Twentieth Partnership Newsletter- January 2015

Twentieth Partnership Newsletter- January 2015

Love and Peace to you in 2015 from Lord Jesus!

News: As I was about to write this newsletter to you in a McDonald while waiting for Eva to get off work tonight, two drug-abused men shared life with me for almost an hour. One was interested in the book I was reading and asked me to read to him from The Reformed Pastor. Another man had stared into my eyes and held my hands warmly for many long moments. At first I was not intended to interact with them but at the end they sat next to me as friends. I listened to their stories and shared my testimony and Gospel with them. Please pray for them that they can experience the new life in Christ, able to quit their drug use and to stay warm in this bitter-cold weather. Thanks God for this experience to be present and pastor to the least cared.

Thanksgivings: Many things to give thanks. During the Christmas I went to New England Winter Students Camp witnessed many graduated students born again and made good friends from other churches. After the camp, I celebrated the New Year with my family-in-law in Quebec City. God has “miraculously healed” my teeth before the end of the year. He had also held me through four courses from last semester, PTL!

Prayer Request:

1. Shalom to our world that in midst of extreme terrorism, natural disasters, deadly epidemics, and political turmoil, more people will find peace and hope in Jesus Christ.

2. Thanks God to bring a senior pastor to CBCGL (my current church). May God also call a senior pastor to GCAC (my home church). May God raised up the spiritual leaders and committed disciples in both churches.

3. Please pray for an internship opportunity upon my graduation in the summer, so I can finish the MA in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship in Gordon-Conwell in one more year.

Words from Philippians as To My Partners: “Standing and Working in Unity against Adversaries”

“Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your deliverance—and this is from God. (Phil. 1:27-28 HCSB)

This passage exhorts on the same “one thing” that Jesus interceded for us, “that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me” (Jn. 17:20-24). Unity is an outward expression of the union with Christ. “Live your life (plural) in a manner (singular) worthy of the gospel” is every Christians’ lifelong practice of “keeping the unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4:3). God put us in relation to each other so that we stand and work together growing into the maturity and fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13).

As always I am thankful for your partnership with me, and with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a great multitude of needy people throughout the earth.

With Gratitude in Christ,

Tom Chow               

p.s. Please kindly reply, I hope to hear any news and prayer request from you!

Nineteenth Partnership Newsletter- November 2014

Happy Thanksgiving Our Partners, 

Thanksgiving is a season to say thanks to God and people. This year, I want to practice “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Th 5:18) in my study, ministry, and family. Sometimes seminarians joke about being “tortured” by the workload, but truly we are thankful for all the professors and staff’s dedication to GCTS. I am thankful for the local church here, my mentor, my small group, the leadership, the Cantonese and Children congregations, and the families who welcome us for dinner and stay. Lastly, I am truly thankful to have Eva, my family, and your support to the call of my life. I thank God to put me in different circumstances and relationships so that I can have countless encounters to be thankful for. 

Words from Philippians as To My Partners: “I wish to celebrate Thanksgiving with you.”

“So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.” (Phil. 1:25-26 Message)

Paul often expressed his wish to visit the churches he planted shows how much he cared and loved them. He hoped to witness their growth and rejoiced with them. When we gather with family and brothers and sisters, let us praise God’s works in our life and treasure each other. I wish I could celebrate Thanksgiving with you!

As always I am thankful for your partnership with me, and with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a great multitude of needy people throughout the earth.

With Gratitude in Christ,

Tom Chow               

p.s. Please kindly reply, I hope to hear any news and prayer request from you!

Eighteenth Partnership Newsletter- September and October 2014

Dear Our Partners, 

Thanksgiving:

1. After "long-summer", a 30 pages Hebrew Exegesis paper is done!

2. A sermon on Isa.61:1-3 is preached!

3. Participated the TM evaluator context and was the runner-up after Eva (Yes, my wife won)!

Excerpt of my paper:

On applying Isa.61:1-3

It is a powerful testimony of how Missionary Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol followed the steps of Jesus with the mission organization SIM to serve the Ebola patients in West Africa. Although they both contracted the disease while working there their recovery is a sign of victory and hope for the world. A lot of similar mission work is going on around the world, and this is the best illustration of how the passage can apply. The local church should support the global mission by partnering and sharing their resources with mission organizations for crisis relief, praying and helping for people of poverty, hunger, and those being prosecuted in the Islamic countries.

Started this semester, I had the honor to preach the word of God in GCAC English congregation and CBCGL Cantonese congregation and Children congregation. Preaching is a honorable ministry, requiring the preacher to hear well from God and delivering carefully to God's people.

Here is my sermon big idea:

"Matt. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matt. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matt. 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

EXEGETICAL IDEA- Jesus invites the heavy burdened to receive rest by coming and learning from him.

