9. Manna issue 89 - Evangelism_Q&A Be a Lover of Souls 傳福音問答集：喜愛靈魂的人
RED Team—USA 美國 - 紅隊
Editor’s note:
It can seem daunting to bring a friend or truth-seeker directly through the doors of the church.
However, we can use online tools to help ease the introduction of Christianity,
all accessed from the comfort and convenience of one's home.
編者註：
攜帶朋友或慕道者，直接穿過教會大門，似乎很可怕。
但是，我們可以使用網路工具，來幫助簡單介紹基督教，
所有接觸的通道，都可以在舒適方便的家中進行。
In 2013, the General Assembly of the United States (USGA)
formed the Remote Evangelism and Discipleship (RED) team to promote evangelism and discipleship,
utilizing internet technologies such as voice and video conferencing, and webinars.
2013年，美國總會（USGA）
組織了偏遠佈道和追隨耶穌訓練 (RED) 團隊，以促進佈道活動和追隨耶穌的精神，
利用網路科技術，如使用視聽會議及網路研討會的功能。
The RED team began hosting webinars in 2014.
By God’s grace, over time, the number of participants has increased,
and new features such as recordings, accessible online, were added to the resource kit.
These webinars act as an evangelism tool,
to which members can invite friends and family members
interested in learning about Christianity and biblical truths.
They are also used for internal church training,
to educate and promote evangelism among the youths.
偏遠佈道和追隨耶穌訓練 RED 團隊於 2014 年開始舉辦網路研討會。
靠著神的恩典，隨著時間的推移，參與的人逐漸增加，
資源工具箱中，增加了許多新功能，例如，錄音，線上隨取即用。
這些網路研討會，成為傳福音的工具，
信徒可以邀請朋友和家人來加入，
讓有興趣的人，可以了解基督教和聖經真理。
它們也可用於教會內部訓練，
教育和促進青少年傳福音。
In Spring 2019, the RED team hosted a webinar “Q&A on Personal Evangelism,”
led by Preacher Samuel Kuo.
The following transcript has been edited for clarity.
2019 年春季，偏遠佈道和追隨耶穌訓練 RED 團隊舉辦了網路研討會，主題是“個人佈道問答”，
由 Samuel Kuo 傳道主領。
為使文章易於理解，以下記錄已進行了編輯。
QUESTION 1 問題1
Many young people are not very receptive to reading the Scriptures.
On one occasion, I tried to preach to a Catholic friend.
He was not very interested,
saying that he had never had a good understanding of the Bible and did not feel it was necessary.
In such a scenario, what are the next steps we could take?
許多年輕人不太想讀聖經。
有一次，我試圖向一位天主教朋友傳教。
他並不是很感興趣，
他說，對聖經從來沒有很好的了解，也覺得沒有必要去了解。
在這種情況之下，我們可以採取哪些下一步的措施呢？
When we preach to Christians,
we ought to tactfully remind them that the basis of their (and our) faith is the Scriptures.
We can start by asking them
why they believe what they believe and how they justify these beliefs.
Let them examine and evaluate their faith,
and reflect on whether belief in God can be sustained without trying to know the word of God.
However, at the end of the day, as the saying goes,
we can lead a horse to water, but we cannot make it drink.
當我們向基督徒傳道的時候，
就應該巧妙地提醒他們，他們（和我們）信仰的基礎就是聖經。
我們可以從詢問他們開始，
他們為何會相信現在所相信的，以及他們如何認為這些信條是正確的。
讓他們自已檢查評估自已的信仰，
並且反省，若不去嘗試了解神的道理，是否可以維持對神的信靠。
然而，歸根究底，就如俗話所說，
我們可以把牽馬到水邊，但我們不能逼它喝水。
QUESTION 2 問題2
For certain churches, there may be pastoral issues
that must first be addressed because they affect the evangelistic work.
For example, the members may not be very welcoming to truth-seekers
or are too busy doing other church work.
How can a church prioritize between pastoral work and evangelistic work?
How do we find a healthy balance?
對某些教會來說，可能存在信徒牧養的問題，
因此首先必須解決這些問題，因為這會影響傳福音的工作。
例如，信徒或許不太歡迎慕道者，
或者忙於從事其他的教會工作。
教會要怎樣在牧養工作和福音工作之間，決定先後順序呢？
我們如何維持健全平衡呢？
Pastoral and evangelistic work are complementary and integral to one other.
If we choose only to pastor
—focusing on ourselves and our deficiencies
—we may be so mired in these that
we would never get out of that loop and find time to do outreach.
