我們，甚至不願意步入會堂。
The years passed, and I graduated
from a local university and started my
career as a full-time junior high school
teacher, teaching music. As music
was not generally considered to be a
core subject, my students usually did
not to pay attention in class. I would
sometimes think: Do I have to teach
like this for the next twenty-five
years? I began contemplating going
overseas to further my education.
However, I was worried about my
proficiency in English and whether I
would be accepted by any university.
幾年過去之後，我從本地的大學畢業了，
開始我全職成為國中老師的職業生涯，在學校教音樂。
因為一般人認為音樂不是核心課程，
學生在上課的時候，常常不是很專心。
有時候我就會想：
難道我就要像這樣的教書生涯持續接下來的25年？
我就開始思考要去國外留學，接受進一步深造。
然而，我很擔心自已能不能流利的說英文，
而且也擔心，到底有沒有一間大字會接受我的入學申請。
When I shared my aspiration with
a church sister, she encouraged me
to fast and pray. I decided to take her
advice. Despite initial apprehension
that fasting would impact on my
ability to teach, I found that it did not.
In fact, fasting prayer proved to be
very effective.
當我們一位教會的姐妹分享自已的抱負時，
她鼓我可以禁食禱告。
我決定接受祂的建議。
雖然一開始會害怕，自已如果禁食禱告的話，
會影響到自已教書的能力，結果後來我發現，並沒有什麼影響。
事實上，禁食禱告已經証明非常的有效果。
STUDIES IN THE US 美國留學
By God’s grace, my application to the
American University in Washington
DC was accepted. With this, the
next stage of my life began. But the
timing was not ideal. Asia was facing
a financial crisis, and my tuition fees
increased by thirty per cent in a matter
of months. Adjusting to a new life in
the US, while shouldering the financial
burden, became disheartening. One
day, while travelling to attend church
services in Philadelphia, a three-hour
bus ride away, I thought to myself:
Didn’t I fast and pray? Why am I
facing so many obstacles? What does
God want me to do?
因著神的恩典，我申請美國華盛頓的大學，被接受了。
因著這個機會，我生活的下一個舞台就開始了。
但是這個時間點並不是很理想。
因為亞洲正在面對金融風暴，
在幾個月之內，我的學費漲了30%。
我適應著美國新生活的同時，卻要肩負著經濟的重擔的，卻變得很灰心。
有一天去費城教會聚會的時候，要坐三個小時半的巴士，
我內心想著：
難道我不是有禁食和禱告了嗎？
為何我仍然遇到這麼多的阻礙？
到底神要我作什麼事？
That Sabbath service revived my
faith. But on the journey home, it
dawned on me that I would still have
to confront the obstacles. I thought
of how I had always lived at home
with my family in Taiwan; this was
the first time I was living away from
home. As I was thinking of this, some
birds flying onto a tree caught my
eyes, and Matthew 6, where Jesus
tells us not to worry, came to mind.
I thought, if God could prepare food
for the birds, would He not care for
His most precious creation—man?
那個安息日聚會恢復了我的信心。
但是在回家的路上，我仍然感到內心很灰暗，
因為我仍然要面對許多的阻礙。
我會想著，在台灣我總是和家人一起住在家中；
這是我第一次遠離家住在外面。
當我想到這事的時候，有一些小鳥飛到一棵樹上，引起我的注意，
在馬太福音六章，耶穌告訴我們當有煩腦出現時，不要憂慮。
我就想，若神可以為小鳥準備好食物，
難道祂不會照顧我這祂最珍貴的創造 - 人嗎？
I was reminded that we need to seek
His kingdom and His righteousness
first, and He will take care of our
needs in life. God opened my heart to
understand that there was a reason for
me to study abroad, and that I might
be able to do something for Him. In
the midst of difficulties, God gave me
the strength and motivation to study.
Indeed, two years later, I completed
my tertiary education abroad and
returned to Taiwan.
我受到了提醒，要先求神國神義，祂就會照顧我們生活上的需要。
神打開了我的心，讓我了解，國外留學是有原因的，
因此，我或許就可以為祂作一些事情。
在困難之中，神給我力量和學習的動機 。
是的，二年後，我完了國外高等教育，並且回到台灣。
WORKING IN TAIWAN 台灣的工作
In Taiwan, I became involved in a
number of church duties: I served
in the RE and music departments,
was involved in college fellowship
evangelism, and assisted in the church
website, as part of literary ministry.
