2010 《未得之地》
From COCM Council Chairman The chief resource for any mission is its staff or personnel. Of course, a mission needs prayer and financial support and every kind of volunteers to pursue the vision and fulfil its mission statement. But however persuasive these are and clear the accompanying strategy, a missionary body is going nowhere without recruits. A leader needs a good team who follow the lead given. Like a flock that follows a good shepherd they know and trust. This past year some superb work has been done to refocus the vision of the mission and prioritise the mission’s strategies. The accompanying literature is crisp and clear and needs to be close at hand to pass on to those whose interest in the COCM is being stirred. This annual report is being published with the aspiration that it will not only interest those unfamiliar with the mission’s activities but encourage those who have supported the mission over many years. We owe so much to you, our supporters, and take opportunity to thank you and discharge our responsibility to be accountable to you.
ISSUE
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Annual Report
INSIDE Reaching the Chinese to reach Europe ~Rev. Henry Lu Coming and going Editorial Committee Financial report Editorial Committee
That our God has not been unmindful of our prayers we trust will be self evident in all you read here. As the council's chairman, I take much encouragement from the arrival of a good flow of new staff members, all of whom exhibit great gifts and a passion for the challenge before the mission to match them. We need many more and soon, for the day of opportunity stands wide open for effective gospel work, but as the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “there are many who oppose me.” (1 Corinthians 16v9) The battle for the truth of the good news, which is all about the Lord Jesus Christ, is a fierce one in Europe today. Secularists have become confident; the prophets of science bolster atheists; global terrorists are more daring, while the church across Europe sleeps with complacency and lack of urgency. At the same time, the number of Chinese students in Europe’s schools and universities increases, but the duration of their stay has become shorter. After a long time of gestation, Chinese professionals are now bursting on to the higher echelons of all professions, businesses and government. COCM is justly proud of the fruit of years of gospel work to see many of those occupying positions of significant authority and influence are mature Christian men and women. But as Paul knew well, they will not go without opposition, and perhaps more so COCM staff who sow the seeds of gospel truth and call the Chinese to welcome Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. The mission is confident that its work will spill over to blessing to the indigenous peoples of Europe, and is already praying and preparing workers to cross cultures to reach them for the kingdom of God and the reviving of the churches that first sent out the good news to China and the countries of East Asia. There is a desire to repay the debt they owe for the dedication of the army of European missionaries that brought their ancestors freedom from sin and death. A cloud as small as a man’s hand is on the horizon and the rains will surely come, for God is faithful to the prayers of those on other continents for Europe to be returned to its gospel roots. It is not for nothing that the mission still keeps as its mission song, written by a former COCM chairman, Bishop Frank Houghton, “Facing a task unfinished.” As members sing that the task drives them to their knees, we covet your intercessions alongside theirs for the mission’s advance.
Rev.
神恩澤僑胞 福音遍全歐
John Wallis Reaching the Chinese to Reach Europe
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