Site icon 香港基督徒學生福音團契

Monthly Prayer Letter (June 2023)

fes_admin

23rd June 2023

Dear companions of FES,

When June drew near, it might remind Hong Kong people of what happened in the past. Recently, a brother mentioned what I said at the inauguration ceremony of General Secretary in the beginning of the 2019. It feels like a lifetime ago. How do we carry our past experiences with us as we continue to move forward? We are shaped by our past history, but we need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit so that we can continue to grow (Rom. 12:2a). Sloth is considered a great sin in the Church’s tradition, because it leads away from God. Sloth does not mean laziness and inactivity, but in fact the very busy person also falls into the sin of sloth, because it is very easy to be led by desires or circumstances, to keep oneself busy, to respond to different expectations or demands, without ever really facing or embracing the real self in the eyes of the Lord.

 

What is the best way to avoid the danger of falling into sloth and to bring together the scattered energies? In the past, the Lord said to Martha, “You are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary.” (Lk. 10:41-42a, NASB translation). Some philosophers say that the power of concentration is indeed the driving force of our entire psychological mechanism, and that all achievements, no matter what they are, are based on the use of this power. If our concentration is not cultivated, it will be wasted and perhaps spoiled by sloth and confusion. Jesus stated that Mary “has chosen” (Lk. 10:42b), hoping that we will all cultivate and manage our determination so that it will be most fruitful and glorify the Lord in all things.

 

This year’s Integral Mission Summer Program began with a camping trip in the countryside. Through setting up a tent and working together, we started to serve those around us and then prepared to serve different communities. Facing the limitations given by nature and the conflicts between teams, we learned to adjust ourselves to balance the external tensions and our own state. May the Lord grant the students an unforgettable and life-changing learning journey. Besides, the first phase of the DSE discipleship training program has been completed, and the students were impressed by the exchange with the founder of Manna Ministry:

Even when he encountered a hard time in his life, he did not give up. On the contrary, he actively engaged in community services, extending his services to more needy people in the community (such as the homeless), so that the disadvantaged groups are cared for by the community again.

 

Please continue to pray for every student who participates in the discipleship program. Our staff is also actively organizing a camp for secondary school students at the end of July. May the Lord help us to gather suitable youths to participate. For more information, please refer to the vision sharing attached by Ben Hung, Director of Inter-School Department.

 

Although we are trying not to be shaped by the current times, there are moments when we are tired and weak. I recently had a Bible study with the committee members of HKU Christian Association and learned to bear the burdens of others, understanding that the strong carrying the weak is not to despise the weak, but to share one’s abilities and trust with the weak, so that the weak can feel the joy and fruitfulness of what we have created together. While FES has seen a downward trend in monthly donation, we continue to develop our ministry to serve the younger generation. May you “bear the burden” with us by inviting brothers and sisters around you to become FES companions, to pray for us regularly, and to consider becoming our regular donor to support student ministry. Thank you for your dedication.

 

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

 

Your brother,
Barry Cheung
General Secretary

Sharing of Inter-School Department Summer Ministry
Ben Hung (Director of Inter-School Department)

“This year is finally ‘back to normal’, how do you feel about it?” These were the opening words we used when we met with secondary school students in different occasions in the second semester. According to the informal survey on facial expression responses, more than 80% of the expressions are in a state of no feeling. For the students, if they spend one-third of their lives in the midst of great change, “normal” may not have taken shape since they remembered.

Therefore, this year’s DSE (Discipleship Summer Exposures) Summer Discipleship Program is titled “________ Normal”. If “normality” is the foundation of the body and mind, then perhaps the restoration of normality begins with the search for normality. In reshaping the new normal, we aim to use the eight-week DSE discipleship program to walk deeply with the new DSE students. Through Bible studies, life x faith topics, and self-paced study groups, we hope to make faith the cornerstone of reconstructing daily life, and to reconnect with ourselves, our peers, society, and the world through Christ, in preparation for the next mile. The program was officially launched in late May, and we are grateful to have 11 students from seven secondary schools participating this year.

In addition, we will also hold an IS Camp (Summer Discipleship Camp) from July 24 to 26, targeting mainly Christian students from Form 3 to Form 5. This year’s theme will be “The At-Will Door”, where students will explore the distance between themselves and the people around them and the world, and explore the hope and courage of life from the perspective of faith and community.

We sincerely ask for your support and prayers for the summer ministry of our Inter-School Team to accompany the young people on their journey together.

DONATE NOW ONLINE

Donation Methods (Local)

  1. Faster Payment System: (FPS ID: 1915727), transfer to “Fellowship of Evangelical Students (Hong Kong) Ltd.”. Please fill in your donation items and donor number (if any) in the remarks or message column.
  2. Crossed cheque: Please make it payable to “Fellowship of Evangelical Students (H.K.) Ltd.”.
  3. Direct deposit / E-banking: Hang Seng Bank 286-126024-002 / HSBC 108-074980-001

* Please send us the Donation Envelope, enclosing with cheque, bank-in slip or screenshot of successful FPS payment via mail or email (for bank-in-slip and FPS screenshot only).
* Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.

Mailing Address: 11/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building, No. 137-143 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Donation Methods (Oversea)

 

Donors desiring tax-deductible receipts for income tax purposes must give through the following organization to receive the necessary receipts.

 

 

回到首頁

Back to Homepage

Related Images:

Exit mobile version