8. Manna issue 95 - To Be Chosen by God Is a Blessing 蒙選召是福氣
Timothy Yeung—Calgary, Canada 加拿大卡爾加里
Hallelujah, in the name of the Lord Jesus,
I share my testimony of how I came to know and serve the Lord.
哈利路亞，奉主耶穌聖名，
我分享自已如何認識主、事奉主的見證。
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and His grace toward me was not in vain;
but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I,
but the grace of God which was with me.
(1 Cor 15:10)
10然而，我今日成了何等人，是蒙神的恩才成的，
並且他所賜我的恩不是徒然的。
我比眾使徒格外勞苦；這原不是我，
乃是神的恩與我同在。
（林前 15：10）
In this verse, Paul says, “I am what I am.”
We are constantly changing throughout our lives;
we may be different from when we did not know the Lord,
and we all have different journeys of faith.
Some were born into the faith, and some were converted as adults.
But we all come to the Lord Jesus because we have experienced His love.
在這節經文中，保羅說：“我今日成了何等人。”
我們一生都在不斷的變化；
我們可能與自已不認識主之時有所不同，
我們都有不同的信仰之旅。
有些人一出生就信主，有些人成年後才改信主。
但我們都來到主耶穌面前，因為我們體驗了祂的愛。
For me, I was brought to the True Jesus Church by my mother and baptized as a baby.
I may have had no choice, but this was the greatest blessing
since I did not have to struggle to find the right path.
My maternal grandmother was also a member,
so I am a third-generation True Jesus Church believer,
like my namesake in the Bible
(2 Tim 1:5).
And, like his, my mother and grandmother were also full of faith.
對我來說，嬰兒時期我就被母親帶進真耶穌教會，並接受了洗禮。
也許我別無選擇，但這就是最大的祝福，
因為我不必經過掙扎才去尋找正確的道路。
我的外婆也是信徒，
所以我是真耶穌教會第三代的信徒，
就像聖經中我的同名者一樣
（提後 1：5）。
而且，和他一樣，我母親和祖母也充滿了信心。
THE FAITH OF MY GRANDPARENTS 祖父母的信心
My maternal grandparents were born during World War II,
and their families fled from China to Hong Kong.
Life in Hong Kong was impoverished and challenging.
Back then, you would keep having children until you had a son.
So, my grandmother gave birth to four daughters before having my uncle,
a much-longed-for son.
我的外祖父母出生於二戰期間，
他們的家人從中國逃到香港。
香港的生活很貧窮且充滿挑戰。
那時候，你會一直生孩子，直到生出一個兒子為止。
就這樣，我外祖母直到有我叔叔之前，生了四個女兒，
他是一個渴望已久的兒子。
It was traditional practice to feed newborn babies a herbal tea made from Coptis chinensis,
to prevent inflammation.
However, that year, the crop had been contaminated
because it was planted close to strychnine trees,
which produce toxic fruit and seeds
from which the poison nux vomica is derived.
Many babies had already died from drinking the poisonous infusion,
but unfortunately the midwife forgot to warn my grandmother.
Indeed, after drinking the tea, the baby fell very ill and became unconscious.
The doctors declared there was no remedy as the poisoning was too severe.
But my grandparents were full of faith;
they took the baby home and prayed earnestly throughout the night for the Lord’s mercy.
Soon after the prayers, the baby cried out and was able to drink milk.
By God’s power, his condition quickly improved and he fully recovered.
He grew up as a healthy child and is now over sixty years old.
給新生兒餵黃連的藥茶是傳統做法，
可診預防發炎。
然而那一年，農作物受到污染了，
因為它種在馬錢子樹附近，
它們產生有毒的果實和種子，
而有毒的馬錢子就是源頭。
有很多嬰兒因為喝了有毒的汁液而死亡，
但不幸的是，產婦忘記警告我的外祖母。
果然，喝完茶之後，嬰兒病得很重，而不省人事了。
醫生宣布，由於中毒太嚴重，沒有任何治療方法。
但我的外祖父母充滿了信心；
他們把孩子抱回家，徹夜迫切禱告求主的憐憫。
祈禱後不久，嬰兒就哭了，也可以喝牛奶了。
靠著神的力量，他的病情很快好轉，並且完全康復了。
他從小就是個健康的孩子，現在已經六十多歲了。
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong,
the occupying forces could stop anybody in the street and kill with impunity.
