Nov 11, 2019
When we walk out the truth, God will bless us accordingly. By this past September, through ordaining elders and deacons, we acknowledge how God set up the leadership and administration orderly in place of God’s family. We also learn to submit to one another and to work together as body of Christ.
Laying on of hands is not supernatural/special experience, but it is a symbolism, testifying openly of this unity, just as baptism testifying the union with God. God gives us spiritual gifts according to His kind intention for each one of us. And we acquire spiritual gifts for the good of the church. The greatest gift is love. We should pursue love and desire to be a minister of love. To serve God is our love response to God.
按手求恩賜 全教會團聚
當我們實行真理，便得着神所命定的福。自九月份按立長老、執事，我們清楚確認神在這家中如何引導及執行；我們學習彼此順服，同心事奉，一同建立基督的身體。
按手並非是特殊/超凡經歷，乃是「合一」的象徵，正如受浸表明與主聯合。神按祂的美意將恩賜分給各人；我們所得的恩賜是為服侍這家。爱是最大的恩賜, 願我們追求愛，切望成為愛的使者。我們事奉神，正是向祂愛的回應。
Elders and deacons sharing on their past two months of improvements
Hong: I promised the Lord that I would be willing to attempt new things and take up challenges for Him. He is faithful. It hasn’t been as difficult as I thought when I’m willing to try. Through practicing more, I realized that I have been gradually improving. I treasure God’s faithfulness. He knows my needs and desires me to improve. After I was ordained, I realized that I should have nothing to fear when I have the Lord. What he has given me exceeds my expectations.
Ida: I feel different in my spirit now. I’m no longer timid, but rather more mindful and loving. I stand out more nowadays and am willing to do more because my thinking patterns are different from that of the past. Besides the Lord, I now have no other desire and I want to offer this family to Him.
My goal is very clear; nothing can distract me from His will. I desire to have greater breakthroughs, and have the Lord use me greatly. Therefore, I must put off things that would hinder me. When I have this mindset, I’d have more adjustments in my daily life. I feel that I have improved much in these couple months, and I hope the Lord continues to use me.
Adeline: I truly have breakthroughs: I became more couragous and speak up more. I also communicate more and discuss matters with coworkers.
Leanne: I really felt the Lord’s blessings in the past couple months. I stand firmer in my position and have overcome my boundaries. The Lord encouraged me to overcome fears to do things that I’d used to be scared or reluctant to do. I realized that it’s not as bad as I initially thought when I’m willing to get through it. I see that when I do what I’m supposed to do, the Lord will bless me and use me to bless others. I give thanks to God for His support and encouragement, so I may continue to go forth, to increase in depth and details.
Tuhien: I can testify that the elders and deacons have improved continueously after being ordained. I really felt God’s presence during meetings in these couple months. He helps me to be more clear on how to pursue and to love this family more. I feel the unity of this family more—I could hear and feel this whenever I arrived to meetings. I’m full of hope, not just for one, but for everyone. Thank you, Lord, for expanding my territories, so that I may love each one of you.
Anissa: I experienced the Lord’s help to improve spiritually in these couple months. I am more courageous for the Lord to leave my comfort zone and limitation from reactions in the flesh. I desire to offer myself more to love God and His family.
Louisa: In these couple months, I really feel that the elders and deacons are united as one whether in their goals, spirits, pursuits, and directions. Personally, I’ve become more mindful, starting with being a good role model for my children, then for brothers and sisters. I need to pursue more diligently, have the right direction, and be same mind with the church in order to help borthers and sisters to have the same direction.
Alison: I feel like I have been on a mission for the past couple months. I love God’s family more, because this is my family! Also, I become more brave to go further and willing to try new things for Him. In my heart, I want to run faster and do more for the Lord, and to be more attentive and serve this family more.
Sharon: what I desire most is to further increase my capacity, so I may take on more. Recently, I really want the Lord to expand my boundaries to challenge my weaknesses. When we sang Psalm 133 earlier, my heart desired to knit closer with brothers and sisters, so my heart may be immersed in this family and to love more.
Allan: I am more willing to learn and bear more. I used to have fears to leave my comfort zone, but I’m willing to do so, to allow the Lord to teach and help me. I help myself to live in the truth, to conquer past wrong concepts and feelings of the flesh, such as fear of others’ impressions on me. I truly experienced the Lord’s help in these areas. We all need to be courageously break through and step forward for the Lord. We will experience help from Him who is faithful. May we all grow together.
Gowyn: I feel more free and desire to be more involved and love this family more in these couple months. Now I can initiate conversations with brothers and sisters more, even talk briefly or joke with those whom I am unfamiliar with. I desire to have more breakthroughs to immerse in brothers and sister more, to experience more of this family and to help one another.
Sun: In these couple months, I feel as if I newly got married or had a son. I recalled my great feelings after the wedding, because I have gained someone and started a family. After my child was born, I felt that this family had one more member. I’m still happy despite having more burdens.
I also feel closer to brothers and sisters, especially in the time when we go before the Lord to worship Him together and during meetings. I always claim that brothers and sisters’ prayers are my prayers, likewise, the songs they pick are also the ones I want to choose. I treasure how this family can bear more together and have God’s blessings among us. I hope this family may continue to be more prosperous.
