10. Manna issue 65 - Why I Became a Preacher 為何我成為傳道人
Vuthy Nol-Mantia, USA 美國 Vuthy Nol-Mantia
1. Why did you decide to become a preacher?
1. 為何你決定要成為傳道人？
I decided to dedicate my life to God’s service because I was deeply moved by God’s
love for me.
我決定獻身事奉神，因為我被神的愛深深感動。
In addition, I realized that
nothing can be more meaningful and satisfying than to serve as a minister of Christ.
Before I entered into fulltime ministry,
I worked as a clinical social worker for ten years.
I met many people with severe mental disorders.
My clients suffered from chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse.
此外，我意識到，
沒有什麼是比作為基督的傳道人服事神，更有意義和令人滿足的。
在我全職事奉之前，
我曾經擔任臨床社工十年。
我遇到過許多人，患有嚴重的精神障礙。
我的客戶遭受病痛，
有慢性抑鬱症、創傷後壓力不協調、精神分裂症和藥物濫用。
As a therapist, I could only listen, empathize,
and put a bandage on their deep mental and emotional wounds.
However, I could not offer any permanent cure.
I knew that God could heal them,
if they would only turn to Him.
Yet as a therapist, I was not permitted to preach to my clients,
so I felt very limited in my capacity to do lasting good.
As a preacher, however, I would be able to bring these sick souls
to the most capable physician, our Lord Jesus Christ.
作為一名心理治療師，我只能傾聽，同情，
給予對方心靈深處和情感創傷，用繃帶包紮。
但是，我無法提供任何永久性的治療方法。
我知道神能醫治他們，只要他們願意轉向祂。
然而作為一名治療師，我不被允許向自已的客戶傳教，
所以我覺得自己能力非常有限，無法持久進行好事。
然而，作為傳道人，我就能夠把這些生病的靈魂帶來，
呈給最有能力的醫生，我們的主耶穌基督。
2. How has God provided for you and your family since you became a preacher?
2. 自從神成為傳道，神如何支持你和你家？
God is truly gracious and His providence for me and my family has been beyond my expectations.
In recent years, ten members of my family have been baptized in the True Jesus Church:
my adoptive father, my biological parents, five nieces, one nephew, and my sister-in-law.
神真的很有恩典，他對我和家人的眷顧超出了我的預期。
近年來，我有十位家人在真耶穌教會受洗：
我的養父、親生父母、五個侄女、一個侄子和我的嫂子。
3. What advice or encouragement would you give to any member who is contemplating preacherhood?
3. 你會提供什麼建議或鼓勵給予任何考慮傳道生涯的信徒？
To be called into this service, you must first be compelled by the love of God.
Once you embark on this path, training in the form of trials and tribulations will come,
and Satan will disturb you.
At times, you will feel inadequate.
The problems of the church will constantly be on your mind.
You will be away from your family for extended periods of time.
被呼召從事這項服事，您必須先被神的愛所激勵。
一旦走上這條路，就會有考驗苦難的操練，
撒但會擾亂你。
有時，你會覺得不夠好。
教會的問題會一直縈繞心頭。
您會長時間離開家人。
As a preacher, I constantly struggle with feelings of inadequacy in my service to God.
However, the tremendous joy that I experience
whenever I witness God’s power manifested in the lives of truth seekers and believers makes it all worthwhile.
Indeed, there isn’t any more meaningful or rewarding job on earth.
作為一名傳道，我服事神的時候，一直與有自己能力不足感搏鬥。
然而，我所體驗到的巨大喜悅，
每當我目睹神的大能，於慕道者和信徒的生活中彰顯時，使這一切都變得值得。
是的，地上沒有比這更有意義或更有價值的工作了。
Raymond Chou, USA 美國 Raymond Chou
1. Why did you decide to become a preacher?
1. 為何你決定要成為傳道人？
Many members have asked me this question
after I decided to become a fulltime minister.
They were curious why I chose to walk on this difficult path.
They wanted to know whether I had any special revelation
or personal experience of God’s calling.
在我決定成為一名全職服事的傳道人之後，
很多信徒問過我這個問題。
他們很好奇，我為何選擇走這條艱難的道路。
他們想知道，我有沒有什麼特別的啟示，
或神呼召的個人體驗。
Actually, I grew up in the True Jesus Church.
Since childhood, I have been admiring full-time ministers.
