1. Manna issue 84 - In Retrospection and Reflection One Hundred Years of Spiritual Grace 回顧與反省100年來屬靈的恩典
Shun Dao Hsieh—Taichung, Taiwan 台灣台中 謝順道
Editor’s note: Elder Shun Dao Hsieh was
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on July 5,
1947 in Huwei, Taiwan, and he later joined
the full-time ministry in September 1955.
After seventy years in the Lord,
Elder Hsieh has seen and heard many miracles.
This article is an excerpt of his reflections
on the early days of the True Jesus Church in Taiwan,
which he shared at the Holy Work Symposium,
held in Malaysia in March 2016 by
the International Assembly of the True Jesus Church.
編者按：謝順道長老於1947年七月5日，在台灣虎尾奉主耶穌基督的名受洗，
後來他於1955年九月加入全職事奉的工作。
身在主裡七十年之後，
謝長老看過，也聽過許多神蹟。
本文引用了他在2016年三月馬來西亞真耶穌教會聯總的聖工研討會時，
分享了對台灣早期真耶穌教會的回顧。
The Gospel Reaches Taiwan 福音臨到台灣
The True Jesus Church was established in Beijing on January 2, 1918
(the twentieth day of the eleventh month,
1917, according to the lunar calendar).
The gospel, as preached by the True Jesus Church,
reached Taiwan in 1926 when Elisha Huang
invited Barnabas Chang to share the truth.
Eight early workers came from China,
boarding the Japanese ferry at Xiamen on March 2,
and arriving at Keelung Harbor the next day.
Among these workers were Thomas Guo, Luke Kao,
Yuan Chien Chen, Dao Yuan Wu, Ching Lung Wang,
and Shing Ming Huang.
真耶穌教會於1918年一月2日在北京成立，
(農曆是1917年11月20日)。
真耶穌教會所傳的福音，於1926年傳到台灣，
那時黃以利沙邀請張巴拿巴來分享真理。
八位早期工人來自於大陸，於三月2日在廈門搭日本渡輪來台，
隔天就到達基隆港。
這些工人之中，有郭湯瑪士(郭多馬)，高路加，陳元謙，吳道源，王慶隆，黃醒民。
Through the efforts of these pioneer workers,
God established the first True Jesus Church in Taiwan,
at Shengang, on March 11. Shortly after,
the church in Niu Tiao Wan was established on March 16,
followed by the church in Qingshui on April 3.
Within a month, three churches had sprung up—
a great miracle in the history of Christianity in Taiwan.
經由這些開拓工人的努力，神於三月11日，在伸港建立了第一間台灣的真耶穌教會。
不久之後，三月16日，在牛挑灣成立了教會，接著四月3日，成立了清水教會。
一個月之內，就興起了三間教會 -
是台灣基督教歷史的大神蹟。
This pioneering mission was effective because God’s grace
and guidance were upon His workers, testifying that
the truth they preached was the gospel of salvation
(Eph 1:13; Mk 16:20; Heb 2:4).
這次開拓任務很成功，因為神的恩典和指引跟隨著祂的工人，
並且見証他們所傳的真理，就是救贖的福音。
In addition, God’s hand was very evident at
the newly established church in Shengang.
Week in and week out, many who attended the church services
experienced miracles from God;
and once they understood the truth,
they received baptism.
The church atmosphere was joyous—
believers testified of God’s grace,
discussed the truth of God,
sang hymns, prayed earnestly, and praised the Lord.
Most were reluctant to leave
the church hall after services were over.
不只如此，神的雙手很明顯地在這新成立的伸港教會作工。
接連好幾個星期，許多來參加教會聚會的人，
體驗到從神而來的神蹟；
一旦他們了解了真理，就會接受洗禮。
教會的氣氛很喜樂 -
信徒見証神的恩典，討論神的真理，
一起唱讚美詩，逼切禱告，讚美神。
大部份的人，在聚會結束之後，都很捨不得離開教會的大廳。
As the True Jesus Church turns one hundred,
we should ask ourselves if the zeal and joy that
epitomized the church in her infancy
still drives the centenarian church today.
Do we have the same simple heart of faith
and obedience as the early workers,
who relied fully on the Holy Spirit to complete the work?
Let us reflect on these questions
as we recount the early days of the church in Taiwan.