Jason: I treasure that the Lord continues to help me to grow and change. I desire to do great things for the Lord and to understand my role since being ordained as an elder. I hope to do great things both in Vancouver and over the world. I continue to help myself to improve and break through more. I take more initiative instead of waiting for others to arrange. I would inquire before the Lord and realize what He wants the church, brothers and sisters, or me to do, and to initiate to pray and cooperate with God. I really treasure to serve together with this group of elders and deacons. This is truly beautiful!
長執們分享這兩個月來的進步
Hong
我曾答應主，無論是甚麼我都願意嘗試。主很信實，當自己願意去嘗試，原來不是想像中那麼難，當我再嘗試多些，更發現自己在不斷進步。我很珍貴主是信實的，祂知道我的需要，渴想我進步。我被按立之後，覺得有主真的沒有甚麼可怕，主給我的是遠超我所想的。
Ida 玉清
感受自己的心靈不同了，除去膽怯的心，乃有謹守、仁愛的心。自己站出來多了，願意承擔也多了，因想法跟以前不同，現在再沒有別的想追求，只想追求主，很想將這個家獻給主。
我的目標很清晰，沒其他的事可分我心，渴想有更大突破，讓主更大使用我，所以要脫去容易纏累自己的事。當我愈多這樣的想法，我便在生活中有許多調較，感受自己在這兩個月有進步，盼望主繼續使用自己。
Adeline 阿珊
我的確有突破，大膽了，説話多了，與同工彼此商量、溝通也多了。
Leanne
這兩個月很感受主的祝福，自己在所站的崗位上站得更穩固，並且越過自己的界限。有些事情是自己害怕去做的，但主鼓勵自己去突破，做自己不想做的事。當我願意去克服，發覺並不是想像中的差。我看到當我做我應該做的事，主會祝福，並且用我成為其他人的祝福。感謝主的幫助和鼓勵，使自己更邁向前、更有深度和更仔細。
Tuhien
我可以見證這些弟兄姊妹被按立長執後，不斷地進步。這兩個月在聚會中很感受主的同在，主讓自己更清楚如何追求、如何更愛這個家。我愈來愈感受弟兄姊妹合一，每次來到聚會，我可以聽到和感受到，我充滿信心，不是一個，是每一個。感謝主擴張我的境界，使我更愛每一個。
Anissa 桂娥
這兩個月我體會主幫助自己的心靈進步，也為主更勇敢，突破自己的安舒區和肉體反應的限制。我渴想更竭力擺上自己，愛主和愛這個家。
Louisa美玉
很感受這兩個月長執們無論在心志、心靈、追求和方向上都站立如同一人。個人方面，自己更加謹守，先是在家庭中，作孩子的榜樣，並且在弟兄姊妹中作榜樣，要更努力追求，方向要正確，與教會同心，才能影響弟兄姊妹有同一方向。
Allison 嘉敏
這兩個月覺得自己多了一份使命感，愛神的家多了，因這是我的家！此外，我大膽了，更為主踏前和勇敢，願意為主嘗試新的事。我心裏很想跑得更快，為主做更多，更殷勤服侍這個家和愛弟兄姊妹。
Sharon Tong 柳迎
我最渴慕是自己的容量能再提升，以至能承擔更多。最近很想主擴張我的境界，挑戰自己未得的地方。剛才唱詩篇133時，心裏很想和弟兄姊妹建造得更加埋，心能溶在弟兄姊妹中，能愛得更多。
Allan 卓政倫
自己願意學習承擔更多，會有些懼怕要離開自己的安舒區，但我願意去做，求主幫我、教我。我讓自己活在真理中，對抗過往錯誤的觀念或肉體的感覺，例如: 害怕、別人怎樣看等等，很真實經歷主的幫助。我們每個都要勇敢為主有突破，踏出一步，是會經歷主的幫助，祂是信實的，願我們一同成長。
Gowyn 羅國榮
這兩個月覺得自己比以前釋放，很想更投入這家，更愛弟兄姊妹。現在我很容易主動地跟弟兄姊妹傾談，即使不熟悉也會談幾句，有時更會打趣一下。我渴想自己可以更突破，能與弟兄姊妹更溶在一起，更體會這是一個家，可以彼此幫助。
Sun 載峯
這兩個月感覺好像最初結婚和有孩子的時候。結婚時感受很深，因為多了一個人，有了家庭；有小朋友的感受是家庭多了成員，要肩負的多了，但都是很開心的。
這兩個月感受與弟兄姊妹很埋，一起到主面前敬拜、聚會，彼此很投契。我常說弟兄姊妹的禱告就是我的禱告，弟兄姊妹選的歌就是我想選的歌。我很寶貴這家能夠一起去承擔，有神的祝福在我們中間。我盼望這家繼續興旺。
Jason 堅信
寶貴主使我不斷成長和改變。自從成為長老後，心更想為主作大事，更明白自己的崗位，盼望所付出的能在温哥華和全地為主作大事。所以我繼續幫助自己去進步和突破，嘗試再主動一點，不是等待別人安排。自己會求問神，體會主要我、教會或弟兄姊妹做甚麼，主動與神配合，主動去禱告。我很寶貴能與一群長執一同服侍，是很美麗的！