Through
a
combination of events, God led me on the road for two
years (March 2000 to April 2002) living part of the time
in another world-class mega-city, Shanghai. Through the
journey, I have come to a deeper relationship with Him
and a better understanding of what He is doing around
the world
While
visiting cities in Asia, the same strong feeling overwhelmed
me as if I was going to work in Chinatown, New York: the
hustle and bustle of the traffic, the many people crossing
the streets, the empty looks on their faces. I used to
keep wondering-Do they know where they are going in eternity?
How would Jesus feel if He was with me in person? What
would the substance of our conversation be as we walked
among the crowds? The same, sure message would ring in
my mind and bring tears to my heart. "They are like
sheep without a shepherd. He has compassion on them and
thus calls for workers to gather the harvest."
"Do
you love me more than these? Bring my Word to them that
they might be satisfied. By all means that you may reach
some and show them the way they should go."
With so much idolatry and cultic teachings, it is hard
to blind our eyes to the mission of discipleship training.
To
be a disciple of Jesus is an unending process. A believer
is to be baptized and taught to observe all that Christ
has commanded (Matt 28:18-19). Conforming to the image
of Christ is a lifelong process (Phil 1:6). People need
teachers, pastors and mentors leaders to help them grow
in their relationship with Jesus. But in so many places,
nobody is around to help and guide.
By
the grace of God, we have not run away from the Heavenly
vision. Whether in producing programs for cassette tapes,
then for broadcast via radio, Internet, and telephone,
or whether engaging in local outreach or global mission,
basically He has called us to be faithful. It is all about
stewardship-how to present the message of His sovereignty,
His love and His salvation to those immediately around
us and to the billions around the world.
As
overseas students in the 70's, we began to serve in Bible
study fellowships in England, and tried to reach local
Chinese families working in food businesses. How best
to communicate the relevance of the Word of God became
the issue and our struggle. Not only could we not speak
their dialect, but they also distanced themselves from
us because we were English-speaking and from professional
backgrounds. Such social and cultural barriers barred
us from effective and meaningful communication.
It
is after God's heart to convey His love and salvation
to others in an effective way that they can understand
and apply the Good News within their own context. This
need has driven our co-workers to engage in urban and
blue-collar outreach.
J.I.
Packer
in his book Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God states,
"While we must always remember that it is our responsibility
to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is
God who saves." We cannot do anything without the
guidance and working of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
has kept our spiritual vision in focus.
In
addition, as Dr. Engel in Contemporary Christian Communication
points out, "The message must be adapted to the audience
members without. Adapting the message does not mean changing
the message as it is affirmed in the scripture."
It is the search for a combination of truth and relevance
that has kept us humble and has driven us to search for
Bible scholars and teachers as our program speakers and
editors. All programs need to be adapted and checked for
their Biblical accuracy.
While
the primary emphasis and role of CGBC is placed on producing
communication tools for evangelism and discipleship training,
the real contact is people. It is His people who go out
to the world to touch lives. It is the transforming power
of the Holy Spirit that brings about new lives. Therefore,
for us, interceding for churches and world missions has
its priority. We are working together in one mission under
the leadership and lordship of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18-20).
CGBC
covets the continual support of churches to provide student
interns and short or long-term workers, to financially
sponsor our projects, and to pray on our behalf for God's
protection and guidance. In turn we seek to learn from
you and your needs.
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The
after math of 911 is not "out of sight,
out of mind" for CGBC co-workers. Our
center is located at the northeastern corner
of Ground Zero. According to the Interim Report
Chinatown after September 11th, an Economic
Impact Study by the Asian America Federation
of New York, the 911 tragedy has gravely devastated
the Chinatown economy. Many garment factories
have been forced to close or relocate. Most
dislocated workers are not English-proficient
and lack suitable skills for employment outside
of Chinatown. Many have lost loved ones and
still seek comfort and answers to human suffering.
with
their children, and for refreshed spirits
and good health when they resume their duty
in September. Also, local gospel broadcast
in New York and Dallas can be heard online
via www.cgbc.net.
"Healing
in this life is not the resolution of our
past, it is the use of our past to draw us
into deeper relationship with God and His
purposes for our lives" (The Healing
Path by Dan B. Allender). Recently we received
a testimony from sister Maria Cheung. She
came to New York from Costa Rica in 1993.
She volunteered a year's time at CGBC before
she returned to active service in her local
church. A sudden physical condition struck
her last year and she was paralyzed for almost
a year. Her testimony is touching; she considers
the path of suffering as a sacred journey
to knowing Jesus. If you desire to receive
the English translated copy of her letter,
please call or e-mail us at