當真耶穌教會進入一百年的時候，
我們應該問自已，早期教會還在嬰兒時期的熱心和喜樂，
是否仍然可以驅動今日百年的教會。
我們是否還有同樣單純的信心，順服，像早期工人一樣，
他們完全只依賴聖靈來完成他們的工作？
當我們重新數算台灣教會早期的日子，
讓我們好好回想這些問題。
Offerings of Early Workers 早期工人的奉獻
Today, when we consider serving the Lord,
we often limit the scope of our offering
to a portion of time and effort we can spare to do God’s work.
But the early workers did not delineate their offerings in such a way.
They served God through their careers,
by offering their hard-earned cash to build churches,
and even financed missionary work out of their own pockets.
Some noteworthy examples are shared below,
so that we may understand how these early brethren loved God
and repaid Him through diverse forms of service.
今日，當我們考慮要服事主的時候，
常常限制自已的奉獻於某範疇，
只拿出一部份的時間，一部份的精力來作神的工。
但是早期的工人並不會用這樣的方式，來描繪自已的奉獻。
他們用自已的工作來服事神，
獻上自已努力賺來的錢來蓋教會，
甚至會從他們自已的口袋中，拿出錢來資助福音的事工。
有一些值得留意的典範，茲分享如下，
只有這麼作，我們才可以了解早期的弟兄姐妹是如何的愛神，
透過各式各樣的事事工作，來報答神。
First seeds in Taiwan:
Elisha Huang financed Barnabas Chang’s first missionary trip to Taiwan.
He also funded the building of a church in Xianxi
so the believers, who were mostly poor and few in number at the time,
could gather in one place.
台灣的第一顆種子：
黃以利沙資助張巴拿八到台灣傳道之旅。
他也集資在線西蓋會堂，
因此，那時所有的信徒，大部份都很窮，人數也很少，
才可以在一個地方聚集。
From this one seed, the church in Xianxi grew and prospered,
such that the congregation would go on to build another church in Shengang in 1960.
The original Xianxi Church is now known as Shengang Church.
從這一種子，線西教會成長，並且興盛起來，
後來，信徒於1960年在伸港繼續建另一個會堂。
而原本的線西教會，就是現在大家所知的伸港教會。
An entrepreneur who loved God:
Elder Shun Ming Kuo was a prominent entrepreneur in Taichung.
When he was a deacon, he was also an industrious businessman,
but he never missed Sabbath services, morning prayers and evening services.
He would always contribute money to the Taiwan General Assembly (GA)
and local churches when there was a need.
He also sponsored students to further their education,
without expecting repayment. He would say, “
When you’re successful, help those who need it.
That is the best way to repay me.”
愛神的企業家：
郭順命長老是台中有名的企業家。
當他還是執事的時候，也是一個工商實業家，
有需要的時候，他總會捐錢給台灣總會和地方教會。
他也資助學生接受深造，並且不求回報。
他會說，當你成功的時候，幫助有需要的人。
就是回報最好的方式。
Serving God through business:
Elder Yu Lin Tsai from the church in Nanmen, Tainan,
was a businessman who decided to take up full-time ministry after World War II.
However, he soon found that his gifts were suited more to business than to ministry,
and he was advised to serve God through his business.
He redirected his footsteps and returned to the world of business,
but with the focus of serving God. God’s grace was upon him,
and his enterprise was successful. And in turn,
he built a church building at Nanmen,
and constructed the first True Jesus Church nursing home for the elderly members.
在事業上服事神：
台南南門教會蔡雨霖長老，是企業家，
第二次世界大戰後，他決心從事全職奉。
然而，他很快發現，自已的恩賜比起事奉來說，更適合作生意，
別人也勸告他經由事業來服事神。
他就重新轉向自已的腳步，回到作生意的事界，
但卻以服事神為中心。
神賜給他恩典，他的事業很成功。
為了回報神，他在南門蓋了會堂，
為年長的信徒，造一第一間真耶穌教會的養護中心。
These are just a few examples of the faith of the early True Jesus Church believers,
but they are representative of the simple and generous spirit that characterized the church at the time.
Just like the apostolic church, who willingly shared their possessions and money
and provided for the needy among them (Acts 4:32–35; 11:29),
many early True Jesus Church believers shared their blessings from God to benefit the church.
