Blessings In The “Disaster” (Dec. 1, 2005)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
Peace unto you.
“While people are saying peace and safety, destruction will come on them as suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (I Thess 5:3)
The unprecedented calamity caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans has proved to us, once again, that ” the end of all things is near”. “The day of the Lord will come like thief”. The disaster, which we experienced in person, taught us a deeper lesson of the truthfulness of His words and what they foretold us. It also reminded us to be more alert.
When our three houses were flooded, we seemed to have lost everything all of sudden. It looked like that our life and ministries have come to an end. However, God is everything to us! His mercy and faithfulness have never failed us. In fact, he has embraced us with His great love and mercy through brothers and sisters both within the US and abroad. The timely help from Pastor Liu and his wife of the New Orleans’ church, the loving hospitality of the Chinese church in Baton Rouge and the support and caring from other brothers and sisters have once again let us experience the great love of God’s “big family”. Because of His abundant provision, we are not in want of anything. God has turned disasters into blessings. We can do nothing but give Him, God The Most High, our thanks and praises. May we give Him all the glory forever and ever.
The immediate question that followed was to know exactly what His will was for us, while returning to New Orleans is on hold. In spite of the welcome arms of many brothers and sisters that came from many different places, God’s guidance is still our first concern. Praise Him because He showed us His will as we earnestly seek His way with our hearts.
Two months again before the hurricane struck, a couple in New York City said to two of our co-workers: ” We have great need for a Christian worker training center, why don’t you establish one on the East Coast? We bought a house in Philadelphia. You are welcomed to use it for free.” Our concern at the time was that our workload was full as it was. Going to New York to serve once a year, as we did at the time, was all we could afford. How could we find the time to start a training center? We answered the couple that we would pray about it. Looking back, we realize that God has already prepared a place for us two months before we even need it. How wonderful is His doing! After talking to the brother who selflessly made us the offer and followed by some renovation of the house, all of us flew to Philadelphia on the 20th of Sept and began our ministry on the East Coast.
In the last two months, brothers and sisters from both New York City and Philadelphia provided us with everything that we needed, from furniture to dinnerware to bedding. We are deeply touched and feel undeserving. Their love has poured on us like burning coals. This further encourages us to love Him and to repay His grace. Because of His perfect will, we were given the opportunity to serve, pray for the world and share His words with our brothers and sisters in Philadelphia and New York. Working in unison has been beneficial to every one of us. We are even more grateful that by His amazing Grace, His ministry was uninterrupted both within and without US during this most difficult time. Empowered and held up by the hands of our almighty God, a senior co-worker of ours was able to go to the “battlefield” and faithfully press on with her ministry, despite suffering a lingering and agonizing case of shingles. His grace knows no bounds such that we can never repay Him. May we all give our thanks to our God who loves us so dearly.
May we all sing praises to Him: ” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble of hardship or persecution or danger…. in all these things we are more than conquered through Him” (Rom. 8:35-37).
May we Join as one to preach the gospel.
Pray with one accord for the great revival to come
Co-workers of Home of Grace