One day, a Japanese soldier stopped my grandfather and told him to kneel.
My grandfather figured he would be beheaded or shot on the spot,
so he started to pray in tongues,
imploring the Lord Jesus to save him.
After a while, the soldier kicked him away and told him to leave!
We heard these testimonies from our grandparents when we were children,
and their faith was passed down from generation to generation through such sharing.
日本佔領香港期間，
佔領軍可以攔住街上任何人, 並且任意殺人而不受責罰。
有一天，一名日本兵攔住了我祖父，要他跪下。
我祖父認為他會被斬首或是當場槍殺，
於是他開始用靈言禱告，
懇求主耶穌拯救他。
過了一會兒，士兵一腳把他踢開，讓他走！
當我們小時候，從祖父母那裡聽到這些見證時，
他們的信仰就是透過這種分享代代相傳。
INHERITING THE FAITH 傳承信仰
It is God’s blessing that I am here today.
When my mother was carrying me, she almost miscarried.
But she prayed and relied on God to preserve the fetus growing inside her.
My being born into the faith may seem coincidental by human logic,
but it is God’s arrangement and choosing.
Some people are chosen as infants, some when they are old.
Regardless of when we are chosen,
it is a blessing and an opportunity to be treasured.
Parents who choose to bring up their children in the true church must cherish their faith.
我今天能站在這裡是神的祝福。
當我母親懷著我的時候，她差點流產了。
但她禱告並依靠神可以保全她體內成長的胎兒。
從人的邏輯來看，我生來就有信仰似乎是種巧合，
但這是神的安排和揀選。
有些人嬰兒時期就被選上，有些人則在年老時被選中。
無論我們什麼時候被選中，
這就是一種祝福，也是值得珍惜的機會。
父母選擇在真教會扶養孩童成長，一定珍惜他們的信仰。
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
(Prov 22:6)
6教養孩童，使他走當行的道，
就是到老他也不偏離。
（箴 22：6）
I was not a smart child and did not do well in school.
However, my mother never worried about my school work;
instead, she insisted we attend church services.
Not only did we attend Sabbath services on Saturdays,
but we would attend Wednesday and Friday evening services without fail.
My mother was a busy career woman who would rush home after work,
feed me and my two younger brothers, and take us to church.
Night services were from 8 to 9 p.m.,
so we would get home around 10 p.m.
and still need to get up early the following morning.
But my mother was determined never to miss a church service.
We enjoyed those evenings because we did not have to do homework,
and the chapel had air conditioning.
Night after night, Sabbath after Sabbath, we heard many sermons,
and God’s word gradually became a part of us.
My mother did not organize many extracurricular activities for us.
On Saturdays, we would only go to church,
so we learned to embrace the concept
that worshipping God is more important than anything else.
As children, we could not express this idea in words,
but we understood implicitly that these were our mother’s values,
which had a tremendous and lasting impact.
At home, we witnessed her reading the Bible and praying into the night,
even when she was tired.
This seed of faithfulness was planted deep in my heart.
我不是個聰明的孩子，在學校成績也不好。
然而，我母親從不擔心我的學業；
相反的，她堅持我們要參加教會聚會。
星期六我們不僅要參加安息日聚會，
而且週三和週五晚上，我們都會參加晚間聚會不會錯過。
我母親是一位忙碌的職業女性，下班後她會趕回家，
餵飽我和兩個弟弟，然後帶我們去教會。
晚間聚會時間是晚上 8 點到 9 點，
所以在晚上大約10點我們會回家，
並且隔天早上仍然要早起。
但我母親決心絕不錯過任何教會聚會。
我們很享受那些夜晚，因為我們不用做作業，
而且教會有冷氣。
夜復一夜，安息日接著安息日，我們聽了很多講道，
而神的道理漸漸成為了我們的一部分。
我母親並沒有為我們安排很多課外活動。
星期六我們只會去教會，
所以我們學會了接受這個概念，
敬拜神是比什麼事都更加重要的。
小時候，我們無法用語言表達這種想法，
但我們心照不宣明白這些是我們母親的價值觀，
這種想法產生了巨大且恆久的影響。
在家裡，我們目睹她讀聖經並且禱告到深夜，
即使她很累了。
這顆虔誠的種子深深種入了我的內心。
CHANGED BY GOD’S LOVE 神慈愛的改變
As I was growing up, I went through a difficult stage.