這些都只是早期真耶穌教會信徒，一小部份信心的例子，
是當時教會簡單又有愛心特色的代表。
就像使待時代的教會，他們甘心樂意彼此分享財物給他們中有需要的人。
(徒 4：32-35; 11：29)
許多早期真耶穌教會的信徒，會分享從神而來的祝福，來造就教會。
As the Bible says, “Therefore, as we have the opportunity,
let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10).
When we help others, by financial means or otherwise, we should not expect repayment of any kind.
If we are in the position to give, then we should give freely,
in the hope that our beneficiary will help others in turn.
Whether or not our recipients are of the faith, we should expect nothing in return.
If we can stir up this type of selflessness in the church,
then we will truly be manifesting the great love of Christ.
就像聖經告訴我們的，
10所以，有了機會就當向眾人行善，向信徒一家的人更當這樣。(加 6：10)
當我們在金錢上，或其他的方式，來幫助別人，就不要期待有任何方式的回報。
若我們是站在施予的一方，那就當白白的給予，
只希望那些領受的人，以後可以幫助別人，作為回報他們的方式。
無論接受的人有沒有信心，我們不當期待有任何的回報。
若我們可以激發起教會內這樣的無私，
我們就能真正展現出基督的大愛。
The apostle Paul continued to work to support himself and the church (Acts 18:3; 2 Thess 3:8),
but he did so alongside preaching the gospel.
We should work hard in our vocation, but only with the view of shining God’s light through our work,
and providing for ourselves and the wider church.
We should never let our jobs become an excuse for neglecting our faith and service to God.
The early True Jesus Church brethren knew that successful careers were from God,
and for that reason, they never put their jobs before the work of God.
They endeavored to tithe on time, refrained from working on Sabbath days,
and brought their families to service.
And they would also repay God’s grace by offering their time and money freely.
使徒保羅持續工作來幫補自已和教會(徒 18：3；帖後 3：8)，
而且他一邊傳福音工作，一邊工作。
在自已的職位上，要努力工作，
要以透過工作來為主發光的想法，供給自已和整個教會。
永遠不要讓自已的工作，成為忽略信仰，忽略服事神的藉口。
早期真耶穌教會的弟兄姐妹知道，工作上的成功來自於神，
因為這個原因，他們未曾把自已的工作，放在聖工之前。
他們準時奉獻什一捐，自動停止在安息日聚會，把全家帶來服事神。
他們也很樂意以自已的時間和金錢，來回報神的恩典。
Throughout the history of the True Jesus Church,
new believers would come to Christ with this same heart.
But as the years pass, maintaining this heart of simplicity can become difficult.
And for those second- and third-generation believers who were born into the church,
who have never had to seek God for themselves, it is easy to take things for granted.
How willing are we to sacrifice time and money to spread the precious truth?
How many of us would offer out of our own abundance to help our less well-off brothers
and sisters establish themselves in the faith?
Are we willing to “count all things loss”—let go of all our worldly achievements,
possessions and status—in order to gain Christ (Phil 3:7–9)?
These are questions worthy of our consideration.
綜觀真耶穌教會的歷史，
新信徒都有同樣的心志歸入基督。
但是隨著歲流逝，要維持這種單純的心志卻可能很困難。
對那些在教會出生的第二三代信徒，
他們從沒有自已尋求神，很容易把一切的事當作理所當然。
我們到底有多甘心樂意，會犧牲自已的時間和金錢，來廣傳這寶貴的真理呢？
我們之中，到底有多少人，會把自已所得到的豐富，
分享給那些比較不太好過的弟兄姐妹，讓他們可以在信仰上站立穩妥的？
我們真的會願意，把一切都"當作是有損的嗎？"放棄一切我們在世上的成就，
財產和地位 - 只為了得著耶穌(腓 3：7-9)？
這些都是值得我們好好深思的問題。
Simple Faith of the Early Brethren
早期弟兄姐妹單純的信心
Some members wonder why we hear so many testimonies
of God’s miraculous grace from past decades,
but we witness few miracles in the church today.
My answer is that, before Taiwan implemented national health insurance,
most people could not afford to see a doctor or receive medical treatment.
When believers became ill, they would have to rely on the free Physician
—the Lord Jesus. When they prayed, the Lord had mercy on them, and miracles would happen.
Now that we have easy and affordable access to doctors
and medicine, they are our first port of call when we fall sick.