However, I still asked myself: What
can I do for God? At this time, I was
looking for a job, and my criteria
was that I must be able to keep the
Sabbath and continue my church
work. With this in mind, I prayed to
God for guidance.
在台灣，我開始參與一些教會工作：
參與了宗教教育和詩班，這些都和大專團契佈道有關，
幫忙教會網站及一些文宣事工。
然而，我仍問自已：我能為主作什麼呢？
此時，我正在找工作，而我選擇的標準是，我要能參加安息日及繼續教會的工作。
因此這樣的想法，我向神禱告，祈求帶領。
I found my first job as an
administrator in a music graduate
school. Two years later, in 2003,
with God’s help, I was appointed as
a professor. That same year, I also
served as a counselor and a hymnal
leader in a college students’ spiritual
convocation for the first time. During
the convocation, I prayed that God
would add to my faith and my
strength so that I could balance my
work and church duties. On the last
day, during the prayer following Holy
Communion, I heard a voice saying,
“No matter what happens, it is from
God. He will guide you.”
我找到了第一個音樂研究所的行政工作。
2003年，因著神的幫助，就被任令為教授。
同年，我也擔任負責人，以及第一次在大專學生靈恩會中，擔任詩頌負責人。
在靈恩會時，我向神禱告，求神加添我的信心和力量，
使我可以平衡職場和教會工作。
最後一天，在聖餐禮之後的禱告時，
我聽到一個聲音說，
"不論發生什麼事，都是來自於神。祂會帶領你。"
MY FATHER’S LONG JOURNEY 父親的走很久的旅程
On my way home that day, I received
a call: my parents had been involved
in an accident. Shocked by the news,
I prayed all the way home. As I was
praying, the earlier prayer came to
mind: All of this is from God. I was
comforted.
那一天回家的路上，我接到了一通電話：父母發生了車禍。
聽到這個消息的時候，心中震驚，所以回家的路上就一直禱告。
當我們在禱告的時候，就想到之前禱告的情況：這一切都是出自於神。
我就受到安慰。
When I reached the hospital,
I discovered that my father had
sustained serious injuries to his right
leg after his motorbike was hit by a car.
The doctor suggested an amputation,
but my father refused. My mother’s
injuries were not as serious.
當我到了醫院時，我發現父親的摩拖車被汽車撞到之後，右腳受到重傷。
醫生建議要截肢，但是父親卻拒絕。
而母親的傷勢比較沒那麼嚴重。
As part of his recovery journey, my
father was treated at six different
hospitals. He needed skin and tissue
grafts, and his leg bone was severely
fractured. Sometimes the grafts
failed, and the doctors had to repeat
the procedures. For two years, the
hospital became our second home.
Nevertheless, God granted us peace
throughout this period.
在復原的歷程中，他到六個不同的醫院接受治療。
他需要接受皮膚及組織移植手術，而他的腳骨已經嚴重粉粹。
有時候移植失敗，而醫生要重覆作這個程序。
在這二年之中，醫院成為了我們的第二個家。
然而，神在這個過程之中，都讓我們有平安。
Many brothers and sisters in
Christ prayed for us, and often they
would ask if they could visit us in the
hospital. However, my father would
decline. But still, God continued to
guide us. During one occasion, when
we were praying quietly for my father,
he suddenly opened his eyes and said,
“Thank you for praying for me.”
許多基督裡面的弟兄姐妹都為我們禱告，
時常問我們可不可以來醫院探訪。
然而，父親都會拒絕。
然而，神一直帶領我們。
有一次機會，當我們靜靜地為父親禱告的時候
他突然張開眼睛就說，"謝謝為我禱告。"
I took the opportunity to ask him
whether he would pray with us. He
agreed, although I felt that he was
doing so just to please us. He could
not accept praying in tongues as he
was convinced it was contrived. For
this reason, we would pray with him
each day in words.
