敬爱的以便以谢家人
信望爱上 更进一步
在新的一年祝愿以便以谢的弟兄姐妹主恩满溢，在主里有数不尽的恩典。
使徒保罗一再称赞帖撒罗尼迦教会将信仰落实在信心，盼望，和爱心上，可说是一间有 “信，望，爱” 显示出来的教会。虽如此，他依然勉励他们要持续不断地进步，再进步。有进步的教会不会因为有了某种成果出现就满足，然后停滞不前。一间讨神喜悦的教会应该会以更进一步的努力来回应从神所领受的厚恩。因此今年的讲台信息，我非常期待神要我们如何效法帖撒罗尼迦教会的「信，望，爱」精神。
回顾2019年，停了四年再举办的报佳音，我们有28位弟兄姐妹到四个家庭把圣诞平安的信息带给还未信主的家人；当天我们有一个很喜乐洋溢的气氛，同时有一对夫妇接受救恩。12月31号，我们也首次在自己属灵的家举办 “感恩分享倒数会” 意义非凡。18位弟兄姐妹踊跃的分享主在他们身上留下的恩典痕迹，虽然有些在去年面临一些严峻的考验，但他们依然对主持有信心，深知这一切都是有主的恩典, 主的信实何其广大. 有几位同工也分享他们对于教会有一批非常能干，忠心，又勤劳的弟兄姐妹感谢神。这也推动他们在今年要更加的殷勤来事奉神，在祷告读经这方面也要更加积极。有一位也提到事奉不可以做独行侠，神让我们在服事中发挥百节按各尽其职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。
2019年我们也见证了5位弟兄姐妹洗礼，2位孩童接受奉献祝福礼，2位转会成为我们的一份子，5位做了决志祷告。主日学这些年来的稳定成长得到孩子的青睐及父母的支持，老师们的努力是有目共睹的。大部分小组组员都有投入在教会的服事中，成为教会的一大支持。青少人数虽然不多但感恩我们有很委身的组长一直在带领青少一步一步的认识神。同时刚启动的亲子小组得到父母们热烈的响应，有位姐妹兴奋的说“我超喜爱这个小组，好像找到自己的家庭了”。
祝愿以便以谢的弟兄姐妹在接下来的日子里，更加的爱神及彼此相爱，在传福音的事上能够彼此勉励，全力以赴的摆上, 并且一起携手建立以便以谢在信望爱上更进一步。
此外，弟兄们，我们在主耶稣里求你们，劝你们，你们既然接受了我们的教训，知道应该怎样行事为人，并且怎样讨 神喜悦，就要照你们现在所行的更进一步。帖撒罗尼迦前书4：1
主仆，刘世丰牧师敬上，
主任牧师，
以便以谢播道会
Dear Ebenezer’s Family
Excel Still More: Faith, Hope, Love
On this brand new year, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone in Ebenezer the Lord’s grace be with you and may you find His grace overflowing.
The apostle Paul has repeatedly praised the church in Thessalonica for displaying faith, hope, and love. It can be said that it is a church that truly displays “faith, hope, and love.” Even so, he encouraged them to continue to excel even more. Progressive churches will not be resting on their laurels but will seek to keep on improving, in order to honour God for the grace He has blessed us with. Therefore, for this year pulpit’s message, I am looking forward to preaching how God desires us to model after the “faith, hope, and love” spirit of the Thessalonica church.
Looking back on 2019, we have 28 carolers who spread the Christmas’ message of peace to 4 families; it was a very meaningful and fun-filled caroling and we are thankful for two salvations in one family.
On December 31st, we also held the ” Thanksgiving cum Watchnight” service for the first time in our own Church’s premise. There were 18 brothers and sisters who enthusiastically shared about the path of grace they journeyed with the Lord. Although some of them faced some trials and tribulations last year but by God’s grace, they kept their faith and truly we can testify Great is His Faithfulness. Several co-workers also expressed their gratitude towards a group of very dedicated, faithful, and hardworking brothers and sisters in our church. This has also motivated them to be more fervent in serving God this year and be more diligent in their prayer and bible reading. One also mentioned that in ministry, “no man is an island” and it should always be a collective effort. God desires that when each part of the body is functioning well, the whole body of Christ will grow so that it builds itself up in love.
In 2019, we also witnessed the baptism of 5 members, 2 children’s dedication, 2 membership transfers to our church, and 5 said the “sinner’s prayer”. Further, the steady growth of Sunday school has been favored by children and supported by parents. The teachers’ utmost dedication is obvious to all. And for our cell groups, most of the group members are also involved in the different ministry of the church and they are a great support to the church. Although our Youth group does not have many young people, we are grateful that we have a committed team leader who has been leading our youths to know God step by step. At the same time, the newly launched parent-child group received a warm response from the parents’ present. One parent said excitedly, “I love this group so much, it seems I have found my own family.”
I wish all brothers and sisters of Ebenezer will endeavor to love God and each other even more in the coming days. Let us be encouraged to propagate the gospel, put in our best effort to work together to build Ebenezer to continue to excel in “faith, hope, and love”.
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to [a]walk and please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you excel still more.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NASB)
In Christ,
Rev Sherman Low, Lead Pastor,
Ebenezer Evangelical Free Church