周神助牧師:
您的友誼是神在這些年間所賜特別的禮物。到如今已經四十年了!我非常感恩與珍惜您敬虔地與神同行,和您所立下的榜樣。
我最喜愛的挑戰之一就是:「在同一個使命中恆久的順服」。我深信神已經賦予您這樣的恩賜來為祂的教會樹立典範。您已歡喜懷抱了神在您生命中每一個新的帶領,並且以順服來回應與跟隨。有一次我聽您在一個聚會中提到,您描述您生命中四個重要的事件:因信福音而領受救恩;接受挑戰而接下牧養的服事;然後是建造安提阿的教會;最後是為基督身體的合一而努力。當然,這也包含了第五件事:按著聖經的教導,致力於聖靈更完滿的工作。
在這五個大的挑戰中,您走出了先鋒者順服的腳蹤,並使多人得福。對我來說,這將會是您持續給教會的禮物;並且當神說話時,我們需要順服並一路跟隨,好叫神的話成為生命,成為眾人的祝福。
謝謝您走上這條順服之路!
您在基督裡的兄弟
巴柝聲
Shen Ju:
Your friendship has been a special gift from the Lord over the years - now 40 years! I have much appreciated your godly walk and your example.
One of my favourite challenges is “long obedience in the same direction”. I believe that God has gifted you to model this to His church. You have embraced each new wave that God has brought into your life, and sought to follow it with obedience. I heard you once speak at a meeting where you described four major events in your life - the gospel leading to salvation; then the challenge to engage with church pastoral ministry; then the Antioch challenge to spread wider, and finally the challenge to work for unity in the Body of Christ.Of course there has been a fifth element-the embracing of a Biblical view of the fuller work of the Holy Spirit.
In each of these five great challenges you have walked out paths of pioneer obedience that have brought blessing to many.For me, that is and will continue to be your gift to the church: that when God speaks, we need to obey and walk down the path so that His Word will become life and blessing to many.
Thank you for walking that way.
Your brother in Christ, Ross Pater
(作者為台北靈量堂宣教植堂訓練處顧問、巴拿巴宣教學院負責人)