Conversely, if we are on the other extreme of the spectrum,
where we only evangelize but never self-reflect,
then we may not realize that our behavior is keeping people away.
There must thus be a healthy balance.
牧養及福音工作是相輔相成的。
如果我們只選擇牧養，
—關注我們及自已的不足，
——我們可能深陷泥潭中，以至困於一些問題，
例如我們永遠不能脫離那個不好的循環，並有空閒的時間進行向外接觸。
反過來，如果我們處於光譜的另一個極端，
我們只專注傳福音，但從來不會自我反省，
那麼，我們可能沒有意識到，自已的行為導致別人遠離。
因此，必須要維持健全平衡工作。
Pastoral work in the form of workshops and seminars
to provide fundamental training to our believers on the gospel that we are preaching is necessary.
However, after a certain level of theoretical knowledge has been imparted,
believers must take practical action, i.e., go out to preach the word.
The process of evangelizing
—meeting with naysayers or skeptics
—will naturally motivate us to improve ourselves.
Importantly, we will be reminded that our actions and conduct
must be consistent with our preaching.
For example, we cannot preach that we must observe the Sabbath
if we do not practice it.
Hence, as we do outreach, we will also be reflecting and improving ourselves.
以講習會和研討會形式，來進行教牧工作，
為我們的信徒提供關於傳福音的基本訓練，是有必要的。
但是，經過傳授了一定程度的理論知識之後，
信徒必須採取實際的行動，也就是要出去傳道。
傳福音的過程
—去拜訪那些反對的人或內心懷疑的人，
—自然就會促進我們自已提昇。
重要的是，我們將被提醒，自已的行為舉止
必須與我們所傳的道符合。
例如，如果我們不能好好的實行道理，
就不能宣傳，人一定要遵守安息日。
因此，當我們向外開拓的時候，也要反省，並好好自我改進。
Having a dedicated evangelism team is critical to this ministry.
Tasks typically undertaken by this team
include praying together, developing and running events, following up with truth-seekers, etc.
If your church does not currently have an evangelism team,
do propose starting one to the church council,
and develop a plan to meet the needs of truth-seekers.
Alternatively, get several active members to form a core group.
Let this core group begin by praying together regularly for evangelism.
Through sincere prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit,
the work will naturally start to fall into place.
若能擁有一個專心傳福音團隊，這對宣道事工是至關重要的。
這團隊通常所會肩負的任務，
包括同心祈禱、開拓及舉辦活動、並跟進慕道者後續的情況，等。
如果您的教會，目前沒有宣道團隊，
要提向教會職務會提出建議，組織一隻團隊，
並且擬定計劃，以滿足慕道者的需求。
或者，可以讓幾個比較熱心成員，組成核心小組。
讓這個核心小隊，開始定期為傳福音的事工一起禱告。
通過虔誠的禱告和聖靈的感動，
聖工自然會開始到處落實。
When we want to catch our metaphorical fish, we must cast our net
—which in essence means preaching.
However, if our net has a hole, we must mend the net;
otherwise, all the fish we catch will naturally slip out.
The church needs to fortify her faith by relying on the Holy Spirit.
As fishers of men, our preaching must be coupled with our faith-building.
當我們想像比喻一樣，釣到自已的魚兒，就必須去撒網，
—本質上來說，就是出去傳道。
但是，若我們的魚網有破洞，就必須補好魚網；
否則，所有我們所抓到的魚兒，自然而然就會掉出去。
教會需要依靠聖靈，來堅固她自已的信仰。
作為得人的漁夫，我們的講道必須與我們的信心建立相結合。
QUESTION 3 問題3
Sometimes, we are not entirely comfortable bringing our friends to church.
It does not always feel like the most inviting place, with cliques or language barriers.
What can we do individually and as a fellowship?
有時，我們帶朋友來教會，並不會感覺很自在。
教會並不一定會讓人感覺很吸引人，其中會有小團體，或是語言溝通障礙。
所我們個人和代表團契的人，有什麼方式是可行的呢？
Each of us can do our part to shape the culture of our church.
If we do see cliques or general indifference towards newcomers,
we should initiate the change and influence our peers.
Since we realize how difficult it is for someone to step into church,
let us put our best foot forward and help these friends feel the love of Christ.
Be the change we want to see.
Even though it is challenging, let it start with us.
Then when people see the zeal and love shining through you,
they will be inspired and motivated as well.
