我從未想過，甚至從未夢想過，我們的事工竟會跨越一萬英里的海洋，來到澳洲。然而，「神的意念高過我們的意念，祂的道路高過我們的道路。」5/1 – 5/3 我受邀擔任「澳洲基督教華人衛理公會第十五屆年會成婦團聯合退修會」的講員。這個退修會每兩年舉辦一次，在澳洲不同城市輪流舉行，參加者來自全澳數十間教會。今年的聚會在澳洲東南沿海城市——墨爾本Melbourne舉行。我總共花了約三十個小時才抵達，打破了我個人飛行時間的紀錄。
Blowing the Trumpet Sound in the Southern Hemisphere
I had never dreamed or even thought that our ministries would go 10,000 miles across the ocean to Australia. But God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, His ways are higher than our ways. On May 1 to May 3 I was invited to be the speaker for “Chinese Methodist Church in Australia AC Adult & Women Fellowships 15th Combined Retreat”. The retreat is held every two years in different cities with participants from dozens of churches throughout Australia. This year the retreat was held in the southeastern coastal city of Melbourne. It took me a total of about 30 hours to get there which broke my record for flying.
退修會 Retreat：「吹響號角，奪回世代」“Blow the Trumpet, Reclaim the Generation”
這次退修會的主題是：「吹響號角，奪回世代」。我深受感動，看見神正在感動世界各地教會領袖、弟兄姊妹的心，包括澳洲來搶救下一代。在墨爾本三天的退修會中，我向超過130位與會者分享了教會下一代大量流失的嚴峻現況，以及我們如何奪回世代。分享主題包括：「更新心意——建立聖經世界觀」、「復興家庭——活出家味」、「奪回教育——培養基督精兵」，以及最後一堂「成為變革推動者」。大家的回應遠遠超過我的預期，不僅是弟兄姊妹，也包括牧者與教會領袖。這次退修會特別有意義之處，在於大部分參加者都是各教會的領袖。神在短短一個週末，賜給我們如此寶貴的機會，能夠接觸到這麼多領袖。我也深深被與會者在主裡的喜樂、熱情，以及彼此團契中的溫暖所感動。
星期日，參與聚會的婦女團契也慶祝成立三十週年。我看到許多年長的姊妹忠心服事並祝福年輕的姊妹，正如《提多書》所教導的那樣，內心十分感動
The theme of the retreat was “Blow the Trumpet, Reclaim the Generation”. I am so moved that God has stirred the hearts of church leaders, sisters and brothers all over the world, including Australia, to save the next generation. In the three-day retreat in Melbourne, I shared with over 130 attendees about the dire situation regarding the loss of the next generation in our churches and how to reclaim the generation. The sessions were entitled “ Renew our Mind – Establishing a Biblical Worldview “, “Revive the Family – Living out the Godly Fragrance”, “Reclaim Education – Cultivating Soldiers of Christ”, and lastly “Be a Change Agent”. The response was beyond my expectation, not only from brothers and sisters in the congregations but also from pastors and church leaders. The significance of this retreat was that most attendees were leaders in their churches. God gave us such a great opportunity to reach so many leaders in one short weekend. I was also overwhelmed by attendees’ joy and enthusiasm in the Lord and the warmth of their fellowship. On Sunday, the women’s fellowship also celebrated their 30 anniversary. I was touched to see so many sisters
faithfully blessing the lives of younger women as is taught in the book of Titus.
復興聚會 The Revival Meeting
讓我驚訝的是，在墨爾本有不少家庭因爲聽到我們的吹號，而開始在家教育自己的孩子。由於退修會場地座位有限，無法容納所有家庭，因此大會特別安排在當地一間教會加開ㄧ場公開聚會。除了現場的參加者外又有近兩百位透過Zomm參加，聚會結束時，我與許多人一樣，流下了眼淚，看見許多與會者走到台前，回應搶救下一代的呼召。事後有人告訴我，這樣的呼召與回應，在他們過去的聚會中是極少見的。神的確正在呼召祂的教會起來行動。
It was a surprise to me to learn that quite a few families in Melbourne had heard my Trumpet sound in the past and had already at that time started homecoming their children. Due to a limited seating capacity, not all families could be accommodated at the retreat site, so the retreat committee hosted an open meeting at one of the local churches on Sunday night. In addition to the on-site participants, nearly two hundred people joined the meeting via Zoom. As were many others, I was in tears at the end of the meeting to see so many attendees come forward to respond to the call of saving the next generation. I was told afterwards that that kind of call and response has seldom occurred at their meetings. Truly God is calling His churches to action.
