1. Here at CGBC, a group of faithful and loyal gospel’s worriers has been traveling to Ecuador in July for mission works while the rest of us are enjoying our summer. In the humid tropical monsoon weather, they work tirelessly in close collaboration with a local church to minister to the people through various activities. The dedication and commitment of the Ecuador STM to the Lord’s calling is the epitome of what Robert Frost said in his poem, The Road Not Taken:

“Two roads diverged in the wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.”

Upon their return, they share with us what they have experienced, and we as a church body witness their harvest. However, we don’t often see the behind-the-scene effort, planning, and preparation that occur beforehand, as well as some stories that were not shared.

In this e-mail interview with Eddie and Jannie Chow, Gracious Words is going to show you the insider’s world of the Ecuador Summer Team Mission.

(GW): Jannie and Eddie, you are the team leaders this year, and you have been actively involved with this mission for a few years now. Your names are becoming synonymous with the Ecuador STM. Can you share with us the source of your inspiration and motivation?

(Chow): Inspiration and motivation comes from scripture. Some verses are:

Matt 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Matt 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”

Rom 10:14-15 “How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Habakkuk2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

I would say that the source of our inspiration and motivation to lead the Ecuador Teams for the past 13 years has to be our understanding of what the Heart of God is for the peoples of the world. Sure there are needs here at home in Sacramento, but God has always asked for those who are willing to go to the ends of the world for His sake. History is full of these individuals who would go in obedience. True, not everyone is called to be full time missionaries, yet God has placed squarely at the feet of the New Testament church (that includes CGBC) to be witnesses and disciples for His glory to the ends of the world. From God’s promise in the Abrahamic covenant, through the new covenant, God’s desire is and will have the worship of every tongue and nations bowing down and praising Him (we are to be a blessing to the world). To be sure, the task is monumental if your perspective is from our human viewpoint, but from God’s viewpoint, it is a matter of His promise.

We are truly blessed in so many ways here in America. How can one who is so blessed not use our God-given abilities and resources for his Glory? To be sure people around the world are in bondage to the strongholds of the devil; sin reigns in the hearts of those who know not Jesus. True hope in this life and in the future rests on the saving knowledge of Christ. Let there be no mistake; God’s plan for the world will happen according to his sovereign ways, with or without our involvement. The question is “How much a priority and to what extent will we be a part of His grand plan for mankind?” Let us be soul journers for His glory together and advance the Kingdom of God.

Both Jannie & I have been Christians for many years, but attending the Perspective class series has helped us systematically look closer at missions and have a better understanding of God’s desire for the peoples of the world. We would encourage every Christian to make time to attend the Perspective series.

(GW): How are members recruited? Is it by invitation? Or can anyone apply?

(Chow): Anyone can apply; however, those under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

(GW): Describe a typical day for us. What do you and the team members do?

(Chow): There are basically two sites we minister to: week one is in Muisne, an island off the coast of Ecuador. Week two is in Juan Montalvo, a community two hours outside of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. A typical day starts with team worship and devotions at 7:30 am.

In Muisne we have teams go to minister to schools, and/or different “barrios” (neighborhoods) where Pastor Nahum is trying to start ministries and churches. At the same time, the team may be ministering to the women in the church with devotional topics and crafts. Each day and evening the team is out with the locals ministering to the community and different barrios, doing VBS, testimonies, drama and crafts. This year, besides the ministry with the women, we hope to have ministries with the men, youth and couples. Typical day during week one ends back at the hotel around 11 pm.

Week two is a little different; we will be ministering in three sites: Guachala, Santa Isabel and Sigsel, ministering with VBS, women, men and couple’s programs, in addition to construction. We have in the past helped build a 4-story education building and two sanctuaries. Evenings are more relaxed with fellowship time with the locals, taking our host family out to dinner and to ice cream.

(GW): Contrary to the Mexico outreach team in the spring, the cost each member is responsible for is significantly higher. Has the team ever suffered a budget shortage? If so, how was it resolved?

(Chow): I really can’t remember when the team has suffered a budget shortage. One year the team was short $3000; but when this was brought up to the congregation, donations that Sunday were received well above the deficit amount. The team left on their trip with a surplus!!