Recognizing the value of truth-seekers’ souls will increase our sense of urgency
to try to make a difference.
我們每個人都可以儘自己的一份力量，來形塑教會的文化。
如果我們確實看到，有小團體或一般性冷漠態度的表現在新信徒面前，，
就應該發起變革，並影響其他同靈。
既然我們都清楚，一個人能夠踏入教會是有多麼困難，
讓我們全力以赴，幫助這些朋友感受到基督的愛。
能夠有我們所希望看到的變化。
儘管這件事很具挑戰性，但就讓這事從我們身上開始吧。
然後當別人看到你身上散發的熱心和慈愛，
他們也同樣會受到啟發和激勵。
認清楚慕道者靈魂價值的貴重，會增加我們的緊迫性
去嘗試作出一些改變。
There are a couple of success stories I have heard of:
我有聽說過幾個成功的故事：
Members of Church X realized that
friends coming to church for the first time could feel very awkward
when they are led straight into the church hall.
So they started an introductory fellowship to assimilate visitors into the church
and to introduce the beliefs of the True Jesus Church.
In this instance, the fellowship was a hiking fellowship.
Since it was something casual and fun,
it provided a more comfortable environment in which to speak to truth-seekers
and introduce them to other members.
某個教會的信徒意識到，
當他們被直接帶進教堂大廳的時候，
第一次來教會的朋友會感覺到很彆扭。
所以他們就開始了一次介紹性的團契聚會，使慕道者融入教會團體，
並且順便介紹真耶穌教會的信仰。
這次的情況，所辨的團契活動是一起遠足。
因為休閒活動隨興又好玩，
它形成了一個很舒適的情境，可以讓人與慕道者好好交談，
將許多慕道者介紹給其他信徒。
Another church started assigning teams of two or three believers
to greet and introduce themselves to people
whom they did not know coming into church.
In the beginning, the assigned teams were reluctant.
However, because they were assigned, they had to do it.
After five or six times,
this became part of their routine;
and they realized greeting strangers was not as frightening as it was before.
另一間教會，開始指派兩三個信徒一起組成團隊，
去向那些信徒不認識，卻進入教會的人
打招呼和自我介紹。
一開始，被選到團隊並不情願。
然而，因為他們被選上了，就不得不這樣做。
經過執行五六次之後，
這種安排就成了他們日常例行工作的一部份；
他們才意識到，去和陌生人打招呼，不像以前感覺那麼可怕了。
I believe that our general fear or reluctance to speak to strangers
stems from a lack of cultivation of such social skills when we were growing up.
To change this culture, we should start by encouraging our young students
to practice preaching to their friends and greeting truth-seekers in church.
我相信，我們會普遍害怕，或不願與陌生人交談，
源自於自已在成長過程中，缺乏這種社交技能的訓練。
為了改變這種文化，我們就應該開始鼓勵那些年輕的學生，
要練習向他們的朋友傳道，在教會裡問候慕道者。
QUESTION 4 問題4
How do we preach to Christian friends who do not feel the need to attend church
—for example, Christians who say it suffices to believe in their hearts
or only attend holiday services?
我們如何去向那些不覺得有必要去教會的基督徒朋友傳道，
—例如，一些基督徒會說，只要內心相信，就可以了，
或是，只要有去參加假日特別聚會，就足夠了？
Many of my neighbors are Christians,
and their church attendance ranges widely between strictly religious to casual observance.
What I have found to be quite useful
is to understand why an individual goes to church in the first place.
This understanding of what they believe in helps us see where their heart is.
我有許多鄰居都是基督徒，
他們的教堂出席率份佈差異很大，從嚴格虔誠遵守聚會安排，到各種隨意參加聚會。
我所發現的資訊，就很有用，
就是理解，為什麼人一開始會想要去教會。
若能了解他們有什麼信仰，將有助於我們了解他們的內心會專注在何事上。
You may want to ask them:
“What do you seek in your faith?”
If they are serious about their faith, commend them,
and then dive right into the biblical text.
If the individual we are speaking to already shares this common ground of faith
—i.e., God
—and takes the study of Scripture seriously,
that is an excellent benefit for us.
Turn to one key passage on the Holy Spirit or baptism, read the passage together,
and ask what they think of it.
Allow them some time to reflect before having another discussion.
Since we already have a similar world view,
our discussion may lead them to accept an invitation to our church.
Once they become more familiar with the scriptural teachings
—e.g., Sabbath-keeping
—those teachings will resonate with them.