Yet after I completed my studies and entered into the workforce,
I came to realize that society has a different set of values.
Even then, the zeal to serve God surfaced repeatedly in my mind.
其實，我是在真耶穌教會長大的。
我從小的時候，就很羨慕全職的傳道人。
然而在我完成學業，進入職場之後，
我才開始意識到，社會有一套不同的價值觀。
即便如此，事奉神的熱心也不斷在我腦海中浮現。
God’s grace was always with me in my career.
Although I encountered some ups and downs,
my overall working life was smooth sailing.
However, during this time I often asked myself,
“Is this kind of pursuit the goal of life?
Isn’t there a more noble purpose in life?”
在我的職業生涯中，神的恩典一直伴隨著我。
雖然遇到了一些起起伏伏，
我的整體工作生涯一帆風順。
然而，這時我經常問自己，
“這種追求就是人生的目標嗎？
難道人生沒有更崇高的目標嗎？”
One day, I realized that thirty years of my life had passed!
Would the next thirty years pass by just as quickly?
That day, I reflected on my life and asked myself what I had accomplished.
有一天，我明白，自己的生命已經過了三十年！
接下來的三十年會亦很快過去嗎？
那天，我反思自己的生活，問自己到底取得了什麼成就。
Suddenly, I felt as though I had woken from a dream.
All my previous concerns and the perceived obstacles of becoming a preacher vanished.
The pressure to succeed in this world left me;
my struggles with worldly concerns disappeared.
That was the point when I decided to accept the path of preacherhood.
突然，我覺得自己好像從夢中醒來。
我以前所有的擔憂，以及認知中成為傳道的障礙都消失了。
在這個世界上想要成功的壓力離開了我；
我與世俗憂慮的爭鬥消失了。
就是那時刻，我決定接受傳道生涯之路。
2. How has God provided for you and your family?
2. 神如何支持你和你家？
Twenty years ago, when I was still in elementary school,
my father became a full-time minister.
Our family was very prudent with money.
Summertime in Taiwan is very hot,
but I can still remember one summer when I didn’t even have a fan in my room.
My sister also needed a bike to ride to school.
Yet the family budget was unable to cater for these two necessities.
二十年前，當我還在上小學的時候，
我父親成為了一名全職傳道工人。
我們家花錢很謹慎。
台灣的夏天很熱，
但我仍然記得有一個夏天，我的房間裡甚至沒有扇子。
我姐姐也需要一輛自行車才能騎車上學。
然而，家庭預算卻無法提供這兩種必需品。
However, God knows our needs.
Soon after, the local church organized a hiking trip.
Members who reached the mountain top could take part in a prize draw.
My sister won a fan, and I won a bicycle!
然而，神知道我們的需要。
不久之後，當地教會舉行了一次徒步旅行。
到達山頂的信徒可以參加抽獎活動。
姐姐贏了扇子，我贏了自行車！
Our Lord is a merciful Lord.
He may not give us extra blessings,
but His provision is sufficient for us.
This is my deep conviction, and my personal experience ever
since I decided to become a preacher supports this conviction.
It is truly sweet to know that God provides for us.
我們的主是一位慈愛的主。
他可能不會給我們額外的祝福，
但祂的預備夠我們用。
這是我深深確信的，也是我永遠的親身體驗，
自我決定成為一名傳道人以來，來支撐這一信念。
知道神為我們準備一切，真的很甜蜜。
3. What advice or encouragement would you give to any member who is contemplating preacherhood?
3. 你會提供什麼建議或鼓勵給予任何考慮傳道生涯的信徒？
As our faith develops
and we gradually come to understand God’s love and sacrifice for us,
we will be moved to offer our lives to repay His love.
This inner motivation then constantly burns within our hearts
and enables us to resolve to live for Him.
隨著我們信仰的成展，
我們逐漸明白神對我們的慈愛和犧牲，
我們會被感動而獻上自己的生命，來回報祂的愛。
這種內在的動力，然後不斷地在我們的心中燃燒，
並使我們下定決心為祂而活。
However, when we are faced with the realities and external pressures of life,
we may be shaken and want to retreat.
We consider our decision for fulltime ministry naive and unrealistic.
We then try to suppress the burning fire within our hearts.
Such feelings of helplessness are comparable to standing at the banks of the Jordan River, preparing to cross.
When we see the overflowing river, we cry out in our hearts,
“Lord, is this possible?”
