感恩分享 | 歷年牧師
感恩分享 | 多年會友
Patrick Wong
Good evening, my name is Patrick Wong… and I have about 5 minutes to cover 40 years of my very blessed experience being a part of CEC.
Galatians 6:10 reads: So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
I’m so grateful God led my mother and I to this particular “household of faith”… this Christian family… and through the eyes of a child now grown up (at least physically), I’d like to share with you some memories that I have of each decade at CEC.
80s
It was the 80s, escaping Vietnam, living as a refugee in Hong Kong for 2 years, landing in Chicago… that was all in the past. For my mother and I, it was a new start in a new part of the country, right when Mt. St Helen’s erupted in the Spring of 1980.
I was a clueless 7 year old, I had no sense of identity, all I knew was that my mother had saved us, and now braved a new world and like many others at CEC trying to carve out a living. She had very little time to raise me… so in many ways CEC raised me.
As a child, it wasn’t the Sunday school, it wasn’t the sermons… it was the weekly steadiness, routine, common friends to get into trouble with. There was a saying back then, “if it wasn’t Kenny’s fault, it was Tim’s fault.”
At that time, I had no real father figure, so CEC dads became my father figures, brilliant, hard working high tech, God fearing men that nailed the American family statistics of 1.9 kids, 1.5 dogs, 2.1 cats and a Volvo sedan or a Volkswagen Wesfalia Camper.
I wanted to be just like them…
90s
By the 90s this band of friends became close, experiencing high school together. We went camping together, stayed up late playing card games together, figuring out who was crushing on whom together. But the constant influence of who Jesus is by CEC leaders remained… which led to some of us accepting Jesus as their personal savior before the uncertainties of college came.
The first half of the 90s were college years, throughout college I held onto my faith and attended a Chinese Christian Fellowship organization at Oregon State. Somehow I finished engineering school. There’s a particular electrical engineering professor pictured here that somehow gave me a passing grade. I thank God for Professor Lu and Jenny’s influence in my life during my time in Corvallis.
Sidebar: right at the very last term of college, I found my Proverbs 31. So a quick note to you young people… trust God’s timing on that special someone someday. He knows you better than you know yourself.
Now back in Portland somehow I got a job at Intel. How did a fairly clueless refugee kid raised by an incredible single mother get this far I wondered? Now, Holy Spirit is prompting me, asking me “how will you give back the abundance given to you Patrick?” In response, whatever small ways I could help out, I tried with the English worship team and youth ministry.
2000s
Fast forward into the 2000s… one verse comes to mind:
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. Ecc 7:14
The good times… there were marriages to celebrate, babies that were born, mission trips with our high school kids to be taken. I want to thank Pastor Peter Lim and Pastor Bob Aldstadt for presiding over our wedding. I want to thank Mike and Janet Paolicelli for coming to CEC during a time of uncertainty.
And then the bad times…
Today I see CEC thriving thanks to the perseverance of many CEC members here.
2010s
I’ll go much faster now. By the 2010s my young family made a personal decision to experience what other churches in our community have to offer.
I want to thank John and Margy Slivkoff for being there when my young family was making big decisions on our future. Prayerfully advising and praying with me. I still remember those Wednesday night prayer meetings when it was just the 3 of us.
2020s
Here is my family today. No 4Wongs license plate and Korean food is strictly dine out.
I’m blessed to still be called to youth ministry and lucky enough to witness both of my daughters get baptized in the past 2 years. All that I have is possible through the love of God, the parent and the community of CEC that raised me.
Back to Galatians 6:10, Paul describes all of us who are in Christ as belonging to the "household of faith." In Christ, we are siblings, with God as our Father. Doing good to others in our household is an investment that will pay off for them and for us, both now and for eternity.
And so Thank you CEC, for Training up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
Galatians 6:10 reads: So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
I’m so grateful God led my mother and I to this particular “household of faith”… this Christian family… and through the eyes of a child now grown up (at least physically), I’d like to share with you some memories that I have of each decade at CEC.
80s
It was the 80s, escaping Vietnam, living as a refugee in Hong Kong for 2 years, landing in Chicago… that was all in the past. For my mother and I, it was a new start in a new part of the country, right when Mt. St Helen’s erupted in the Spring of 1980.
I was a clueless 7 year old, I had no sense of identity, all I knew was that my mother had saved us, and now braved a new world and like many others at CEC trying to carve out a living. She had very little time to raise me… so in many ways CEC raised me.
As a child, it wasn’t the Sunday school, it wasn’t the sermons… it was the weekly steadiness, routine, common friends to get into trouble with. There was a saying back then, “if it wasn’t Kenny’s fault, it was Tim’s fault.”
At that time, I had no real father figure, so CEC dads became my father figures, brilliant, hard working high tech, God fearing men that nailed the American family statistics of 1.9 kids, 1.5 dogs, 2.1 cats and a Volvo sedan or a Volkswagen Wesfalia Camper.
I wanted to be just like them…
- I wanted to be like Paul Chen with the 4Chens license plate -> When I grew up, I was going to with a plate that said ‘4Wongs’
- I wanted Philip Chou’s gorgeous Nikon F4 camera and every zoom lens they sold
- I wanted to fix cars like Samuel Chan, he was cool…
- I wanted a wife like Harriet Chen that cooked both Korean and Chinese cuisine that was amazing!
90s
By the 90s this band of friends became close, experiencing high school together. We went camping together, stayed up late playing card games together, figuring out who was crushing on whom together. But the constant influence of who Jesus is by CEC leaders remained… which led to some of us accepting Jesus as their personal savior before the uncertainties of college came.
The first half of the 90s were college years, throughout college I held onto my faith and attended a Chinese Christian Fellowship organization at Oregon State. Somehow I finished engineering school. There’s a particular electrical engineering professor pictured here that somehow gave me a passing grade. I thank God for Professor Lu and Jenny’s influence in my life during my time in Corvallis.
Sidebar: right at the very last term of college, I found my Proverbs 31. So a quick note to you young people… trust God’s timing on that special someone someday. He knows you better than you know yourself.
Now back in Portland somehow I got a job at Intel. How did a fairly clueless refugee kid raised by an incredible single mother get this far I wondered? Now, Holy Spirit is prompting me, asking me “how will you give back the abundance given to you Patrick?” In response, whatever small ways I could help out, I tried with the English worship team and youth ministry.
2000s
Fast forward into the 2000s… one verse comes to mind:
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. Ecc 7:14
The good times… there were marriages to celebrate, babies that were born, mission trips with our high school kids to be taken. I want to thank Pastor Peter Lim and Pastor Bob Aldstadt for presiding over our wedding. I want to thank Mike and Janet Paolicelli for coming to CEC during a time of uncertainty.
And then the bad times…
- When our beloved CEC aunties and uncles who went home to Jesus sooner than we expected.
- When our CEC family had friction in moving to this very building.
- When our CEC family had friction regarding our by-laws.
Today I see CEC thriving thanks to the perseverance of many CEC members here.
2010s
I’ll go much faster now. By the 2010s my young family made a personal decision to experience what other churches in our community have to offer.
I want to thank John and Margy Slivkoff for being there when my young family was making big decisions on our future. Prayerfully advising and praying with me. I still remember those Wednesday night prayer meetings when it was just the 3 of us.
2020s
Here is my family today. No 4Wongs license plate and Korean food is strictly dine out.
I’m blessed to still be called to youth ministry and lucky enough to witness both of my daughters get baptized in the past 2 years. All that I have is possible through the love of God, the parent and the community of CEC that raised me.
Back to Galatians 6:10, Paul describes all of us who are in Christ as belonging to the "household of faith." In Christ, we are siblings, with God as our Father. Doing good to others in our household is an investment that will pay off for them and for us, both now and for eternity.
And so Thank you CEC, for Training up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
楊明印
弟兄姐妹平安，非常感謝教會給我們這樣一個寶貴的機會分享神在我們生命當中的作為，见证神的恩典和信实，特別是我們2006到2012年在CEC教會聚會時得到的裝備和成長. 我和玉焕是2003年1月份信主受洗, 2006年因工作緣故搬到波特蘭，開始尋找中文教會。當時經由解骅弟兄推薦，我們來到了Portland CEC教會。記得初到教會時，聽到的週日講道信息很吸引我們，又看到bulletin上寫著”揹起自己的十字架跟從主”, 就感覺這個教會是以聖經真理為基礎的純正教會。后来又有弟兄姊妹充滿愛心的关怀問候，感覺非常溫暖，就留了下來固定聚會。現在回想起來，這是我們信主以來第一次有一個屬靈的家的歸屬感。在這裡，每個週日我們聽到的聖經信息都感到很扎心，對我們的日常生活和生命成長很有幫助。每個週五和弟兄姊妹家庭的團契使我們也深深感受到，在神的家裡大家用愛心彼此联络，彼此服侍，彼此支持。那時候，玉焕開始在週五的兒童看顾和兒童主日學有一些服侍，而我呢， 基本上沒有做什么事，当时聖經的理解也不是特別深。 那段时间正好是黃牧師在牧會，他邀請我們參加了一个门徒培訓班，教導我們如何专心跟從主，作主的門徒，又如何響應主的呼召傳講福音，為主作見證。在這個門徒培訓課結束的時候，黃牧師和师母邀请我們參與傳福音的服侍。黄牧师以前曾經在波特蘭Portland State University學生當中有过一个福音團契，後來因為離開波特蘭這個團契也停止了。當時他再次回到PORTLAND, 有一個異象就是在 PSU重建一个中文的學生團契，向从中国来的华人學生學者傳講福音，带领他們認識主。 所以在培訓課結束的時候，他帶領我們幾位弟兄姊妹一起到FOCUS, PSU去接觸那些從中國來的學生和學者。的确见到许多中国人， 是一个大工场。那個時候我對傳福音沒有任何經驗，也不知道這是不是神要我們做的事情。所以我和玉換就經過再三考慮，禱告寻求，決定參與這個事工。所以2009年黄牧師成立了這個中文校園團契，和几位同工一起我們開始了每週日晚上的聚會，为他们提供晚餐。可是後來黃牧師他們離開了波特蘭，我和玉換不得不膽戰心驚地承擔起這個事工, 這一做就是10年. 一開始服侍时，感覺到 裝備實在是不夠, 所以我開始花大量时间潛心研讀聖經，真正地在真理上深深地扎根，並且在向學生學者傳福音，讲解圣经的過程當中得到操練和巩固. 從2009到2019這10年的時間，中國的大門敞開，有很多的學生學者到PSU和OHSU來, 每年能有幾百个交換學生, 研究生, 還有訪問學者以及他們的家人。藉著这个中文团契，他們很多人聽到了福音，也有許多人信主得救。從2009年到現在，感謝讚美主，這個團契仍然存在。特別感謝我們CEC教會的弟兄姊妹從一開始到今天一直為這個團契提供飯食支持和各樣的幫助，也常有弟兄姐妹来做主题分享，见证分享等等。感謝弟兄姐妹的同工，感谢讚美主，神的恩典是豐盛夠用. 而對我而言，與其說是服侍這些學生學者，更應該說是被主裝備和服侍。因為我在這段时间的成長非常的大。藉著服侍，我對真理更加的清楚；藉著服侍，我的生命得到造就；藉著服侍，我的品格操練地更加有愛，有恩典，有忍耐。这些年我们经历神豐盛的供應和奇妙的作为。他的信实广大，恩典丰盛。所以，弟兄姐妹，若是教會裡面有什麼需要，請弟兄姊妹也不要推辭，勇敢的起來去做，去服侍，神带给我们的成长和祝福远超过我们所求所想的。
Hello, brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Thank you very much for giving us this precious opportunity to share about God's work in our lives and to witness His grace and faithfulness, especially the equipping and growth we experienced at CEC from 2006 to 2012. My wife and I accepted Christ and were baptized in January 2003. Due to work reasons, we moved to Portland in 2006 and started looking for a Chinese church. Through Brother Xie Hua's recommendation, we came to Portland CEC. The Sunday sermons were captivating, emphasizing taking up one's cross to follow the Lord. The church seemed to be based on biblical truth, and the warm care and greetings from brothers and sisters made us feel welcomed, leading us to stay and become regular attendees. Looking back, it was the first time since we believed in the Lord that we felt a spiritual sense of belonging. Every Sunday, the biblical messages touched our hearts, providing practical guidance for our daily lives and spiritual growth. The Friday fellowships with brothers and sisters' families also made us feel the love and support within God's family. During that time, my wife started serving in the Friday children's ministry and Sunday school, while I didn't actively participate and had a limited understanding of the Bible. Pastor Huang invited us to join a discipleship training class, teaching us how to wholeheartedly follow the Lord, be His disciples, respond to His call, preach the gospel, and be witnesses for Him. At the end of the discipleship class, Pastor Huang and his wife invited us to participate in the evangelism ministry. Pastor Huang had a vision of rebuilding a Chinese student fellowship at PSU for students and scholars from China. We joined him and others to reach out to these students at FOCUS, PSU. In 2009, Pastor Huang established the Chinese Campus Fellowship, and we began weekly gatherings on Sunday evenings, providing dinner for them. After Pastor Huang left, my wife and I took on the responsibility of leading this ministry, which continued for ten years. Initially, I felt ill-equipped, so I spent a considerable amount of time studying the Bible to deepen my understanding of the truth. From 2009 to 2019, many Chinese students, scholars, and their families came to PSU and OHSU. Through this fellowship, many heard the gospel, and several accepted Christ. We are grateful for the support and assistance from CEC brothers and sisters throughout these years. For me, serving these students and scholars was more about being equipped and served by the Lord. I experienced significant personal growth during this time. Through service, my understanding of the truth became clearer, my life was edified, and my character was shaped with love, grace, and patience. God's provision and miraculous works were abundant, and His faithfulness and grace were overwhelming. Therefore, brothers and sisters, if there is any need within the church, please do not hesitate to bravely step forward to serve. God's blessings and our growth through service far exceed what we seek or imagine.
