通訊 Newsletter

3 月2013通訊

The more you gamble the more wreckage to your life! Problem gambling is hugely harmful to people! Should you despair because there is no way to quit? By no means! Our first anniversary Thanksgiving dinner promoted this message. Over the past year we brought hope and life change to those who were trapped. Even without financial support from other organizations, we were able to meet the past year's rent and ministry expenditure, praise the Lord! And this gives us the courage to enter our second year of ministry, aiming to heal and save more lost souls. Quote from a caring supporter: "May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you every day, bravely showing the Kingdom of God and His love!". We value such encouragement from you, please continue to pray and support Inner Journey’s urban mission!

 

賭愈深，生命愈暗淡！賭博的禍害，真的是害人不淺！使人感到不知如何面對或絕望，誤以為那是無法解決的事情！不是這樣的啦！心路的首屆周年感恩晚餐會正是要宣傳這訊息，並為過去一年給受困惑的人帶來活生生的盼望、轉機感恩。也讓我們經歷在無任何機構支持下，上帝的信實讓我們能支付過去一年的租金和事工開支，感謝主！以上種種鼓勵了我們更要努力面對第二年的事奉，讓更多失

喪的人蒙恩得醫治。一位支持和關心「心路」的肢體寫給我們的說話：“願賜平安和喜樂的主，每天與「心路」同步，展示神的國度和慈愛！” 這正是我們需要這樣的鼓勵和心願，請你繼續禱告及支持「心 路」的城市宣教事奉！

 

 

2 月2013通訊

一個使我感到需要更加努力的短訊：「我已變成問題，每次立心戒賭都唔成功，我對自己失去了信心。我真想一死了之…」這短訊充滿著失意和絕望。我的回應：「不要放棄，堅持下去啊！人生的失敗不是那麼無望的。我相信那是做人的操練，是經歷上帝出人意外幫助的時刻。」

「心路生命事工」全賴上帝的預備和恩典。感謝主！「福音戒賭輔導」在過去十個月來已經與37位輔導者面談，透過電話戒賭輔導幫助的人次亦達到74位（甚至有遠自墨爾本及紐省鄉鎮的人士來電）。我們在2012年5月開始為戒賭朋友及其家人成立「身心靈Recovery小組」，逢星期一晚上七時聚會，目前有15位參加者穩定出席。

而師母楊傳道全力推動的「靈命更新」課程方面，截至現時共有26位主內肢體已參加「靈閱與靈修」操練課程，獲得美好的屬靈生命成長，我們亦計劃在未來繼續舉辦更多課程和營會，服事更多主內肢體。此外，在2012年十月開始在主日為那些來「心路」尋求幫助者舉辦小組敬拜。

現附上「心路」事工簡介和首屆感恩晚餐會邀請（福音戒賭的預工、見證神及宣傳），懇請你禱告記念這個外展活動或邀請人來參加。最後，請你為我們在新一年的事奉祈求，讓更多被困的人得到幫助！

蔡志明牧師及楊蘭妹傳道謹上

二零一三年一月二十八日

 

Dear co-workers in Christ,

An SMS that reminded me I need to work harder: "I have become a problem, every time I’ve decided to quit gambling has ended up in failure, I have lost faith in myself. I really want to die’. Isn’t this message full of frustration and despair? This is how I would respond: “Don't give up, insist on your decision! There is hope in failure. Failure is only a trial and training; it is the opportunity to experience the unexpected help of God. “

Inner Journey is an innovative urban ministry. We thank God that over the past ten months He has given us so many people to serve and witness to. In this time, Inner Journey has helped 37 people in face to face counselling, while telephone counselling for problem gamblers has increased to 74 calls (with some calls from Melbourne and rural towns in NSW). Furthermore, we have established a body, mind and spirit recovery group for gamblers and their families, which meet every Monday at 7pm. At present there are 15 regular participants.

Meanwhile Pastor Michelle Choy is committed to promoting the spiritual life renewal programs. There were a total of 27 participants last year, and there has been good spiritual life growth among them. Last year, since October 2012she is has established Sunday worship for those in need.

Please find attached an invitation to our 1st anniversary celebration and thanksgiving dinner. We earnestly hope you will attend and consider inviting others. Please pray for this dinner in order to maximize our service to those trapped! Through this dinner we seek to raise awareness of problem gambling prevention, witness God and promote our service to the community.