你可能想問他們：
“你在信仰中尋求什麼？”
如果他們認真對待自己的信仰，請表揚他們，
然後直接進入探討聖經內容。
如果我們正在交談的人，已經擁有這種共同信仰，
—也就是，神，
—並且認真研聖經，
這對我們來說，是一個很有助益。
可以翻到記載有關聖靈，或洗禮的主要經節，和他們一起閱讀，
並且詢問他們對這些章節，有什麼想法。
在進行下一個問題討論之前，可以讓他們有一些時間，進行反思。
既然我們已經有了相似的世界觀，
我們的討論自然就會，引導他們接受我們教會的邀請。
一旦他們更加熟悉聖經教導，
—例如，遵守安息日，
—那這些教義就會在他們身上引起共鳴。
In general, we aim to find a common topic that stirs their desire to know more.
Hopefully, as our discussion progresses,
they will see God, and the truth will blossom in them.
一般來說，我們的目標是，想找到一個共同的話題，激起他們想知道更多的慾望。
希望隨著我們討論的進行，
他們會看到神，真理會在他們心中成長。
QUESTION 5 問題5
How do you share the gospel with family and friends
when they are doing better than you are, physically and financially?
當家人朋友的身體和經濟，都比你更好的時候，
你會怎麼與他們分享福音呢？
Sometimes, we may feel like our friends and family members are doing well,
especially when we look at their external circumstances.
However, one of the treasures we haveas Christians
is the emotional and spiritual peace that comes with being close to God,
primarily through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
When we are close to God, we have something that cannot be quantified,
but that others can see in us:
inner peace, inner joy.
Many people are looking for that.
Even the super-wealthy sometimes suffer an emptiness in their hearts.
When the contentment we have in God shines through,
people are drawn to that.
As mentioned in the Gospel of John,
we have springs of living water flowing through us
(Jn 4:10, 14).
有時，我們可能會覺得，自已的朋友家人都過得很好，
尤其是當我們會看到他們的外在環境很好的時候。
然而，我們身為基督徒所擁有的寶藏之一，
就是因為親近神的原故，而在情緒精神上有平安
而這平安主要來自聖靈的同在。
當我們親近神的時候，我們身上有一些別人無法量化的東西，
但別人卻可以在我們身上看到的特質：
內心的平靜，內心的喜悅。
有很多人都想尋找這些特質。
即使是超級有錢人，有時也會感到內心空虛。
當我們身上有對神滿足的感覺散發出來的時候，
別人就會對這種現象很感興趣。
正如約翰福音所記載的，
我們身上有活水的泉源流出來。
（約 4:10, 14）。
Our friends and family often do not come to Christ seeking financial or physical help.
Frankly speaking, some of our members are multimillionaires.
But friends do not come to our church to find out the secret to their wealth.
Instead, friends are more interested in
the way that we pray, the truth we believe, and the joy and peace found in our church.
Even if they are better off than we are,
they can see much more beautiful blessings beyond these external factors.
我們的朋友家人，通常不會來到基督面前，尋求經濟物質上的幫助。
老實說，我們有一些信徒已經是千萬富翁了。
但是他們朋友卻不會來我們教會，找出致富的秘訣。
反而朋友更感興趣的是，
我們祈禱的方式，我們所信的真理，以及教會中存在的喜樂平安。
即使他們生活過得比我們還好，
他們卻可以看到，在這些外在因素以外，還有更多美好的祝福。
QUESTION 6 問題6
I want to evangelize, but I just feel like there are not any opportunities to preach to others.
What are some practical ways I can use to find new opportunities to evangelize?
我想傳福音，但是覺得沒有任何機會向別人傳道。
到底有那些實用的方法，可以用來尋找新機會的傳福音呢？
As Christians, our faith is to be integrated with our life:
life is faith, faith is life.
If we are living out a true faith, sooner or later,
when we talk to others about our lives,
we will naturally start sharing about our faith.
For example, at work, if someone were to ask us what we did over the weekend,
we could tell him or her about the activities we do at church.
We do not have to avoid those topics.
Genuinely sharing in this way will capture the interest of our co-workers or classmates.
Even the simple gesture of giving thanks before a meal
may intrigue those around us sufficiently for them to ask about it.
This can be a conversation-starter that allows us to share our faith.