I was not intentionally rebellious but I could not concentrate or sit still.
Today, I would likely be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
and placed on medication.
When getting my hair cut,
I would be unaware that I was moving until the barber told me to hold still.
I could not absorb what teachers were saying and would ask many questions.
I made frequent trips to the washroom during lessons.
On the first day of the student spiritual convocation, I broke a window.
I was a constant headache for my teachers.
They never expected such a child to become a preacher.
So be merciful to naughty kids because God’s mercy can change a person.
And one day, they will remember and thank you.
在我的成長時，我經歷了一個艱難的階段。
我並不是想故意叛逆，但我無法集中注意力或安靜坐下。
今日，我可能會被診斷出患有注意力不足的過動症（ADHD）
並且接受藥物治療。
去剪頭髮的時候，
我並不會意識到自己在移動，直到理髮師告訴我要保持不動。
我無法理解老師講課的內容，而且會問很多問題。
上課時我會常常去洗手間。
在學生靈恩會的第一天，我打破了一扇窗。
我一直是我老師頭痛的問題。
他們從沒想過這樣的孩子會成為傳教人。
所以要恩待頑皮的孩子，因為神的憐憫可以改變一個人。
而且有一天，他們會記住，並且感謝你。
How did God change me? Through two events.
First, I met Preacher Shek, a resident preacher of Hong Kong, who was very loving.
I was young then, and people were already frustrated with me.
But he said,
“He’s not a naughty child.
I can train him.”
He took me aside and said, “Timothy, stand here;
look at the clock for a minute, and don’t move.”
I said that would be too long,
so he shortened the time to thirty seconds.
We repeated this exercise every time I went to church,
eventually increasing the time to a full minute.
He lived across the street from my school,
so I started going to his house to study and have lunch before school.
He told my mother it was not that I could not study
but that I was distracted by my brothers’ presence.
I was touched by this preacher’s love.
If I grew up only hearing, “You’re so bad. You’re so hopeless,”
I probably would have believed it and become bad.
The more you criticize and deny someone’s abilities,
the more he will prove you right.
But this preacher’s faith in me helped me not to give up on myself.
Love can change even the worst person, but it takes commitment;
the more you encourage, the more he will improve.
神怎麼改變我呢？ 通過兩件事。
首先，我遇到了石傳道，是香港駐牧傳道，他非常有愛心。
那時我還年輕，大家已經對我感到沮喪。
但他說：
“他不是頑皮的孩子。
我可以訓練他。”
他把我拉到一旁說：「提摩太，站在這裡；
看著時鐘一分鐘，別動。”
我說那實在太長了，
他就把時間縮短到三十秒。
每次我去教會時，我們都會重複這個練習，
最後將時間增加到整整一分鐘。
他住在我學校的對面街道，
所以我開始去他家學習，並在上學前去吃午餐。
他告訴我媽媽，我不是不能學習，
而是我因為其他兄弟存在而分心。
我因為這位傳道的愛心而感動。
如果我長大時只有聽到：“你很糟糕。 你真的沒救了，”
我可能會相信它並且變得很壞。
你越是批評且否定某人的能力，
他越會證明你是對的。
但這位傳道對我的信心，幫助我不放棄自己。
愛心甚至可以改變最壞的人，但需要投入決心；
你越鼓勵，他就會更加進步。
Second, I received the Holy Spirit.
In the True Jesus Church,
we have the presence of the Holy Spirit.
