10. Manna issue 84 - God's Unfailing Grace in a Troubled Land Reflections on the Mindanao Ministry 民答那峨島佈道的反思-困苦之地中神無盡的恩典
John Vun—Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia 馬來西亞沙巴兵南邦縣 John Vun 溫約翰
INTRODUCTION 簡介
If we were to search for the term “conflicts in Mindanao” on the internet,
we would find a long list of groups made up of
government-backed separatist rebels and religious extremist militants.
These include the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
and pro-Islamic State groups such as Abu Sayyaf.
And as we read on, we would discover the constant threat
of violence faced by the inhabitants of Mindanao
(the main island in the southern region of the Philippines).
Recent acts of terror include the beheading of a foreign hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants,[1]
and the Islamic State beheading of a police chief and
slaughter of at least another twenty people in a retaliatory rampage across Marawi.[2]
我們若是在網路上，搜尋"民答那峨島衝突"的關鍵字，
就會找到一長串的組織名稱，他們有政府作後援的分離主義反叛軍，極端宗教武裝人士。
他們當中，有莫洛伊斯蘭解放陣線 (MILF), 阿布沙耶夫-伊斯蘭獨立國。
再研究下去，就會發現民答那峨島居民時常面對暴力的威脅(菲律賓南部地區的主要島嶼).
最近的恐怖事件，就有阿布沙耶夫斬首外國人質，[1]
伊斯蘭國斬首警察局長，
馬拉威地區暴虐性的報復，屠殺了最少20人。
What goes through our mind when we read a new reports of such lawlessness?
No doubt we see it as just another incident from some remote island far removed
from our everyday lives, and nothing to do with us.
But do you know that God has reached out to the local populace on this troubled island,
and that a group of His people, our brethren, lives there?
當我們看到這種類型的最新報導，腦中會想到什麼呢？
毫無疑問，當看到這事的時候，就好像另外某個偏遠島嶼的事件，
和我們日常生活毫無相關，和我們一點關係也沒有 。
但是你知道嗎？在這座充滿爭端的島上，神已經伸手接觸當地的平嚴，
有一群神的子民，我們的弟兄姐妹住在那裡？
When we discuss the ministry in the Philippines,
we usually focus on the church in Manila on the northern island of Luzon,
or on the True Jesus Church training centre
at Mansilingan in the Western Visayas of the Philippines.
For many years, overseas workers sent
by the South East Asia Evangelical Center (SEAC) and,
from 1995 onwards, by the Philippines Mission Committee (PMC)
under the Sabah General Assembly,
have centered their work on these politically more stable areas.
當我們談到菲律賓的福音事工，
通常會注重的是，北部呂宋島的馬尼拉教會，
或是菲律賓西維薩亞斯滿西林甘的真耶穌教會訓練中心。
多年以來，這裡有東南亞福音中心(SEAC),
以及從1995年開始，沙巴總會底下，有菲律賓事工委員會(PMC)
派了很多海外工人來此受訓，
並集中工作在這些政治上相對穩定的地區。
Yet, it is in the southern island of Mindanao
where the majority of our brethren resides.
The PMC has faced many challenges when sending workers there,
as the threat of kidnapping and killing of foreigners remains high.
Since the early 2000s, the situation in Mindanao has been very tense
due to bombings, kidnappings and the killing of Christian hostages.
For security reasons, the PMC has had to make several painful decisions
to cancel training courses for religious education teachers
and youth short-term theological courses over the years.
然而，就是在民答那峨南部島上，有一大部份我們的弟兄姐妹住在那裡。
菲律賓事工委員會(PMC)為了要派工人去那裡，就面臨許多困難，
綁架殺害外國人的威脅一直很高。
從2000年初開始，民答那峨的情勢就非常的緊張，
因為有爆炸，綁架，殺害基督徒人質的情況。
因為安全的原因，這幾年來，菲律賓事工委員會(PMC)就不得不作很多痛苦的決定，
取消了宗教教育老師訓練課程，及青年短期神訓班。
Mindanao Island is the second largest in the Philippines,
with a land mass of 40,360 square miles.
There are currently eight churches, five prayer houses and nine places of worship,
with a total of 1,132 members.