(GW): In the past 10+ years of working in the Ecuador STM, what has been the most difficult challenge? Is it the preparation and training before the trip? Is it fundraising? Is it the actual work in the field? Is it collaborating with the team members? Or is it the follow-up work you do upon returning? What makes it a challenge or frustration?

(Chow): I can’t say there are really any major challenges. Granted, there is a lot of preparation and training before the trip. We organize all the ministry sessions as best as we can with teaching, crafts, drama, songs, testimonies and sharing. But we have found out that flexibility is the key to all mission trips. What we plan may not actually take place; what we need to do was not planned ahead of time.

Different personalities make all teams unique. Our challenge is to blend and make all the different personalities come together as a team, working in the mission field for the Glory of God. At times, this can be quite a challenge.

(GW): Share with us an unforgettable story or experience you have encountered.

(Chow): There are so many. To see the Ecuadorian locals accept the call of the gospel and step out in faith is an unforgettable experience. We’ve seen kids in public schools and families in outlying communities come forward to experience God’s grace and love.

For Eddie, the unforgettable experience has to be the ongoing story of the changed lives of not only the nationals (the people of Ecuador, as mentioned above) but also the changed lives of our team members. For our team members, these trips have allowed them to see more clearly how God can use their lives as a living sacrifice, mentioned in Romans 12, to be an instrument in the hands of a loving God to all the peoples and nations of the world. For some, a calling into fulltime ministries as pastors, others to pursue careers that can be useful in the mission field as nurses, engineers, doctors, etc., still others who have been changed forever in praying for our missionaries. For all of us who have gone, EST has helped us be more aware of the task of bringing the gospel to a needy world. This requires sacrifice of our lives to follow after Christ in missions. Some are called to follow Christ as fulltime missionaries, but all believers are called to be participants in the global outreach to the Ethne (peoples) of the world

To me, the unforgettable story is yet to be told in the lives of these team members and that is why it is so exciting for us to lead the team.

(GW): In addition to partnering with the team in pledged prayers and financial support, what would you like to see the Cantonese and Mandarin congregation do to further sponsor the Ecuador STM?

(Chow): Be willing to go yourself to experience Ecuador STM. Even though we find ourselves without a medical team this year, there is a great need for one in future years. We’d love to be able to bring an optometrist, as well as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, counselors and therapist.

Be willing and supportive of sending your children to Ecuador STM.

Please uphold the team in prayer: that the team members will learn life-changing experiences from the trip and that in all that we do, God will be glorified.

We are once again reminded of the Lord’s commend on mission, believers’ response to His calling, followers’ commitment to serve, the power of prayer, and God’s provision and protection. CGBC currently supports more than 20 missionaries and organizations in the fields, and each congregation has its own designated mission trips throughout the year. If you are interested or curious about any of these mission works, we’d like to encourage you to take the initiative of contacting the coordinator of the mission department in your congregation. Instead of vicariously experiencing what Jannie and Eddie Chow describe here, perhaps you will be writing to share your own mission experience in the next issue of the Gracious Words!

 走過的路

當我們在享受夏日的各種活動時，華人恩典聖經教會中有一群忠心的福音勇士在七月的時候到溼熱的厄瓜多爾短宣，他們和當地的教會密切配搭進行各樣的服事。這個短宣隊伍所做的，如同美國詩人弗羅斯特在一首詩中所描寫的:
“森林裏有條岔路，
我選擇那條人跡鮮少的路。
從此世界不再一樣。”

他們回來後與我們分享了許多經歷，並見證了福音的果實。但我們很少聽到他們幕後的辛勞準備，以及一些尚未分享的精采故事。因此恩言特別訪談了短宣領隊Eddie & Jannie Chow. 讓他們分享一些幕後的故事。