然而，當我們面對生活的現實和外在壓力時，
我們可能會動搖，並想要撤離。
我們會認為全職服事的決定，很幼稚且不切實際。
然後，我們試圖壓仰心中燃燒的火焰。
這種無助的感覺，好比站在約旦河岸邊，準備渡河。
當我們看到氾濫的河水時，我們在心裡吶喊，
“主啊，這有可能嗎？”
Yet we know that this path has been blessed by God,
and we will be protected by Him.
As long as we are willing to take a step of faith,
God will part the rushing waters for us.
As Jesus said,
“[W]ith God, all things are possible”
(Mt 19:26).
然而我們知道，這條道路已得神祝福，
我們將受到祂的保護。
只要我們願意踏出信心的一步，
神會為我們分開湍急的水流。
正如耶穌所說，
“26在神凡事都能。”
（太 19：26）。
May God open our eyes so that we can live in His promise.
May every step that we take testify of His blessing and guidance.
One day, when we reflect on the mountains and valleys that we have overcome,
we will see a path filled with blessings.
願神打開我們的眼睛，使我們能活在祂的應許中。
願我們邁出的每一步，都能見證祂的祝福和引導。
有一天，當我們回想自己走過的高山和峽谷時，
我們將看到一條充滿祝福的道路。
Timothy Vanlalen, Myanmar
1. Why did you decide to become a preacher?
1. 為何你決定要成為傳道人？
There are various reasons why I wanted to become a preacher.
為何我想成為傳道人，有很多種原因。
First, I want to repay God’s love for me
—He has made me and everything comes from Him.
首先，我要報答神給我的愛，
—他創造了我，一切都來自祂。
Second, I feel that it is my responsibility to spread the good news.
Freely we have received God’s grace;
freely we must share this grace with others.
第二，我覺得廣傳福音是我的責任。
我們白白得了神的恩典；
就必須白白的分享恩典給別人。
Third, I want to save my countrymen.
The people of Myanmar lead very difficult lives;
the country is poor and making ends meet is challenging.
If my countrymen were to end up in hell after their hard life,
that would be a great tragedy.
For this reason I feel compelled
to save my own people by preaching the true gospel to them.
第三，我要救我的國人。
緬甸人民過著非常艱難的生活；
這個國家很窮，要維持生計很困難。
如果我們國人在艱苦的生活之後，最終還下地獄，
那將是一場巨大的悲劇。
出於這個原因，我感到很急迫，
要通過傳播真理的福音給他們，來拯救自己的人民。
Finally, my parents vowed to God that they would dedicate my life to Him.
When my mother was eight months pregnant with me,
the doctor thought that I had died inside my mother’s womb.
He performed a Caesarean section in order to save my mother’s life.
To his surprise, I was still alive!
After I was born, my health was poor, and I was often sick.
One day I was so ill that I almost died.
My parents prayed and vowed to God that they would dedicate my life to serve Him,
if He would allow me to live.
最後，我的父母向神起誓，他們要將我的生命獻給祂。
當我媽媽懷孕八個月有我的時候，
醫生認為，我已經死在媽媽的子宮裡。
為了挽救我母親的生命，他進行了剖腹產手術。
令他意外的是，我還活著！
我出生之後，身體很不好，經常會生病。
有一天，我病得很嚴重，幾乎要死去。
我的父母向神祈求，並起誓他們會獻出我的生命來事奉他，
如果神允許我能活著。
2. Did you encounter any obstacles before or after your decision to become a preacher?
2. 決正成為傳道人之前或之後，你是否遇過任何阻礙？
Yes, I did.
One of my main obstacles is my poor physical health.
When I travel, I am often in pain.
My whole body perspires and I feel like vomiting.
Whenever this happens, I am unable to eat or drink and I need to sleep.
But thank God, He is good to me.
He always pulls me through so I can continue to work for Him.
是的，我有遇過。
我的主要障礙之一，就是身體健康狀況不佳。
當我旅行的時候，我經常感到痛苦。
我全身一直出汗，感覺很想吐。
每當發生這種情況的時候，我都無法進食或飲水，而需要去睡覺。
但感謝神，祂對我很好。
祂總是讓我渡過難關，所以我就可以繼續為祂工作。
In 1998, two years before I started my official theological training in the True Jesus Church,
I began to preach the gospel in Yangon1, where the majority of the population is Buddhist.