Hello, brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Thank you very much for giving us this precious opportunity to share about God's work in our lives and to witness His grace and faithfulness, especially the equipping and growth we experienced at CEC from 2006 to 2012. My wife and I accepted Christ and were baptized in January 2003. Due to work reasons, we moved to Portland in 2006 and started looking for a Chinese church. Through Brother Xie Hua's recommendation, we came to Portland CEC. The Sunday sermons were captivating, emphasizing taking up one's cross to follow the Lord. The church seemed to be based on biblical truth, and the warm care and greetings from brothers and sisters made us feel welcomed, leading us to stay and become regular attendees. Looking back, it was the first time since we believed in the Lord that we felt a spiritual sense of belonging. Every Sunday, the biblical messages touched our hearts, providing practical guidance for our daily lives and spiritual growth. The Friday fellowships with brothers and sisters' families also made us feel the love and support within God's family. During that time, my wife started serving in the Friday children's ministry and Sunday school, while I didn't actively participate and had a limited understanding of the Bible. Pastor Huang invited us to join a discipleship training class, teaching us how to wholeheartedly follow the Lord, be His disciples, respond to His call, preach the gospel, and be witnesses for Him. At the end of the discipleship class, Pastor Huang and his wife invited us to participate in the evangelism ministry. Pastor Huang had a vision of rebuilding a Chinese student fellowship at PSU for students and scholars from China. We joined him and others to reach out to these students at FOCUS, PSU. In 2009, Pastor Huang established the Chinese Campus Fellowship, and we began weekly gatherings on Sunday evenings, providing dinner for them. After Pastor Huang left, my wife and I took on the responsibility of leading this ministry, which continued for ten years. Initially, I felt ill-equipped, so I spent a considerable amount of time studying the Bible to deepen my understanding of the truth. From 2009 to 2019, many Chinese students, scholars, and their families came to PSU and OHSU. Through this fellowship, many heard the gospel, and several accepted Christ. We are grateful for the support and assistance from CEC brothers and sisters throughout these years. For me, serving these students and scholars was more about being equipped and served by the Lord. I experienced significant personal growth during this time. Through service, my understanding of the truth became clearer, my life was edified, and my character was shaped with love, grace, and patience. God's provision and miraculous works were abundant, and His faithfulness and grace were overwhelming. Therefore, brothers and sisters, if there is any need within the church, please do not hesitate to bravely step forward to serve. God's blessings and our growth through service far exceed what we seek or imagine.
鄭國文
弟兄姊妹們平安！
感謝主，我們CEC在波特蘭地區經歷了五十年的風風雨雨之後，金燈檯依然屹立！也感謝主兩年後我們再次回到了家。我現在簡單介紹一下我自己和我的家庭，我叫鄭國文，下面坐的這位是我太太王一平。我們有兩個女兒，她們是在CEC長大的。兩年前他們都到南加州上大學了，我們也跟著搬到加州了。
今天對CEC是個里程碑，對於我們又何嘗不是呢？ 28年前，我們從中國大陸來美國留學，之前我已經在中國度過了整整二十八年。在美國的這二十八年裡，東西岸各待了十四年。在西岸的十四年中，有波特蘭的十二個春秋。
我在福州土生土長，那是我僅有的比波村待的時間長的地方。曉真弟兄的母親在世時曾在我們中間聚會，記得我曾經努力跟她講福州話，有一回她說我講的已經不是福州話了。我意識到家鄉已經成了異鄉，而他鄉不經意已然成為故鄉。我們的女兒都說她們的家鄉是波特蘭，因為她們在這裡長大。對於我們，波特蘭的故鄉感覺是因為在座的弟兄姊妹們，我們在一起團契，在一起出遊，在一起事奉。用馮鞏的一句話，我想死你們了！
這種思念，是因為你們所表達出來的愛。這種愛，有的是在困難中的幫助，有的是在情緒低落時的傾聽，有的是在服事中的支持和包容，有的是在職場上的協助。感謝主，感謝你們！
這種愛給我們家的感覺，這種愛讓人思念，彌足珍貴。因為，正如使徒約翰曾經多次強調的，這是誠心的愛，love in the truth。換言之，這種愛是基於真理，因而歷久彌新。記得在教會不多的事奉中，不時有弟兄姊妹的回饋。有鼓勵，也有意見，這是誠心愛的例子。我這麼說，因為這樣的意見對我有好處，憑愛心說的誠實話讓人能長進，而不會帶來紛爭。
感謝主，帶著你們的愛，在加州我們又找到了一群和大家一樣有真愛的人，我們很快就能融入新家有你們的功勞。在過去的兩年裡，我們的新家已經接待了你們中間達兩位數的弟兄姊妹了。說是接待，有點往我自己臉上貼金，因為你們中的許多人，反客為主招待了我們。舉個最近的例子，中秋節時，我們加州教會的小組在我們家聚會，我們也邀請了文一、敏瑛去我們家。敏瑛千里迢迢地從波村帶去了美食，一盤鹽水鴨，而這份鹽水鴨是無緣無故參加聚會的小萍姐親手做的。你說，除了有愛心的親人、家人，誰會這麼做呢？感謝主，當CEC的弟兄姊妹們彼此相愛時，世人就認出我們是耶酥基督的門徒了。在這裡，我們也歡迎更多的弟兄姊妹有空去灣區看看我們。
Sharing from brother Zheng, Guowen
Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you all!
Thank the Lord, after fifty years of ups and downs in the Portland area, our church still stands strong! Also, thanks be to God, two years later, we have returned home again. Allow me to briefly introduce myself and my family. My name is Zheng Guowen, and sitting beside me is my wife, Wang Yiping. We have two daughters who grew up in CEC. Two years ago, they both went to college in Southern California, and we moved to California with them.
Today is a milestone for CEC, and for us, it is significant as well. Twenty-eight years ago, we came to the United States from mainland China for study. Before that, I spent a full twenty-eight years in China. In these twenty-eight years in the U.S., I stayed on both the East and West coasts for fourteen years each. In the fourteen years on the West Coast, I experienced twelve years in Portland.
I was born and raised in Fuzhou, which is the only place I've spent more time than in Portland. Brother Xiaozhen's mother used to gather with us when she was alive. I remember trying to speak Fuzhou dialect with her, and she once said that what I spoke was no longer Fuzhou dialect. I realized that my hometown had become a foreign land, and the unfamiliar place had unintentionally become a home. Our daughters say that their hometown is Portland because they grew up here. For us, the sense of home in Portland comes from the fellowship, the outings, and the service we share with you, our brothers and sisters. In the words of Feng Gong, I miss you all!
This longing is due to the love you express. This love manifests in help during difficult times, listening during emotional lows, support and tolerance in service, and assistance in the workplace. Thank the Lord, thank you all! This kind of love gives our family a special feeling, a feeling of longing, and it is precious. As the Apostle John emphasized many times, it is sincere love, love in the truth. In other words, this love is based on truth and thus endures. I remember during choir practice, brothers next to me would remind me to sing softly if I wasn't doing well. This is an example of sincere love. I say this because such love is beneficial to me; honest words spoken with love lead to growth without causing conflict.
Thank the Lord, with your love, we have found a group of people in California who are just as loving as you all. We were quickly able to integrate into our new home with your help. In the past two years, our new home has hosted double-digit numbers of brothers and sisters among you. To say we hosted is a bit of self-flattery because many of you took the initiative to host us. A recent example is during the Mid-Autumn Festival when my small group from our California church gathered at our home, and we invited Brother Wen Yi and Sister Minying to join us. Minying traveled from Portland to bring us delicious food, a plate of saltwater duck, and this saltwater duck was made by Sister Xiaoping, who couldn't attend the gathering. Who else would do such a thing except for loving relatives and family? Thank the Lord, when brothers and sisters of CEC love each other, the world recognizes us as disciples of Jesus Christ. Here, we also welcome more brothers and sisters to visit us in the Bay Area when you have time.
Thank you, brothers and sisters!"
感謝主，我們CEC在波特蘭地區經歷了五十年的風風雨雨之後，金燈檯依然屹立！也感謝主兩年後我們再次回到了家。我現在簡單介紹一下我自己和我的家庭，我叫鄭國文，下面坐的這位是我太太王一平。我們有兩個女兒，她們是在CEC長大的。兩年前他們都到南加州上大學了，我們也跟著搬到加州了。
今天對CEC是個里程碑，對於我們又何嘗不是呢？ 28年前，我們從中國大陸來美國留學，之前我已經在中國度過了整整二十八年。在美國的這二十八年裡，東西岸各待了十四年。在西岸的十四年中，有波特蘭的十二個春秋。
我在福州土生土長，那是我僅有的比波村待的時間長的地方。曉真弟兄的母親在世時曾在我們中間聚會，記得我曾經努力跟她講福州話，有一回她說我講的已經不是福州話了。我意識到家鄉已經成了異鄉，而他鄉不經意已然成為故鄉。我們的女兒都說她們的家鄉是波特蘭，因為她們在這裡長大。對於我們，波特蘭的故鄉感覺是因為在座的弟兄姊妹們，我們在一起團契，在一起出遊，在一起事奉。用馮鞏的一句話，我想死你們了！
這種思念，是因為你們所表達出來的愛。這種愛，有的是在困難中的幫助，有的是在情緒低落時的傾聽，有的是在服事中的支持和包容，有的是在職場上的協助。感謝主，感謝你們！
這種愛給我們家的感覺，這種愛讓人思念，彌足珍貴。因為，正如使徒約翰曾經多次強調的，這是誠心的愛，love in the truth。換言之，這種愛是基於真理，因而歷久彌新。記得在教會不多的事奉中，不時有弟兄姊妹的回饋。有鼓勵，也有意見，這是誠心愛的例子。我這麼說，因為這樣的意見對我有好處，憑愛心說的誠實話讓人能長進，而不會帶來紛爭。
感謝主，帶著你們的愛，在加州我們又找到了一群和大家一樣有真愛的人，我們很快就能融入新家有你們的功勞。在過去的兩年裡，我們的新家已經接待了你們中間達兩位數的弟兄姊妹了。說是接待，有點往我自己臉上貼金，因為你們中的許多人，反客為主招待了我們。舉個最近的例子，中秋節時，我們加州教會的小組在我們家聚會，我們也邀請了文一、敏瑛去我們家。敏瑛千里迢迢地從波村帶去了美食，一盤鹽水鴨，而這份鹽水鴨是無緣無故參加聚會的小萍姐親手做的。你說，除了有愛心的親人、家人，誰會這麼做呢？感謝主，當CEC的弟兄姊妹們彼此相愛時，世人就認出我們是耶酥基督的門徒了。在這裡，我們也歡迎更多的弟兄姊妹有空去灣區看看我們。
Sharing from brother Zheng, Guowen
Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you all!
Thank the Lord, after fifty years of ups and downs in the Portland area, our church still stands strong! Also, thanks be to God, two years later, we have returned home again. Allow me to briefly introduce myself and my family. My name is Zheng Guowen, and sitting beside me is my wife, Wang Yiping. We have two daughters who grew up in CEC. Two years ago, they both went to college in Southern California, and we moved to California with them.
Today is a milestone for CEC, and for us, it is significant as well. Twenty-eight years ago, we came to the United States from mainland China for study. Before that, I spent a full twenty-eight years in China. In these twenty-eight years in the U.S., I stayed on both the East and West coasts for fourteen years each. In the fourteen years on the West Coast, I experienced twelve years in Portland.
I was born and raised in Fuzhou, which is the only place I've spent more time than in Portland. Brother Xiaozhen's mother used to gather with us when she was alive. I remember trying to speak Fuzhou dialect with her, and she once said that what I spoke was no longer Fuzhou dialect. I realized that my hometown had become a foreign land, and the unfamiliar place had unintentionally become a home. Our daughters say that their hometown is Portland because they grew up here. For us, the sense of home in Portland comes from the fellowship, the outings, and the service we share with you, our brothers and sisters. In the words of Feng Gong, I miss you all!
This longing is due to the love you express. This love manifests in help during difficult times, listening during emotional lows, support and tolerance in service, and assistance in the workplace. Thank the Lord, thank you all! This kind of love gives our family a special feeling, a feeling of longing, and it is precious. As the Apostle John emphasized many times, it is sincere love, love in the truth. In other words, this love is based on truth and thus endures. I remember during choir practice, brothers next to me would remind me to sing softly if I wasn't doing well. This is an example of sincere love. I say this because such love is beneficial to me; honest words spoken with love lead to growth without causing conflict.
Thank the Lord, with your love, we have found a group of people in California who are just as loving as you all. We were quickly able to integrate into our new home with your help. In the past two years, our new home has hosted double-digit numbers of brothers and sisters among you. To say we hosted is a bit of self-flattery because many of you took the initiative to host us. A recent example is during the Mid-Autumn Festival when my small group from our California church gathered at our home, and we invited Brother Wen Yi and Sister Minying to join us. Minying traveled from Portland to bring us delicious food, a plate of saltwater duck, and this saltwater duck was made by Sister Xiaoping, who couldn't attend the gathering. Who else would do such a thing except for loving relatives and family? Thank the Lord, when brothers and sisters of CEC love each other, the world recognizes us as disciples of Jesus Christ. Here, we also welcome more brothers and sisters to visit us in the Bay Area when you have time.
Thank you, brothers and sisters!"
他們的故事 by 佚名
十歲信主的安娜
民國34 (1945) 年二戰後，不到六歲、嬌小可愛的安娜姊跟著已成年的表哥在福建登船，隨著第一批由國民政府派來接收台灣的公務員及家屬擠在船上，到台灣投靠父親。當年陳爸爸是少數能教英文的菁英分子，早在日本投降前兩年就到了台灣，在島最南端的屏東落腳，在屏東中學教英文。安娜姊輾轉回到父親身邊，跟著繼母、小弟、和兩個妹妹一起生活，篤信基督的父親帶著一家，平日教學上課，週日到屏東浸信會聚會，生活倒也過得平靜安適。安娜姊與鄰居陸軍少將杜宗光將軍的女兒杜蓉生是好朋友，兩個小女孩常結伴同行，杜將軍一家也是基督徒，杜夫人周老師是安娜姊小學的班導、也是主日學老師，在父親與好友兩家人的耳濡目染下，教會自然地成為安娜姊生活的一部分，像吃飯喝水一樣是生活不可或缺的一部分。安娜姊學習了許多詩歌和神的話語，學會了用禱告來跟神說話。十歲那年，安娜姊和好友蓉生一同受洗，這輩子的風風雨雨就在天父的溫柔帶領下浪起波平地一步步走過。
受洗後沒多久，父親轉任高雄女中的英文教師，一家人便搬到高雄，先在浸信會聚會，後來又到火車站旁聖光聖經書院附設的中華循理會果貿教會聚會(聖光聖經書院是戴德生之孫戴永冕於1955年9月成立，1969年改名為聖光神學院)。小學畢業後，安娜姊進入高雄護士訓練班受訓，結業後不滿16歲便進入陸軍第二總醫院任職，就在那時，因緣際會認識了王大哥。
追妻而認識神的安泰
王安泰王大哥，湖北孝感人，民國38(1949)年不滿12歲的他隨著家人乘船由山東、福建、輾轉來到台灣，在高雄中學初中部唸一年級。家中五個男孩他排行老二，默默地負起許多照顧家人的責任，生活給予挑戰，他以傲骨相抗，調皮又不服輸的性格，讓他吃過不少苦頭，好在天父給了他一副硬朗的身子骨，戰爭、病痛、摔飛機、離鄉背井在異(美)國嚐盡人情冷暖...，這些他都挺過來了，現在更是守著中風的愛妻，陪著她復健，陪著她一步步重新學走路，照顧她一天的餐飲作息盥洗沐浴，陪她按時回診檢查...。這段風風雨雨攜手共度的人生，是從一場舞會開始的...
