敬爱的以便以谢家人
同心合一 荣神益人
在这崭新的一年，让我们立定心志同心合一，建立神的家，让世人透过我们的合一，彼此相爱的见证，将荣耀归给神。
新的一年里讲台信息主要查考歌林多前书，愿神帮助我们教会走在神的心意中，成为一间荣神益人的教会。歌林多教会是一间问题多多的教会：结党纷争，教会中存在淫乱败坏现象，关于嫁娶和守童身的规范，守圣餐的混乱，信徒间的告状，复活的凭据，关于吃祭偶像之物等等。面对哥林多教会的诸多问题，作者保罗首先解决的是结党纷争。保罗非常清楚，结党纷争对教会造成的伤害最大。教会只有合一，才能为主作美好的见证。为什么圣经强调信徒要同心合一？怎样才算教会合一？初期教会如何合一？合一有什么重要？合一是否就没有或不可有不同的意见？合一会带来哪方面的祝福？
回顾2018年，从众弟兄姐妹在12月30号的“年终感恩展望会”上娓娓道来他们在今年属灵生命的得着及感恩事项，因为时间的关系，无法让大家在当天分享，深感抱歉。弟兄姐妹也对教会抱有的期望及爱戴，身为牧者的我倍感激励也不敢掉于轻心。
2018年感谢神的恩典让弟兄姐妹经历生命翻转的见证，7位弟兄姐妹洗礼，6位孩童接受奉献祝福礼，5位转会成为我们的一份子，年底的圣诞烛光会也得到热烈的反应总共有259大人小孩出席，芭蕾舞班有8位孩童在当晚演出等。同时在相 2017年及2018年的各个项目从主日崇拜，祷告会，主日学，洗礼，转会人数等的出席人数都有稍微的进步。这是神给我们的恩典鼓励，但愿我们能够继续为神再接再厉，向着神所设立的标杆直跑，做神合用的器皿。
在此要特别申明教会的理事队伍致力于以团队带领教会；我们秉持着同心同行，谦卑受教，殷勤事奉，彼此顺服的精神；最重要的是大家连于基督，遵守真理，乃我们理事团队的价值观。感谢理事们给予教会的全力支持及委身，但愿上帝在新的一年里更大地赐福于理事团队的服事，使教会更加兴旺。我也要感谢弟兄姐妹给予理事及领袖同工们支持鼓励，让他们的服事带有权柄及喜乐。
祝愿以便以谢的弟兄姐妹在接下来的日子里，上下一条心, 大家同心合一, 全人全心为福音的缘故竭诚献上, 携手建立一间充满神荣耀作为的教会。展望未来，但愿我们为了神的荣耀向祂求大事，为祂做大事！深知“直到如今，耶和华都帮助我们。”
愿耶和华在以便以谢播道会中，并且在耶稣基督里，得到荣耀，直到世世代代，永永远远。阿们！
主仆，刘世丰牧师敬上，
主任牧师，以便以谢播道会
Dear Ebenezer’s Family
United for the Glory of God
In this brand new year, let us bind our hearts together and build the House of God as a body of Christ, so that the world will give glory to God through our oneness and the testimony of love for each other.
The pulpit ministry of the New Year will see me espousing the book of 1 Corinthians. May God help us as a Church to walk in the will of God and glorify His name. The Church of the Corinthians was a problematic church: disunity in the Church, sexual immorality, issues of marriage and maintaining celibacy, making a mockery of the Lord’s Supper, the law suits amongst believers in the secular court, the denial of the Resurrection, concerns regarding food offered to idols and so on. In the face of all these problems in the Corinthian Church, the author Paul first resolved the issue of disunity. Apostle Paul was well aware that disunity in the body of Christ causes the most harm to the church. Only in unity can the church be a good witness for the Lord. Why does the Bible emphasize the unity of believers? What does the unity of the Church look like? How does the early Church maintain her unity? How do we put this into practice? Why is unity so important? Does unity mean one cannot have alternative views? How will we be blessed when we stay united?
As I look back over the past year, I am encouraged to hear many testimonies shared last Sunday at our year-end Thanksgiving meeting. They gave thanks over the transformation they experienced and related how their lives touched by God were simply edifying. Owing to time constraint, some did not get the chance to share and I sincerely apologize for this. I am also very encouraged to listen to the hopes and dreams our brothers and sisters have for the Church and as your shepherd, I am inspired knowing that this expectation is accompanied by deep responsibility.
Truly there are many things to thank God for in the year 2018 such as the life-transforming testimonies, 7 baptisms, 6 children dedication, 5 transferred membership to become members of our Church, having an overwhelming attendance of 259 people at our year-end Christmas service, the inaugural ballet class where 8 children performed at the Christmas service. At the same time, we are thankful that we have achieved a slight increase of attendance from Sunday service, prayer meetings, Sunday School, baptism and new members added to the family. This is God’s grace which will encourage us to continue to run the race ahead of us, and be worthy instruments for Him.
I would like to affirm that our Church board is committed to leading the church as a team: we are guided by the same direction, humility, diligence, and, above all, we seek to abide in Christ and in His truth. I commend all board members for their commitment and sacrificial service to the Church, and I hope that God will honour the work of our Board and prosper the Church. I would also like to thank all brothers and sisters for their support and encouragement for the board, as this enables them to carry on their service with authority and joy.
I pray that we will all continue to be united as we proclaim the gospel and dedicate ourselves afresh in building Ebenezer to be a Church that is filled with the glory of God. As we look ahead, let us attempt to do great things for God and expect great things from Him for we know that “Until now, the Lord has helped us.”
May the Lord be glorified in Ebenezer, and in Christ Jesus, for generations to come, forever and ever. Amen!
In Christ, Rev Sherman Low,
Lead Pastor, Ebenezer Evangelical Free Church