「紐約角聲事工」雙月刊創刊的目的,乃是希望讓眾人看見紐約四個福音中心的全體同工,如何每天懷著全力以赴的心,不斷地拓展大紐約區的關懷宣教事工;如何用愛心服侍有不同需要的群體,使黯淡無光的「悲情社會」漸漸轉化成在主愛滋潤下的「希望之都」。(陳熾牧師)
六月中,我們搬進新的布碌崙福音中心。雖然都是新的,但所見的每一處,都滿了裝修留下的灰塵,角落還堆積著留下的剩餘材料。然而政府頒發的「場地使用許可證」還沒有正式批准下來,眼見這樣的境況,我們心想三週後的暑期班可能要借用別的場地或是取消了。
雖然心裡充滿了無數的「不確定」,但我們的神是信實且充滿恩典和智慧的神,當我們為此事迫切祈求,神再次垂聽禱告。一週後,我們拿到了許可證,開始了正式的宣傳。但僅僅兩週的時間預備,會有學生報名嗎?我們來不及思考便開始打掃和整理的工作。這麼多的物品需要整理、添置、清潔,兩週後即使有了學生,我們能如期開課嗎?人看見是沒有可能的,但在神凡事都能。保羅說:「因為我們行事為人是憑著信心,不是憑著眼見。」(林後5:7)。在信心中,神給我們夠用的能力和智慧,只有我們幾位同工是不行的,但在二十幾位協工的同心努力下,我們做到了。
兩週後,十個學生坐在乾淨的教室裡,開始了暑期班的學習和玩耍,最後以畢業典禮完滿完成,我們一起度過了安全、舒適、愉快的七週。家長們的反饋是孩子們好喜歡這裡,小朋友們也紛紛表示不願意離開。這些感謝都歸給我們豐盛供應的神,讓「角聲福音中心」在布魯克林這個區域經歷到從無到有的蛻變。
Transformation from nothing
Since we moved into the new brooklyn gospel center in mid-June, everything you see is covered with dust from the construction, and the remaining materials are still piled up in the corners. However, the Certificate of Occupancy issued by the government has not been officially approved. Seeing this situation, we thought that the summer school in three weeks could only be moved to another venue or canceled. Although our hearts are filled with countless “uncertainties”, our God is a faithful God of grace and wisdom, and when we pray desperately for this matter, God hears prayers again. After a week, we got the temporary certificate of occupancy and started the official promotion. But in just two weeks, will any students sign up? Before we think about it, we start a major cleanup, so many items need to be sorted, added, and cleaned. Even if there are students in two weeks, will we be able to start classes as scheduled? In our eyes, it is impossible, but all things are possible with God. Paul said, “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). In faith, God gives us sufficient power and wisdom. Only a few of us co-workers must not be able to do it, but with the help of our twenty volunteers, we did it.
After two weeks, ten students sat in clean classrooms and began studying and playing. The summer session ended with a graduation ceremony, and we spent seven safe, comfortable, and enjoyable weeks together. All thanks go to the God of our abundant supply for making the Herald Gospel Center experience a transformation from nothing in this area of Brooklyn.