作為基督徒，我們的信仰要融入生活中：
生活就是信仰，信仰就是生活。
如果我們活出真正信仰的樣式，或早或晚，
當我們向別人談論自已生活的時候，
自然而然就會開始分享自已的信仰。
例如，在工作場合中，如果有人問我們週末做了什麼活動，
就可以告訴他們，我們去教會進行的活動。
我們就不必迴避這些話題。
以這種方式真誠地分享，將能夠吸引同事或同學產生興趣。
即使是飯前簡單感謝禱告的動作，
就能引起我們周圍的人，產生足夠的興趣，並且問口詢問。
這就可以成為交談的開端，讓我們可以分享自已的信仰。
Prayer really does work.
The first time I was unemployed,
I wanted to use my free time to preach more.
However, I thought to myself, How could I preach to people who do not want to be bothered?
Once, at the gym, I prayed in my heart,
asking if God could give me an opportunity to preach.
Soon after, I was forced into an awkward situation,
which required me to speak to the people around me.
That gave me a chance to share my faith,
and one of those present came to church.
He is still truth-seeking to this day.
禱告確實能夠產生功效。
第一次我失業的時候，
我想利用空閒時間多去傳道。
然而，我心裡想，怎麼才能夠向那些不想被打擾的人傳道呢？
有一次，在健身房，我在心裡默禱，
求問神是否可以給我一個傳道的機會。
不久之後，我就被迫陷入尷尬的情況，
那種情況需要我去和周圍的人說話。
那樣的情況，讓我有機會分享自已的信仰，
在時在場其中一個人，後來就來到教會。
直到今天，他仍然在慕道。
QUESTION 7 問題7
How should we preach the gospel to people who already believe in Jesus,
but who are from other churches and denominations?
If they are willing to visit our church,
but also invite us to their church, should we go?
And after that, how do we continue preaching or clarifying our position?
我們應該如何向其他已經相信耶穌的人傳福音，
但他們是來自其他不同的教會和教派呢？
如果他們願意來參觀教會，
而且還邀請我們去他們的教會，要不要去呢？
而在那之後，我們如何繼續傳道下去，或是表明自已的立場呢？
The advantage of preaching to other Christians is that we already have similar worldviews,
including believing in the authority of the Scriptures.
Whenever we share our beliefs, we should always refer back to the Bible
so that our friend knows that it is coming directly from the Scriptures.
I think occasionally accepting invitations to attend their church services can be helpful
because it can give us a basis for discussion.
However, if we do so, it is crucial that we are already rooted in our faith
and can discern adequately, otherwise it could be detrimental to our faith.
向其他基督徒傳道的好處是，我們已經有了相近的價值觀，
包括了相信聖經的權威性。
這樣我們分享信仰的時候，就應該始終參考聖經，
以便我們的朋友才會知道，信仰的根源直接來自聖經。
我認為，偶爾接受邀請，去參加他們的教堂聚會，也會有所幫助，
因為這樣可以讓我們，有一個討論的基礎。
但是，如果我們這樣做，其中至關重要的是，自已的信仰已經深深紮根，
並且可以充分地辨別道理，否則它可能對我們的信仰造成損害。
QUESTION 8 問題8
How do we balance evangelism/outreach with pastoral work and personal cultivation?
Sometimes I feel stretched between all the people I want to preach to
and the lost sheep I want to find, as well as taking care of my faith.
我們應該如何，以牧養工作和個人靈修，來平衡傳福音與向外開拓的工作？
有時我會覺得，身處於所有我想傳福音的慕道者，
以及那些我想尋回的迷羊之間，
並同時照顧好自已的信仰，。
往往感到心疲力盡。
While knowing how to best balance time is a legitimate concern,
I believe that evangelism and self-cultivation tend to go hand in hand.
When we are reaching out to others,
there tends to be an innate drive to also better ourselves,
lest we be found hypocritical.
For example, how can we preach about the Sabbath
if we are not keeping the Sabbath?
As for time management, there are no simple answers.
God can give us wisdom as to what to prioritize.
Evangelistic and pastoral work is a church-wide effort,
so the burden is to be shared accordingly.
要知道如何好好最佳平均分均善用時間，是一個重要的問題，
我認為，傳福音和靈修的功課，是需要相輔相成的。
當我們向外開拓，去接觸給別人的時候，
往往就會有一種內在的動力，會想改善自己，
以免我們讓別人發現很虛偽。
例如，我們要如何傳講安息日，
如果我們並不遵守安息聖日的活動呢？
至於有關時間管理的問題，並不會有簡單的答案。
神會賜給我們智慧，讓我們知道應該如何安排優先順序。
傳福音和教會牧養工作，都是需要整個教會全部付出努力，
因此大家可以同時一起背負重擔。
QUESTION 9 問題9
Any tips for preaching to other Christians who are well-versed in the Bible
and have strong beliefs without getting into a debate or argument?
