親愛的弟兄姊妹平安，
二百年前，一個15歲的威爾斯女孩Mary Jones 從家鄉翻山越嶺，沿著Bala Lake赤腳步行26英哩，到Bala 小鎮的教會購買聖經。她用了六年的時間，一針一線，一分一文地儲蓄了買聖經的款項；可惜到達教會，那僅剩下的一本聖經已被訂購了。這件事感動了Charles 牧師，因此而推動了「人人有經可讀」的聖經公會運動。
上週一（29/1），英國聖經公會華人事工部借用了我們的教會，作為舉辦英國西南部華人教會教牧同工的研討會地點，主題：「歷史機遇下的十字路口」。既是因為2021英國人口普查的數據資料報告，也因為過去兩年參加華人教會的人數激增，我們怎樣把握這時機傳揚神的話語，在他們的中間見證耶穌基督的福音。
人口普查中的英國基督徒人口低於一半，早已見於報章和社交傳媒，把英國稱為基督教國家受到質疑。在全國無宗教信仰者佔最大的比例，濃墨的一片地域，數據顯示是落在卡迪夫和東南威爾斯一帶；基督徒佔據最少的比例，那最淺色的一塊，也是落在東南威爾斯。
威爾斯！這昔日聖靈火焰焚燒的復興之地，今日何竟成了鐵石心腸的花崗岩硬土? 距離上次的威爾斯大復興，已是一百年前的事。「耶和華啊，你忘記我要到幾時呢？要到永遠嗎？你掩面不顧我，要到幾時呢？」(詩篇13:1)
我們上星期的思維仍在討論「那裡沒有主日崇拜，那裡就是宣教的工場。」今日神給我們的挑戰是：「縱使這裡已有主日崇拜，這裡仍是我們宣教的工場。」很多城市的「家門口宣教」是接待遠方來的學生和家庭；但於我們生活在卡迪夫和南威爾斯一帶的基督徒，我們的「家門口宣教」，不僅是海外學生和家庭，也是我們所居住城鎮和街道的本地人。
「願那復興我的靈火，重新再來一次復興我！」今晚睡前，讓我們用5-10分鐘為鄰舍的靈魂得救禱告，把所認識的街坊名字，逐一呈獻給主，祈求聖靈再次親吻這片土地！
主內
王 興3/2/2023
<A Call from Wales> 3rd February, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters,
200 years ago, a 15-year-old Welsh girl, Mary Jones, crossed the mountains from her hometown, walking 26 miles barefoot along Bala Lake, and went to the church in Bala to buy a Bible. She had worked and saved penny by penny for 6 years in order to buy a Bible. Sadly, when she arrived the church, the only remaining Bible had been ordered by. Inspired by Mary, Rev Charles promoted ‘A Bible for everyone’ Bible Society Movement.
Last Monday 29/1, the UK Bible Society Chinese Ministry held a seminar in our church for the West England and Wales Chinese Churches’ pastors. The theme: “Crossroads in History”. Due to the 2021 UK Census, and the surge in number of people attending Chinese churches in the past two years, we have to seize this opportunity to proclaim the Word of God and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
The census shows that less than half of the British population are Christians, is Britain still a Christian country? Nationwide, people with no religious beliefs account for the largest proportion, with Cardiff and southeast Wales on the top. Christians account for the least proportion, especially in Southeast Wales.
Wales was once the land of Revival, but has now become a hard-hearted granite and hard soil. The last Wales Revival happened over 100 years ago. ‘How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?’ (Psalm 13:1)
We were still discussing ‘Where there is no Sunday Worship, there is a mission field.’ The challenge God has given us today is, ‘Even though there is Sunday Worship here, this is still our mission field.’ ‘Door-step Mission’ in many cities are receiving students and families from afar; but for us Christians living in Cardiff and South Wales, our ‘Door-step Mission’ is not only overseas students and families, but also the local people.
‘May the Lord’s fire of revival revive me again!’ Before going to bed tonight, let us spend 5-10 minutes praying for the salvation of our neighbours, presenting them to the Lord one by one, and praying for the blessings of the Holy Spirit on this land again!
In Christ,
Sam Wong