有一些信徒會覺得很奇怪，為什麼過去幾十年間，
聽過了很多神蹟恩典的見証，
但是在今日的教會中，卻很少看到神蹟奇事呢？
這的答案是這樣的，台灣在開始實施全民健康保險之前，
很多人負擔不起去找醫生看病，得著合適的治療照顧。
當信徒生病的時候，他們只好依賴那免費的醫生 - 主耶穌。
當他們禱告的時候，神就憐憫他們，就會有神蹟出現。
而現今，我們很容易就可以找醫生看病，拿到醫藥，而且也負擔得起這些費用，
當我們生病的時候，他們就是我們第一時間去尋找的對向。
Miracles of healing are just one manifestation of a simple faith,
uncomplicated by alternative solutions and possibilities.
In our modern world of scientific enquiry and technological advancement,
it can be tough to humbly rely on God alone, against all logic,
and believe that He will mercifully meet our needs.
But this is exactly what the early brethren did, and for that reason,
they witnessed the amazing works of God.
Here are just three examples from those early years
where the lives of our brethren were transformed through a simple
and steady faith.
疾病痊癒的神蹟，只是單純信心的展現而已，
一點也不因為其他的方法和可能性，而受到影響。
在我們現今追尋科學科技進步的社會中，
要很謙卑的依靠神，就可能很困難，違返一切邏輯思考的原則，
並且相信，他會很慈悲地完成我們的需要。
但正是這些早期弟兄姐妹所作的事，就因為這個單純的原因，
他們親眼看到神奇妙的大工。
這裡剛好有三個早年的例子，
在那個時候，因為我們弟兄姐妹有著單純而堅持的信心，
因而改變了他們的生活。
Testimony 1:
In 1950, I was pastoring the church in Lunwei as a newly ordained minister.
After the Sabbath service, a sister asked me what had happened to my thumb.
I answered her, “I injured it when I was cutting wood.”
見証一：
在1950年，我是一個剛受按立的傳道人，牧養崙尾教會。
安息日聚完會之後，一位姐妹問我，大姆指發生了什麼事。
我回答她，"我砍木材的時候受傷了"。
She smiled and said, “Thank the Lord.”
Incidentally, this sister was nicknamed “Thank-the-Lord.”
她就微笑說著，"感謝主"。
很剛好的是，這個姐妹的小名，就是"感謝主"。
I muttered to the youths beside me, “How could she thank the Lord for my injury?”
我就向身旁的青年唸了一下，"為什麼她可以因著我的受傷而感謝神呢？"
A brother replied, “She was right to thank the Lord.”
一位弟兄回答，"她感謝主是對的"。
I was puzzled. “Why is that?”
我很困惑想著。"為什麼會這樣？"
He replied, “The Lord prevented you from cutting off your thumb completely.”
他回答，"主沒有讓你把整個手指都砍下來。"
“And what if I had cut off my thumb?”
"若我把手指都砍下來了呢？"
“Then we would thank God that you still had four fingers!”
"那麼我們仍會感謝神，因為你還有四隻手魯！"
The Bible says, “Rejoice always…in everything give thanks” (1 Thess 5:16, 18a).
Those who have a simple faith will always look on the bright side of every situation.
聖經說，"常常喜樂...無論何事都感謝神"(帖前 5：16，18a)。
那些有單純信心的人，無論在什麼樣的情況中，都會看到光明面。
There is a story about how Sister Thank-the-Lord got her nickname.
Before she believed in Jesus, she had a strange illness.
She was afraid of the light, and the wind would cause a painful sensation on her skin.
She would sit under a mosquito net all day long, even when she ate her meals.
關於這個感謝主的姐妹，怎麼得到這個小名，是有故事的。
在她相信耶穌之前，她得到很怪的病。
很怕光，而風吹在皮膚上，會讓她覺得很痛。
全天她只能坐在蚊帳下，甚至吃飯時，也坐在裡面。
A senior sister from the church in Lunwei came to preach to her one Sabbath,
saying, “If you go to church with me, the Lord Jesus will heal you!”
Thank-the-Lord believed and agreed to go.
When she put a covering over her head, the senior sister said,
“You don’t look nice with that on,” and told her to take it off.
有一天安息日，一個崙尾教會年長的姐妹，來向她傳教，
她，"如果你和我去教會，主耶穌就會醫治你！"
感謝主相信了，並且同意一起去。
當她在頭上披上圍巾的時候，這位年長的姐妹說，
"你穿這個不好看"，叫她把圍巾拿掉。
Miraculously, for the rest of the day, she did not feel any pain
or ill-effects from the wind. When she returned home,
she no longer felt pain or needed her mosquito net.