飛上藍天，是許多少年心中的嚮往。民國44(1955)年，為了一圓翱翔天際的飛行夢，正值青春少年的王大哥，堅持報考空軍官校，他想盡辦法通過學科考試、體檢、背景調查...，終於在競爭激烈的試場脫穎而出，考上空官38期(來臺建校第6期)。他揮別家人，苦中作樂，與同袍彼此照應也互相捉弄。就學期間王大哥有次外出，在火車上不小心弄髒了鄰座乘客的裙子，為了賠罪，便邀請對方參加當時極受歡迎的空官舞會，那位乘客是安娜姊的室友，便硬拉著膽小安靜不愛出門的安娜姊去參加舞會。舞會上，安娜姊靜靜地站在一旁，機靈聰明又調皮好動的王大哥朝她走來，居然說服了她一起跳了她生平的第一支舞，從此，她與他相扶相持地跳過數場舞會，一路舞進了婚禮殿堂，1959年他們成為空官38期第一對結婚的佳偶。
從第一支舞開始到結婚，每個週日的約會都得從神開始：安娜姊堅持要先上教會聚會。王大哥先是不情不願地陪她到教會門口等著聚會結束，然後進了大堂門內等著，然後在後排坐下等著，然後坐在安娜姊的身邊等，安娜姊總是坐在前段、好專心聽見神的話語。就這麼聽著聽著，王大哥聽進去了一些神的話語；不過，從小就不信神的他，心還是浮浮的，其它要做的事多著呢!
婚後，安娜姊搬到左營軍基地旁的和平新村和王大哥家人同住，王大哥住在部隊裡，每兩三天回家一次。對19歲不到、柔弱安靜的安娜姊而言，婚後的日子是需要一段時間適應的，還好，靠著神，她慢慢習慣了。週日他們繼續上教會，王大哥開始找藉口、有一搭沒一搭地上教會，就在那段時間，他們在聖光書院結識了當時正在書院讀書的李龍之弟兄，他剛從海軍官校教官一職退休，專心修習成為傳道人，並在果貿循理會講道。當時，在附近貴格會的劉大衛弟兄也常來果貿循理會講道。1973年，這三組人馬很巧地在波特蘭相遇。
不飛飛機，飛美國
在空官服役期間，王大哥曾在一次陸戰演習中因直升機機械故障在低空熄火而摔飛機，受了重傷，完全康復後，他又屢屢自願擔負別人避之不及的跳傘任務，只為了多賺點錢養家，這些都讓安娜姊擔心不已。後來他退役轉職民航機構，仍時常飛行直升機與空運機，為政府運輸或為農民灑農藥。1972年他的飛機在屏東大橋上空出事，飛機直墜橋下，飛機全毀，他的脊椎重傷，活著，是個奇蹟，但他活下來了，但脊椎受損、不能再飛。1972年，他由藍天中退下，空中再不見他偶而調皮低空掠過的機身。那年底，他到美國探望母親，在舊金山大哥家待了一個月後便搬到波特蘭，在安娜姊過去的同事林小姐和夫婿上官先生家暫住。1973年，安娜姊和已出生的兩個女兒搬來同住。那年，在82街的商場上，他們開心地巧遇李龍之牧師，李牧師又帶他們去見劉大衛牧師。原來，劉大衛牧師於1966年神學碩士畢業後便到波特蘭西北貴格會(West Hill Friends Church)牧會，直到1988年底才回聖光神學院任教。李龍之牧師則是於1968年赴美進修神學博士，之後便在波特蘭的華人循理會和當時的國語查經班植堂牧會二十幾年，直到1989年也重回聖光神學院任教。劉牧師在1973年一見王大哥一家，便把自己的一輛 Plymouth 舊車送給王大哥。
李牧師吃醋地說：我來這麼久，你沒把車送給我，他一來，你就馬上送給他了!
劉牧師回說：這你也吃醋?沒看到他的車後座都見底了，靠塊板子把洞遮著，免得孩子掉下去。他需要一輛車工作養家。
靠著這輛車，王大哥在四處打工、後來又考入郵局工作。
從國語查經班到波特蘭華人福音教會與教會一同成長
1969年冬天，波特蘭幾個講國語的家庭借用華人浸信會(Chinese Baptist Church)開始了國語查經班，當時波特蘭只有講廣東話的華人教會；1973年李龍之牧師成立了「國語教會」並向市政府註冊登記為 Chinese Evangelical Church (CEC)，借用美國循理會教堂 (Lincoln Street United Methodist Church) 於主日下午聚會崇拜，那時，王大哥和安娜姊也和上官一家一起加入國語教會。1977年 CEC 買下第一間屬於自己的堂；1985年買下 Butner Rd 的新堂；1991年，溫哥華小組註冊為溫哥華華人福音教會；1993年本堂由「國語教會」正名為「波特蘭華人福音教會」；2002年搬入今天在 Hillsboro 的會址。物換星移，當年國語教會的幾個家庭，只有王大哥一家還在波特蘭，見證著教會的成長。
從認識安娜姊開始，數十年來王大哥的心中沒少掙扎的：他不想去教會，就找100個藉口不去。
李龍之牧師回台灣前指著王大哥對金培基牧師說：這個人九條牛都拉不回來!
金牧師說：看我的!
只是到金牧師離開時，王大哥仍是皮皮地沒準備要受洗。
雖然總在找藉口推託，但不陪著安娜姊他又心中不安，所以時不時又心不甘情不願地陪著去教會，就這樣他也多多少少聽進了一些神的話，而這些話就成了他後來生活遇到挑戰、心中不安時的安慰與藥方。有段時間，他常常做惡夢，夢到自己在墳墓裡穿梭來往，夢到惡魔追著他跑，他害怕，便在睡前禱告，求神賜平安的話語和休息，然後他隨手翻開聖經，看到哪段經文就讀哪段，然後抱著聖經睡覺，直到有一天，讀到馬太福音12:20:
壓傷的蘆葦，他不折斷，將殘的燈火，他不吹滅；直到他施行公理，使公理得勝。
那晚，他開始有了一夜好眠。
禱告增強了他的信心，但自19歲開始、行之多年的抽菸習慣，他連睡前都還得抽支菸，不僅使他必須和肺不好的安娜姊分房睡，他的肺也都黑了。這時，他開始思考受洗的事，他認為：既然身體是神的殿，他就不能讓神住在烏煙瘴氣的黑房子裡，甚麼時候他戒菸成功了，那時他就可以受洗、請神入住心中了。結婚36週年那年他問安娜姊想要甚麼禮物，她說：你戒菸吧! 第二天早上半夢半醒間，如往常一般伸手去拿菸時，一個溫柔的聲音說：不要抽了! 一會兒刷完牙，他菸癮又犯癮了，那聲音說：再等等，吃了飯再抽! 飯後，那聲音又說：等會兒車上再抽吧! 再一會兒，又說：下班了再抽! 然後說：再等等! … … 這樣過了三天，他知道他成功了，他開心地告訴安娜姊這個好消息。一週後，在他們的結婚紀念日，安娜姊烤了一隻雞慶祝他們結婚36週年、也慶祝他結束38年的癮君子生涯。接下來的那一年，他把一盒還未打開的香煙和打火機一起放在後車廂裡，測試看看自己會不會哪一天忍不住就破戒了，結果，整整一年他都沒碰它們，他肯定自己成功了，便向當時的 Peter Lin
牧師說自己可以受洗了。那一年，1995，從認識到現在，安娜姊為他禱告了39年。又過了五、六年，在體檢時，他發現原本已是黑色的肺居然變成紅色了。
信仰之於她和他
小小的個子、小小的膽，生活中安娜姊的難處並不少，但她有大大的信心、相信神必定會領她度過，而她最大的武器就是禱告。她說，在王大哥第一次摔飛機時，副大隊長劉中校駕車來護理站找她，要求她儘快和他去海軍醫院，當時護理站的同事們紛紛詢問她發生了甚麼事、為她擔心害怕。
她卻鎮定地說: 等我去了就知道了。
路上，她平靜地問劉中校：安泰怎樣了?
劉中校說：他受了很重的傷，但是還可以說話。
安娜姊的心頓時落了地，她不是不擔心，只是在看到劉中校的那刻起，神就以出人意外的平安來回應她的不住禱告。神，一次次地為她移山開路，她，也不斷用禱告來回應神。雖然，近來許多事她已經想不起來了，她仍能流暢地背出詩篇23篇－她最愛的經文，那天，她背給我聽，而他，在一旁微笑著靜靜地守著她、愛她，正如基督愛教會，為教會捨己 (以弗所書5:25)。
民國34 (1945) 年二戰後，不到六歲、嬌小可愛的安娜姊跟著已成年的表哥在福建登船，隨著第一批由國民政府派來接收台灣的公務員及家屬擠在船上，到台灣投靠父親。當年陳爸爸是少數能教英文的菁英分子，早在日本投降前兩年就到了台灣，在島最南端的屏東落腳，在屏東中學教英文。安娜姊輾轉回到父親身邊，跟著繼母、小弟、和兩個妹妹一起生活，篤信基督的父親帶著一家，平日教學上課，週日到屏東浸信會聚會，生活倒也過得平靜安適。安娜姊與鄰居陸軍少將杜宗光將軍的女兒杜蓉生是好朋友，兩個小女孩常結伴同行，杜將軍一家也是基督徒，杜夫人周老師是安娜姊小學的班導、也是主日學老師，在父親與好友兩家人的耳濡目染下，教會自然地成為安娜姊生活的一部分，像吃飯喝水一樣是生活不可或缺的一部分。安娜姊學習了許多詩歌和神的話語，學會了用禱告來跟神說話。十歲那年，安娜姊和好友蓉生一同受洗，這輩子的風風雨雨就在天父的溫柔帶領下浪起波平地一步步走過。
受洗後沒多久，父親轉任高雄女中的英文教師，一家人便搬到高雄，先在浸信會聚會，後來又到火車站旁聖光聖經書院附設的中華循理會果貿教會聚會(聖光聖經書院是戴德生之孫戴永冕於1955年9月成立，1969年改名為聖光神學院)。小學畢業後，安娜姊進入高雄護士訓練班受訓，結業後不滿16歲便進入陸軍第二總醫院任職，就在那時，因緣際會認識了王大哥。
追妻而認識神的安泰
王安泰王大哥，湖北孝感人，民國38(1949)年不滿12歲的他隨著家人乘船由山東、福建、輾轉來到台灣，在高雄中學初中部唸一年級。家中五個男孩他排行老二，默默地負起許多照顧家人的責任，生活給予挑戰，他以傲骨相抗，調皮又不服輸的性格，讓他吃過不少苦頭，好在天父給了他一副硬朗的身子骨，戰爭、病痛、摔飛機、離鄉背井在異(美)國嚐盡人情冷暖...，這些他都挺過來了，現在更是守著中風的愛妻，陪著她復健，陪著她一步步重新學走路，照顧她一天的餐飲作息盥洗沐浴，陪她按時回診檢查...。這段風風雨雨攜手共度的人生，是從一場舞會開始的...
飛上藍天，是許多少年心中的嚮往。民國44(1955)年，為了一圓翱翔天際的飛行夢，正值青春少年的王大哥，堅持報考空軍官校，他想盡辦法通過學科考試、體檢、背景調查...，終於在競爭激烈的試場脫穎而出，考上空官38期(來臺建校第6期)。他揮別家人，苦中作樂，與同袍彼此照應也互相捉弄。就學期間王大哥有次外出，在火車上不小心弄髒了鄰座乘客的裙子，為了賠罪，便邀請對方參加當時極受歡迎的空官舞會，那位乘客是安娜姊的室友，便硬拉著膽小安靜不愛出門的安娜姊去參加舞會。舞會上，安娜姊靜靜地站在一旁，機靈聰明又調皮好動的王大哥朝她走來，居然說服了她一起跳了她生平的第一支舞，從此，她與他相扶相持地跳過數場舞會，一路舞進了婚禮殿堂，1959年他們成為空官38期第一對結婚的佳偶。
從第一支舞開始到結婚，每個週日的約會都得從神開始：安娜姊堅持要先上教會聚會。王大哥先是不情不願地陪她到教會門口等著聚會結束，然後進了大堂門內等著，然後在後排坐下等著，然後坐在安娜姊的身邊等，安娜姊總是坐在前段、好專心聽見神的話語。就這麼聽著聽著，王大哥聽進去了一些神的話語；不過，從小就不信神的他，心還是浮浮的，其它要做的事多著呢!
婚後，安娜姊搬到左營軍基地旁的和平新村和王大哥家人同住，王大哥住在部隊裡，每兩三天回家一次。對19歲不到、柔弱安靜的安娜姊而言，婚後的日子是需要一段時間適應的，還好，靠著神，她慢慢習慣了。週日他們繼續上教會，王大哥開始找藉口、有一搭沒一搭地上教會，就在那段時間，他們在聖光書院結識了當時正在書院讀書的李龍之弟兄，他剛從海軍官校教官一職退休，專心修習成為傳道人，並在果貿循理會講道。當時，在附近貴格會的劉大衛弟兄也常來果貿循理會講道。1973年，這三組人馬很巧地在波特蘭相遇。
不飛飛機，飛美國
在空官服役期間，王大哥曾在一次陸戰演習中因直升機機械故障在低空熄火而摔飛機，受了重傷，完全康復後，他又屢屢自願擔負別人避之不及的跳傘任務，只為了多賺點錢養家，這些都讓安娜姊擔心不已。後來他退役轉職民航機構，仍時常飛行直升機與空運機，為政府運輸或為農民灑農藥。1972年他的飛機在屏東大橋上空出事，飛機直墜橋下，飛機全毀，他的脊椎重傷，活著，是個奇蹟，但他活下來了，但脊椎受損、不能再飛。1972年，他由藍天中退下，空中再不見他偶而調皮低空掠過的機身。那年底，他到美國探望母親，在舊金山大哥家待了一個月後便搬到波特蘭，在安娜姊過去的同事林小姐和夫婿上官先生家暫住。1973年，安娜姊和已出生的兩個女兒搬來同住。那年，在82街的商場上，他們開心地巧遇李龍之牧師，李牧師又帶他們去見劉大衛牧師。原來，劉大衛牧師於1966年神學碩士畢業後便到波特蘭西北貴格會(West Hill Friends Church)牧會，直到1988年底才回聖光神學院任教。李龍之牧師則是於1968年赴美進修神學博士，之後便在波特蘭的華人循理會和當時的國語查經班植堂牧會二十幾年，直到1989年也重回聖光神學院任教。劉牧師在1973年一見王大哥一家，便把自己的一輛 Plymouth 舊車送給王大哥。
李牧師吃醋地說：我來這麼久，你沒把車送給我，他一來，你就馬上送給他了!