我就把握機會問他，要不要和我們一起禱告。
他同意了，雖然我覺得他這麼作，只是要讓我們高興一點。
他不能接受靈言禱告，因為他認為這是人為的。
因為這樣，我們每一天就和他一起悟性禱告。
During this time, as I read the Bible
daily, I would think how best to pray
with my father. I thought of the
message in the book of James, that we
may have many plans but we do not
know what will happen tomorrow. It
made me appreciate that if God wills,
we can do this or that, but if He does
not will, we plan in vain (Jas 4:13–14).
在這時，我每天讀聖經，就會想到，到底要怎麼為爸爸禱告才是最好的。
我想到雅各書裡面的經節，
我們或許有很多的計劃，但不知道明天會發生什麼事。
這就讓我很感謝，若神願意的話，我們就能作這事和那事，
但是若他不願意的話，我們的計劃就白費了。
(雅 4：13-14)
Over time, my concern was not
so much over my father’s physical
recovery, but rather that he should
come to believe in Jesus Christ.
經過一段時候之後，我就不太再關心父親肉體上復原的事，
反而是比較關心，他應該要來信耶穌基督。
By God’s grace, two years after
the accident, my father’s condition
improved sufficiently for him to be
discharged from hospital.
因著神的恩典，車禍二年之後，
父親的情況有所改善，可以讓他出院了。
One morning in 2008, five
years after the accident, my father
suddenly asked me, “What do you
do in church?” I did not know how to
answer him at first. Then I explained
that we go to church to observe the
Sabbath and to listen to sermons. He
said, “I want to go with you.” When I
heard this, I did not know what to say
as it came as a complete surprise. All
I could do was to go into a room to
offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
2008年一天早上，這時已經車禍五年之後了，
我父親突然問我，"你在教會作什麼？"
一開始我不知道要怎麼回答他。
然後我就解釋，去教會守安息日，去聚會聽道。
他說，"我想和你一起去。"
當我聽到這句話的時候，我不知道要說什麼，因為這完完全全是讓人驚訝的事。
我所可作的，就是進去房間裡面，獻上感謝的禱告。
From that week, my father started
attending Sabbath services. At first,
he refused to listen to testimonies or
to pray. After listening to sermons,
he would sometimes criticize the
speakers. On my part, I would turn to
the Bible to try to find answers to his
questions.
從那一周開始，爸爸就開始參加安息日聚會。
一開始，他拒絕聽見証或是禱告。
聽到講道之後，他有時候會批評講道人。
而我的工作，就是找聖經來，試著翻出他問題的答案。
God is wonderful, and the way He
calls everyone is different. Although
my father objected to certain aspects
of the church services, he liked to read
the Bible. I gave him a Bible when
he was hospitalized, and he finished
reading it within two months. When I
took a look inside, I could see he had
underlined many parts. Amazingly,
God enabled him to remember the
things he read.
神是很奇妙的，而且祂呼招每個人的方式都不一樣。
雖然我父親會反對教會聚會的某些事情，但祂卻愛讀聖經。
當他住院的時候，我給他一本聖經，他在二個月之內，就讀完一遍。
當我翻開來看聖經裡面時，就能看見他在很多地方劃下重點。
奇妙的是，神讓他可以記住所讀的事情。
“WE LIVE TO DO MEANINGFUL THINGS”
"活著去作有意義的事"
In the summer of 2009, the
International Assembly was recruiting
students for the full-time Theological
Training Program (TTP). It coincided
with a time in my life when I was
asking myself: What is the meaning
of life?
2009年夏天，聯總全職神訓班招募全職神學生。
這個時間點正發生在我生命中正在問自已，
什麼是生點候意義？
The TTP was open to both brothers
and sisters. On my part, I would need
parental consent in order to apply. My
mum told me that she had no opinion
about the matter, and so I asked my
father. After hearing my request,
he simply replied: “We live to do
meaningful things.”
神訓班同時開放給弟兄和姐妹。
而我的部份，我會需要父母同意，才可以來申請加入。
媽媽告訴我，她對這件事沒有意見，所以我接著問父親。
在他聽了我們請求之後，他只簡單回答：
"我們活著，只為了作有意義的事情。
In September 2009, my father
registered for baptism. One church
board member approached my
mother and me excitedly, saying,
“You have prayed so hard for your
father and have been encouraging
him, and now he’s applied to be
baptized!” My mum and I looked at
each other. Neither of us had even
dared to raise the issue; it was God
who had inspired my father.