After that, she persistently sought the truth and was baptized in the name of Jesus.
Having received this amazing grace from God,
she would always thank the Lord in all things,
which is how she got her nickname.
很奇妙的，一整天下來，她都沒有任何吹風引起的疼痛，病痛的情況。
當她回家的時候，就覺得不再有病痛，也不再需要蚊帳。
這件事之後，她持續追求真理，並且奉耶穌的名受洗。
因為從神那裡得到了這奇妙的恩典，
無論何時她都會感謝主，
這也是她怎麼有這個小名的原因。
Testimony 2:
On August 15, 1945, the Emperor of Japan surrendered to the United States of America,
marking the end of World War II.
見証2：
1945年八月15日，日本帝國向美國投降，第二次世界大戰就結束了。
In 1946, the church in Nan’ao in Yilan County was under great persecution.
A certain church was spreading rumors that the True Jesus Church was a cult and should be exterminated.
Later, in 1955, Preacher Kai Chou Hung testified what the church in Nan’ao underwent at the time.
1946年，宜蘭縣南澳教會受到了很大的逼迫。
一些其他的教會就散佈謠言，真耶穌教會是邪教，應該要被消滅。
後來，洪開周傳道(忠誠)見証了當時南澳的經歷的一切。
Preacher Hung said, “We were targeted two times a week,
often in the middle of a sermon. When the persecutors came,
they would ring a bell so that the brothers and sisters would know they were coming.
Nevertheless, no one would leave his or her seat. Our attackers were strong men,
and they would call out, ‘Do you want to believe in Jesus?’
洪傳道說，"我們一週內會被別人針對迫害二次，常常都是在講道中的時候。
當那些迫害人的來了，他們會敲鐘，所以弟兄姐妹就會知道，他們來了。
然而，卻沒有人會離開他們自已的座位。那些來攻擊的人都很強壯，
他們會大聲呼叫，"你要信耶穌嗎？"
“Our brethren would answer, ‘Yes!’
"我們的弟兄會回答說，"是的！"
“Then they would shout, ‘Do you want to believe in our church,
or True Jesus Church?’
"然後他們就會大叫，你要信我們教會，還是真耶穌教會'
“The brethren would reply, ‘True Jesus Church!’ ”
"信徒會回答，'真耶穌教會'"
The attackers would push the members to the ground,
grab them by the hair or ear, and hit them on the head.
They would beat them with a stick and step on them until they passed out.
They also targeted Preacher Hung, as the church’s minister,
brutally beating him until he threw up blood and passed out.
Despite this, Preacher Hung continued to minister every day.
Such persecutions also did not deter the faith of the Nan’ao believers.
這些來攻擊的人，會把信徒推到地上，
拉著他們的頭髮和耳朵，打他們的頭。
會用棍子打他們，踩在他們身上直到他們昏倒。
他們會針對洪傳道，因為他是教會的長執，
很殘忍的打他，直到他吐血昏過去。
雖然遇到這樣的情況，洪傳道每天繼續事奉。
這樣的迫害也不能阻止南澳信徒的信心。
Around that time, some truth-seekers from Nan’ao decided
to get baptized at the Luodong evangelistic and spiritual convocation.
The minister asked them why they would want to receive baptism
when they would be persecuted at Nan’ao. They answered,
“If we receive baptism and are then beaten to death,
we will be saved. But if we are beaten to death, having not been baptized,
we won’t be saved.”
The church council unanimously agreed to baptize them for three reasons:
they believed in the gospel that saves;
they were not afraid of persecution after knowing the truth;
and their faith was firm. After the convocation,
they joyfully returned to Nan’ao, ready to face any persecution that might come.
大約那個時候，有一些來自南澳的慕道者，決定在羅東舉開的靈恩佈道大會時受洗。
傳道問他們，他們在南澳會受到迫害，為什麼還要接受洗禮。
他們回答，"若是我們接受洗禮，然後被打死，我們會得救。
但我們若被打，卻沒有受洗，我們不會得救。
因為三個原因，職務會一直同意為他們施洗：
他們相信得救的福音；
他們了解真理之後，不怕迫害；
他們的信心很堅固。
他們信主之後，都很高興地回到南澳，
都準備好要面對可能會來的任何迫害。
One Sabbath, an angel appeared to the brethren during a service at Nan’ao,
and told them, “Violent attackers will come to persecute you today.
