13. Manna issue 65 - Eastern Hemisphere Department of World Mission 東半球世界宣教部
Interview with Elder Joshua Phoong,
Director of the Eastern Hemisphere Department of World Missions (EHDWM)
採訪 Joshua Phoong 長老
東半球世界宣教部負責人
The Department of World Missions (DWM) was established in 1975
as one of the departments under the International Assembly’s Executive Council.
Its aim was to plan, coordinate, execute and supervise tasks for world evangelism.
It was subsequently divided into Eastern Hemisphere (EH) and Western Hemisphere (WH) departments.
For this issue, Manna magazine had the opportunity to interview Elder Joshua Phoong
about the missionary work in the Eastern hemisphere.
He shared with us how the work began, what the current developments are,
and the challenges that lie ahead.
世界宣教部 (DWM) 成立於 1975 年，
作為聯總執行委員會轄下部門之一。
其目的是規劃、協調、執行和監督世界宣教的任務。
接著分為東半球 (EH) 和西半球 (WH) 部門。
本期，嗎哪雜誌有機會採訪馮約書亞長老，
有關東半球的宣教工作。
他與我們分享了這項工作是如何開始的，目前的發展情況，
以及未來的挑戰。
Elder Phoong, when and why was the DWM split into Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere departments?
Phoong 長老，世界宣教部何時分為東半球部門和西半球部門？為何要區分？
The DWM was divided into the EHDWM and WHDWM during the World Delegates Conference in 1997.
1997年世界代表大會期間，世界宣教部分為東半球世界宣教部和西半球世界宣教部。
There were several reasons for this.
The workload of the DWM was getting too heavy.
There were too many pioneering areas for the DWM to take care of
—other than the seven countries with General Assemblies,
all the other areas were considered to be pioneering areas.
It was not possible for the DWM to care for all these countries.
這其中有好幾個原因。
世界宣教部的工作量越來越大。
世界宣教部需要照料太多的開拓地區，
—除了聯總的七個國家之外，
所有其他地區都被認為是開拓區域。
世界宣教部不可能可以照顧這些所有的國家。
We also wanted to strengthen efforts and increase the focus
on pioneering work in the two hemispheres.
Splitting the DWM in this way would allow better utilization and mobilization
of resources in both hemispheres.
It was thought that this would be a more effective and efficient way
of pioneering new areas in the two hemispheres.
我們還想加強努力，並增加注意力，
於東西兩半球間的開拓工作。
以這種方式區分世界宣教部，可以更好地運作和動員，
東西兩半球的資源。
原本以為這將會是一種更有效和高效的方式，
可以於東西兩個半球間開拓新地區。
How is the EHDWM structured and which countries are taking care of which areas?
東半球世界宣教部的組織結構為何，由哪些國家來照料哪些地區？
The EHDWM has the support and participation of all the General Assemblies (GAs) and Coordination Boards (CBs)
in the Eastern hemisphere.
Each GA or CB appoints a Mission Committee (MC)
that coordinates the divine work in a country allocated to it.
They send personnel from their own countries first.
When further assistance is needed, they may request it from the EHDWM.
東半球世界宣教部得到所有東半球總會 (GA) 和聯絡中心 (CB) 的支持和參與。
每個總會或聯絡中心指定了一個任務委員會 (MC)
協調指派給該國的聖工。
他們會先從本國派遣人員。
當需要有進一步的幫助時，他們可以向世界宣教部提出請求。
Every year, the chairmen of the GAs and CBs,
together with the coordinators of the MCs,
meet to discuss, plan and support the divine work in the EH.
每年，總會和聯絡中心的主席，
與任務委員會的協調人員一起，
開會討論、計劃和支援東半球的聖工。
Members of EHDWM 東半球世界宣教部的成員
Areas under their care 轄下負責的地區
Korea GA 韓國總會
North-eastern China 中國東北
Taiwan GA 台灣總會
Thailand, Hong Kong/ Kowloon, Japan, China 泰國，香港，九龍，日本，中國
Sabah GA 沙巴總會
Philippines 菲律賓
Malaysia GA 馬來西亞總會
India 印度
Indonesia GA 印尼總會
Pioneering areas in Indonesia 印尼開拓地區
Singapore CB 新加坡聯絡中心
Myanmar 緬甸
Australia CB 澳洲聯絡中心
Fiji & Papua New Guinea 斐濟和巴布亞紐幾內亞
New Zealand churches 紐西蘭教會
Tonga 東加
EHDWM 東半球世界宣教部
Vietnam, Cambodia, Samoa, other new areas 越來，柬埔寨，薩亞，其他新地區
To which countries in the Eastern Hemisphere has the gospel been preached since the EHDWM was established?