Because of how widely dispersed the places of worship are,
the Mindanao ministry is divided into four administrative zones,
and three deacons have been engaged to strengthen
the pulpit ministry and pastor the flock.
民答那峨是菲律賓的第二大島，
土地面積是40360平方英哩。
現在有8個教會，5間祈禱所，9個聚會所，
全部有1132位信徒。
因為聚會所太過於分散，
民答那峨事工區分為4個行政區域，
有三位執事一直都參與加強講台事工及牧養的工作。
FIRST SEEDS 第一棵種子
The SEAC made a series of missionary trips to the Philippines
between 1985 and 1992 to pastor and evangelize in the Philippines.
Some notable events are as follows:
東南亞福音中心(SEAC)在1985和1992年間，
舉辨一連串到菲律賓的宣導之旅，來牧養及傳福音。
以下記載了一些值得紀念的事蹟：
● In 1986, a pioneering trip was made to
Mindanao Island to proclaim the gospel of salvation.
Twelve adults and eight children in Digos, Davao Del Sur,
Mindanao accepted the gospel and received water baptism on June 21, 1986.
The first person who was baptized, Constancia Abueva,
saw a vision of glorious bright light, and was filled with great joy.
Praise the Lord, the true church had reached the Southern Philippines.
1986年，有一次民答那峨島的開拓之旅，在此宣傳得救的福音。
Digos 民戈斯，Davao Del Sur 南沃達，和民答那峨島，
有12位成人8位小接受福音，於 1986年六月21日接受洗禮。
第一位受洗的 Constancia Abueva ，看見榮光的異象，心中充滿了很大的喜樂。
讚美主，真耶穌教會傳到了南菲律賓。
● On March 20, 1987, during one of the missionary trips to Mindanao,
another sixteen observers were convinced by the truth preached
by the true church and accepted water baptism.
The Prayer House administration was organized to pastor the flock.
1987年三月20日，在一次民答那峨島的佈道之旅期間，
另有16位旁觀者確信了真教會所傳的真理，接受水洗。
組成了祈禱所職務會來牧養這群羊。
● In the same year, three United Pentecostal Church (UPC) pastors
visited the True Jesus Church in Mansilingan.
After much discussion and deliberation,
one of them accepted the truth and was baptized.
When he returned home to Pagadian City on Mindanao,
he shared the newfound truth to his UPC congregation.
Many of his close friends and relatives believed
and converted into the True Jesus Church.
This is what led to the establishment of the church in Pagadian on July 11, 1987.
同年，三位聯合五旬節教會的牧師，來參訪 Mansilingan(滿西林甘) 的真耶穌教會。
經由深入的探討及深思熟慮之後，他們其中一位受洗接受真理。
當他回到民答那峨島的 Pagadian City (帕嘎蒂安市)，
向當地的聯合五旬節教會信徒，分享了他新發現的真理。
許多他親近的朋友親戚就相信，改信真耶穌教會。
這就導致了，Pagadian City (帕嘎蒂安市)教會於1987年七月11日成立。
THE GOSPEL SPREADS 福音廣傳
Despite threats from armed rebels that restricted foreign missionaries from coming to Mindanao,
the gospel truth proliferated in Mindanao by other means:
雖然有武裝叛亂組織的威脅，限制了外國傳教工作來到民答那峨島，
民答那峨島真理的福音，卻藉由其他方式大大的傳開：
● Live Radio Evangelism:
This radio show, initiated by a local worker, was broadcast for thirty minutes every week.
Between 1991 and 1997, the weekly True Jesus Church Padagian radio program
served the remote rural populations of Zambonga Del Sur and Lanao Del Norte.
Many devout Christians of other denominations would travel to the church in Pagadian
to study the doctrines of the true church.
The churches in Maculay, Laperian and Tabina were established through radio evangelism.
即時佈道：
這項廣播節目由當地的工人發起，每周播放30分鐘。
在1991到1997年之間，Pagadian City (帕嘎蒂安市)每周真耶穌教會廣播節目，
向偏遠鄉村 Zamboanga del Norte(北三寶顏省) Lanao Del Norte(北拉瑙省) 播送福音節目。
許多其他教派虔誠的基督徒，會長途拔涉到 Pagadian City (帕嘎蒂安市)教會，學習真教會的教義。
經由廣播佈道成立了 Maculay(麥考萊), Laperian 和 Tabina 的教會。
● Literary Ministry: Many truth-seekers came to know the truth
through the Words of Life pamphlets published by True Jesus Church,
and were baptized by SEAC and IA missionary workers.