Rev. Tony Choy & Michelle Choy

11月2012通訊

最近兩次在教會的主日講道後，有肢體分享家人的賭博問題及請求幫助。讓我深深印證賭博問題帶來沉重的代價！從報導知悉紐省八個賭徒當中就有一人存在危險的賭博問題。而賭博對社會有多方面的影響，最另人關注的有嚴重的家庭經濟問題、超高的信用欠債、關係破裂、 家庭暴力和自殺。在過去二十年，維省賭博的金額在穩步增加，從1988年小於10億元至今(2010-11年)竟然增長至50億元。

在同工會分享這些情況的時候，有同工笑著說「那將會是長做長有的事奉啊！」我們絕對不是幸災樂禍的心態，那是我們都深深體會賭博之害。從三月中至今我們共有33位受輔者，每周一晚有十多人參加戒賭敬拜小組，並在十月中開始特別為他們及家人開設主日小組敬拜。盼望以上的感恩分享能夠幫助你更明白怎樣為「心路」的城市宣教事工禱告，也感謝你在主裏的關心和禱告！

 

蔡志明牧師

 

November 2012 Update

Recently while I was preaching at two churches, some people earnestly shared with me their families’ gambling problems and asked for help. These encounters have confirmed that problem gambling comes at heavy price! In addition, a recent report alerts us to the dangers and costs of excessive gambling - almost one in eight gamblers in NSW is at risk of problem gambling. Social costs include serious family economic problems, high credit indebtedness, relationship breakdown, family violence and suicide. Furthermore, the amount gambled annually in Victoria has steadily grown over the past two decades, from less than $1 billion in 1988 to more than $5 billion in 2010-11.

As I shared this information at our co-workers meeting, one co-worker joked, "It’s an endless opportunity!". Not that we are gloating about our service, but we have really seen the damage of gambling. Currently we have a total of 33 persons on our face to face counselling list, while each Monday night over 10 people attend the Recovery worship group. Plus we have just started a Sunday worship meeting for gamblers and their spouses. At this point, we give thanks to the Lord, and hope that you now have a better understanding of our urban mission and know how you can pray for us!

 

Yours in His service

Rev. Choy

Newsletter July 2012

「心路」七月通訊

以戒賭輔導傳揚福音，以生命更新見證基督！

主裏親愛的肢體：

  自三月以來，「心路」已經與十四位戒賭輔導者面談，透過電話輔導幫助的人次更是多不勝數。每週為賭徒及其家人舉辦的小組敬拜聚會，亦有穩定的參加者。此外，六月初有一賭徒的配偶決志信主，成為我們城市宣教的第一個福音果子。讚美主！我們現時正安排初信成長課程。未來幾個月將舉辦兩個培訓課程：1)戒賭輔導訓練；2)靈命更新（詳情請見附件）。這些成果使我們經歷到「不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的靈方能成事」的寶貴和真實，感謝主！

  除了蒙上帝賜給我們這些果子，我們亦全賴祂供應營運經費。「心路」是全憑信心運作的獨立城市宣教事工，沒有任何宗派和財團的財務支持，經費全部來自主內肢體的愛心奉獻。我們所需經費約每月澳元$6000 ，而且至今還未能支付同工薪酬。盼望弟兄姊妹按感動以禱告和愛心奉獻支持我們的事工。

  若主內肢體願意支持「福音戒賭事工」，請把奉獻存入Inner Journey (Australia)在Westpac的銀行(BSB 032-260; Account 301-930)。請把存款記錄以電郵或短訊寄回，以便我們寄回收據和致謝。

蔡志明牧師及楊蘭妹傳道謹上

Sharing the Gospel and transforming lives through gambling counseling

Dear Brother and Sister in Christ:

Since March 2012, Inner Journey has given ongoing counselling to fourteen problem gamblers and has provided phone counselling to many others and their family. Every Wednesday a group gathering and worship is held at our office especially for these people and family members. In June, one attendee accepted Christ as their savior; the first fruit of our urban ministry. Praise the Lord!

The coming months will be a busy time as we prepare to launch a new believer growth course and two separate training courses on a) problem gambling counseling, and b) spiritual renewal. Please read the attached brochure for more details. We are excited and thank the Lord for allowing us to continually experience the scripture ‘not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit’. It is true and precious!

We thank God for entrusting us with these people, we also depend on our Lord for the daily needs. As an independent faith-based ministry, Inner Journey is not affiliated or funded by other organisations or church. Our work relies fully on God’s provision and the love and support we receive from brothers and sisters in Christ. Inner Journey needs AUD6000 each month to sustain and continue its growth. We welcome you to pray and support us in expanding this much needed ministry.

If you wish to support our ministry through financial contributions, the ‘Inner Journey Australia’ account is held at Westpac Bank (BSB 032-260 Account 301-930).Please send us the deposit records through emails or mobile phone messages, so that we can send you the receipt and our thanks.

Rev Tony Choy and Pastor Michelle Choy