Interview: Serving by Leading

This article was originally posted in our Word @ Work Magazine in June 2016. 中文版.

Interview

Serving by Leading – Passion for China and Her People

Since 2011, Bethesda Frankel Estate Church (BFEC) has been partnering with the Bible Society to customise Bible Mission Trips to China. BFEC organises two to three trips each year which are always oversubscribed. Most of the tour members are in their 60-80s and are largely English-speaking. We met with Elder Ong, who at 69 is still leading and organising trips to China, to hear more about his heart for the country and her people. He shares about the needs of the Church and gives practical advice about how to organise similar Bible Mission Trips for churches, families and friends.

Share with us about your heart for China. How and when did it start?

It first started in 1989 when I went with a friend to Xiamen to distribute Bibles through Every Home Crusade. It was there that I saw the need for Bibles in China.

Your tour members are largely English-speaking. How is it like communicating with the Chinese communities you visit?

We attach a person to those who can’t speak or understand Mandarin when interacting with the local believers. Language is not a barrier. People need to step out of the preconceived idea that they cannot communicate without knowing the language.

Why are the tour members interested in the work in China?

I believe that as English-speaking Chinese, they have a certain longing to learn more about China and go back to their roots. Also, they have heard a lot about China and the Chinese believers' passion for the Lord – they wanted to see the churches' condition in rural areas. We are so blessed as Singaporeans and we hope to give to the poor in our plenty.

The members keep coming back for the trips. Any idea why?

Firstly, they see the needs and experience the joy of giving a Bible to someone. They witness the tears trickle down upon giving the Bible – the locals really long to have a Bible of their own. Secondly, it helps them to reflect on their faith when they see how the people take God’s Word seriously and pray fervently. The locals come to church as early as 5am by cycling, walking or by bus even though the service starts at 8am! Lastly, the members feel welcomed by the church who would prepare hearty home-cooked meals for them after every service.

Share with us some things you do on each trip.

Before the trip, we assign duties to every member of the team so that all are involved – even in simple roles like the numbering of people, their luggage, to who does devotion or presents the gifts. We debrief after each location to hear fresh reflections from the members.

Bible distribution is an important element in the trip and we ensure that each member gets to personally hand the Bible to the recipients. We also meet up with the local Christian council, visit seminaries and Sunday schools at churches, minister to the disadvantaged and help out in medical work. During our interactions, we share God’s love. On many occasions, members of the group were moved to help the locals when they saw the needs.

What are some of the challenges you face when leading the trips?

It’s a challenge to plan the programme so that it’s suitable for people of different age groupS. I go for each trip with fear and trembling because I am responsible for the big group. I really ask everybody to pray for safety and protection. We also have to be careful not to spoil the work that has already been done, as representatives of the Bible Society.

How does your team raise funds to attend the trip and even give towards the Bible mission?

Since this trip is about the Bible mission, each member is committed to contribute an additional $300 on top of trip expenses to support the work. Our church is very supportive. Though they are not travelling with us, members prepare food to raise funds for each trip.

Any words to encourage others to attend Bible Mission Trips or organise trips to serve the needy?

Take the first trip – no amount of words can explain the personal experience! You will experience God in every step you take, from finances to every matter involved.

If you desire to do outreach in China, join us on our trips and learn how to lead!

 

 

面试

通过带领来服事——热爱中国和那里的百姓

自2011年起，伯赛大福兰克福音堂（BFEC）就与圣经公会合作，特别定制到中国的圣经宣教之旅。福音堂每年组织两到三次的旅程，通常都被早早预定一空。参加的队员大多是介于六十至八十岁讲英语的会友。我们采访了已经六十九岁，还在组织和带领这些旅程的王长老，来更多地了解他对中国和那里的百姓的特殊情感。他分享了中国教会的需要，并对如何为教会、家庭和朋友组织类似的圣经宣教之旅提供实际的建议。

请与我们分享您对中国的特殊情感。它是何时，又是怎么样开始的？

那是从1989年开始的，当时我和一位朋友通过逐家文字布道会去厦门分发圣经。就是在那里我看到中国对圣经的需要。

您的队员大多都是讲英语的。你们是如何与所拜访的中国群体交流的呢？

当我们与当地信徒交流时，我们就将不会讲或听不明白普通话的队员与一位会讲普通话的队员分配在一组。语言并不是障碍。人们需要从不懂语言就无法交流这一成见中走出来。

为什么参与者会对到中国的事工感兴趣呢？

我相信那是因为作为讲英语的华人，他们渴慕更多地了解中国并到那里寻根。而且，他们听到很多关于中国的事情和那里的基督徒对主的热心，他们想要去看看在乡村教会的情况是怎样的。作为新加坡人，我们在经济上蒙上帝如此的祝福，希望能够将我们的富足与人分享。