What is a good topic to start with, and how do we guide the conversation?
有沒有好秘訣，可以向精通聖經，並且堅定信仰的其他教派基督徒傳道，
而不會引起辯論或爭論呢？
什麼是好的話題開始，我們如何引導對話呢？
When engaging in these discussions,
we should keep in mind that the point of the conversation is to see what the Bible says concerning salvation.
We should also keep in mind that we are not seeking to win the debate,
but to win the soul
—if a person can experience genuine love,
it goes a long way to melting their hearts.
Some common topics that we can start with are the Holy Spirit, the holy Sabbath, and water baptism.
在參與這些討論的時候，
我們要留心，談話的重點應該是看看聖經有關救恩的討論。
我們也要注意，我們並不是要贏得辯論，
而是要贏回靈魂，
——如果一個人能夠體驗到真正的愛，
這對融化他們的內心很有幫助。
我們可以從一些常見的話題開始討論，包括何謂聖靈、聖安息日和洗禮。
QUESTION 10 問題10
How do we overcome the barrier of our preconception
that someone is already living a good life
and does not seem like they need Jesus?
How do we approach someone who does not seem “poor,”
either physically or spiritually speaking?
我們如何衝破那些已經先入為主的障礙呢？
例如有人已經著很美好的生活，
看起來似乎他們不需要耶穌？
我們要怎麼去接近一個，看起來並不“缺乏”的人，
無論是物質供給上，還是精神靈性上？
While there are those around us who may have everything they need in life (wealth, health, status),
gaining these is not the reason why we believe in Jesus.
Though they may not appear to suffer any lack of material or emotional fulfillment,
we should still try to see if they have any spiritual needs.
Sometimes, the people who have the most in the world have the least in the eyes of God.
雖然我們周圍有些人，他們可能擁有生活所需的一切（財富、健康、地位），
能獲得這些東西，並不是我們會相信耶穌的原因。
儘管他們可能沒有表現出，物質或情感滿足上有缺乏，
我們仍然應該嘗試看看，他們是不是有任何靈性上的需要。
有時候，世界上擁有最多的人，在神的眼中卻是最缺乏的人。
If they seem to have a lot already materially,
ask them about their spiritual fulfillment.
If they seem to be happy spiritually, ask them about their beliefs,
and how they feel about these beliefs.
Preaching is not always about winning over someone’s heart,
but simply sowing the seeds of the gospel of Christ.
如果他們在物質上，似乎已經擁有很多東西，
不妨詢問他們的靈性上是否得到滿足。
如果他們看起來精神上很快樂，接著就問問他們的信仰情況，
詢問他們對這些信仰教義的看法。
傳道並不是一定就是為了贏取某人的心，
而是只要撒下基督福音的種子即可。
QUESTION 11 問題11
What do you do when you are preaching to someone
who already has a negative perception of True Jesus Church,
and tells you to explore other religions?
當你向某個人傳教時
他已經對真耶穌教會抱有負面印象，
並且告訴你，他正在探索其他宗教，
你會怎麼作呢？
Since they already have a bias against the True Jesus Church,
any arguments or discussions would most likely prove to be more detrimental than beneficial.
In these cases, it may be best to pray for them
and invite them to church when the opportunity comes.
A sister prayed for her friends every single day
—fifteen minutes for each friend.
Eventually, almost every friend she prayed for came to church.
Many were even baptized and became fervent members.
When a person’s heart is hardened, only God can help.
既然他們已經對真耶穌教會有偏見，
任何進一步爭論或討論，很可能都會被證明是弊大於利。
在這樣的情況之下，最好是為他們祈禱，
並且在有機會的時候，再邀請他們來教會。
有一位姊妹每天為她的朋友禱告，
—每個朋友都花十五分鐘禱告。
到了最後，她所禱告每個朋友，都幾乎來到教會。
有許多人甚至受洗成為熱心的信徒。
當人的心變得剛硬，就只有神能幫助。
If, however, you feel that their negative perception stems from a misunderstanding or misconception,
then it would be prudent to talk about it.
Nurturing a culture of willingness to discuss tough topics,
in church and out of church, in a loving and respectful way,
could prove beneficial for members and truth-seekers alike.