文字宣道：很多慕道者，因為真耶穌教會出版的生命之道小冊子，而來認識真理，
並且接受了東南亞福音中心(SEAC)和聯總工人的洗禮。
In this troubled land, the Lord’s grace never failed.
During the ninth missionary trip to Mindanao, from May 1 to 13, 1991,
when workers were sent to pastor the churches in Pagadian and Lanao,
thirty-three people were baptized.
One of these was a lady who had been suffering
from a post-natal neurological complication which caused paralysis in both legs.
She was baptized on May 9, after being transported to the site by a bullock cart.
Miraculously, by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ,
she was able to walk after her baptism.
在此紛亂之地，主的恩典從未停止。
於1991年五月1-13日的第九次民答那峨島宣道之旅期間，
那時派遣了工人來牧養，Pagadian City (帕嘎蒂安市)和Lanao (拉瑙)的教會，33人受洗。
The work continued throughout the 1990s with church workers carrying out the evangelism
and pastoral work in northern Zambonga Del Sur.
Two additional prayer houses were established, at Lingatan, in 1994, and Bayog, in 1996.
整個1990年代，教會派遣工人持續在 Zamboanga del Norte(北三寶顏省)，
執行宣道和牧養的工作。
另外建立了二間祈禱所，1994年建立 Lingatan 祈禱所，1996年建立 Bayog 祈禱所。
The True Jesus Church continued to grow in Mindanao between 2002 and 2006,
with prayer houses being established at Ipil, Silingan, Bukong, Tukuran and Cagayan De Oro.
2002年至2006年間，真耶穌教會於民答那峨島持續成長，
在 Ipil, Silingan, Bukong, Tukuran 和 Cagayan De Oro 等地，建立多間祈禱所。
THE STORMS 風暴
As the church grows, the devil will also work in the attempt to hinder such growth.
The churches in the Southern Philippines experienced one of their earliest storms
in the form of deviant teachings by the first preacher ordained in Mindanao,
who was subsequently dismissed from his position.
During this time, the church in Pagadian and the SEAC-funded religious education classrooms
and missionary quarters, costing MYR 35,655.20 (around US $9,389 at the time),
were under the control of this preacher,
and church members were locked out from attending church services.
因著教會的成長，魔鬼也作工想要阻擋這種成長。
菲律賓南部許多教會，經歷了他們最早遇到的一個風暴，
這次風暴，以民答那峨島第一位按立的傳道，宣傳偏差教導的方式呈現，所以這位傳道就被解職了。
這個時期，Pagadian (帕嘎蒂安市)教會，東南亞福音中心(SEAC)資助的宗教教育教室及宣道宿舍，
大價值 MYR 35,655.20 (當時大約美金 US $9,389)，這些預算都控制在這位傳道手中，
教會信徒被排除於教會之外不能聚會。
One local minister, supported by overseas preachers sent by the PMC,
stood up to defend the truth and the basic beliefs of the true church,
encouraging the members to stand firm in their faith.
For one year, eighty members congregated at the house of this minister’s mother.
They were constantly reminded to hold fast to the truth (Jn 8:32)
and reject false teachings (Gal 1:8–9).
They also prayed for God to provide them a new place of worship.
Their prayers were answered by a dream and a vision.
一位當地的傳道，是菲律賓事工委員會(PMC)由資助派遣的，
站出來捍衛真理，及真教會的基本信條，
他鼓勵信徒在信仰上站立穩固。
在這一年之間，8位聚集於這位傳道母親的房子。
他們不斷受到提醒要堅守真理(約 8：32)，拒絕錯誤的教導(加 1：8-9).
他們也求神讓他們找到新的聚會點。
因著他們的禱告，神就以異象和異夢回應他們。
The wife of this local minister dreamed of two ships.
The first ship was boarded by the ex-preacher and his family,
and it was old and dilapidated, sailing on murky waters.
The second ship, which carried the church members, was big and new.