劉牧師回說：這你也吃醋?沒看到他的車後座都見底了，靠塊板子把洞遮著，免得孩子掉下去。他需要一輛車工作養家。
靠著這輛車，王大哥在四處打工、後來又考入郵局工作。
從國語查經班到波特蘭華人福音教會與教會一同成長
1969年冬天，波特蘭幾個講國語的家庭借用華人浸信會(Chinese Baptist Church)開始了國語查經班，當時波特蘭只有講廣東話的華人教會；1973年李龍之牧師成立了「國語教會」並向市政府註冊登記為 Chinese Evangelical Church (CEC)，借用美國循理會教堂 (Lincoln Street United Methodist Church) 於主日下午聚會崇拜，那時，王大哥和安娜姊也和上官一家一起加入國語教會。1977年 CEC 買下第一間屬於自己的堂；1985年買下 Butner Rd 的新堂；1991年，溫哥華小組註冊為溫哥華華人福音教會；1993年本堂由「國語教會」正名為「波特蘭華人福音教會」；2002年搬入今天在 Hillsboro 的會址。物換星移，當年國語教會的幾個家庭，只有王大哥一家還在波特蘭，見證著教會的成長。
從認識安娜姊開始，數十年來王大哥的心中沒少掙扎的：他不想去教會，就找100個藉口不去。
李龍之牧師回台灣前指著王大哥對金培基牧師說：這個人九條牛都拉不回來!
金牧師說：看我的!
只是到金牧師離開時，王大哥仍是皮皮地沒準備要受洗。
雖然總在找藉口推託，但不陪著安娜姊他又心中不安，所以時不時又心不甘情不願地陪著去教會，就這樣他也多多少少聽進了一些神的話，而這些話就成了他後來生活遇到挑戰、心中不安時的安慰與藥方。有段時間，他常常做惡夢，夢到自己在墳墓裡穿梭來往，夢到惡魔追著他跑，他害怕，便在睡前禱告，求神賜平安的話語和休息，然後他隨手翻開聖經，看到哪段經文就讀哪段，然後抱著聖經睡覺，直到有一天，讀到馬太福音12:20:
壓傷的蘆葦，他不折斷，將殘的燈火，他不吹滅；直到他施行公理，使公理得勝。
那晚，他開始有了一夜好眠。
禱告增強了他的信心，但自19歲開始、行之多年的抽菸習慣，他連睡前都還得抽支菸，不僅使他必須和肺不好的安娜姊分房睡，他的肺也都黑了。這時，他開始思考受洗的事，他認為：既然身體是神的殿，他就不能讓神住在烏煙瘴氣的黑房子裡，甚麼時候他戒菸成功了，那時他就可以受洗、請神入住心中了。結婚36週年那年他問安娜姊想要甚麼禮物，她說：你戒菸吧! 第二天早上半夢半醒間，如往常一般伸手去拿菸時，一個溫柔的聲音說：不要抽了! 一會兒刷完牙，他菸癮又犯癮了，那聲音說：再等等，吃了飯再抽! 飯後，那聲音又說：等會兒車上再抽吧! 再一會兒，又說：下班了再抽! 然後說：再等等! … … 這樣過了三天，他知道他成功了，他開心地告訴安娜姊這個好消息。一週後，在他們的結婚紀念日，安娜姊烤了一隻雞慶祝他們結婚36週年、也慶祝他結束38年的癮君子生涯。接下來的那一年，他把一盒還未打開的香煙和打火機一起放在後車廂裡，測試看看自己會不會哪一天忍不住就破戒了，結果，整整一年他都沒碰它們，他肯定自己成功了，便向當時的 Peter Lin
牧師說自己可以受洗了。那一年，1995，從認識到現在，安娜姊為他禱告了39年。又過了五、六年，在體檢時，他發現原本已是黑色的肺居然變成紅色了。
信仰之於她和他
小小的個子、小小的膽，生活中安娜姊的難處並不少，但她有大大的信心、相信神必定會領她度過，而她最大的武器就是禱告。她說，在王大哥第一次摔飛機時，副大隊長劉中校駕車來護理站找她，要求她儘快和他去海軍醫院，當時護理站的同事們紛紛詢問她發生了甚麼事、為她擔心害怕。
她卻鎮定地說: 等我去了就知道了。
路上，她平靜地問劉中校：安泰怎樣了?
劉中校說：他受了很重的傷，但是還可以說話。
安娜姊的心頓時落了地，她不是不擔心，只是在看到劉中校的那刻起，神就以出人意外的平安來回應她的不住禱告。神，一次次地為她移山開路，她，也不斷用禱告來回應神。雖然，近來許多事她已經想不起來了，她仍能流暢地背出詩篇23篇－她最愛的經文，那天，她背給我聽，而他，在一旁微笑著靜靜地守著她、愛她，正如基督愛教會，為教會捨己 (以弗所書5:25)。
呂士濂 (Linus)
My name is Shih-Lien (Linus) Lu. I joined CEC in 1999 after moving to the area from Corvallis OR. Prior to 1999, I have taken a sabbatical year from Oregon State University and spent 1997-1998 in the Portland area. While our family was here during that time, we are part of the CEC family as well. In total we have been part of the CEC family for 25 years. My wife, Jenny, and I raised four boys in this church. Our second son, Caleb Lu, have served as the Youth Director in CEC previously. I have served God in various ministries within this church. My last service and the most enjoyable and rewarding ministry was as a children Sunday school teacher.
Tonight, I want to share with you two main lessons I have learned in my 25 years in CEC. These two lessons are based on two most used metaphors for church are:
On the metaphor of “bride”
During my years of service to God, there were moments of concern for the church. In 2002, we transitioned to this new building, and due to various reasons, some members of the deacon board, including the chair at the time, left the church. We found ourselves without any pastoral staff, without a deaconate chair, and without half the deacons. Moreover, our church was grappling with a looming mortgage debt exceeding one million dollars. At that time God called me to serve as the deaconate chair. I must admit I did not accept that call willingly. Not only that I complained to God for putting me in that situation. There were sleepless nights and I worried that CEC would dissolve while I was the deacon chair. However, my worries were without ground, and I over-emphasized my role in thinking that I am responsible for His body. God loves His church as the bridegroom of bride. He took care of CEC for His name’s sake and His Providence was obvious then and now. He raised up His servants and protected CEC from enemy’s hands. I am thankful for what our Lord Christ has done for CEC, His church, in the past years. Of course, as a bride, we are to submit to Him. Being called as servants to lead in any manner should submit to Christ as the Lord as written in Col. 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” This means, I and each of us who serves, we need to seek His leadership constantly.
(Lesson #2) There are many members in the body, and we are to seek the good of others so the body will grow well.
On the metaphor of “body”
There are two parallel sayings in 1 Corinthians. First is in 6:12 ‘”All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.’ The second is in 10:23 ‘“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.’ This second verse follows with v24 ‘Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.’ CEC, like most of the ethnic churches (or more specific Chinese churches) in North America, comprise members from different backgrounds. We came from different part of the world. Our up-bringing is very distinct. Each one of accepted Christ as Lord under different circumstances. God has created us uniquely. Different part of His infinite characters and attributes has made impression on each of mind differently. To speak plainly we have different “theology”, and we have different “personality”. It is not easy to serve and live with someone who is very different from you. In the years I am with CEC, God has shown mercy to me. I may have offended people in these years. I want to ask for forgiveness if I have done so toward you. The key learning is that I need to consider and seek others, more than neighbors but my brothers and sisters, good. This is a lesson I continue to learn.
I thank God for these two important lessons I have learned and continue to learn.
我的名字是呂士濂（Linus）。我在1999年從奧勒岡州科瓦利斯搬到這個地區後加入了CEC。在1999年之前，我曾從俄勒岡州立大學休假一年，並在1997-1998年在波特蘭地區度過。在我們家在那段時間裡在這裡，我們也是CEC大家庭的一部分。總體而言，我們已經是CEC大家庭的一員有25年了。我的妻子Jenny和我在這個教會撫養了四個兒子。我們的第二個兒子Caleb Lu曾在CEC擔任青年主任。我在這個教會的各種事工中事奉上帝。我最後的事奉，也是最愉快和最有意義的事工，是擔任兒童主日學的老師。
今晚，我想與大家分享我在CEC度過的25年中學到的兩個主要教訓。這兩個教訓基於對教會的兩個最常用的比喻：
關於“新娘”的比喻
在我為上帝服務的這些年裡，我曾對教會感到擔憂。在2002年，我們搬遷到這座新教堂，由於各種原因，包括那個時候的執事會主席在內，一些執事會的成員離開了教會。我們發現自己沒有了牧師，沒有了執事會主席，甚至沒有了一半的執事。此外，我們的教會還面臨著一百多萬美元的抵押負擔。那時，上帝呼召我擔任執事會主席的職務。我必須承認我並不情願。不僅如此，我還向上帝抱怨讓我陷入這種境地。有過不眠之夜，我擔心CEC在我擔任執事主席期間會解散。然而，我的擔憂是沒有根據的，我過分強調了自己的角色，認為我對祂的身體負有責任。上帝像新郎對待新娘一樣熱愛祂的教會。祂為了祂的名的緣故照看了CEC，祂的 供應那時如今都是顯而易見的。祂興起祂的僕人，保護CEC免受敵人之手。我為我們的基督主在過去的歲月裡為CEC所做的一切感到感激。當然，作為新娘，我們要順服於祂。任何以僕人的身份被呼召在任何方面領導都應該順服於基督，正如歌羅西書1:18中所寫：“他是身體教會的頭，他是元始，是從死裡首先復活的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。”這意味著，我和每一個為之服務的人都需要不斷尋求祂的領導。
（第二項功課）在教會的身體中有許多肢體，我們要尋求他人的益處，使身體能夠茁壯成長。
關於“肢體”的比喻
哥林多前書中有兩句類似的話。第一句在6:12中說：“凡事我都可以做，但不都有益。凡事我都可以做，但我不會被任何事所控制。” 第二句在10:23中說：“凡事我都可以做，但不都有益。凡事我都可以做，但不都建立人。”接著在第24節說：“人不要只求自己的好處，也要求別人的好處。” CEC，像大多數北美的族裔教會（尤其是華人教會）一樣，由來自不同背景的成員組成。我們來自世界各地，我們的成長背景各異。我們每個人在不同的環境中接受了基督。上帝創造了我們獨特的個性。祂無限的特質和屬性在每個人的心靈中留下了獨特的印記。坦率地說，我們擁有不同的“神學”和不同的“個性”。與一個與你非常不同的人一起事奉和生活並不容易。在我與CEC度過的這些年裡，上帝對我施以憐憫。在這些年裡，我可能冒犯了一些人。如果我在這方面傷害了你，請接受我的道歉。關鍵的教訓是我需要更多地考慮和追求別人，不僅僅是鄰里，而且是我的兄弟姐妹的福祉。這是我持續學習的一課。
我感謝上帝讓我學到這兩個重要的教訓，並且持續在學習中成長。
Tonight, I want to share with you two main lessons I have learned in my 25 years in CEC. These two lessons are based on two most used metaphors for church are:
- “bride”: (Eph. 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.)
- “body” (Eph. 1:22–23 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all; 1 Cor 12:12-14 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.)
On the metaphor of “bride”
During my years of service to God, there were moments of concern for the church. In 2002, we transitioned to this new building, and due to various reasons, some members of the deacon board, including the chair at the time, left the church. We found ourselves without any pastoral staff, without a deaconate chair, and without half the deacons. Moreover, our church was grappling with a looming mortgage debt exceeding one million dollars. At that time God called me to serve as the deaconate chair. I must admit I did not accept that call willingly. Not only that I complained to God for putting me in that situation. There were sleepless nights and I worried that CEC would dissolve while I was the deacon chair. However, my worries were without ground, and I over-emphasized my role in thinking that I am responsible for His body. God loves His church as the bridegroom of bride. He took care of CEC for His name’s sake and His Providence was obvious then and now. He raised up His servants and protected CEC from enemy’s hands. I am thankful for what our Lord Christ has done for CEC, His church, in the past years. Of course, as a bride, we are to submit to Him. Being called as servants to lead in any manner should submit to Christ as the Lord as written in Col. 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” This means, I and each of us who serves, we need to seek His leadership constantly.
(Lesson #2) There are many members in the body, and we are to seek the good of others so the body will grow well.
On the metaphor of “body”
There are two parallel sayings in 1 Corinthians. First is in 6:12 ‘”All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.’ The second is in 10:23 ‘“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.’ This second verse follows with v24 ‘Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.’ CEC, like most of the ethnic churches (or more specific Chinese churches) in North America, comprise members from different backgrounds. We came from different part of the world. Our up-bringing is very distinct. Each one of accepted Christ as Lord under different circumstances. God has created us uniquely. Different part of His infinite characters and attributes has made impression on each of mind differently. To speak plainly we have different “theology”, and we have different “personality”. It is not easy to serve and live with someone who is very different from you. In the years I am with CEC, God has shown mercy to me. I may have offended people in these years. I want to ask for forgiveness if I have done so toward you. The key learning is that I need to consider and seek others, more than neighbors but my brothers and sisters, good. This is a lesson I continue to learn.
I thank God for these two important lessons I have learned and continue to learn.