第二，我得到了聖靈。
在真耶穌教會裡，
我們有聖靈同在。
[N]ot by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
(Tit 3:5)
5他便救了我們；並不是因我們自己所行的義，
乃是照他的憐憫，
藉著重生的洗和聖靈的更新。
（多 3：5）
Receiving the Holy Spirit is invaluable
because He continually renews us in our lives on earth
and also allows us to enter the heavenly kingdom to come.
I received the Holy Spirit at a student spiritual convocation, aged twelve.
The preachers encouraged us to pray fervently for the Holy Spirit
so that we could change and enter heaven one day.
They told us to pray out loud, saying,
“Hallelujah.”
I had found prayers boring and unpleasantly hot in the past,
so I would often escape.
But this time, I prayed harder than I had ever prayed in my life.
得到聖靈是無價且極寶貴的，
因為祂不斷更新我們世上的生活，
也允許我們進入未來的天國。
我十二歲時，在一次學生靈恩會得到了聖靈。
很多傳道鼓勵我們迫切祈求聖靈，
以便有一天我們能夠改變並進入天國。
他們告訴我們要大聲禱告，說：
“哈利路亞。”
過去我覺得禱告很無聊而且很熱不舒服，
所以我常常會逃避。
但這一次，我的禱告比我過去一生曾經的禱告都更加努力。
The Holy Spirit can truly transform a person,
no matter how deep their issues.
God changed me in several ways.
I became obedient and stopped being naughty at school and in religious education class.
My school teachers thought I was acting strangely
and asked if something had happened at home.
I did not know how to testify at that age,
but I assured them everything was fine at home.
I also started to enjoy doing things related to God and my faith.
The Holy Spirit inspired me to love God’s word.
I would write notes during sermons,
even when listening to sermon cassette tapes at home.
I would read the Bible on my own and loved to pray.
I would pray at home by myself for at least thirty minutes.
Most miraculously, my ADHD-like symptoms,
which had been very serious, disappeared.
聖靈真能改變一個人，
無論他們的問題有多深。
神改變我幾個方面。
我變得聽話，不在學校和宗教教育時調皮。
我學校老師認為我的行為很奇怪，
並且詢問家裡是否發生什麼事。
在那個年紀我不知道如何作見證，
但我向他們保證家裡一切都很好。
我也開始喜歡做與神和信仰有關的事情。
聖靈感動我熱愛神的話語。
在講道期間我會寫筆記，
即使是在家聽講道錄音帶。
我會自己讀聖經且喜歡禱告。
我會自己在家禱告至少三十分鐘。
最神奇的是，我的過動症相關症狀，
曾經是很嚴重，就消失了。
MATURING IN FAITH 信仰成熟
Of course, we go through highs and lows in our faith.
I prayed fervently when I first received the Holy Spirit,
but this did not last more than a year.
I gradually returned to my old self.
Because I did not continue diligently in prayer,
I became weak.
During my adolescence,
I attended church without enthusiasm or experiencing anything special.
It was a routine, like going to the grocery store.
In 1993, when I turned eighteen, my family immigrated to Canada.
We moved to a small town in Calgary where my aunt lived.
It was only when we got there that we realized
there was no church and that winter temperatures would be sub-zero.
The population was tiny, and the only other church member living there was a student.
當然，我們的信仰會經歷高潮和低潮。
當我第一次得到聖靈的時候，就迫切禱告，
但這種情況並沒有持續超過一年。
我漸漸恢復了原來的自己。
因為我沒有殷勤的禱告，
我變得很軟弱。
在我青春期的時候，
我去教會時沒有熱心，也沒有體驗到任何特別的事情。
就是例行公事，像是去雜貨店一樣。
1993 年，我十八歲的時候，我的家人移民到加拿大。
我們搬到加爾卡里我姑姑所住的小鎮。
只有當我們到達那裡時，才意識到，
那裡沒有教會，冬季氣溫會在零度以下。
那裡人口很少，那裡只住了另一個教會信徒，他是學生。
This was a time of trial in my faith.
Even though we learned English as children,
my conversational skills were appalling.
At eighteen, adjusting to a new environment and entering a good college were difficult.
I started to reflect:
This is a turning point in my life, but how can I go forward?