I will lead all of you to another place. Do not return home to pack,
just bring your Bible and hymnbook. Come, follow me.”
有一次安息日南澳聚會的時候，天使向弟兄顯現，告訴他們，
"今天會有很兇猛的攻擊者來迫害人。
我們帶領你們到另一個地方。不要回家打包了，
只要帶著你們的聖經和讚美時就好。
來吧，跟著我。"
The angel brought them to a broken hanging bridge that had been marked as unsafe
and off-limits. He spoke to those behind him,
“Pay attention to where I put my feet; if you step where I do,
you’ll be safe.” Not long after, their pursuers came after them.
But they were afraid to cross the rickety bridge.
God opened a way for the believers,
just as He did for the Israelites fleeing the Egyptian soldiers (Ex 14:21–28).
天使帶著他們到一座破損的吊橋，那些標示著危險和禁止進入。
他向跟在身後的人，
"留意那些我腳踩過的地方；若你踏在我踏過之地，你就安全。"
不久之後，那些追他們的人跟著來了。
但是他們很害怕跨過那座遙晃的橋。
神為信徒開路，就像祂為以色列人作的一樣，讓他們逃過埃及的追兵。
(出 14：21-28)
After they had crossed the bridge, the angel disappeared.
The members who escaped that day belonged to the indigenous Atayal tribe.
They followed the mountain road and arrived at Fushi Church in the Hsiulin Township,
Hualian County. The members of this church were of the Truku tribe,
who spoke a different language from the Atayal. Fortunately,
both tribes were educated under the Japanese system,
so they could communicate in Japanese. After learning the plight of the Nan’ao brethren,
the Fushi brethren were full of love and lent the visitors some land to work and live on.
他們越過橋之後，天使就消失了。
那天逃跑的信徒，是原住民泰雅族。
他們沿著山路，到達花蓮縣秀林鄉的富世教會。
這間教會的信徒都是太魯閣族，和泰雅族說不同的語言。
幸運的是，二方族群都是接受日本的教育系統，所以他們用日語溝通。
在得知了這些南澳弟兄的困境之後，
富世教會的弟兄充滿了愛心，借給些外來的訪客一些土地可以工作，藉以維持生計。
After a few years, the local government sent officials
to the Nan’ao Township to declare that,
because the True Jesus Church is a legally registered religious organization,
any discrimination against the church would be against the law.
The brethren who had hidden in Fushi could now return to Nan’ao peacefully.
幾年以後，地方政府派遣官員到南澳鄉去宣佈，
因為真耶穌教會，是一個合法註冊的宗教組織，
任何對於這間教會的歧視都是違法的。
所以藏在富世的許多弟兄，現在可以平安地回到南澳。
Aside from the church in Nan’ao,
there are now seven more churches in that area.
I believe this persecution was a catalyst in the growth
of the church. Hallelujah, thank the Lord!
除了有南澳教會，那個區域現在有超過7個教會。
我相信，這樣的逼迫，是一種教會成長的催化濟。
哈利路亞，感謝主！
Testimony 3: In October 1955, during the practical portion
of my theological training program (TTP),
I was delivering a Sabbath sermon at the church in Luodong.
It was entitled, “The Love of the Lord Jesus.”
After the sermon, Deaconess Maria Chiu came up to me,
held my hands and broke down in tears.
“I didn’t know the Lord Jesus loves me so much!” she said.
見証3：
1955年十月，那時正是我神學訓練的實習階段，
我在羅東教會的安息日講道。
講道的主題是，"主耶穌的愛"。
講道結束之後，邱瑪利亞女執事向我走過來，
流著淚抓著我的手。
她說，"我真不知道，主耶穌是這麼的愛我！"
Later, I learned that, before Deaconess Chiu’s husband died,
he objected to her going to church. Every Sabbath,
she would sneak out early in the morning by the back door.
On her return, before she walked through the front door,
she would prepare herself to be beaten.
Her journey to and from church was also perilous—
she had to crawl slowly across a wobbly bridge over a deep valley.
Though she faced such difficulties to come to church every Sabbath,
she never grumbled against the Lord. In fact,
she was always smiling and full of joy.
