Hội Tin Lành Liên Hiệp

GENERAL DIRECTION FOR MINISTRIES

BAN BIÊN TẬP: Chúng tôi chuyển ngữ bài diễn văn của MS Nguyễn Đức Na – Hội trưởng Hội Tin Lành Liên Hiệp phát biểu trong ngày Lễ ra mắt. Quí độc giả có thể giới thiệu bài này cho những người sử dụng Tiếng Anh. Chân thành cám ơn.

GENERAL DIRECTION FOR MINISTRIES OF CONVERGE EVANGELICAL AFFILIATION (CEA) during the first three year term (2012-2015)

(The speech of Reverend Nguyen Duc Na – The President of CEA in the opening ceremony)

The ministries of the CEA will perform in the first three – year term:

1/ Mission work.
2/ Consolidate and develop local churches.

3/ Carry out charity work.

Three pastoral activities will go with each other closely, and local churches will be the centre. Any churches fully carry out and complete these three pastoral ministries, then the Lord will be glorified and many people will be saved.

The leading idea conducts all ministries: Standing firmly on its foot and God’s Word, CEA who do everything through power of Holy Spirit is going to use any kind of medium in His grace to preach Gospel; additionally with direct mission work of the local churches CEA will be able to establish local ones in the Vietnamese community everywhere.

When the new church is formed, the holy worship ought to beheld so that: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive “ (Ephesians 4:14) but “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13) and “Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).This is not only the law but also God’s grace to His children who may come before His sight in Jesus’ name.

To reach such a spiritual level, the Church should open some other spiritual courses such as regularly Bible courses which appropriate for each age group. This will help believers not to “carried about with every wind of doctrine”

We are going to have basic general Bible Courses for God’s children so that they can tell their testimony to everybody, especially the neighbors and relatives. Then the local church will develop and accomplish Great Command and complete the vision of CEA. We are going to name local churches according to name of commune: ward/village/town or city. Therefore the name of a local church will be: Converge Evangelical Church of + name of that local. For example, now we have Converge Evangelical Church of Son Thanh (Son Ha district, Quang Ngai Province.)

The local churches must be able to preach Gospel and make disciples of all in their area.

Moreover CEA is going to train Bible theology and ministries course for all the pastors shepherding in local churches. These pastors ought to finish the course because it is the most important element among others to be ordained as well as offered pastoral works in the future. Since thus the Lord will call those who have spiritual abilities and look for an opportunity to serve Him.

The last ministry is the charity work. Galatians 6:2 remind us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”. And Galatians 6:9-10, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”.

We also remember, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

I think that Word of God is very clear. It contains the command of the heart of love, no need to explain. Let us remember to do charity work through God’s grace. We can say Antioch Church did charity work wonderfully. “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:28-30).

They had listened to the prophecies of famine which will occur, and they did donate to help brothers in Christ. That was really a great faith to do charity work.

We also are taught from Psalm 112:9, “He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor”.

I would like you to refer NIV Bible,

“He has scattered ABROAD his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor”. When we have a heart of open charity, our practice of charity work cannot be limited in a country, but reach to foreign countries (abroad).

We not only receive relief, but also give freely when we really experience God’s grace. Our righteousness endures forever and our dignifying will be lifted high in honor then.

We know that Joseph Charity Group has been working for 20 years in Vietnam. It has been supporting local churches.

Besides that we also have Luke Charity Treatment which was formed in early 2012 by pastor-doctor Luke Thanh. It will also support local churches.

In short, we are going to work together to carry out ministries and perfect GREAT COMMAND – proclaims the Gospel to all nations and we will express our true love through our action of sharing.

I hope in Jesus’ name and God’s grace, we will see the local churches “healthy” by mission work and  “fresh”  in charity work.

Amen.

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