HOMILETICAL IDEA- Receive rest and be gentle

PURPOSE- As a result of hearing this sermon, I want my listeners to receive Jesus’ invitation to rest, and to spend a quiet time with him everyday, so that our life will be transformed in his likeness and bring glory to God.

Please pray that I will listen and obey God and be able to make disciples and teach all that Jesus has commanded us. Thank you.

With Gratitude in Christ,

Tom Chow               

p.s. Please kindly reply, I hope to hear any news and prayer request from you!

Seventeenth Partnership Newsletter- July 2014

Dear Our Partners, 

Thanksgivings: Praise God for His Holiness, Faithfulness, and Love that revealed to me during the studies of Prophetical Books (specifically from Isaiah 6 & 53). I am very excited to almost finish all the Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis of my degree (which I was “wrestling” with). I am thankful for the learning experience and knowledge of Yahweh and His people that I gained. 

News: It was a great experience to join the CCA (Chinese Churches Association) conference for the second time during 7/7-10. “Love, coming home” was the theme. I enjoyed the Communion of Saints: staying at a local pastor house, doing spiritual direction, sharing meals together, attending the conference meeting, listening to messages and ministry reports, praying in small group, talking with CCA fellows and C&MA pastors, and visiting the first Starbucks and major sceneries in Seattle. CCA has really enriched my ministry vision for the Chinese churches, and I hope I can give back in the Kingdom of God in the years to come.

           

Prayers Request:

1. Healing of Missionary Kent Brantly, Nancy Writebol, and patients in Africa, and controlling of Ebola.  

2. Peace of Jerusalem, Gaza, and Ukraine, civilians, peace agreement, forgiving spirit, and Christian witness.

3. GCAC pastoral search decision, governing board, pastoral team, and Timothy Fellowship’s direction.

4. Eva’s internship, and Tun’s studies and ministry direction, and our family in NY.

Words from Philippians as To My Partners: “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”

“For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Phil. 1:23-24 NKJV)

This passage reveals my dilemma, for I’ve been discerning where God will call me after graduation next year. Paul’s expression affirms the “already but not yet” reality: the eschatological hope of glory, and the ecclesiological burden of ministry. Thus my desire is this: “To be with Christ through the church, and to remain there seeking after His kingdom on earth in worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission, with the leadership and the congregation, by pursuing God’s love, holiness, justice, and wisdom.”    

As always I am thankful for your partnership with me, and with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a great multitude of needy people throughout the earth.

With Gratitude in Christ,

Tom Chow               

p.s. Please kindly reply, I hope to hear any news and prayer request from you!

Sixteenth Partnership Newsletter- June 2014

Sixteenth Partnership Newsletter- June 2014

Dear Our Partners, 

Thanksgivings: Praise the Lord, ten years ago, on June 13^th of 2004, I heard God’s calling me to fulltime ministry. I was in Campus Crusade personal evangelism training in Hong Kong during my first year summer break in college. Now I am in theological training for pastoral and educational ministry in Massachusetts during my second intensive summer studies in seminary. This is grace upon grace and strength upon strength that the Lord has brought me through a decade. It is truly, “Great is Thy faithfulness. Lord, unto me.”

News: Finally, I preached my first sermon from Isaiah 53:1-12 last Sunday in Cantonese service. The Homiletical Idea was Christ bore our sins through suffering, and thus subverted the world. Not only must we believe, we must continually grow, so that we can preach. 基督透過受苦擔當了世人的罪，顛覆了世界, 我們不單止要信，我們要學，然後去傳。I was thankful to hear some feedback and compliment. I should improve on the connection to the congregational context, having shorter exposition, and narrowing to relevant applications along with the challenge and encouragement from the text. Please pray that I can devote myself to preach God’s word for his glory and the edification of the church. 

           

Prayers Request:

1. Please pray for comfort to Eva’s paternal family members for Grandpa a passed away this month.

2. I have been following updates and praying for GCAC, especially for the pastoral team, governing board, pastoral search committee, and different fellowships. I will discern with Timothy Fellowship in August.

3. Eva’s internship & Tun’s studies- 25pgs exegesis paper and final of OT: Conquest Narrative

Words from Philippians as To My Partners: “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”

 “…Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose.” (Phil. 1:21-22 The Message)

This verse has always inspired me. Paul’s living and preaching is fueled with emotions. We can even feel that his knowledge of God’s word is burning in his bones. That sets the tone for me in training to be a preacher. This is what the disciples who walked with Jesus asked, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32)

As always I am thankful for your partnership with me, and with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a great multitude of needy people throughout the earth.

With Gratitude in Christ,

Tom Chow               

p.s. Please kindly reply, I hope to hear any news and prayer request from you!