當地傳道娘，夢到二艘船。
第一艘船上，坐著以前的傳道和他一家人，
這條船又老又破舊，在陰暗的海域上航行。
第二艘船，坐著教會的信徒，又大又新。
Later, the minister’s wife also had a vision during a prayer service.
She saw the church members in a large, new building,
with a True Jesus Church signboard on the front.
後來，負責人的配偶也在禱告會中看到異象。
她看見教會的弟兄姐妹聚集在又大又新的大樓，
大樓前面有真耶穌教會的招牌。
Indeed, the Lord provides (Gen 22:14).
God guided an ex-UPC pastor to accept the true doctrine of salvation.
He was baptized on February 17, 2005, and received the Holy Spirit.
Later, his partially completed chapel was sold to the True Jesus Church.
The Lord had indeed answered the prayers of the Pagadian members,
and provided them a new place of worship at Napolan.
是的，主必預備。(創 22：14)
神帶領一位後之前任職於聯合五旬節教會的牧師，接受了真正可以得救的教義。
他在2005年二月17日受洗，得到了聖靈。
後來，他把自已還在興建中的會堂賣給真耶穌教會。
是的，神回應了帕嘎蒂安教會信徒的禱告，
給他們在 Napolan 預備了一個新的聚會所。
SOME STATISTICS
Zone Churches Prayer houses House services Members Ministers Preachers Trainee Preachers RE Classes Students
1. Mindanao Del Sur 7 - 3 820 6 1 2 11 149
2. Lanao Del Norte - 2 - 57 - - - - -
3. Zambonga Sibugay 1 3 2 166 4 1 - 3 25
4. Davao - 1 4 89 1 - - 1 7
CHALLENGES 挑戰
On top of the political unrest,
our Filipino brethren in Mindanao also face other difficulties.
Some of these are shared here so that, with the spirit of unity in Christ,
we can help to carry their burdens in prayer and extend our love through other means,
if God gives us the opportunity to do so.
因為有上面提到的政治動蕩，
我們菲律賓民答那峨島的弟兄姐妹，許多各種不同的困難。
我們把其中一些困難在這裡分享，因著主內基督一體的精神，
若神賜給我們這樣的機會，
就能在禱告中，幫助他們分攤一些重擔，
用各種其他不同的方式，延伸我們的愛心。
● Church Leadership: 帶領教會
Because the pastoral work is heavily dependent on only two preachers,
the church growth has been slow.
The PMC is now focused on training the core local church workers in active pastoring,
youth spiritual development, and the expansion of systematic religious education.
Strengthening these areas is vital in laying a firm foundation for sustainable church growth.
因為教會巡牧的工作，很大一部份只依賴二位傳道，所以教會成長的很慢。
現在菲律賓事工委員會(PMC)專注在訓練當地的核心工人，來積極牧養教會，
教會青年靈性的培養，有系統的擴大宗教教育。
● Poverty: 貧困
The Gross National Income of the Philippines per capita is US $3,580 (2016),[3]
and the poverty rate is 21.6 per cent (2015).[4]
With an under-employment[5] rate of 16.1 per cent (in April 2017),[6]
poverty remains a critical problem in the country, and the problem is worse on Mindanao.
These factors have resulted in the migration of working parents
and youths to larger commercial centers, such as Cebu and Manila,
or overseas to the Middle East in search of higher wages to support their families.
Understandably, many aspire to lift their families from the vicious cycle of poverty.
菲律賓國民人均所得是美金 $3580 (2016)[3]，
貧困率是 21.6% (2015)[4]
因為失業率是 16.1% ，[6], 所以這個國家貧困仍是一個很嚴重的問題，
而民答那峨島的問題，更加嚴重。
因為這些因素，就導致了有工作能力的父母和青年，移居到了大型的商業中心，
就如 Cebu 宿霧市和 Manila 馬尼拉市，
或到海外的中東，尋找更優渥的薪資來幫補他們自已的家庭。
不幸的是，很多人期盼可以提昇他們的家庭，脫離貧困的惡性循環。
● Lack of Manpower: 人力不足
The greatest consequence of the urban migration (as mentioned above)
is the dwindling manpower in local churches and prayer houses.
This affects the momentum and implementation of the holy work in Mindanao.