At that time, my youngest brother and my niece stayed with me.
However, in July 2001, they suddenly passed away within only one week of each other!
This fed the locals’ superstition that anyone who stayed in my house was cursed and would die.
They believed this was the Myanmar way to stop Christians from preaching the gospel.
1998 年，也就是我開始真耶穌教會正式就讀神學院的兩年前，
我開始在仰光1傳福音，那裡的大多數人口都是佛教徒。
那時，我最小的弟弟和侄女留在了我身邊。
然而，2001年7月，相隔不到一周，他們二者突然離世！
這助長了當地人的迷信，即任何留在我家的人，都會受到詛咒而會死亡。
他們認為，這就是緬甸阻止基督徒傳福音的方式。
During that period, I thought I was going crazy
—my niece and my brother were my only relatives in Yangon.
With them gone, I had nobody else to turn to,
except for the local church members.
One night, when I was at my lowest ebb,
I asked a church brother to pray for me.
Thank God, after our prayer, I was able to sleep.
The next morning, I was back to normal.
那段時間裡，我以為自已要瘋了，
—我的侄女和弟弟，是我在仰光的唯一親戚。
他們走了，我就沒有人可以求助，
除了當地的教會信徒。
有一天晚上，當我處於最低潮的時候，
我請一位教會弟兄為我禱告。
感謝神，我們禱告之後，就能夠入睡了。
隔天早上，我恢復了正常。
A few days later, I left Yangon and returned to my hometown in northern Myanmar.
This was a setback; it seemed as if the locals had proofed
that I was cursed because I preached the gospel.
I believe that God allowed these things to happen in order to test me.
幾天後，我離開了仰光，回到緬北自已的老家。
這是一種挫折；好像當地人已經證明了，
我因為傳福音而受到咒詛。
我相信，神允許這些事情發生是為了考驗我。
In general, I faced many prejudices
before and after entering into the ministry.
When I converted to the True Jesus Church,
people thought I had joined a cult
because we observed the Sabbath,
while everyone else in my hometown worshipped on Sunday.
The locals also thought I became a preacher
because of financial benefits from the church.
總之，進入事奉的前後，我要面對很多偏見。
當我改信真耶穌教會的時候，
人們以為我加入了邪教，
因為我們守安息日，
而我家鄉的其他人，都在周日禮拜。
當地人還以為我成了傳道人，
是因為從教會得到經濟上的好處。
Although it is painful to be judged by others,
this is part of bearing the cross for Jesus.
雖然受到別人評判是很痛苦的，
這是為耶穌背十字架的一部分。
3. How has God provided for you and your family?
3. 神如何支持你和你家？
God has always been fair to me;
He loves and cares for me.
In terms of material possessions, I have nothing;
yet whenever I need anything, God provides for me.
For example, before I became a preacher,
I worked in a leather company.
Because I was not a permanent employee,
I did not have a regular income.
One day, when I did not have any money left to buy food,
I prayed to God in tears.
The following day, my employer gave me 10,000 kyats.
At that time, this amount of money could buy one sack of rice
on which two people could survive for one month.
Thank God!
神對我一直很公平；
祂愛我，關心我。
物質財富上，我一無所有；
然而每當我需要任何東西的時候，神都會為我預備。
例如，在我成為傳道人之前，
我在一家皮革公司工作。
因為我不是正式員工，
我並沒有固定的收入。
有一天，當我沒有錢買食物的時候，
我流著淚向神禱告。
第二天，我的老闆給了我 10,000 緬元。
那個時候這筆錢可以買一袋米，
兩個人可以用這袋米生存一個月。
感謝神！
4. What advice or encouragement would you give to any member who is contemplating preacherhood?
4. 你會提供什麼建議或鼓勵給予任何考慮傳道生涯的信徒？
We need to understand that being a preacher is comparable to being an ambassador
—a mediator and peacemaker between God and man.
In fact, we are ambassadors for Christ
(2 Cor 5:20).
我們需要明白，成為傳道人相當於是形象大使
—是神與人之間的調解人與和平使者。
事實上，我們是基督的代言人
（林後 5：20）。
As preachers, our duty is directly connected to the heavenly kingdom and to eternity.
So, if we really want to become preachers,
we must first have the heart to save souls.
作為傳道人，我們的職責與天國和永生直接相關。
所以，如果我們真的想成為傳道工人，
首先就要有拯救靈魂的想法。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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