I’m not as smart as others, I don’t have friends,
and my parents can’t help me.
But I do have God.
From then on, I learned to trust in God.
This was when I truly made my faith my own.
Previously, my faith was given to me by my parents.
But now, I began having my own thoughts and experience of God.
這是我信心的一段試驗時期。
儘管我們從小就學英語，
我說話技巧卻很糟糕。
十八歲時，要適應新的環境，並進入一所好大學是很困難的。
我開始反省：
這是我人生的轉捩點，但我該如何前進呢？
我沒有別人聰明，我沒有朋友，
我父母幫不了我。
但我確實只有神。
從那時候起，我學會了信靠神。
就是那時候，我才真正確地立了自己的信仰。
以前，我的信仰是父母傳給我的。
但現在，我開始有自己的想法和神的體驗。
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
(Ps 42:1)
42神啊，我的心切慕你，
如鹿切慕溪水。
（詩 42：1）
In Hong Kong, we could attend church services every day,
but in Calgary, we had to have service at home.
Every night, after dinner, my mother would lead our family service.
We read the Bible, sang hymns while my youngest brother played the piano, and prayed.
During Sabbaths, we listened to sermon tapes sent to us from the church in Pacifica, California.
We would start the service in the name of the Lord Jesus, and after the prayer,
we would “invite” a preacher from the US to speak by pressing “play.”
Halfway through, we would have to flip the tape,
but sometimes the other side would be blank,
so we learned to check the tape beforehand.
Thinking back to those years, our hearts were full of fervor.
Even though no speaker was standing before us,
God’s Spirit was moving us,
and God’s word touched our hearts.
Gradually, God led truth-seekers to join us.
It was miraculous to see God working to move the truth-seekers,
even through a recorded sermon, and some received the Holy Spirit in our home.
By God’s grace, we established a house of prayer in Calgary.
在香港，我們每天都可以參加教會聚會，
但在加爾加里，我們必須在家裡聚會。
每天晚上，晚餐後，我母親都會帶領家庭聚會。
我們會讀聖經，唱讚美詩，而我最小的弟弟會彈鋼琴，並且禱告。
安息日的期間，我們會聆聽從加州太平洋教會送來的講道錄音帶。
我們會奉主耶穌的聖名開始聚會，禱告結束後，
我們會按下「播放鍵」，來「邀請」美國的傳道講道。
中途時，我們必須翻轉錄音帶，
但有時另一面卻是空白的，
所以我們學會了事先檢查錄音帶。
回想起那些年，我們的內心充滿了熱心。
即使沒有講者站在我們面前，
神的靈會感動我們，
神的話語會感動了我們的內心。
漸漸地，神帶領了慕道者加入我們。
很神奇的是，看到神的動工，感動了慕道者，
甚至透過了錄音帶講道，有些人在我們家得到了聖靈。
靠著神的恩典，我們在加爾加里建立了一座祈禱所。
CALLED BY GOD 神的選召
This was also my first year attending the US National Youth Theological Seminar (NYTS).
When my mother asked if I would like to sign up,
explaining it would be two weeks of staying in church and studying the Bible,
I was not keen.
I complained that I would find it boring.
But since she promised we could go sightseeing in San Francisco afterward, I agreed to go.
This event significantly impacted me
—the church was filled with youths, and they loved God so much.
The speakers and their testimonies touched us immensely.
Preacher Derren Liang showed us videos of missionary trips to Africa,
and I was inspired by God’s great love.
So many people in the world need Jesus,
but we have so few preachers in the True Jesus Church.
I thought: If God wishes to use me, I want to be used.
I realized my English was poor, and I was not good at studying,
so I could not absorb the course materials as well as my peers.
But if God was willing to use me, I would eagerly say yes.
I might not know where Africa was,
but I would be willing to go if God sent me.