参与者们以后通常会继续参与圣经宣教之旅。您认为这是为什么呢？

首先，他们看到有这个需要，并且体验到将圣经交在别人手中时的喜乐。他们亲身经历送出圣经时流下的热泪——当地人真的渴望拥有一本属于自己的圣经。其次，当他们看到人们是如何珍视上帝的话语并热心祷告时，就会反思自己的信仰。虽然当地的崇拜早上八点才开始，但信徒们不管是骑车、步行，还是乘公交车，都早早来到教会，有的甚至清晨五点就到了！最后，每次服事之后，当地教会都会为他们用心烹煮爱心餐，让他们倍感温暖。

请与我们分享一些您在每次旅程中都会做的事。

每次旅程之前，我们都会为每一位队员分派任务，哪怕只是清点人数与行李、带领灵修或呈献礼物，让每一个人都参与其中。我们会在旅途中的每一个所到之处都进行回顾总结，听取队员的最新感想。

圣经分发是旅程的重要环节，我们确保每个队员都有机会亲手将圣经交给受赠者。我们也会拜访当地的教会委员会，参观神学院和教会主日学，服事弱势群体，协助医疗救助工作。在这些互动中，我们分享上帝的爱。很多时候，队员们看到有需要时，就有感动去主动帮助当地人。

您在带领旅行团队时会面对哪些挑战？

规划适合不同年龄的人的行程是很大的挑战！我每次都战战兢兢，因为要为整个团队负责。我诚恳请求每一个人为安全和上帝的保护祷告。作为圣经公会的代表，我们也非常小心，不要破坏已经完成的事工。

您的团队是如何筹款来参与，甚至捐助宣教之旅的？

因为这是圣经宣教之旅，每位队员除了行程的花费，都自愿另外奉献$300以支持事工。我们的教会也非常支持，虽然不能与我们一同前往中国，会众们就组织食物义卖活动来为每次旅程筹款。

您有什么话要鼓励其他人参与或组织圣经宣教之旅，去服事需要的人吗？

踏出您的第一步，来参与第一次的旅程——亲身体验远胜于千言万语！您将会在迈出的每一个脚步都经历上帝，不管是财务，还是其它相关的每件事情。

如果您想到中国参与外宣事工，请加入我们的圣经宣教之旅！我会提供一份材料来帮助您学习如何带领旅行团。


Bible Miracle in China

This article was first published in the March 2013 issue of Word@Work.

35 years ago, printing a Bible in China was illegal. But in 2012, Amity Printing Company (APC) in Nanjing celebrated their 100 millionth Bible. China officially became the world’s largest Bible printer.

Many lives have been impacted through APC’s publishing of God’s Word in people’s heart language.

One example is Wang Hai, 29, from the Miao ethnic group. He now distributes Bibles to others in Yunnan.

“My body may ache after riding long distances but my heart is happy,” says Wang who is glad to be God’s tool of service.

This Bible miracle started in 1988 as a joint venture between Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies (UBS), with a mission and priority to serve the Church in China. On 6 November 2012, the Church in China celebrated the printing and distribution of 60 million Bibles within mainland China since the establishment of APC. Then on 8 November 2012, APC celebrated the milestone of 100 million Bibles printed since they started 24 years ago, of which 40 million are for export and 60 million for China. APC’s service has expanded to serve the global Christian community in over 70 nations.

The 60 million Bibles printed and distributed in mainland China testifies to a strong established partnership between UBS and China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM), encouraging God’s Word to be preached and applied throughout the nation, and the world at large.

“This feat would not have been possible if not for God’s bountiful blessings on China and the support of UBS,” Rev Gao Feng, President of the Chinese Christian Council, emphasised during his introduction of various distinguished guests from UBS – one of whom was Rt Rev John Chew, Honorary President of The Bible Society of Singapore (BSS). Other representatives of BSS who attended these historic events were Dr Lee Soo Ann, the President, and the General Secretary.

Another significant milestone is the Bible in China seminar, jointly organised by The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) and Centre for Studies of Religion and Culture, with the support of the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) and UBS. This seminar was attended by Chinese local academicians and church leaders to discuss the role of the Bible in modern society. This initiative highlighted the beginning of Bible advocacy efforts in China.

As Dr Lee Soo Ann says, “It is significant that the impact of Bible printing in China has gone beyond the Bible itself, to thinking about what the Bible says.”

We pray that APC’s impact will further influence the Christian faith in China to go beyond simply reading the Bible, to allow the Word to saturate the thoughts of all who read the Scripture and transform lives worldwide.

We rejoice that the Bible miracle by APC has impacted Christendom and believe as Rt Rev John Chew asserts, “If the churches and Christians both in China and globally keep faithful and focused in discerning together what the Lord intends to do… the future of China (and any others) would be unimaginable!”


Source: UBS China Partnership