但是，如果您覺得，他們負面的看法，源自於誤解或錯誤認知，
那麼討論問題的時候，就要非常謹慎。
培養出願意討論爭議話題的氛圍，
不論在教會內部和外面，用一種慈愛和尊重的方式，
同樣皆證明對信徒和慕道者，都有幫助。
QUESTION 12 問題12
How do we try to evangelize again to a person who has already rejected us?
Is there a good waiting time before we ask them to come to church again?
Or should we just pray for them?
我們如何再次嘗試，向那些之前已經拒絕我們的人傳福音呢？
在我們再次要求他們來教會之前，是否有一個建議很好的等待時間長度呢？
還是我們只要為他們祈禱就好？
It is okay to be rejected;
however, if we are motivated to save their souls,
we should continue to pray for them.
Timing is essential, and it depends on your relationship with your friend.
Push them too hard, and your friendship may become strained.
As cliched as it sounds, prayer really is the answer in these difficult cases.
Try dedicating time in prayer solely for this person each day.
被拒絕也沒關係；
然而，如果我們受到感動，想要去拯救他們的靈魂，
我們就應該繼續為他們祈禱。
時機也是至關重要，這取決於您與朋友之間的友誼關係的程度。
若把他們逼得太緊，你們之間的友誼，就有可能會變得緊張。
儘管聽起來很陳詞濫調，但在這些困難的情況之下，祈禱真的才是問題的答案。
試著單獨每天花時間，專門為這個人禱告。
QUESTION 13 問題13
How do you preach to people who are not actively seeking God?
How can we introduce the church to them,
so they feel the need to pursue God?
你如何向那些沒有迫切尋求神的人傳道呢？
我們要如何向他們介紹教會，
所以他們才會覺得有必要尋求神？
There is power in vulnerability.
When we share our vulnerabilities, such as our struggles,
people are more willing to open their hearts to listen.
People innately want to help.
At this time, we can share how God has comforted or helped us in our times of need,
despite the sufferings we had to endure.
Everyone struggles in one way or another.
If, through our stories,
they can see that we could find peace in God despite our sufferings,
this may prick their curiosity.
Let your life be a light to the people in this world.
軟弱之中會有力量。
當我們分享自已的軟弱時，比如掙扎，
人們就更願意敞開心扉傾聽。
人們天生就會想要提供協助。
在這個時候，我們可以分享，神是如何在我們有需要的時候，安慰或幫助我們，
儘管我們不得不忍受那時的苦難。
每個人或多或少都會有掙扎。
若是能通過我們的故事，
他們可以看到，儘管我們會受苦，但是可以在神裡面找到平安，
這可能會激起他們的好奇心。
讓你的生活，能成為這個世界上人們的一盞明燈。
QUESTION 14 問題14
Are there any practical tips for making the church a more welcoming place for people of all cultures?
In the US, our church comprises predominantly Chinese members,
and we have had challenges with retaining visitors
who are genuinely interested in seeking the complete truth,
yet are ultimately put off by our "Chinese-ness."
有沒有什麼實用的技巧，可以讓教會成為，讓所有人種都覺得很受歡迎的地方？
在美國，我們的教會主要由中國藉的信徒所組成，
我們在留住新進來方面，遇到了一些挑戰，
他們是真正有興趣尋求完全真理的人，
但是最後還是被我們的“華人性質”所阻礙了。
The reality is that our members in Western countries are predominantly of Asian descent
—specifically Chinese.
I would say that trying to reduce or downplay their natural “Chinese-ness”
is not as simple as ordering non-Asian food for lunch.
Just like in the Bible, this is a struggle we need to overcome by the power of the Spirit.
There are several essential principles:
現實情況是，我們在西方國家的信徒，主要都是亞裔
—特別是華人。
我會說，想要減少或者壓低他們天生的“華人特質”
不像午餐時訂購非亞洲餐點那麼容易。
就像在聖經記載一樣，這是我們需要依靠聖靈能力克服的挑戰。
以下有幾個基本原則：
Critically, the church needs to be spiritually grounded,
built on the apostles and prophets as our foundation,
with Christ as the cornerstone.
At the same time, the church needs to develop a culture of welcoming people.
I have heard of a church where most of the members could not communicate with one another
because of the language barrier.
However, through gestures, very rudimentary English, and actions,
they showed love for one another.
If we prove to be a welcoming church,
truth-seekers would not feel ostracized and singled out.
We can start cultivating such a culture in our church by assigning designated teams
(perhaps two to three people in each team) each week to welcome truth-seekers.