恩言：Jannie and Eddie,你 們不但是擔任這次厄瓜多爾短宣的領隊，過去幾年也積極地參予這個短宣的事工。能不能分享一下你們動力的來源?
Chow： 我想動力是從神的話語來的 (太28:19, 24:14, 羅10:14-15, 哈2:14)。我認為過去13年來我們帶領這個短宣隊的動力是：了解神對世人的愛。雖然在沙加緬度本地也有福音的需要，不過在教會的歷史中，我們看到神不斷的呼召門徒把祂的名帶到地極。不是所有人都是傳道人，但神對新約教會(包括我們教會)的託付是做祂的見證，直到地極。就人的觀點，這個任務亟為龐大的；但就神的觀點而言，這是神對我們的應許。
在美國我們所享受的物資實在是太豐富了。我們基督徒如何使用這些神賜與我們的資源來榮耀祂呢?世上仍有那麼多的人被撒但綑綁挾制，耶穌基督是他們唯一的希望。不管我們有沒有參予神對世界的計劃，神對世界的旨意是會按著祂的定旨成就的。所以我們要問自己的問題是:神對世人的拯救計畫對我們有多重要?
Jannie和我已經是老基督徒了，但是在參加宣教面面觀的課程後，我們對宣教有更系統和深入的了解。我們鼓勵所有基督徒都應該參加這個課程。

恩言：短宣隊的成員是如何組成的?所有人都可以報名嗎?
Chow: 是的，所有人都可以報名。但18歲以下的需要家長或監護人陪同。

恩言：在厄瓜多爾都做些甚麼?
Chow：我們主要有兩個服事的地點，每一點停留一週。第一週在厄瓜多爾外海的一個島叫 Muisne；第二週在離首府基多開車兩小時的一個地區叫 Juan Montalvo。我們一般早上七點半起來敬拜和晨耕。
在Muisne的事工主要是在不同的學校或社區中分享福音。我們有時也會在教會中與婦女進行一些主題討論或是做一些手工藝品。我們所有時間都與當地的弟兄姐妹合作，到不同的社區中進行暑期聖經班，見證分享，話劇，或是做手工藝品。今年我們期望能夠擴展事工到男性、青年人和夫妻。回到旅館通常都已經11點左右了。
第二週的事工與第一週不太一樣，第二週主要地點有三個: Guachala, Santa Isabel, Sigsel。我們會幫忙建造房屋，另外還有暑期聖經班，婦女、男人、青年和夫妻福音分享和討論。我們到目前已經幫助他們建了一棟四層樓的教育樓和兩個禮拜堂。晚上一般比較輕鬆，我們通常跟當地人一同交流，或帶我們的接待家庭出去吃個飯或是冰淇凌。

恩言：厄瓜多爾短宣與墨西哥短宣不同的是厄瓜多爾短宣的費用比較高。是否曾經有經費不夠的情況嗎? 如果有的話是怎麼解決的呢?
Chow： 我不記得有經費不夠的情況。有一年在籌備時我們發現尚需$3000，不過在我們與會眾宣布後，會眾的奉獻馬上把這個差額補上了，甚至還有盈餘。

恩言：在你過去十多年的經驗，你認為最大的挑戰是甚麼?
Chow： 我不記得有甚麼特別重大的挑戰。當然，行前的準備和訓練是很重要的。不過我發覺 “保持彈性” 是成功短宣的要素。因為我們可能準備了很多，結果到了當地才發現並沒有考慮到當場的狀況。另外如何運用組員的不同個性也是個藝術。

恩言：是否可以和我們分享一個難忘的經驗?
Chow：太多故事和經驗了，我們看到人的生命被改造，甚至組員的生命被建造。也透過這個短宣看到神多麼希望將福音傳出去。

恩言：除了為了短宣隊禱告外，妳們認為國語和粵語堂如何來支持這個短宣事工?
Chow ：最好的方式就是來加入我們的隊伍，我們非常需要醫療人員：眼科專業人員，醫生，牙醫，藥師，輔導人員都很有幫助。鼓勵你的孩子們參加。也請繼續為我們禱告，願我們在這兩週內透過翻轉生命的經驗來榮耀神。

恩言：我們再一次被提醒主對我們的吩咐: 大使命、回應呼召、委身服事、大能禱告以及神的供應和保守。我們教會目前支持20多個宣教士和機構。如果你對於差傳事工有興趣的話，我們鼓勵你參與教會的宣教隊伍，並提筆寫下屬於你的宣教經驗，在《恩言》中與教會弟兄姐妹分享。