我的名字是呂士濂（Linus）。我在1999年從奧勒岡州科瓦利斯搬到這個地區後加入了CEC。在1999年之前，我曾從俄勒岡州立大學休假一年，並在1997-1998年在波特蘭地區度過。在我們家在那段時間裡在這裡，我們也是CEC大家庭的一部分。總體而言，我們已經是CEC大家庭的一員有25年了。我的妻子Jenny和我在這個教會撫養了四個兒子。我們的第二個兒子Caleb Lu曾在CEC擔任青年主任。我在這個教會的各種事工中事奉上帝。我最後的事奉，也是最愉快和最有意義的事工，是擔任兒童主日學的老師。
今晚，我想與大家分享我在CEC度過的25年中學到的兩個主要教訓。這兩個教訓基於對教會的兩個最常用的比喻：
- 新娘 (弗5:25-27 你們作丈夫的，要愛你們的妻子，正如基督愛教會，為教會捨己。 要用水藉著道把教會洗淨，成為聖潔， 可以獻給自己，作個榮耀的教會，毫無玷污、皺紋等類的病，乃是聖潔沒有瑕疵的。)
- 肢體（弗1:22-23 又將萬有服在他的腳下，使他為教會作萬有之首。 教會是他的身體，是那充滿萬有者所充滿的。）
關於“新娘”的比喻
在我為上帝服務的這些年裡，我曾對教會感到擔憂。在2002年，我們搬遷到這座新教堂，由於各種原因，包括那個時候的執事會主席在內，一些執事會的成員離開了教會。我們發現自己沒有了牧師，沒有了執事會主席，甚至沒有了一半的執事。此外，我們的教會還面臨著一百多萬美元的抵押負擔。那時，上帝呼召我擔任執事會主席的職務。我必須承認我並不情願。不僅如此，我還向上帝抱怨讓我陷入這種境地。有過不眠之夜，我擔心CEC在我擔任執事主席期間會解散。然而，我的擔憂是沒有根據的，我過分強調了自己的角色，認為我對祂的身體負有責任。上帝像新郎對待新娘一樣熱愛祂的教會。祂為了祂的名的緣故照看了CEC，祂的 供應那時如今都是顯而易見的。祂興起祂的僕人，保護CEC免受敵人之手。我為我們的基督主在過去的歲月裡為CEC所做的一切感到感激。當然，作為新娘，我們要順服於祂。任何以僕人的身份被呼召在任何方面領導都應該順服於基督，正如歌羅西書1:18中所寫：“他是身體教會的頭，他是元始，是從死裡首先復活的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。”這意味著，我和每一個為之服務的人都需要不斷尋求祂的領導。
（第二項功課）在教會的身體中有許多肢體，我們要尋求他人的益處，使身體能夠茁壯成長。
關於“肢體”的比喻
哥林多前書中有兩句類似的話。第一句在6:12中說：“凡事我都可以做，但不都有益。凡事我都可以做，但我不會被任何事所控制。” 第二句在10:23中說：“凡事我都可以做，但不都有益。凡事我都可以做，但不都建立人。”接著在第24節說：“人不要只求自己的好處，也要求別人的好處。” CEC，像大多數北美的族裔教會（尤其是華人教會）一樣，由來自不同背景的成員組成。我們來自世界各地，我們的成長背景各異。我們每個人在不同的環境中接受了基督。上帝創造了我們獨特的個性。祂無限的特質和屬性在每個人的心靈中留下了獨特的印記。坦率地說，我們擁有不同的“神學”和不同的“個性”。與一個與你非常不同的人一起事奉和生活並不容易。在我與CEC度過的這些年裡，上帝對我施以憐憫。在這些年裡，我可能冒犯了一些人。如果我在這方面傷害了你，請接受我的道歉。關鍵的教訓是我需要更多地考慮和追求別人，不僅僅是鄰里，而且是我的兄弟姐妹的福祉。這是我持續學習的一課。
我感謝上帝讓我學到這兩個重要的教訓，並且持續在學習中成長。
王中銘
大家好，主內平安
我是國語小組的王中銘
在2020年的時候，林牧師建議了兩年讀經計劃和一年讀經計劃。之後疫情就爆發了，也給了我自己在家裡面讀聖經的開始。當時對我來說是第一次下定決心要把整本聖經讀完。可是有的時候就忘了讀（沒有養成每天讀經的習慣），為了趕上進度、往往也就跳過去沒有讀。這樣兩年過去了，當然並沒有完成讀完整本聖經的願望。第二個兩年讀經計劃是從2022年開始，那年一月份我參加了門徒訓練。在課後每一次要訓練每個人都成為代禱勇士的時候、每位弟兄姊妹對經文都很熟悉，而且都會引用經文來禱告、讓我覺得很慚愧。當第一堂課結束的那個晚上，師母建議我可以找一個讀經小組一起讀經、這樣比較更有動力。於是師母和其他弟兄姊妹就為我代禱。之後大家互道晚安。
第二天早上八點的時候有一位姊妹就打電話給我、問我要不要參加他們的讀經小組。我當時以為是師母打電話給她邀請我。可是她說，師母並沒有打電話給他，那位姊妹只是想到我、所以邀請我。當時我心裡很是震驚、但更感動。因為天上的父聽了我們的祈禱。
我的感動:
第一、我從來沒有經歷過參加讀經小組，師母給我建議和鼓勵。
第二、我相信這是上帝的旨意來幫助我認識祂的道。因為我是2021年12月加入CEC會員， 2022年1月參加門訓。
第三、上帝聽了師母和弟兄姊妹們的禱告為我安排了一個讀經小組邀請我加入。這是巧合嗎？不是的。這是一個真的見證。只要是符合上帝旨意的禱告一定會實現。讓我們也做一個符合上帝旨意的信徒吧。感謝讚美主。阿們！
今年即將結束兩年讀經計劃。我們計劃明年開始讀一年讀經計劃。每年都繼續下去，感謝主。
Hello, everyone. May peace be with you in the Lord. I am June Wang from the Mandarin group.
In 2020, Pastor Lin suggested a two-year Bible reading plan and a one-year Bible reading plan. Later, the pandemic broke out, which prompted me to start reading the Bible at home. At that time, it was the first time I had made up my mind to read the entire Bible. However, sometimes I forgot to read (did not develop the habit of reading the Bible every day), and in order to catch up, I often skipped without reading. So, two years passed, and of course, the desire to finish reading the entire Bible was not fulfilled.
The second two-year Bible reading plan started in 2022. In January of that year, I participated in discipleship training. After each training session, when everyone was encouraged to become prayer warriors, every brother and sister was very familiar with the Scriptures, and they would quote Scripture in prayer, making me feel very ashamed. On the evening of the first class, the pastor's wife suggested that I could join a Bible study group to read the Bible together, which would provide more motivation. So, the pastor's wife and other brothers and sisters prayed for me. Afterward, everyone said good night to each other.
The next morning at 8 o'clock, a sister called me and asked if I wanted to join their Bible study group. At that time, I thought it was the pastor's wife who called her to invite me. But she said the pastor's wife did not call her; she just thought of me, so she invited me. I was shocked but even more moved at that moment. Because our heavenly Father listened to our prayers.
My Reflections:
First, I have never experienced joining a Bible study group, and the pastor's wife suggested and encouraged me.
Second, I believe this is God's will to help me understand His Word. Because I joined CEC as a member in December 2021 and attended discipleship training in January 2022.
Third, God listened to the prayers of the pastor's wife and brothers and sisters, arranging a Bible study group for me to join. Is this a coincidence? No, it's not. This is a true testimony. Any prayer that aligns with God's will will surely be fulfilled. Let us also be believers who align with God's will. Thanks and praise the Lord. Amen!
This year is about to end the two-year Bible reading plan. We plan to start a one-year Bible reading plan next year. Let's continue every year, thanks to the Lord.
我是國語小組的王中銘
在2020年的時候，林牧師建議了兩年讀經計劃和一年讀經計劃。之後疫情就爆發了，也給了我自己在家裡面讀聖經的開始。當時對我來說是第一次下定決心要把整本聖經讀完。可是有的時候就忘了讀（沒有養成每天讀經的習慣），為了趕上進度、往往也就跳過去沒有讀。這樣兩年過去了，當然並沒有完成讀完整本聖經的願望。第二個兩年讀經計劃是從2022年開始，那年一月份我參加了門徒訓練。在課後每一次要訓練每個人都成為代禱勇士的時候、每位弟兄姊妹對經文都很熟悉，而且都會引用經文來禱告、讓我覺得很慚愧。當第一堂課結束的那個晚上，師母建議我可以找一個讀經小組一起讀經、這樣比較更有動力。於是師母和其他弟兄姊妹就為我代禱。之後大家互道晚安。
第二天早上八點的時候有一位姊妹就打電話給我、問我要不要參加他們的讀經小組。我當時以為是師母打電話給她邀請我。可是她說，師母並沒有打電話給他，那位姊妹只是想到我、所以邀請我。當時我心裡很是震驚、但更感動。因為天上的父聽了我們的祈禱。
我的感動:
第一、我從來沒有經歷過參加讀經小組，師母給我建議和鼓勵。
第二、我相信這是上帝的旨意來幫助我認識祂的道。因為我是2021年12月加入CEC會員， 2022年1月參加門訓。
第三、上帝聽了師母和弟兄姊妹們的禱告為我安排了一個讀經小組邀請我加入。這是巧合嗎？不是的。這是一個真的見證。只要是符合上帝旨意的禱告一定會實現。讓我們也做一個符合上帝旨意的信徒吧。感謝讚美主。阿們！
今年即將結束兩年讀經計劃。我們計劃明年開始讀一年讀經計劃。每年都繼續下去，感謝主。
Hello, everyone. May peace be with you in the Lord. I am June Wang from the Mandarin group.
In 2020, Pastor Lin suggested a two-year Bible reading plan and a one-year Bible reading plan. Later, the pandemic broke out, which prompted me to start reading the Bible at home. At that time, it was the first time I had made up my mind to read the entire Bible. However, sometimes I forgot to read (did not develop the habit of reading the Bible every day), and in order to catch up, I often skipped without reading. So, two years passed, and of course, the desire to finish reading the entire Bible was not fulfilled.
The second two-year Bible reading plan started in 2022. In January of that year, I participated in discipleship training. After each training session, when everyone was encouraged to become prayer warriors, every brother and sister was very familiar with the Scriptures, and they would quote Scripture in prayer, making me feel very ashamed. On the evening of the first class, the pastor's wife suggested that I could join a Bible study group to read the Bible together, which would provide more motivation. So, the pastor's wife and other brothers and sisters prayed for me. Afterward, everyone said good night to each other.
The next morning at 8 o'clock, a sister called me and asked if I wanted to join their Bible study group. At that time, I thought it was the pastor's wife who called her to invite me. But she said the pastor's wife did not call her; she just thought of me, so she invited me. I was shocked but even more moved at that moment. Because our heavenly Father listened to our prayers.
My Reflections:
First, I have never experienced joining a Bible study group, and the pastor's wife suggested and encouraged me.
Second, I believe this is God's will to help me understand His Word. Because I joined CEC as a member in December 2021 and attended discipleship training in January 2022.
Third, God listened to the prayers of the pastor's wife and brothers and sisters, arranging a Bible study group for me to join. Is this a coincidence? No, it's not. This is a true testimony. Any prayer that aligns with God's will will surely be fulfilled. Let us also be believers who align with God's will. Thanks and praise the Lord. Amen!
This year is about to end the two-year Bible reading plan. We plan to start a one-year Bible reading plan next year. Let's continue every year, thanks to the Lord.
神為教會未來的預備 - 陳守強
神為教會未來的預備 - 陳守強
2017年年初，執事會突然收到一封Portland General Electric (PGE) 寄來的一封信函，意思是他們在2017年夏天要鋪設一條高壓電纜，要通過我們教會後面的草皮。所以他們要以“公共事業徵用權”法律，徵用電纜經過的草皮，限定我們3月内接受他們的徵用。這對教會非常不利，原因有二。一是我們的後院草皮占地廣大，給我們教會有以後繼續建堂有充分的擴展的空間。高壓電纜通過后，把我們的土地一分爲二，對我們以後擴建將造成巨大的局限與各種麻煩。其二是PGE只賠償它所使用的狹長電纜通過的土地，所以賠償價格非常低廉，完全不符合實際電纜鋪設后對我們造成的土地損失。
我當時在執事會，這是看起來很糟糕的事情。如果我們不接受PGE的要求，與PGE這樣一個龐然大物打官司，曠日時久，對教會將帶來巨大的財政負擔。但我們也難以接受PGE的要求，而PGE也看來沒有改變計劃的打算。我們找的第一個詢問的律師，并不建議我們采取法律途徑抵抗PGE，而是儘力爭取最高賠償才是上策。
我們當時陷入兩難之中，不知如何是好。一方面牧師與執事們迫切為此事向神祈求，一方面我們也把這件事情，與全體會衆一同分享，請大家一起禱告。感謝主在此時為教會有奇妙的預備，把以前我們教會青少年主任John Tae 的哥哥Paul Tae就在這時帶到CEC。Paul 是非常有經驗的Real Estate Broker，專精Commercial Real Estate，同時自己本身也碰過兩起被土地徵用的例子。他知道此事后，願意無償的在這件事上來幫助教會。通過Paul，我們知道應該怎樣按部就班的與PGE周旋，他也把對這種案例極有經驗的律師介紹給了教會。這位律師也非常幫忙，以非常少的收費幫助教會與PGE協調。很奇妙的，到了2018年，PGE就放棄了它們原定計劃，把高壓纜綫改道，走了另一條比較長沿著26號高速公路的路綫。
現在我每逢走過教會旁26號高速公路，看到那些高壓電纜與電塔，心裏都非常感恩。相信神為CEC未來50年，保留了教會後面的土地。願意榮耀歸主，他的旨意成就。
God's Preparation for CEC’s future - Tim Chen
At the beginning of 2017, the Church board suddenly received a letter from Portland General Electric (PGE) stating their intention to place high-voltage cables and towers, passing through the grassy area behind our church. They invoked the legal right of "eminent domain" to acquire the land through which the cable would pass, and we were given a three-month deadline to accept their acquisition. This posed a significant challenge to the church for two reasons. Firstly, our backyard's expansive grassy area provided ample space for future expansion and possible new buildings, crucial for the church's growth. After the high-voltage cables passed through, our land would be divided, severely limiting our ability to expand and causing various complications. Secondly, PGE only compensated for the narrow strip of land used by the cable, resulting in a very low compensation amount that did not reflect the actual loss of land after cable installation.
At that time, as a member of the Board, it seemed like a dire situation. If we refused PGE's demand and engaged in a legal battle against such a formidable entity, it would be a prolonged and financially burdensome process for the church. However, accepting PGE's demands was also unfavorable, and PGE seemed unwavering in their plans. The first lawyer we consulted did not recommend legal resistance against PGE; instead, she advised us to negotiate for the highest compensation possible.