勞動力往城市集中(上文提到)，所帶來最大的影響，
就是地方上的教會和祈禱所的人力減少。
這就影響了，民答那峨島上聖工的動力和執行。
● Lack of Financial Self-sufficiency: 經濟自給自足的能力不足
Most of the members are either farmers or fishermen,
so the offerings received by the church to support the ministry are still lacking.
The PMC has embarked on training the local church treasurers in
how to manage the financial administration of the church,
in order to gain the confidence of the members.
In addition to this, tithe offerings by faith (Mal 3:8–10)
need to be emphasized in the pulpit ministry.
大部份的信徒，不是農夫就是漁夫，
所以教會所能收到的奉獻，並用來支付事工的財源仍然不夠。
菲律賓事工委員會(PMC)，已經開始訓練地方教務人員，
教他們要如何管理教會財務，要讓信徒自已有信心。
除此之外，因著信心的什一奉獻，有必要在講台事工上，多加強調。
CONCLUSION 結論
We thank the Lord Jesus for His amazing grace over the past thirty-four years,
for the growth and preservation of the church in such a challenging environment.
The selfless servitude of the early missionary workers,
in caring for the spiritual welfare of the Mindanao members,
is worthy of our emulation.
我們感謝主耶穌，因著他奇妙的恩典，看顧我們過去34年，
讓教會能在這樣挑戰性的環境中，可得成長，保留。
而早期宣道工人無私的服事態度，
他們照顧了民答那峨島上，所有信徒屬靈的生命，
真是值得我們加以效法。
For those of us living in politically and economically stable countries,
let us remember our brethren in the Philippines,
as well as countless other countries,
where there is civil unrest and uncertainty.
The next time we read of kidnappings,
conflict and killings in the Southern Philippines,
spare a thought and a prayer for our brethren living there.
May the Lord Jesus continue to strengthen the faith and love of the members in Mindanao.
而我們這些住在政治經濟穩定國家的人，
要多多記念那在菲律賓的弟兄姐妹，
同時，也還有很多其他同樣情況的國家，到處都是國家政治動蕩和不確定性。
當我們下次，若是聽到菲律賓南部，有綁架，衝突，兇殺發生的時候，
請替我們住在那裡的弟兄姐妹掛心禱告。
願主耶穌繼續加添民答那峨島上弟兄姐妹的信心和愛心。
[1] Kathy Quiano, Nadine Schmidt and Angela Dewan,
“German hostage beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants in Philippines,” CNN, February 28, 2017,
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/27/asia/philippines-german-behead-abu-sayyaf/index.html.
2017年二月28日，CNN報導，Kathy Quiano, Nadine Schmidt and Angela Dewan,
"這三個德國人質，被菲律賓阿布沙耶夫武裝組織斬首。"
網址
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/27/asia/philippines-german-behead-abu-sayyaf/index.html
[2] “IS behead police and kill 20 in Philippines,” Sky News, May 25, 2017,
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2017/05/25/is-behead-police-and-kill-20-in-philippines.html.
2017年五月25日，Sky News 天空新聞報導，
"伊斯蘭國在菲律賓，斬首了警察，殺了20人"。
網址
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2017/05/25/is-behead-police-and-kill-20-in-philippines.html
[3] “Philippines,” The World Bank Data, accessed September 21, 2017,
https://data.worldbank.org/country/philippines.
2017年九月21日，世界銀行的調查資料，"菲律賓"。
網址
https://data.worldbank.org/country/philippines
[4] “Farmers, Fishermen and Children consistently posted the highest poverty incidence among basic sectors,”
Philippine Statistics Authority, accessed September 21, 2017,
https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-press-releases.
2017年九月21日，截取自菲律賓統計局資料，
"農夫，漁夫和兒童，在基本統計分類中，仍佔據了發生最高貧困意外事件的比例"，
網址
https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-press-releases
[5] The rate at which the labor force are employed for fewer hours than they desire or need.
這個比例，描述的是，受雇勞動力的勞動時間，少於他們想要或實際需要工作的時間。
[6] “Labor and Employment,” Philippine Statistics Authority, accessed September 21, 2017,
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-force.
2017年九月21日，截取自菲律賓統計局資料，"勞工及聘雇"
網址
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-force
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
留言列表