牧者聚會 Pastors’ Meeting
星期二早晨，我有機會在具有歷史古蹟的衛理大廈(1873)向二十多位現場及透過 Zoom 參與的牧者分享「教會如何面對世俗主義的風暴」。牧者們的渴慕讓我深受鼓舞。他們已經看見風暴的來臨，不只是想了解風暴的存在，更願意走進風暴中，帶來改變。我也挑戰他們：John Wesley 不只是福音的大使，更是社會公義的先知。
On Tuesday morning I was able to share “How Churches Can Face the Storm of Secularism” to more than twenty pastors on site and by zoom at the historical building Methodist house (1873). I was so encouraged by the pastors’ eagerness. They have seen the storm and not only want to know about the storm’s existence but also want to go into the storm to bring about a change. I challenged them that John Wesley was not only an ambassador of the Gospel but was also a prophet of social righteousness.
弟兄姊妹的熱情接待 Brothers’ and Sisters’ Hospitality
除了正式聚會中的分享之外，我也深深體驗到弟兄姊妹熱情的款待。每一餐都像愛宴一般；短短一週之內，我品嚐了各式各樣美味的食物——新加坡菜、馬來西亞菜、中國菜、越南菜、澳洲海鮮、韓式自助餐等等。
會督與會督娘還特別帶我進行一日遊，讓我看見澳洲著名的特色：袋鼠、無尾熊與袋熊；美麗的海岸線、沙灘與城市天際線。
言語無法表達我對所有接待我、陪伴我之人的感謝。有一位年長的姊妹，在我停留期間，多次特別為我預備珍貴且昂貴的中式燉湯。
特別感謝退修會主席 Sara。在籌備會議及整個退修會期間，她真實展現了僕人領袖的心志與態度。我也感謝官清忠牧師將我介紹給退修會籌委會；感謝周家熹牧師與金龍牧師多次熱情招待我用餐。我也十分感激教區長，在我離開墨爾本的最後一天，清晨五點半親自接送我前往機場，並主持了兩場退修會後的聚會。
Besides sharing at formal meetings, I experienced the warm hospitality of brothers and sisters. Every meal was a love feast; in one short week I was treated to all kinds of delicious foods – Singaporian, Malaysian, Chinese, Vietnamese; Australian seafood, Korean buffet, etc. The bishop and 師母 took me for a one-day tour to see what Australia is known for: kangaroos, koalas, and wombats; the beautiful coastline, the beach and the city skyline. Words cannot express my gratitude to everyone whom I encountered and to those who hosted me. One elderly sister gave me special and expensive Chinese soups more than one time during my stay.
Special thanks to the retreat chairwoman, Sara. Throughout the planning meetings and during the retreat, Sara truly demonstrated the heart and attitude of a servant leader. I am thankful for Pastor Quan who introduced me to the retreat committee, for Pastor 周 and Pastor 金龍 who hosted me for many meals. I appreciate 教區長 who picked me up at the early morning hour of 5:30 am to send me to the airport on my last day in Melbourne and hosted two post-retreat meetings.
角聲已吹響 The Trumpet has Been Blown
神為祂所愛的人所預備的，的確是「眼睛未曾看見，耳朵未曾聽見，人心也未曾想到的」！
這趟旅程中，神擴張了我的眼目，使我看見：為下一代而戰的屬靈爭戰，不但極其激烈，而且是全球性的。令人感傷的是，在澳洲東南部期間，我深深感受到這個國家甚至比美國更加世俗化。基督教學校甚至被迫聘請非基督徒教師。
然而，好消息是：澳洲的教會已經聽見號角聲，這場爭戰已經開始了！有一天，我們在路上看到一道完整的彩虹，這是上帝向我們顯明「祂絕不撇下，也絕不丟棄」澳洲的記號！
再見了，澳洲！靠著神的恩典，「我還會再回來！」
Truly what God provides for those He loves is what “eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, and the mind has not comprehended”! On this trip, God enlarged my heart to see how severe the battle for the next generation is and that it is worldwide. Sadly, during my time in southeastern Australia, I could sense that the country is even more secularized than America. Christians schools are even forced to hire non-Christian teachers. The good news is that churches in Australia have heard the trumpet sound and the battle has begun! One day on the road we saw a full rainbow in front us, a reminder from God that He will never leave us nor forsake us; He will never leave nor forsake Australia!
再見, Australia… by the grace of God, “I shall return”!
