夏長勝牧師的見證 – 神的慈愛、我的見證 – 2016

我出生於香港，在一個非基督教家庭長大，雖然我曾經讀過一間基督教小學，卻對宗教並沒有任何的興趣。當我十二歲的時候，我父母一家移民來到美國，他們常會提示我四兄妹，教育是我們出人頭地最好的途徑。因此我們都很努力讀書，最終我考入麻省理工學院，以電子工程為我的專科。

在大學期間，沒想到神已經開始軟化我的心去接受祂的大愛。當時我體會到人生就算是得到諸般的財富及獎賞，而沒有真誠的愛及友誼，它依然是缺乏真正的意義。但是，感謝神！在校園的一個查經班裡，我深深地被耶穌基督為我這樣的罪人捨己的愛所感動。「奇異的愛，怎能如此？我主我神，竟為我死？」於是在1983年，我接受了耶穌基督為我生命的主宰及救主，幾個月後，我就藉著洗禮去表明我對主的確信和委身。

大學畢業後，我的妻子(黃翠萍)與我定居在紐約上州，我也在IBM公司工作多年，神厚賜我們三個兒女：惠銘、惠珍及惠欣(甚至最近兒媳 – 葉思恩)。每個星期天我們一家開車到紐約唐人街，去參加中華海外宣道會的主日崇拜及團契。我一直很重視團契生活對我個人靈命的成長，因為在團契裡基督的愛激勵我，不但樂意與人分享福音，更願意關心他們。

在過去多年來，神藉著各樣的事奉，讓我從中感受到真正的喜樂和永恆的意義。我也更渴慕要跟隨耶穌，明白祂的真道，所以在1998年的春天，我公司下班後就開始在紐約乃役神學院修課。同時，我也默默地禱告，如果是神的旨意，我願意為祂全職事奉。後來在2001年，當我首次參加使者協會所舉辦的華人差傳大會，我公開地回應神的呼召，願意奉獻餘下一生，為主所用。

2006年經過多年尋求神的旨意，又得到我家人的祝福後，我終於向公司辭職並進入西敏寺神學院，就讀道學碩士的課程，畢業後感謝神為我開路，讓我在若歌教會事奉了五年。

從2016年一月開始，我再次蒙主恩召，成為美門華人基督教會的傳道，協助國語堂及粵語堂的聖工，我誠心地期望神會應允美門教會像雅比斯所祈求的:「甚願你賜福與我、擴張我的境界、常與我同在、保佑我不遭患難、不受艱苦。」(代上 4:10)

各位親愛的朋友們、主內弟兄姊妹，如果你對福音感到興趣，或需要輔導及代禱，可以隨時與我聯繫，請記住: 「神的愛是永不止息！」

I was born and raised in a non-Christian family in Hong Kong. Although I attended a Christian elementary school, I had no interest in religion at all. At twelve, my parents and I immigrated to the United States. They often emphasized to us children that education was the key to a better life here. So we studied hard and, eventually, I was admitted into M.I.T. where I majored in electrical engineering.

While in college, unknowingly to me, God was already softening my heart to receive His great love. For soon I realized that life, even with all its riches and awards, if without genuine love and friendship, still lacked true meaning. But thanks be to God! While attending a campus bible study group, I was humbled and touched by Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love for such a sinner like me. “Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?” Thus, in 1983, I accepted Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior. A few months later I testified my faith and commitment in Him through baptism.

After college my wife, Karen, and I settled in upstate New York where I worked at IBM for many years. God has blessed us with three children, Daniel, Rachel, and Stephanie (even recently, our daughter-in-law, Christine). Each Sunday my family and I would drive to Chinatown, NY to attend worship service and fellowship at Oversea Chinese Mission. I have always treasured the importance of a vibrant fellowship life for my spiritual growth. For within my fellowship Christ’s love has motivated me, not only to share the gospel with others, but also to care for them.

During those years, I found real joy and eternal meaning while serving God in various ministries. My passion to follow Jesus and know His truth also grew in unison. Thus, in the spring of 1998, I started to attend Nyack Alliance Theological Seminary part-time after work. I also prayed that if it was God’s will, I would be willing to serve Him full-time. In 2001 while attending my first Chinese Mission Convention sponsored by Ambassadors for Christ, I publicly responded to God’s calling to be His unworthy servant for the remainder of my life.

In 2006, after much seeking of God’s will and with my family’s blessings, I resigned from work and enrolled in Westminster Theological Seminary. Three years later I graduated with a M. Div. degree. Thanks be to God Who then opened the door for me to serve at Rutgers Community Christian Church for five years.

Since January 2016, by God’s wonderful grace, I have been called to serve at MCCC, assisting in both Mandarin and Cantonese ministries. It is my sincere desire that God would also grant MCCC what Jabez had prayed, “Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm, that it may not pain me!” (1 Chron. 4:10)

Dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, if you are interested in the gospel, or in need of biblical advice and prayer support, please feel free to contact me. Remember: God’s love never fails!.