後來我才得知，在兵女執事的丈夫過逝之前，
他反對她去聚會。
每個安息日，她會早上很早就從後門偷溜出去。
在她回家的的路上，在她走入前門之前，
會讓準備好接受毒打。
她往返教會的路程也很危險 -
她需要慢慢爬過一座架在深谷上遙晃的橋。
雖然每個安息日來教會，她都會遇到這些困難，
她並沒有抱怨神。
事實上，她總是保持微笑，並且充滿了喜樂。
Testimony 4:
On March 2, 1962, the Taiwan GA sent me to the churches in Chiayi and Neipu.
On Monday, March 5, a Neipu church board member
informed me of an elderly lady who had been diagnosed with end-stage tuberculosis.
The doctor had told her not to buy any more medicine,
but to buy her favourite foods.
Because her doctor could offer her no more hope,
she turned to her neighbor, a sister from the church in Neipu,
for help. She wanted to believe in Jesus and to come to church.
見証4：
1962年3月2日，台灣總會派我去嘉義和內埔。
三月5日星期一，內埔教會的負責告訴我，
有一位年長的姐妹被診斷出肺結核末期。
醫生已經告訴她，不要再買任何藥品，只要買她自已愛吃的食物就好。
因為她的醫生不再能夠給她任何希望，
她就跑去找鄰居，找一位內埔教會的姐妹求救。
她要信耶穌，要來教會。
The church board member invited me and few members
to the lady’s house so we could pray for her.
I took the opportunity to explain some basic biblical truth to her,
and asked, “Can you throw away your medication so we can pray for you?”
At first, she was unwilling because she could not afford
to replace the medicine. I clarified,
“I don’t mean that you can’t take medication after believing in Jesus.
But I want you to experience the power of God.
If you keep taking medicine while praying to God at the same time,
and you recover, then you might think it was the medicine that healed you.”
教會的負責人和一些信徒，邀請我一起去那位女士的家，
我們好為她禱告。
我就把握機會來解釋一些基本聖經的真理，
並且問她，"可不可以把藥丟掉，讓我們來為你禱告？"
一開始她並不願意，因為她沒有錢再去拿藥。
我就解釋，
"我不是想要你信主之後不吃藥。
但是我想要你體驗神的能力。
若是你在禱告的時候，同時又吃了藥，
然後你康復了，那麼你可能會認為是藥把你治好了。"
She understood and threw away the medicine. After we had prayed for her,
I invited her to attend church service.
She said, “I’ve been in this bed for four months—
how can I possibly go to church?”
她明白之後，就把藥丟了。
在我們為她禱告之後，我邀請她來參加教會聚會。
她說，
"我已經臥病在床四個多月 -
我怎麼能夠可以走去教會呢？"
I replied, “If you decide to stay in bed,
then you’ll never leave it. But if you’re willing to come,
then God will give you strength.”
我回答，
"若是你決定一直待在床上，那你就永遠離不開床。
但若你願意來教會，那神就會給你力量。"
She immediately responded, “I will come!”
她立刻回答，"我會去"。
That night, she brought along a warmer,
and required the help of two sisters to walk to church.
Over the course of four days attending church,
with the prayers of the brethren aiding her,
she gradually needed less and less support,
until finally the day came when she needed neither her walking stick
nor her warmer.
當晚，她帶著暖爐，藉著兩位姐妹的幫助走路去教會。
經過一連四天走路去教會，而且弟兄姐妹一直禱告幫助她，
她漸漸地越來執不需要別人的幫助，
直到那最後一天來到，她不再需助拐杖的支撐，
也不用帶暖爐了。
On the morning of the fifth day,
she felt well enough to wash her clothes in the river—
something she had not done for the last four or five months.
Her neighbors saw her at the river and testified to others,
“The Lord Jesus has saved her—she no longer has tuberculosis.”
This news brought a few more truth-seekers to the church,
including the lady’s husband, who also received the Holy Spirit.
到第五天早上，她感覺到好的差不多了，可以到河裡去洗衣服 -
這是一件她過去四五個月以來，一直沒辨法作的事。
她的鄰居看到她在河邊，就向別人作見証，
"主耶穌已經救了她，她不再有肺結核"。
這件新聞引領了更多的慕道者到教會，
包括這個女士的先生，他也領受了聖靈。
On the Sabbath of May 19, after the end of the Neipu evangelistic
and spiritual convocation, six people,
including this lady and her husband, were baptized.
After this, even more people came to the church to seek the truth.