Which countries were the first to accept the gospel?
東半球世界宣教部成立以來，福音已經傳到東半球的哪些國家？
哪個國家最先接受福音？
After the establishment of the EHDWM,
we began to strengthen the divine work in existing pioneering areas
like India, Philippines, Thailand, Fiji and Myanmar by allocating them to different GAs and CBs.
東半球世界宣教部成立後，
我們開始加強現有開拓地區的聖工，
例如，印度、菲律賓、泰國、斐濟和緬甸，將它們分派給不同的總會和聯絡中心。
Evangelism to new areas began in the same year.
In 1997, evangelistic work began in Vietnam and Cambodia.
In two years, a total of about fifteen were baptized.
However, because of unfavorable conditions, the work stopped two years later.
In the year 2005, we re-established the work in Vietnam and Cambodia.
同年開始向新地區傳福音。
1997 年，開始在越南和柬埔寨傳道。
兩年內，共有約十五人受洗。
然而，由於條件不利，兩年後這項工作就停止了。
2005 年，我們重新開展越南和柬埔寨的工作。
A visit was made to Nepal in 2003 through a contact from the Internet,
but there were no further developments here.
2003 年，通過網路的接觸，探訪了尼泊爾，
但這裡沒有進一步的發展。
The work in Tonga started in 2005 when we realized that we had some China members there.
We have now registered the church in Tonga.
東加的工作始於 2005 年，當時我們意識到那裡有一些中國信徒。
我們現在已經在東加註冊了教會。
We went to Papua New Guinea in 2006 to contact some China members.
However, due to security reasons, we only returned to continue the work in 2010.
This year, 2011, we started the work in Samoa,
where we have ten China members and some truth-seekers.
We have also explored the possibility of preaching in Laos and Bangladesh.
2006 年，我們在巴布亞紐幾內亞，連絡上一些中國信徒。
但出於安全考慮，直到 2010 年我們才回去繼續工作。
今年，2011 年，我們開展薩摩亞的工作，
那裡我們有十個中國信徒和一些慕道者。
我們還探尋了寮國和孟加拉傳道的可能性。
What are the objectives of the EHDWM? 何為東半球世界宣教部的目標？
Our primary missions are to pastor and to evangelize.
This involves caring for the existing pioneering areas in the EH and bringing them to maturity.
我們主要的任務是牧養信徒和傳福音。
這涉及了關心東半球現有的開拓地區，並且培育他們長大成熟。
In addition, we strive to further extend the evangelistic work in newly pioneered areas,
to preach the complete gospel to areas that it has not yet reached,
and to assist in the evangelistic work in countries which request our assistance.
此外，我們努力在新開闢的地區，進一步擴展宣教工作，
宣揚完備的福音到那尚未到達的地區，
並且幫助請求我們協助佈道工作的國家。
What is the current scope of work of the EHDWM?
東半球世界宣教部目前的工作範疇為何？
Firstly, the EHDWM seeks to actively identify potential pioneering areas.
We do this by following up on contacts we have received through the Internet
and also by starting pastoral and evangelistic work in new areas to which our members have moved.
首先，東半球世界宣教部尋求積極辨識有潛力的開拓地區。
我們通過跟進從網路得到的聯絡人，來做到這一點，
並且於有信徒搬去的新地區，也開始牧養和佈道工作，。
Secondly, we are trying to step up evangelistic efforts in existing pioneering areas,
and finally, we are continuing in our efforts to develop a pool of voluntary resources.
其次，我們正試著提升現有開拓地區的佈道活動，
最後，我們正繼續努力開展一個志工人力資源庫。
What do you expect from this ministry?
你對這項事工有什麼期望？
As the world becomes a global village,
accessibility to different countries is getting easier.
Many of our members are moving to new countries to work.
The political situation is changing to favor greater religious freedom.
We expect the pace of evangelism to accelerate in the coming years.
In preparation for this, we must have our resources in place to face the challenges ahead.
Greater efforts should be made
towards producing evangelistic literature in different languages
and towards effectively mobilizing our voluntary workers.
隨著世界變成一個地球村，
接觸不同的國家變得越來越容易。
我們許多信徒正搬到新的國家工作。
政治局勢正在發生變化，有利於更大的宗教自由。
我們期望傳福音的步伐未來幾年會加快。
為此情況能作好準備，我們必須準備好資源，來應對未來的挑戰。
應該做出更大的努力，
以不同語言製作文宣，
並有效地動員我們自已的志工。
In your view, what are the major challenges in this ministry and how can the church overcome them?
在你看來，這個事工的主要挑戰是什麼？教會要如何克服這些挑戰？
Language is one of the major problems that we are facing.
