hide submenu| Harvest News - Fall 2006, VOL. 6, NO. 4 | |||||
|
“Attendance at our free English Bible class was around 100 this past weekend. My class was bursting! Many of the students have commented to me how much they learn in the classes and how much they enjoy the atmosphere there. One student put it, "I want to spend lots of time with you guys because I think I can learn a lot here (pointing to his head) and also here (pointing to his heart.)" —Mary Eddy, long-term missionary in Macau, Asia
The LCMS and The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS), an LCMS partner church, have worked in Macau since 1998, planting a new congregation and establishing Concordia English Center. “The mission statement of Concordia English Center is: Because of Christ’s love overflowing through us, we will plant seeds, love people to Christ, and equip others,” shared LCMS missionary and DCE Sharon Owens, who has led the outreach ministry team in Macau for four years.
Long-term missionary Cassie Thomas relates one faith-sharing experience, “During Bible class, one student, Tom, asked how one becomes a Christian. When we gave him the answer that you must believe Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins, it was as though he was hearing this for the first time. He asked me, ‘Is that all?! I just have to believe?’ I loved being able to answer him with a simple, ‘Yes, because Jesus already did everything for you.’” Owens explains further, “Many of our students are hurting and have huge needs, they are looking for relationships in their lives or mentors or people who can point them to Jesus.” Those seeking more are introduced to Evangelist Michael Wu, a pastor from the China Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taiwan, for spiritual counseling in their first language, Chinese. At that point, Wu connects the student to his home fellowship group and to the local congregation. The outreach ministry has expanded further with the opening of a new English center. Even more urgent now is the need for people to come and serve along side them. Needed are long-term missionaries (one year or more) providing stability to the ministry; short-term missionaries (six or 12 weeks); and short-term teams (10 days to five weeks) leading vacation Bible school, English, sports, or music camps, and more. Individual and team opportunities abound in Macau and Hong Kong—more than 200 are open in the coming year! Owens invites many to join saying, “My prayer is that you would really consider coming to serve. We really do need people to come and assist us with the work. Without people answering ‘Yes’ to the call, the ministry cannot continue at the capacity that we want and need it to. Come, and be a part of our team!”
|
 |
 |
|