We found ourselves in a dilemma, unsure of the best course of action. On one hand, pastors and board members earnestly sought God in prayer, and on the other, we shared the situation with the entire congregation, requesting collective prayer. Thank God, at this crucial moment, He made a wonderful provision for the church. Paul Tae, the brother of our former youth director John Tae, was brought to CEC. Paul is an experienced real estate broker, specializing in commercial real estate, and had dealt with two cases of imminent domain land acquisition before. When he learned about the situation, he volunteered to assist the church without compensation. Through Paul, we learned how to systematically deal with PGE, and he also introduced us to a highly experienced lawyer for such cases, who offered significant help to the church at a minimal cost. Miraculously, by 2018, PGE abandoned its original plan and rerouted the high-voltage cable along a longer path alongside highway 26.
Now, every time I pass by Highway 26 next to the church and see those high-voltage towers and cables, I am filled with gratitude. I believe God has preserved the land behind the church for the next 50 years of CEC's future. May all the glory be to the Lord as His will is accomplished.
2017年年初，執事會突然收到一封Portland General Electric (PGE) 寄來的一封信函，意思是他們在2017年夏天要鋪設一條高壓電纜，要通過我們教會後面的草皮。所以他們要以“公共事業徵用權”法律，徵用電纜經過的草皮，限定我們3月内接受他們的徵用。這對教會非常不利，原因有二。一是我們的後院草皮占地廣大，給我們教會有以後繼續建堂有充分的擴展的空間。高壓電纜通過后，把我們的土地一分爲二，對我們以後擴建將造成巨大的局限與各種麻煩。其二是PGE只賠償它所使用的狹長電纜通過的土地，所以賠償價格非常低廉，完全不符合實際電纜鋪設后對我們造成的土地損失。
我當時在執事會，這是看起來很糟糕的事情。如果我們不接受PGE的要求，與PGE這樣一個龐然大物打官司，曠日時久，對教會將帶來巨大的財政負擔。但我們也難以接受PGE的要求，而PGE也看來沒有改變計劃的打算。我們找的第一個詢問的律師，并不建議我們采取法律途徑抵抗PGE，而是儘力爭取最高賠償才是上策。
我們當時陷入兩難之中，不知如何是好。一方面牧師與執事們迫切為此事向神祈求，一方面我們也把這件事情，與全體會衆一同分享，請大家一起禱告。感謝主在此時為教會有奇妙的預備，把以前我們教會青少年主任John Tae 的哥哥Paul Tae就在這時帶到CEC。Paul 是非常有經驗的Real Estate Broker，專精Commercial Real Estate，同時自己本身也碰過兩起被土地徵用的例子。他知道此事后，願意無償的在這件事上來幫助教會。通過Paul，我們知道應該怎樣按部就班的與PGE周旋，他也把對這種案例極有經驗的律師介紹給了教會。這位律師也非常幫忙，以非常少的收費幫助教會與PGE協調。很奇妙的，到了2018年，PGE就放棄了它們原定計劃，把高壓纜綫改道，走了另一條比較長沿著26號高速公路的路綫。
現在我每逢走過教會旁26號高速公路，看到那些高壓電纜與電塔，心裏都非常感恩。相信神為CEC未來50年，保留了教會後面的土地。願意榮耀歸主，他的旨意成就。
God's Preparation for CEC’s future - Tim Chen
At the beginning of 2017, the Church board suddenly received a letter from Portland General Electric (PGE) stating their intention to place high-voltage cables and towers, passing through the grassy area behind our church. They invoked the legal right of "eminent domain" to acquire the land through which the cable would pass, and we were given a three-month deadline to accept their acquisition. This posed a significant challenge to the church for two reasons. Firstly, our backyard's expansive grassy area provided ample space for future expansion and possible new buildings, crucial for the church's growth. After the high-voltage cables passed through, our land would be divided, severely limiting our ability to expand and causing various complications. Secondly, PGE only compensated for the narrow strip of land used by the cable, resulting in a very low compensation amount that did not reflect the actual loss of land after cable installation.
At that time, as a member of the Board, it seemed like a dire situation. If we refused PGE's demand and engaged in a legal battle against such a formidable entity, it would be a prolonged and financially burdensome process for the church. However, accepting PGE's demands was also unfavorable, and PGE seemed unwavering in their plans. The first lawyer we consulted did not recommend legal resistance against PGE; instead, she advised us to negotiate for the highest compensation possible.
We found ourselves in a dilemma, unsure of the best course of action. On one hand, pastors and board members earnestly sought God in prayer, and on the other, we shared the situation with the entire congregation, requesting collective prayer. Thank God, at this crucial moment, He made a wonderful provision for the church. Paul Tae, the brother of our former youth director John Tae, was brought to CEC. Paul is an experienced real estate broker, specializing in commercial real estate, and had dealt with two cases of imminent domain land acquisition before. When he learned about the situation, he volunteered to assist the church without compensation. Through Paul, we learned how to systematically deal with PGE, and he also introduced us to a highly experienced lawyer for such cases, who offered significant help to the church at a minimal cost. Miraculously, by 2018, PGE abandoned its original plan and rerouted the high-voltage cable along a longer path alongside highway 26.
Now, every time I pass by Highway 26 next to the church and see those high-voltage towers and cables, I am filled with gratitude. I believe God has preserved the land behind the church for the next 50 years of CEC's future. May all the glory be to the Lord as His will is accomplished.
一生事奉神 - By Ai-My Wong 祁英蓮
1980年1月1日，我和兒子 Patrick Wong，六歲，從芝加哥搬到波特蘭。不久，一位朋友帶我到「華人循理會」。在同年的九月第一個主日，李龍之牧師給我洗禮。
2006年．我不做兒童主日學校長，就做「國語小組」組長六年，（小組的名字是要紀念在「國語教會」剩下來的人）。我每年都幫忙豐收慶典賣熱狗和披薩餅，直到季蔓姊妹提出取消每年舉辦的豐收慶典，我也非常同意。豐收慶典就在2012年終止了。
2010 年，黃榮光牧師，師母離開後，楊明印，李玉煥夫妻和我接了黃師母服事PSU與OHSU 的福音伸展，安排家庭每週日做菜和送菜到Bible Church 。一直到2018年，楊明印，李玉煥夫妻退出這項服事，我也交給董衛伶姊妹接班。
2010 年，徐鈞執事和易大鋒執事叫我參加尋牧委員，感謝神我們在2012年聘請到林在名牧師和師母。
2014年．劉錦執事邀請我做宣教同工。能和每一位宣教士溝通，清楚他們的需要，為他們禱告。2020年發生新冠病毒，我從服事崗位退休。我一生的事奉，是為了榮耀神！
2006年．我不做兒童主日學校長，就做「國語小組」組長六年，（小組的名字是要紀念在「國語教會」剩下來的人）。我每年都幫忙豐收慶典賣熱狗和披薩餅，直到季蔓姊妹提出取消每年舉辦的豐收慶典，我也非常同意。豐收慶典就在2012年終止了。
2010 年，黃榮光牧師，師母離開後，楊明印，李玉煥夫妻和我接了黃師母服事PSU與OHSU 的福音伸展，安排家庭每週日做菜和送菜到Bible Church 。一直到2018年，楊明印，李玉煥夫妻退出這項服事，我也交給董衛伶姊妹接班。
2010 年，徐鈞執事和易大鋒執事叫我參加尋牧委員，感謝神我們在2012年聘請到林在名牧師和師母。
2014年．劉錦執事邀請我做宣教同工。能和每一位宣教士溝通，清楚他們的需要，為他們禱告。2020年發生新冠病毒，我從服事崗位退休。我一生的事奉，是為了榮耀神！
我們在CEC的回顧 Sam Chen 詹策新
我們一家從1983年8月到波特籣以後，到現在正好40年, 40年可以使嬰兒變成一個壯年人，也可以使一個壯年人變成一個老年人 。
剛到波特籣的時候，我們教會是在Leahy Rd上的一個小的建築物做禮拜，現在這個建築物還在，是一個藝術學校.
當時在Beaverton最大的一家公司就是Tektronics（簡稱Tek),當時有36,000個員工，沒有想到沒有幾年，這個公司就大量裁員，現在已經看不到這家公司的存在了，當時我們教會許多的弟兄都在Tek工作，我的小弟就是其中的一位，我和他從台灣出來讀研究所在同一個學校，只是不同的時間到猶他州，後來他畢業後在Tek找到工作,等我畢業以後也搬到這裡來,當時我的父親剛剛過70歲的生日，他們也喜歡波特籣，就住在附近，所以當時我們三家都在一起，一起在CEC做禮拜,從那個時候我們就沒有再離開過CEC,我的母親告訴我,我們不要挑選教會，因為教會沒有完全的，我們來做禮拜只要是聽神的話語，能夠在主的話語上面有收穫就好了。
我們當時為了生活創業，受到教會有些弟兄姊妹的熱情幫助，其中有好幾年，我們的生意太忙，除了星期天到教會參加主日崇拜，其他的活動我們都沒有辦法參加，倒是margarette姊和周才英大哥他們常常在家中,有教會活動聚餐的時候，也叫我們一同參加，給我們很大的溫暖，還有在我們最無助需要幫助的時候，他們伸出援手，對於他們當年的相助，我們至今都無法忘懷，也很難用言語來表達我們的感謝之情，我們從他們身上感受到神的大愛；還有教會中有一位鄧峙弟兄，在機器維修方面，他特別介紹以前曾經工作的機械工廠，介紹我認識他的同事，這在機器維修製造零件方面，對我是非常非常大的幫助，他還曾經教我電焊的技術，同時在我們的產品上他也實際上光顧我們的生意，買我們的食品，後來他告訴我他每個星期都在吃我們的產品真的吃膩了，我覺得很不好意思，從他們的愛心上看到了基督的馨香之氣，鄧峙弟兄知道我們需要幫助，他能夠體會我們在生活上的短缺，我們內心的感動真的不是言語能表達的；還有一位王溫平弟兄，在我的工廠安全方面提供很多的建議和指導，他都是義務幫忙，現在想起來很不好意思，當時疏忽了，沒有給他任何的報酬；我們感謝神給我們的信心和眷顧，在我們最需要的時候，身邊有許多愛主的弟兄姊妹成為神的天使來幫助我們，如今走過了四十年，過著退休衣食無憂的生活，一切都是神的恩典。
我們的兒子女兒從上主日學，一直都在教會，都在教會受洗，婚禮也在教會舉辦，我們感謝主,我們全家都信靠主，在教會中成長。
後來因為孫子孫女他們比較喜歡美國教會的活動，所以連帶的兒子女兒他們也去了美國教會，這是一個比較遺憾的地方。
波特蘭的華裔年輕人不多，在他們大學畢業，到了適婚年齡的時候，我們很擔心他們的配偶是不是合神的心意，尤其女孩子父母操心得更多，沒有想到在那一年教會來了四個年輕人，其中一位在Intel的年輕人，有緣成為我們的女婿，這真的是神的帶領，他們的婚禮（2001年）是在上一個教堂舉辦的，由林來興牧師主持。
兒子在2009年，也是由教會英文堂牧師Pastor John証婚，在波特蘭藝術博物館宴客，完成婚禮。
40年過去了，現在我們的孫子孫女已經比當年我們的兒子女兒還大，全家都平安的在主裡面享受主奇妙的恩典，我們自己從來沒有對人生有什麼計劃，但是過去的每一步，神一直和我們同在，今天能夠在這裡做見證，這是神奇妙的恩典，一切榮耀歸於神！
剛到波特籣的時候，我們教會是在Leahy Rd上的一個小的建築物做禮拜，現在這個建築物還在，是一個藝術學校.
當時在Beaverton最大的一家公司就是Tektronics（簡稱Tek),當時有36,000個員工，沒有想到沒有幾年，這個公司就大量裁員，現在已經看不到這家公司的存在了，當時我們教會許多的弟兄都在Tek工作，我的小弟就是其中的一位，我和他從台灣出來讀研究所在同一個學校，只是不同的時間到猶他州，後來他畢業後在Tek找到工作,等我畢業以後也搬到這裡來,當時我的父親剛剛過70歲的生日，他們也喜歡波特籣，就住在附近，所以當時我們三家都在一起，一起在CEC做禮拜,從那個時候我們就沒有再離開過CEC,我的母親告訴我,我們不要挑選教會，因為教會沒有完全的，我們來做禮拜只要是聽神的話語，能夠在主的話語上面有收穫就好了。
我們當時為了生活創業，受到教會有些弟兄姊妹的熱情幫助，其中有好幾年，我們的生意太忙，除了星期天到教會參加主日崇拜，其他的活動我們都沒有辦法參加，倒是margarette姊和周才英大哥他們常常在家中,有教會活動聚餐的時候，也叫我們一同參加，給我們很大的溫暖，還有在我們最無助需要幫助的時候，他們伸出援手，對於他們當年的相助，我們至今都無法忘懷，也很難用言語來表達我們的感謝之情，我們從他們身上感受到神的大愛；還有教會中有一位鄧峙弟兄，在機器維修方面，他特別介紹以前曾經工作的機械工廠，介紹我認識他的同事，這在機器維修製造零件方面，對我是非常非常大的幫助，他還曾經教我電焊的技術，同時在我們的產品上他也實際上光顧我們的生意，買我們的食品，後來他告訴我他每個星期都在吃我們的產品真的吃膩了，我覺得很不好意思，從他們的愛心上看到了基督的馨香之氣，鄧峙弟兄知道我們需要幫助，他能夠體會我們在生活上的短缺，我們內心的感動真的不是言語能表達的；還有一位王溫平弟兄，在我的工廠安全方面提供很多的建議和指導，他都是義務幫忙，現在想起來很不好意思，當時疏忽了，沒有給他任何的報酬；我們感謝神給我們的信心和眷顧，在我們最需要的時候，身邊有許多愛主的弟兄姊妹成為神的天使來幫助我們，如今走過了四十年，過著退休衣食無憂的生活，一切都是神的恩典。
我們的兒子女兒從上主日學，一直都在教會，都在教會受洗，婚禮也在教會舉辦，我們感謝主,我們全家都信靠主，在教會中成長。
後來因為孫子孫女他們比較喜歡美國教會的活動，所以連帶的兒子女兒他們也去了美國教會，這是一個比較遺憾的地方。
波特蘭的華裔年輕人不多，在他們大學畢業，到了適婚年齡的時候，我們很擔心他們的配偶是不是合神的心意，尤其女孩子父母操心得更多，沒有想到在那一年教會來了四個年輕人，其中一位在Intel的年輕人，有緣成為我們的女婿，這真的是神的帶領，他們的婚禮（2001年）是在上一個教堂舉辦的，由林來興牧師主持。
兒子在2009年，也是由教會英文堂牧師Pastor John証婚，在波特蘭藝術博物館宴客，完成婚禮。
40年過去了，現在我們的孫子孫女已經比當年我們的兒子女兒還大，全家都平安的在主裡面享受主奇妙的恩典，我們自己從來沒有對人生有什麼計劃，但是過去的每一步，神一直和我們同在，今天能夠在這裡做見證，這是神奇妙的恩典，一切榮耀歸於神！
陳鵬飛 (Herbert Chen)
我是1980年來到美國的波特蘭，也加入了CEC這個大家庭。40多年來，經歷了人生的高山低谷，CEC的弟兄姊妹們一直陪伴著我。
我曾經經歷了幾次重大的工作環境變遷，第一次是86年從IT技術人員變成市場銷售，一年必須代表公司出差四、五次去中國大陸，每次都是一個多月，不但我個人辛苦，對留在美國的太太及孩子也非常地艱難，CEC就好像一個保護傘使他們有很好的屬靈之家，我的太太積極參與教會的各事奉，我的兒子與女兒也在CEC的兒童及youth group漸漸長大且分別受洗歸入主的名下。
96年公司策略改變，我遭受到無情的裁員，面臨的不止是要換一個公司，而我的工作性質也必須從市場銷售改回技術人員，何等地困難！藉著弟兄姊妹的禱告及我自己在神面前的迫切祈求，神終於賜給了我一個新的IT工作。感謝主，我不再需要出差旅行，有更多的時間與家人相處及參與教會的事奉。
到了2002年，我的太太因心血管疾病而突然過世，悲痛的我是在CEC國語小組每週在我家查經聚會中渡過的，後來我又重新加入了教會的詩班，並在小組帶領查經，在事奉中得到主的安慰及弟兄姊妹們的鼓勵與關懷。
我在郊外的山上買了一塊地，在那裡辛苦耕耘並先後蓋了二棟房子，住在那裡13年，路雖然遙遠，確從未間斷來CEC聚會，並且還常常利用週末及假期接待詩班及小組的弟兄姊妹們到我山上的家中聚會。
到了2016年我從山上搬到了Sauvie Island 的水邊，為了是能就近我女兒家，幫她照顧有病的孩子。我的小外孫Winston也是在CEC弟兄姊妹的代禱及關愛下度過了近十一個年頭在世的日子。今年四月我們為Winston在CEC做了一個追思禮拜，我們縱有萬般的不捨，卻也感恩這近十一年來他帶給我們的歡笑與喜樂。Winston的追思會也感動了與會所有的人。是神先愛了我們，我們才有人間的親情與友情。也是神的愛給了我們有勇氣面對人生的挑戰。
我在2017年底，被診斷罹患攝護腺癌，必須儘快切除，是一個主日的聚會中，牧師特別提名為我禱告，奇妙地引起從加州第一次來CEC聚會的沈弟兄夫婦的注意，會後他們主動為我介紹加州的一位醫生作2nd opinion。當我去了加州，那位醫生卻又奇妙地建議我去做放射線治療。長話短說，我在加州的治療非常成功，如今早已不用任何藥物，而每次檢查的PSA指數都是0.01.