We cannot be sure how accurate the interpretation of local interpreters is.
We also need literature to support the work of evangelism;
we are translating these from existing languages, but progress is very slow.
語言是我們面臨的主要問題之一。
我們無法確定，當地口譯員的翻譯有多準確。
我們也需要文宣來支持傳福音的工作；
我們正從現有的語言來翻譯這些資料，但進展非常緩慢。
In addition, cultural and behavioral differences can cause misunderstandings.
Some of these behavioral patterns are created by the long-time presence of other denominations.
For example, many truth-seekers have come to expect financial aid from us,
as other religious organizations in their countries provide such aid.
Furthermore, many Christian denominations compromise with the local traditions.
Drinking, smoking, ancestral worship, idol-worshipping
and superstitious practices are commonplace and therefore accepted.
It is not easy to change such well-entrenched practices.
此外，文化和行為差異也會導致誤解。
其中有一些行為模式，是由其他教派的長期存在所造成的。
例如，許多慕道者已經開始期待我們的經濟援助，
因為他們國家的其他宗教組織提供這種援助。
此外，許多基督教派與當地習俗妥協。
飲酒、抽煙、祭祖、拜偶像，
迷信的活動很普遍，因此早已被接受了。
要改變這種根深蒂固的活動並不容易。
Finally, our ministry is mainly supported by volunteers.
The lack of a full-time presence in these pioneering areas is a problem.
A constant change of workers is also unhealthy.
最後，我們的事工主要是由志工支持。
這些開拓地區缺乏全天候的代表，是一個問題。
工人的一直變化也是不健康的。
How does the work of the EHDWM relate to the believers in general?
(We may sometimes consider missionary work to be the preacher’s job only.)
一般而言，東半球世界宣教部的工作與信徒有何關聯？
（我們有時可能認為宣道工作只是傳道的工作。）
Soon after the EHDWM was set up, it embarked on efforts to mobilize believers in general to work for God.
We began to entrust pioneering countries to different GAs,
which promotes greater participation of the various GAs in the pioneering work.
Moreover, the Voluntary Mission Team gives members in general the opportunity
to participate in pioneering work according to their availability.
We also have a Voluntary Ministers Course
that prepares ministers to make a greater contribution towards pioneering work.
東半球世界宣教部成立後不久，便開始努力動員廣大信徒為神工作。
我們開始將開拓國家託負給不同的總會，
如此促進了各總會更多參與開拓工作。
此外，志工宣教團給一般信徒提供了機會，
依照他們各人的能力，來參與開拓工作。
我們還有志工宣道者課程，
使宣道者做好準備，給予開拓工作更大的貢獻。
Apart from that, the EHDWM has just started its own website:
eh.tjc.org.
It serves to create greater awareness of pioneering areas and to encourage members to pray for,
contribute to and join in the work.
除此之外，東半球世界宣教部剛剛開通了自己的網站：
eh.tjc.org。
這會有助於提高人們對開拓地區的認知，並鼓勵信徒來代禱，
奉獻和參與工作。
How can TJC members support this ministry?
真耶穌教會信徒要如何支持這個事工呢？
Since all GAs and CBs are responsible for at least one new pioneering country,
individuals can refer to the Mission Committee in their own countries to join in the work.
Those who wish to participate in the work in other countries can contact the EHDWM.
They can also join the Voluntary Mission Team Training and the Voluntary Ministers Training.
We will then make arrangements for these volunteers to join upcoming missionary trips.
由於所有的總會和聯絡中心，都至少負責一個新的開拓國家，
個人可以參考自己國家的宣教委員會參與工作。
那些希望可以參與其他國家工作的人，可以聯繫東半球世界宣教部。
他們也可以參加志工宣教團講習會，和志工傳道者講習會。
然後，我們就會安排這些志工參加即將開始的宣教之旅。
Thank you very much for this interview, Elder Phoong.
非常感謝您接受這次採訪，馮長老。
As we can see, the church faces many challenges in this work,
not least of which is a shortage of workers.
We hope this interview has encouraged you to contribute in whatever way you can,
be it through prayer, financial support
or by joining a Volunteer Mission Team in your area.
All we need is a willing heart to do our part to support the work of global evangelism
that has been entrusted to us!
正如我們所看到的，在這項工作中，教會面臨著許多挑戰，
其中最重大的問題，就是工人短缺。
我們希望這次的採訪，能鼓勵您以任何方式做出奉獻，
不論通過代禱，財上的支助，
或加入您當地地區的志工宣教團隊。
我們所需要的，只是一顆願作的心，盡自己一份的力量來支持全球宣教聖工，
而宣教工作早就已經託負給我們了！
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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