這也是我第一年參加美國全國青年神學訓練班（NYTS）。
當媽媽問我要不要報名時，
並解釋說，這會是在教會待兩週學習聖經，
我並不急。
我抱怨說，我覺得很無聊。
但既然她答應我們之後可以去舊金山觀光，我就答應了。
這件事對我影響很大，
—教會裡擠滿了青年，他們非常愛神。
講者和他們的見證令我們深受感動。
梁得仁傳道給我們看非洲傳教之旅的影片，
我被神偉大的愛所感動。
世界上有那麼多人需要耶穌，
但在真耶穌教會我們的傳道者太少了。
我想著：如果神要使用我，我就想要被使用。
我發現自已的英語很差，而且我不擅長學習，
所以我無法像同齡人一樣吸收課程材料。
但如果神願意使用我，我會熱心的答應。
我可能不知道非洲在哪裡，
但如果神派我去，我願意去。
Many people ask me why I became a preacher.
It sounds like a great sacrifice, but it was not.
If God esteems me and allows me to be a minister, I need to be thankful.
Paul says, “I am what I am.”
God does not have to use us, but He accepts our service.
Imagine the wealthiest person in the world who always has the best of everything.
What could you possibly give him?
Similarly, everything belongs to God
(Ps 50:12).
Who am I?
What can I possibly offer to God?
It is a blessing that God does not reject us
but uses us and accepts our offerings,
whatever sacred work we engage in.
You are not making a sacrifice to God;
you are actually gaining treasure.
很多人問我為什麼要成為傳道。
這聽起來像是一個巨大的犧牲，但事實並不是這樣。
如果神看重我，並允許我成為傳道工人，我需要感恩。
保羅說：“我今日成了何等人。”
神不一定要使用我們，但祂接受我們的服事。
想像一下世界上最富有的人，總是擁有最好的一切。
你能給他什麼呢？
同樣，一切都屬於神
（詩 50：12）。
我是誰？
我可以向神獻上什麼呢？
神沒有拒絕我們真是一件幸運的事，
但使用我們並接受我們的奉獻，
無論我們從事什麼聖工。
你不是給神做出犧牲；
你實際上正在獲得財寶。
After graduating from college, I worked for half a year.
The International Assembly (IA) was recruiting students for the Overseas Ministry Program.
Graduates of the program were required to serve in Africa for at least five years.
I was excited for the opportunity,
so I signed up.
However, the IA could not start the course immediately
because I was the only applicant.
Then God moved a brother from France to join the program,
so there were enough students.
By God’s grace and mercy,
He allowed me to serve Him despite my poor English,
and He has guided me thus far in my ministry.
大學畢業之後，我工作了半年。
聯總（IA）正在招募海外事工計畫的學生。
此計畫的畢業生必須在非洲服事至少五年。
我對這個機會感到很高興，
所以我報名了。
然而，聯總無法立即開始課程
因為我是唯一的申請人。
然而神感動了一位來自法國的弟兄加入這個計劃，
所以終於有足夠的學生了。
靠著神的恩典和憐憫，
儘管我的英文很差，他還是允許我事奉祂，
到目前為止，他一直在我的事工中指導我。
CONCLUSION 結論
Is it hard to be a preacher?
No, it is not because God’s grace is with you.
We work hard, just as working in the world requires effort,
but working for God is an exceedingly great blessing.
Wherever I go, I am well taken care of and experience the love of the brethren.
I have made many friends and gotten to know so many brothers and sisters along the way.
當傳道人很難嗎？
不，這不是因為神的恩典與你同在。
我們努力工作，就像世上工作需要努力一樣，
但為神工作卻是極大的祝福。
無論走到哪裡，我都受到了很好的照顧，且感受到弟兄姐妹的愛心。
一路走來，我認識了很多朋友，也認識了很多兄弟姐妹。
This was my personal path to knowing God,
being moulded by Him, and responding to His call to serve.
But it does not matter when or how you came to know God,
whether as a child or an adult.
You must respond when God calls you to believe, serve, or make a change in your life.
Then, you will experience His grace and realize more blessings will come.
這是我個人認識神的道路，
為祂所塑造，並且回應祂服事的召喚。
但你何時或如何認識神並不重要，
無論是一個孩童還是一個成人。
當神呼召你信主、服事或是改變你的生活時，你必須要做出回應。
然後，你會體驗到祂的恩典，並且明白會有更多的祝福臨到。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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