THE LOVE YOU HAD AT FIRST
Dear NLC family,
How have you been? Today, Deacon Jasmine would like to share with us one of the church’s community care ministry, and how they had continued to spread the seeds of the gospel and share the love of the Lord in a new way during the pandemic.
“When the carefully designed, hand-made Christmas cards by the co-workers were sent, like snowflakes the bursts of warmth filled my heart! These greeting cards were full of deep love of the Lord!
This year’s Christmas was not like previous years. Co-workers could not form a team to visit Whampoa St. Luke’s Senior Care Center for caroling and spreading of the good news to the elderly, let alone making Christmas gifts together hand in hand.
After discussions, it was decided that a total of 78 Christmas cards be made by the co-workers individually, and each to make at least 6 cards. This craft work that needed to be done at home was a challenge for the co-workers since they have been away from school for a long time! We prayed to the Lord and believed that nothing is impossible with Him!
Thanks be to God, whose great love touched the family, children and grandchildren of the co-workers, and everyone worked together to make these unique Christmas cards. I did not expect that God would use this small act to fill these cards with the care and love of the whole families! Not only had this been a blessing to others, but also a blessing to the families who respect, obey, and trust in Him!
The person in charge of the center was so touched that she actively recruited and trained a group of elderly to present an unprecedented mini orchestra show with simple instruments, adding a warm and joyful atmosphere to the zoom Christmas party! This loving interaction and response are indeed reflected and passed on! God is the source of love.
Thank you Lord, the service of this group of community volunteers in the church has now entered its fourth year. Due to the pandemic, we have added several new members to keep the ministry going online. With the love of serving, everyone uses this channel to convey God’s love to the unbelievers, so that they will have the opportunity to hear the gospel, know Lord Jesus in their lifetime, and receive the most beautiful blessings in their lives! It is our life mission to practise and fulfil what we believe in and reflect it in our own lives! Thanks be to God! Praise the Lord!”
Entering the new year, let us reflect before the Lord: Has our love for God and man increased or decreased? During the pandemic, we need to observe various circuit breaker measures, with the purpose of stopping the spread of the virus, but has the pandemic blocked us from building a better relationship with God and people? May the St. Luke’s ministry shared by Deacon Jasmine inspire us to love and serve the Lord. Remember, don’t forget “the love you had at first”.
“But I have this against you, that you had abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”【Revelation 2:4-5, ESV】
Encouraging each other,
Pastor Jocelyne