In the month of June, we held two more baptism sessions for eleven people in total
—a wonderful outcome sparked by the faith of one lady.
五月19日安息日，內埔教會靈恩佈道大會結束後，
有六個人，包含這位女士和她的先生，都受洗了。
這事之後，甚至有更多的人來教會慕道。
六月的時候，我們多舉辨了二場洗禮，總共有11個人受洗 -
一個由女士的信心火花，帶來的奇妙結局。
In 2013, I attended this sister’s funeral.
Even though she was given a terminal prognosis at the age of fifty-two,
she went on to live to the age of 103.
Her faith has been passed down to the fifth generation:
her great great grandchildren are in the Lord.
2013年的時候，我參加了這個姐妹的喪禮。
雖然她在52歲的時候，收到了最後的病危通知，
她一直活到了103歲。
她的信心一直傳了下來，直到第五代：
直到她的玄孫那一代都信主。
In Retrospection 反省
Today, many of us live in relative comfort—
we do not face persecution for our beliefs,
and we have access to doctors and medicine when we are ill.
However, there are True Jesus Church members in certain parts
of the world who are not so well placed.
We find that these brethren, like the early workers in Taiwan,
cherish their faith so much more and rely
on God more fervently than those of us living in liberal
and economically stable countries.
It is in these countries that we still see the great power of God
manifested in many miracles and wonders.
今日，我們許多人都活在相對的舒適中 -
我們不用因為自已的信仰，而受到逼迫，
我們生病的時候，可以看病吃藥。
然而，有某些其他世界真耶穌教會的信徒，
他們出生在不理想的國家。
我們會發現，這些弟兄姐妹，就像台灣早期的工人，
很珍惜自已的信仰，很熱心的依靠神，
比我們這些住在自由經濟穩定國家的弟兄姐更熱心。
在這些國家，我們仍然看到許多神蹟奇事，展現神的大能。
A Taiwanese brother once shared this observation with me:
The early believers in Taiwan had the heart of a child—
simple and innocent. They were like a family who spoke openly to one another.
If anyone behaved inappropriately,
they would gently correct this person face to face.
And they rejoiced in the Lord, always.
Nowadays, the brethren are like adults—
well educated and knowledgeable.
They are almost like strangers to one another,
speaking very selective words.
In the face of inappropriate behavior,
no one would be assertive enough to point it out.
Attending church to worship God is like another task—
we come to just learn about the Bible.
The family-like connection between members has weakened,
and so has our thirst for the word of God and joy in the Lord.
有一次台灣的弟兄和我分享這個看法：
台灣早期的信徒有著一顆赤子之心 - 簡單且純真。
就像一個大家庭，彼此暢所欲言。
若有人行為舉止不合宜，就會當面溫柔的灌戒這人。
而且他們一直都能在主裡常常喜樂。
今日的弟兄姐妹就像成年人一般 - 受到良好的教會，知識淵博。
彼此之間就像寞陌人一樣，連說話都非常講究。
當看到不好行為的時候，卻沒有人很堅定地指正。
參加聚會敬拜神，就像是另一項工作任務 -
我們來到教會只是為了研讀聖經。
信徒對間像家庭一樣的連結已經弱化了，
同樣的，我們對神話話的飢渴，及在主裡的喜樂也減少了。
As the True Jesus Church reaches her one hundredth year,
we should ask ourselves if this brother’s assessment is correct.
Let us aspire to attain the simple and steadfast faith that our forebears had,
and cultivate a child-like heart. Because the early believers had abundant faith,
Jesus would heal them. They suffered for the sake of Christ
and did everything with thanksgiving and joy in the Lord;
in return, they witnessed the wonderful grace and power of the Lord.
If we regain this innocent and trusting heart of a child,
then we, too, will see the hand of our loving heavenly Father
working in our lives and in His church.
隨著真耶穌教會傳教100年，
我們要問自已，上面弟兄的說法是不是正確。
讓我們來追求那先輩曾經所擁有單純又堅固的信心，
培養自已有一顆赤子之心。
因為早期信徒有充足的信心，所以耶穌就治好了他們。
他們為了基督的原故受苦，在主裡用感謝和喜樂的心行事；
回過頭來，他們見証了神奇妙的恩典和權能。
若是我們重新取回純真信靠神的赤子對之心，
那麼我們也會看到，慈愛天父的聖手，
在祂的教會裡及我們的生活中，看到祂聖手的作為。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)