Parents can also encourage their children to greet them.
This culture takes time to cultivate,
so patience and prayer are essential as well.
最重要的是，教會需要有屬靈的根基，
以使徒和先知的教訓為地基建立起來，
並以基督為教會的房角石。
同時之間，教會需要培養出一種歡迎大家的氛圍。
我有聽說過一個教會，大多數信徒無法相互交流，
因為大家語言不通。
然而，通過手勢、或是非常粗淺的英語和肢體動作，
他們互相表達了彼此相愛。
如果我們有證明，是一間很受歡迎的教會，
慕道者不會感覺受到排斥孤立。
我們可以開始，通過指派指定的團隊，在教會中培養這樣的文化，
（或許每個團隊由兩三個人組成）每週都有人來歡迎慕道者。
身為父母也可以鼓勵小孩去向慕道者打招呼。
這種文化需要花時間來培養，
所以耐心和禱告也是必不可少的。
We can learn how Jesus Christ preached to non-Jews:
let us take the story of how Jesus interacted with the Samaritan woman.
He first started the conversation by bringing up a mundane,
day-to-day subject: water and thirst.
This means we can start having a conversation with truth-seekers by finding common ground,
such as sports, games, kids, school, work, etc.
Jesus Christ showed that He understood
the sufferings that the Samaritan woman had to endure,
having to cycle through five different husbands
(there are culture and history behind this).
Thus, we can also take time to understand the reason for a visitor to come to the church.
We can show we are concerned about their problems.
Pray with them.
Then, hopefully, when a certain trust is built,
we can begin discussing the spiritual teachings of our doctrines.
我們可以學習耶穌基督，如何向非猶太人傳道：
讓我們來看看，耶穌是如何與撒瑪利亞婦人互動的故事。
他首先提出了一個平凡的話題，
日常生活的主題：喝水和口渴的問題。
這就代表了，我們可以通過尋找共同點，開始與慕道者進行對話，
例如運動、遊戲、孩子、學校、工作等話題。
耶穌基督表示，祂了解，
撒瑪利亞婦人必須忍受的苦難，
不得不經歷了五位不同丈夫之間輪流，
（這裡有一些文化和歷史的背景）。
因此，我們也可以花一些時間，去了解訪客來教會的原因。
我們可以表明，很關心他們遭遇的問題。
和他們一起禱告。
然後很希望，可以在某個時刻，建立起某種程度的信任，
接著就可以開始討論，我們教義其中的屬靈教訓。
QUESTION 15 問題15
How do I overcome rejection? 我要如何克服拒絕呢？
I think one way to overcome rejection is by experiencing it more,
to go through a kind of desensitization process.
After being rejected a few times,
you realize it is not calamitous.
Moreover, the sting of the rejection is mitigated by the compassion we feel for them;
they are rejecting the precious gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who can give them extraordinary peace and eternal life.
They are not rejecting us personally.
我認為，克服拒絕的唯一方式，就是更常去體驗拒絕，
去體會一種克服敏感性的過程。
經歷幾次被拒絕之後，
你才會明白，拒絕並不會造成毀滅性的災難。
更因如此行，我們因著對他們產生同情心，而減輕了遭受拒絕的痛苦。
他們正在拒絕寶貴的福音和主耶穌基督，
而主耶穌卻能給他們超凡的平安和永生。
他們並不是針對個人，而拒絕我們。
We can also take some time to process the idea that,
according to the Bible, people we see every day
—who are not saved
—will meet an inevitable fate of suffering in hell.
As Christians, we are trying to “snatch” souls from this fate.
If we have sympathy towards those suffering in developing countries,
should we not also have compassion for those around us
who are most likely heading toward eternal damnation?
This thought may help us overcome the fear of momentary embarrassment or persecution.
After all, as 1 Peter 3:14 records,
“if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.”
我們也可以花一些時間，來處理這種想法，
根據聖經記載，我們每天所遇到的人，
—有誰還沒有得救呢
—他們將在地獄中，遭受無法逃避的苦難。
作為基督徒，我們正試圖從這種命運之中，“奪回”一些靈魂。
如果我們對於發展中國家的苦難者，產生同情心，
難道我們不應該，同樣對身邊的人也產生同情心嗎？
他們很有可能，正在走向永遠的沉淪？
有這樣想法，可以幫助我們克服一時尷尬情況，或感到受迫害的恐懼。
畢竟，正如彼得前書 3 章 14 節所言，
“14你們就是為義受苦，也是有福的。”
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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