三年前我又搬了一次家，現在不但離女兒家近，離CEC也只有十分鐘的車程。
總結我在美國的43個年頭，我換了好幾次工作，搬了好幾次家，經歷了人生的生老病死。卻很奇妙地沒有離開波特蘭、也沒有離開CEC、更沒有離開主！感謝主，讓我與CEC一起成長。
I came to the United States in 1980 and settled in Portland, and I also joined the CEC family. Over the past forty-some years, I have experienced the ups and downs of life, and the brothers and sisters of CEC have been with me all along.
I went through several significant changes in my career. The first one was in 1986 when I transitioned from an IT technician to a marketing sales role. I had to travel to mainland China on business trips four or five times a year, each lasting over a month. It was not only challenging for me but also difficult for my wife and children back in the United States. CEC served as a protective umbrella for them, providing a strong spiritual home. My wife actively participated in church service, and my son and daughter grew up in CEC's children and youth groups, eventually getting baptized.
In 1996, the company's strategy changed, and I faced a ruthless layoff. I not only had to find a new job but also switch back from sales to a technical role. Through the prayers of the brothers and sisters and my earnest supplication to God, He eventually provided me with a new IT job. Thanks to the Lord, I no longer needed to travel for work, which allowed me more time with my family and involvement in church service.
In 2002, my wife passed away suddenly due to cardiovascular disease. During this time of grief, I found solace in the CEC Mandarin small group meetings held at my home every week. Later, I rejoined the church choir and began leading Bible studies in the small group, finding comfort from the Lord and the encouragement and care of my brothers and sisters.
I bought a piece of land on a mountain outside the city, where I worked hard, built two houses, and lived there for 13 years. Despite the distance, I never stopped attending CEC gatherings, and I often hosted choir and small group members at my mountain home on weekends and holidays.
In 2016, I moved from the mountain to the water's edge on Sauvie Island to be closer to my daughter and help her take care of her sick child, my grandson, Winston. With the prayers and care from CEC brothers and sisters, Winston spent nearly eleven years in this world. In April of this year, we held a memorial service for Winston at CEC. Though we experienced profound sadness, we also appreciated the joy and laughter he brought us during these years. Winston's memorial deeply moved everyone present. It's God's love that comes first, which allows us to have family and friendship in this world. It's also God's love that gives us the courage to face life's challenges.
At the end of 2017, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to have surgery quickly. During a Sunday service, the pastor singled me out for a special prayer. Strangely, this caught the attention of brother Shen and his wife, who were attending CEC for the first time from California. After the service, they introduced me to a doctor in California for a second opinion. When I went to California, that doctor surprisingly recommended radiation therapy. Long story short, my treatment in California was very successful, and I no longer need any medication. My PSA level is consistently 0.01 in each checkup.
Three years ago, I moved again, and now I live not only closer to my daughter but also just ten minutes away from CEC.
In summary, during my 43 years in the United States, I changed jobs several times, moved homes several times, and experienced the birth, aging, sickness, and death of life. Strangely, I never left Portland, never left CEC, and most importantly, never left the Lord! Thanks to the Lord, I have grown together with CEC.
我曾經經歷了幾次重大的工作環境變遷，第一次是86年從IT技術人員變成市場銷售，一年必須代表公司出差四、五次去中國大陸，每次都是一個多月，不但我個人辛苦，對留在美國的太太及孩子也非常地艱難，CEC就好像一個保護傘使他們有很好的屬靈之家，我的太太積極參與教會的各事奉，我的兒子與女兒也在CEC的兒童及youth group漸漸長大且分別受洗歸入主的名下。
96年公司策略改變，我遭受到無情的裁員，面臨的不止是要換一個公司，而我的工作性質也必須從市場銷售改回技術人員，何等地困難！藉著弟兄姊妹的禱告及我自己在神面前的迫切祈求，神終於賜給了我一個新的IT工作。感謝主，我不再需要出差旅行，有更多的時間與家人相處及參與教會的事奉。
到了2002年，我的太太因心血管疾病而突然過世，悲痛的我是在CEC國語小組每週在我家查經聚會中渡過的，後來我又重新加入了教會的詩班，並在小組帶領查經，在事奉中得到主的安慰及弟兄姊妹們的鼓勵與關懷。
我在郊外的山上買了一塊地，在那裡辛苦耕耘並先後蓋了二棟房子，住在那裡13年，路雖然遙遠，確從未間斷來CEC聚會，並且還常常利用週末及假期接待詩班及小組的弟兄姊妹們到我山上的家中聚會。
到了2016年我從山上搬到了Sauvie Island 的水邊，為了是能就近我女兒家，幫她照顧有病的孩子。我的小外孫Winston也是在CEC弟兄姊妹的代禱及關愛下度過了近十一個年頭在世的日子。今年四月我們為Winston在CEC做了一個追思禮拜，我們縱有萬般的不捨，卻也感恩這近十一年來他帶給我們的歡笑與喜樂。Winston的追思會也感動了與會所有的人。是神先愛了我們，我們才有人間的親情與友情。也是神的愛給了我們有勇氣面對人生的挑戰。
我在2017年底，被診斷罹患攝護腺癌，必須儘快切除，是一個主日的聚會中，牧師特別提名為我禱告，奇妙地引起從加州第一次來CEC聚會的沈弟兄夫婦的注意，會後他們主動為我介紹加州的一位醫生作2nd opinion。當我去了加州，那位醫生卻又奇妙地建議我去做放射線治療。長話短說，我在加州的治療非常成功，如今早已不用任何藥物，而每次檢查的PSA指數都是0.01.
三年前我又搬了一次家，現在不但離女兒家近，離CEC也只有十分鐘的車程。
總結我在美國的43個年頭，我換了好幾次工作，搬了好幾次家，經歷了人生的生老病死。卻很奇妙地沒有離開波特蘭、也沒有離開CEC、更沒有離開主！感謝主，讓我與CEC一起成長。
I came to the United States in 1980 and settled in Portland, and I also joined the CEC family. Over the past forty-some years, I have experienced the ups and downs of life, and the brothers and sisters of CEC have been with me all along.
I went through several significant changes in my career. The first one was in 1986 when I transitioned from an IT technician to a marketing sales role. I had to travel to mainland China on business trips four or five times a year, each lasting over a month. It was not only challenging for me but also difficult for my wife and children back in the United States. CEC served as a protective umbrella for them, providing a strong spiritual home. My wife actively participated in church service, and my son and daughter grew up in CEC's children and youth groups, eventually getting baptized.
In 1996, the company's strategy changed, and I faced a ruthless layoff. I not only had to find a new job but also switch back from sales to a technical role. Through the prayers of the brothers and sisters and my earnest supplication to God, He eventually provided me with a new IT job. Thanks to the Lord, I no longer needed to travel for work, which allowed me more time with my family and involvement in church service.
In 2002, my wife passed away suddenly due to cardiovascular disease. During this time of grief, I found solace in the CEC Mandarin small group meetings held at my home every week. Later, I rejoined the church choir and began leading Bible studies in the small group, finding comfort from the Lord and the encouragement and care of my brothers and sisters.
I bought a piece of land on a mountain outside the city, where I worked hard, built two houses, and lived there for 13 years. Despite the distance, I never stopped attending CEC gatherings, and I often hosted choir and small group members at my mountain home on weekends and holidays.
In 2016, I moved from the mountain to the water's edge on Sauvie Island to be closer to my daughter and help her take care of her sick child, my grandson, Winston. With the prayers and care from CEC brothers and sisters, Winston spent nearly eleven years in this world. In April of this year, we held a memorial service for Winston at CEC. Though we experienced profound sadness, we also appreciated the joy and laughter he brought us during these years. Winston's memorial deeply moved everyone present. It's God's love that comes first, which allows us to have family and friendship in this world. It's also God's love that gives us the courage to face life's challenges.
At the end of 2017, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to have surgery quickly. During a Sunday service, the pastor singled me out for a special prayer. Strangely, this caught the attention of brother Shen and his wife, who were attending CEC for the first time from California. After the service, they introduced me to a doctor in California for a second opinion. When I went to California, that doctor surprisingly recommended radiation therapy. Long story short, my treatment in California was very successful, and I no longer need any medication. My PSA level is consistently 0.01 in each checkup.
Three years ago, I moved again, and now I live not only closer to my daughter but also just ten minutes away from CEC.
In summary, during my 43 years in the United States, I changed jobs several times, moved homes several times, and experienced the birth, aging, sickness, and death of life. Strangely, I never left Portland, never left CEC, and most importantly, never left the Lord! Thanks to the Lord, I have grown together with CEC.