2009年九月，父親報名要接受洗禮。
一個負責人就去很興奮地詢問我和母親，說
"你們為了父親很努力禱告，一直都在鼓勵他，
現在他已經要申請受洗後！"
我媽媽和我互看對方一眼。
甚至我們二個人都不敢提起這個問是；
完全是神來感動父親的。
Two weeks before his baptism, my
father received the Holy Spirit. I was
thankful to God for this, as my father’s
leg injury meant that he could not
kneel down to pray. After my father’s
baptism, I felt as if my burdens had
been lifted. After twenty-five years,
it had finally happened! I always
thought it would happen eventually—
but maybe at the end of his life. God
gave us this gift much sooner.
受洗兩周之前，父親得到了聖靈。
因為這樣，我很感謝神，
因為我父親的腿傷，就代表他不能跪下禱告。
父親洗禮之後，我覺得自已的重擔已經被卸下來了。
經過25年之後，這件事最後終於發生了！
我總是想著，最後一定會發生的 - 但或許是他生命快終了的時候。
我提早很多，給了我們這麼一個禮物。
In March 2012, after some
administrative issues had been settled,
I took the TTP test and passed. After
joining the program in the fall of
that year, I was able to spend time
in prayer, emptying myself and
removing the sense of achievement
that came from past service to God.
It was also during this time that I
encountered many trials. However, it
was on account of these storms of life
that God taught me to rely on Him.
Each time I encountered a difficulty,
God would reassure me that His grace
was sufficient, and that there were
brethren praying for me. I would learn
something new each day.
2012年三月，辨完了一些行政上的手續之後，
我就參加神學院的考試，並且通過考試。
在那年秋天加入課程之後，我就可以花時間在禱告上，
倒空自已的心思，去除過去服事神的成就感。
也正在這個時候，我遇到了許多試煉。
然而，正因為這些生命旅程中的風暴，神教會了我要依靠祂。
每一次我遇到困難的時候，神會再向我保証，祂的恩典夠用，
而且有弟兄姐妹為我禱告。
每一天都能學到一些新的事物。
Since we belong to God, we need
to serve God and put Him first.
Although everyone serves in different
ways, be it full-time or part-time, the
main thing is that we must endure to
the end. We should believe that God
will provide for our daily needs, and
that He cares for us and listens to our
prayers. Regardless of what we may
encounter, we can be like Paul who
was able to rejoice greatly. Although
we may face difficulties, we know
that God will open a way for us. We
can rely on the strength that He gives
us.
自從我們屬於神之後，就要服事神，把祂放在第一順位。
雖然每個人會用不同的方式來服事神，
不論是全職還是兼職的，
最重要的是，我們一定要忍耐到底。
我們要相信，神會預備我們每天的需要，
祂會照顧我們，垂聽我們的禱告。
無論我們會遇到什麼事情，我們都能像保羅一樣，都能大大的喜樂。
雖然我們會面對困難，我們都知道，神會為我們開一條路。
我們可以依靠祂給我們的力量。
When I first started my TTP training,
many brethren would ask me, “What
will you do after you graduate? Are
you going to be a preacher? What are
your plans for marriage? What about
your career?”
當我開始神學院的課程時，許多弟兄姐妹會問我，
"你畢業之後要作什麼？你要作一個傳道嗎？
你有想要結婚嗎？你想要作什麼工作呢？"
Their questions made me reflect
on the reasons for joining the TTP. A
sister asked me whether God’s calling
was clear. In truth, I did not hear a
voice telling me what to do. I only
know that, with all the mercies that
God has bestowed on me, it would
certainly be wrong not to repay Him.
We must grasp every opportunity to
do something that is meaningful in
life.
他們的問題，讓我想到參加神學院的原因。
有一位姐妹問我，是不是神的呼招是很清楚的。
事實上，我並沒有聽到有聲音告訴我怎麼作。
我只知道，因為一切從神賞賜給我的慈愛，
若是沒有好好的回報祂，就一定是錯的。
我們一定要把握每個機會，在生命中作一些有意義的事情。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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