What an exciting visit for my wife and I as we returned to the church where we served for some years prior to coming to Phoenix. The 3 day anniversary weekend allowed us to renew relationships with many friends but, possibly, the most meaningful moments didn’t come when I was speaking in the church but when I got to talk with Brother Wong, a 97 year old faithful servant of our Lord. About 6 years back, I met Mr. and Mrs. Wong after a Sunday service where Mrs. Wong found me to comment on some of the sermon that I had preached that day. I remember thinking what a wonderfully cute couple these two made and it was such a joy for me to weekly come in contact with them. Over the next couple of years, we became friends as they reached out to me as a pastor. Then the unexpected happened as Mrs. Wong, at the age of 92, had a fall and almost immediately passed. The whole church was shocked for it had always appeared that Mr. Wong was the weaker of the two as they independently came to church each week!
Receiving Mr. Wong’s hug and smile at the church’s celebration banquet, the memories of his wife came flashing back. Their weekly efforts to make it to the church via the assistance of their 67 year old care giving son was always a testimony to those who knew them both. As the banquet was almost finished, I learned that Mr. Wong continues to weekly be in the services of the church because he feels that he represents his family to the Lord. Even at his age, Mr. Wong is a blessing to those he comes in contact with because of his commitment to faithfulness with all of his life. Not only does his witness challenge me as he encourages others, his example reminds us all that people learn from how we live.
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“访温哥华”
我和我的太太很兴奋地回到我们在来凤凰城之前，曾事奉的温哥华华人教会探访。在三天的周年庆周末，让我们可以和很多老朋友重叙主恩。最有意义的不是我可以在教会分享，而是我可以再见到王弟兄；王弟兄今年已经97岁，是一个忠心事奉上帝的仆人。大概在六年前，我第一次在主日崇拜后，遇到他和他的太太。他的太太给我当日讲道有很多评语。之后，每个礼拜我都很高兴得和他们见面。在后来两年内我们变成朋友；他们待我是他们的牧师。有一天王姐妹，在挂窗帘的时候不幸跌倒，她立即就去世了。她当年是92岁。整个教会非常的震惊，因为王弟兄是两人中比较弱的一个，他们夫妇俩总是一起由王姐妹开车来教会参加所有的活动。
在教会50周年庆的晚宴上接受到王弟兄大大的笑容和拥抱，对他太太的怀念也立刻涌上来。现在他们67岁的儿子开车协助王弟兄到教会，他仍然在认识他们的每个人前为主作见证。每一个遇到这个年纪的王弟兄，都因他一生的忠心事主受到祝福。他鼓励别人的见证，不只给我挑战；他的模范也提醒我，所有的人会学习我们如何生活。