Evergreen Fellowship
據侯伯伯生前介紹，教會長青團契成立於1993年9月4日，開始每月一次週六聚會。歷任牧師都很關心或帶領長青團契活動。在CEC建堂50年慶祝之際，分享從2010年至2023年期間長青團契聚會及查經的部份照片的視頻：「每一次聚會都蒙神祝福」，回顧這些溫馨的相聚時間，雖然參加長青團契的幾位老年弟兄姊妹已經回到天家，一些弟兄姊妹現在其他城市或回到大陸，感谢神，愛使我們曾經相聚在一起，我們也將繼續在上帝的保守中領受豐盛的恩典，CEC教會真是一個充滿上帝的愛的大家庭，榮耀歸神，阿們！
陳幸雄、何姍姍
弟兄姊妹們平安！
我太太和我在台灣結婚半年之後來美國，在我們知道要來美國之時，她就把來美國後很快會找到一間國語教會，屬靈的家，放在禱告裏。1974年7月4日，美國國慶日，我們飛抵夏威夷，經由舊金山，轉機到波特蘭。第二個禮拜，就有一位在PSU教中文的沈伯母打電話給我們，邀請我們去她們的國語教會作禮拜。沒想到如此快就有國語教會在主日可以去崇拜，我們的禱告蒙主垂聽！我們記得教會是在波特蘭東南區的一間美國教會的地下室，牧師是李龍之牧師，當時有幾位熱心的弟兄姊妹，像沈先生和沈伯母，周才英，張醫生，甘醫生，陳伯夷教授，他們目前雖然居住在不同的地方，但在主裏都仍然熱心追求，我們和他們幾位仍有聯絡問安。
慶祝華人福音教會成立五十週年，我在教會裏靈命的追求成長也將近五十年。我由未信到深信，感謝CEC教會每一位牧師對我的関懐和引導，在我未信之時，李龍之牧師，田養吾牧師，金牧師時常到我們家來探訪。1986年金牧師給我施洗，歸入主的名下。我們的兩個兒子都參加教會的兒童主日學和青少年主日學，雷國基弟兄是他們的輔導。兩個兒子都是很虔誠的基督徒。
約書亞記第24章15節說，「至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」感謝神！我們全家都歸在主的名下。
一切榮耀歸於主！求主繼續祝福我們的教會和全體弟兄姐妹。阿們！謝謝！
我太太和我在台灣結婚半年之後來美國，在我們知道要來美國之時，她就把來美國後很快會找到一間國語教會，屬靈的家，放在禱告裏。1974年7月4日，美國國慶日，我們飛抵夏威夷，經由舊金山，轉機到波特蘭。第二個禮拜，就有一位在PSU教中文的沈伯母打電話給我們，邀請我們去她們的國語教會作禮拜。沒想到如此快就有國語教會在主日可以去崇拜，我們的禱告蒙主垂聽！我們記得教會是在波特蘭東南區的一間美國教會的地下室，牧師是李龍之牧師，當時有幾位熱心的弟兄姊妹，像沈先生和沈伯母，周才英，張醫生，甘醫生，陳伯夷教授，他們目前雖然居住在不同的地方，但在主裏都仍然熱心追求，我們和他們幾位仍有聯絡問安。
慶祝華人福音教會成立五十週年，我在教會裏靈命的追求成長也將近五十年。我由未信到深信，感謝CEC教會每一位牧師對我的関懐和引導，在我未信之時，李龍之牧師，田養吾牧師，金牧師時常到我們家來探訪。1986年金牧師給我施洗，歸入主的名下。我們的兩個兒子都參加教會的兒童主日學和青少年主日學，雷國基弟兄是他們的輔導。兩個兒子都是很虔誠的基督徒。
約書亞記第24章15節說，「至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」感謝神！我們全家都歸在主的名下。
一切榮耀歸於主！求主繼續祝福我們的教會和全體弟兄姐妹。阿們！謝謝！
周曉劍
我家今年值得感恩的事情很多。
去年感恩分享的時候，我曾經說，兒子申請大學還沒結果，女兒找工作和申請研究生都不順利，我所在公司又被收購，可能面臨大裁員，特別是各大公司正在輪流搞萬人大裁員。儘管這些事都沒眉目，也應該先感恩。這是去年的此刻說的話。那時我也不知道該怎麼為這些事禱告。
後來這三件事都成就了，結果都比我們預想的要好得多。此外，我父親年初大病一場，一度到了一碗餛飩6個都吃不完，但奇蹟般地好了，現在體重增加了好幾公斤。岳母的舌癌則得到了及時治療。舌癌特別容易復發，但由於被醫生指定為教學觀摩病例，想不及時複查都不行了。
這樣的例子還有很多。但是，我今天想另外摘幾件小事來感恩和分享。
我兒子victor今年申請大學時，多次表示，想挑單人宿舍，因為怕和同屋衝突。我說可以。還上網看別人的review，給他推薦了一批宿舍大樓。沒想到他卻挑了其中評分最低的一棟大樓，選了兩人一間。我們都急了，說你怎麼挑這棟樓？而且你不是說想一個人住嗎？他很不耐煩地說，他也看了網路review，人家說這棟大樓不錯，他現在改主意了，想兩人間了。
兒子報到時，因為要湊老婆的行程，成了整個宿舍大樓裡最後一個到的人。結果很意外的，他受到了全樓層同學的歡迎，每個人都來打招呼。管樓的人也非常 nice。他受寵若驚。他是很需要一個溫暖小環境的人。同屋的roommate人也很好，而且有極佳的生活習慣，正好可以幫助他糾正晚睡晚起的壞毛病。
真的，神給的才是最好的。
第二件事，為了迎接即將到來的空巢生活，我們開始了走路運動。我太太每天給自己規定要走15000步。但更重要的是，她要求其中的一半由我陪著走。 8000步要一個多小時。每天固定有一個多小時，夫妻兩人邊走邊溝通思想，不看手機。回想起以前我們忙碌，家庭生活變成了有事說事，沒事各自看手機，思想交流很少。現在我們常在走路時禱告和感恩分享，因為一起經歷過那些事，感恩分享更真誠，更深刻。
第三件事，今年我參加了網路上的學鋼琴，主講老師是一位基督徒，他顯然是想透過免費教鋼琴來傳教，這是很好的一個活動，感謝主。他選的練習曲大部分都是讚美詩。這些歌曲我都很熟，但是自己要練琴就不一樣了，需要一遍又一遍地練，每練一遍都有熏陶，和平時跟著哼一哼太不一樣了。例如上次的考試曲目“輕輕聽”和“我以禱告來到你面前”，我足足練了上百遍。最近的第五課要練習「愛的真諦」。我突然被這首歌的歌詞感動得停了下來，我知道這是保羅在哥林多前書裡說的一段話，現在逐字逐句去品味，才發現每個字都那麼貼切和重要。我感動的是，對照這段話，我深感自己一直身處各種各樣的愛之中而不自知，老覺得社會和世界虧欠了我。而從這段話中，又對照出我自己在「愛「這一點上付出得太差太少了。
楊明印弟兄很多年前對我說，」我覺得你身上的恩典很多「。幾年來，我一直不認同他的話，那個練歌的晚上，我突然想起了他的話。比起生活中那些升學工作之類的，其實最大的恩典就是神揀選了我，讓我這個那麼驕傲，內心那麼剛硬的人，居然都信了。
Many things in my family this year are worth being grateful for.
Last year when I shared my thanksgivings, I mentioned that my son had not received the results of his university application, my daughter was facing difficulties in finding a job and applying for graduate school, and the company I worked for was being acquired, possibly leading to significant layoffs, especially as major companies were taking turns in conducting massive layoffs. Although there were no clear outcomes for these issues, I believed in expressing gratitude first. This was what I said at this time last year. I also didn't know how to pray for these things back then.
Later, all three of these issues turned out positively, much better than we had expected. Furthermore, my father fell seriously ill earlier in the year, to the point where he couldn't finish a bowl of noodles, but miraculously, he recovered and has gained several kilograms in weight. My mother-in-law's tongue cancer received timely treatment. Tongue cancer is particularly prone to recurrence, but due to being designated as a case for medical observation and learning, missing follow-up examinations was not an option.
There are many more examples like this. Today, however, I want to highlight a few more things for which I am grateful and want to share.
When my son Victor applied for university this year, he repeatedly expressed his desire to have a single dormitory room because he was afraid of conflicts with his roommate. I agreed. He even went online to look at reviews and I recommended several dormitory buildings to him. However, he chose the one with the lowest rating and opted for a double room. We were both surprised and asked him why he chose that building. Moreover, didn't he want to live alone? He impatiently replied that he had also read online reviews, and people said that the building was good. He had changed his mind and now wanted a double room.
When he moved in, because he had to fit into my wife's schedule, he became the last person to arrive at the entire dormitory building. To our surprise, he was warmly welcomed by all the students on the floor, and everyone came over to greet him. The dormitory staff was also very nice. He was thrilled. He is someone who really needs a warm environment. His roommate is also very kind with excellent habits, which can help my son to correct his bad habit of staying up late.
Indeed, what God provides is the best.
The second thing is that, to prepare for the impending empty nest life, we have started walking for exercise. My wife sets a goal of walking 15,000 steps every day, and, more importantly, she requires me to accompany her for half of it, which is over an hour for 8,000 steps. We have a dedicated time each day, and as a couple, we walk and communicate while leaving our phones behind. Looking back, we used to be so busy, family life became all about business, and in our free time, we'd each look at our phones, with very little communication. Now, we often pray and share our gratitude during our walks because, having gone through those experiences together, our gratitude sharing is more sincere and profound.
The third thing is that this year, I started taking online piano lessons. The main teacher is a Christian, and he clearly aims to spread the faith through free piano lessons, which is a wonderful activity, and I'm thankful for it. Most of the practice pieces he chooses are hymns. I am familiar with these songs, but playing them on the piano is a different experience. It requires practice, over and over again, with each practice leaving an impact. For example, for the last examination piece, "Listen Gently" and "I Come to You in Prayer," I practiced them hundreds of times. In the recent fifth lesson, we are practicing "The Essence of Love." I was suddenly moved by the lyrics of this song and paused to reflect. I knew that this was a passage from Paul's First Corinthians, and now, when I read it word by word, I realized that each word is so relevant and important. I have always been immersed in various forms of love without being aware of it. I used to constantly feel that society and the world owed me something. However, when I contrast this passage, it becomes apparent that I have given too little in terms of "love."
Many years ago, Brother Yang Mingyin said to me, "I feel that God has a lot of grace in you." For several years, I didn't agree with his words. But on that night of singing practice, I suddenly recalled what he had said. In comparison to the pursuits of education for my children and career in life for me and my wife, the greatest grace is actually that God chose me, allowing a person as proud and stubborn as me to believe."
Xiaojian Zhou
去年感恩分享的時候，我曾經說，兒子申請大學還沒結果，女兒找工作和申請研究生都不順利，我所在公司又被收購，可能面臨大裁員，特別是各大公司正在輪流搞萬人大裁員。儘管這些事都沒眉目，也應該先感恩。這是去年的此刻說的話。那時我也不知道該怎麼為這些事禱告。
後來這三件事都成就了，結果都比我們預想的要好得多。此外，我父親年初大病一場，一度到了一碗餛飩6個都吃不完，但奇蹟般地好了，現在體重增加了好幾公斤。岳母的舌癌則得到了及時治療。舌癌特別容易復發，但由於被醫生指定為教學觀摩病例，想不及時複查都不行了。
這樣的例子還有很多。但是，我今天想另外摘幾件小事來感恩和分享。
我兒子victor今年申請大學時，多次表示，想挑單人宿舍，因為怕和同屋衝突。我說可以。還上網看別人的review，給他推薦了一批宿舍大樓。沒想到他卻挑了其中評分最低的一棟大樓，選了兩人一間。我們都急了，說你怎麼挑這棟樓？而且你不是說想一個人住嗎？他很不耐煩地說，他也看了網路review，人家說這棟大樓不錯，他現在改主意了，想兩人間了。
兒子報到時，因為要湊老婆的行程，成了整個宿舍大樓裡最後一個到的人。結果很意外的，他受到了全樓層同學的歡迎，每個人都來打招呼。管樓的人也非常 nice。他受寵若驚。他是很需要一個溫暖小環境的人。同屋的roommate人也很好，而且有極佳的生活習慣，正好可以幫助他糾正晚睡晚起的壞毛病。
真的，神給的才是最好的。
第二件事，為了迎接即將到來的空巢生活，我們開始了走路運動。我太太每天給自己規定要走15000步。但更重要的是，她要求其中的一半由我陪著走。 8000步要一個多小時。每天固定有一個多小時，夫妻兩人邊走邊溝通思想，不看手機。回想起以前我們忙碌，家庭生活變成了有事說事，沒事各自看手機，思想交流很少。現在我們常在走路時禱告和感恩分享，因為一起經歷過那些事，感恩分享更真誠，更深刻。
第三件事，今年我參加了網路上的學鋼琴，主講老師是一位基督徒，他顯然是想透過免費教鋼琴來傳教，這是很好的一個活動，感謝主。他選的練習曲大部分都是讚美詩。這些歌曲我都很熟，但是自己要練琴就不一樣了，需要一遍又一遍地練，每練一遍都有熏陶，和平時跟著哼一哼太不一樣了。例如上次的考試曲目“輕輕聽”和“我以禱告來到你面前”，我足足練了上百遍。最近的第五課要練習「愛的真諦」。我突然被這首歌的歌詞感動得停了下來，我知道這是保羅在哥林多前書裡說的一段話，現在逐字逐句去品味，才發現每個字都那麼貼切和重要。我感動的是，對照這段話，我深感自己一直身處各種各樣的愛之中而不自知，老覺得社會和世界虧欠了我。而從這段話中，又對照出我自己在「愛「這一點上付出得太差太少了。
楊明印弟兄很多年前對我說，」我覺得你身上的恩典很多「。幾年來，我一直不認同他的話，那個練歌的晚上，我突然想起了他的話。比起生活中那些升學工作之類的，其實最大的恩典就是神揀選了我，讓我這個那麼驕傲，內心那麼剛硬的人，居然都信了。
Many things in my family this year are worth being grateful for.
Last year when I shared my thanksgivings, I mentioned that my son had not received the results of his university application, my daughter was facing difficulties in finding a job and applying for graduate school, and the company I worked for was being acquired, possibly leading to significant layoffs, especially as major companies were taking turns in conducting massive layoffs. Although there were no clear outcomes for these issues, I believed in expressing gratitude first. This was what I said at this time last year. I also didn't know how to pray for these things back then.
Later, all three of these issues turned out positively, much better than we had expected. Furthermore, my father fell seriously ill earlier in the year, to the point where he couldn't finish a bowl of noodles, but miraculously, he recovered and has gained several kilograms in weight. My mother-in-law's tongue cancer received timely treatment. Tongue cancer is particularly prone to recurrence, but due to being designated as a case for medical observation and learning, missing follow-up examinations was not an option.
There are many more examples like this. Today, however, I want to highlight a few more things for which I am grateful and want to share.
When my son Victor applied for university this year, he repeatedly expressed his desire to have a single dormitory room because he was afraid of conflicts with his roommate. I agreed. He even went online to look at reviews and I recommended several dormitory buildings to him. However, he chose the one with the lowest rating and opted for a double room. We were both surprised and asked him why he chose that building. Moreover, didn't he want to live alone? He impatiently replied that he had also read online reviews, and people said that the building was good. He had changed his mind and now wanted a double room.
When he moved in, because he had to fit into my wife's schedule, he became the last person to arrive at the entire dormitory building. To our surprise, he was warmly welcomed by all the students on the floor, and everyone came over to greet him. The dormitory staff was also very nice. He was thrilled. He is someone who really needs a warm environment. His roommate is also very kind with excellent habits, which can help my son to correct his bad habit of staying up late.
Indeed, what God provides is the best.
The second thing is that, to prepare for the impending empty nest life, we have started walking for exercise. My wife sets a goal of walking 15,000 steps every day, and, more importantly, she requires me to accompany her for half of it, which is over an hour for 8,000 steps. We have a dedicated time each day, and as a couple, we walk and communicate while leaving our phones behind. Looking back, we used to be so busy, family life became all about business, and in our free time, we'd each look at our phones, with very little communication. Now, we often pray and share our gratitude during our walks because, having gone through those experiences together, our gratitude sharing is more sincere and profound.
The third thing is that this year, I started taking online piano lessons. The main teacher is a Christian, and he clearly aims to spread the faith through free piano lessons, which is a wonderful activity, and I'm thankful for it. Most of the practice pieces he chooses are hymns. I am familiar with these songs, but playing them on the piano is a different experience. It requires practice, over and over again, with each practice leaving an impact. For example, for the last examination piece, "Listen Gently" and "I Come to You in Prayer," I practiced them hundreds of times. In the recent fifth lesson, we are practicing "The Essence of Love." I was suddenly moved by the lyrics of this song and paused to reflect. I knew that this was a passage from Paul's First Corinthians, and now, when I read it word by word, I realized that each word is so relevant and important. I have always been immersed in various forms of love without being aware of it. I used to constantly feel that society and the world owed me something. However, when I contrast this passage, it becomes apparent that I have given too little in terms of "love."
Many years ago, Brother Yang Mingyin said to me, "I feel that God has a lot of grace in you." For several years, I didn't agree with his words. But on that night of singing practice, I suddenly recalled what he had said. In comparison to the pursuits of education for my children and career in life for me and my wife, the greatest grace is actually that God chose me, allowing a person as proud and stubborn as me to believe."
Xiaojian Zhou