2024 UKGA Newsletter – Portsmouth
Portsmouth Church news
We thank God for His guidance and protection throughout 2024. Although we faced many challenges and changes, we have experienced God’s abidance and love in His church.
In 2024, we gathered together in fellowship with God during our spiritual and evangelistic convocations in April and October, and on our September church outing when we were blessed with good weather and company.
In November 2024, we held a special RE service with students, their parents, and teachers on the topic of ‘Family Altar’ led by a preacher. We were encouraged to establish our own family altar at home in our daily worship of God, to build up our faith and relationship with God, and to have meaningful fellowship with our own family members while imparting the Lord’s teachings to the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:6–9).
In the past year, a few Portsmouth members have relocated to live in elsewhere. While this has decreased the number of members participating in the local church work, we know that where we may be lacking, God will lead to ensure that His work will be completed. As long as we have the obedience and faith to trust in God’s guidance, we need not be at a loss over how the work of God’s church will be accomplished.
Although we may feel alone like Elijah in carrying out God’s work (1 Kings 18:22) or there are obstacles like Goliath standing before us in a dire situation (1 Samuel 17:24–25), if we have obey and have faith in God, He will strengthen and lead us. God will not forsake us or leave us to struggle: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
樸茨茅斯教會
我們只能感謝神在 2024 年全年的帶領和保護。
儘管樸茨茅斯教會多年來經歷了許多挑戰和變化，但我們仍然可以在祂的教會中感受到神的同在和愛。
在過去的一年裡，我們多次聚在一起與神、及信徒間彼此交通。我們很蒙福能夠在四月和十月舉開靈恩佈道會。九月份，我們舉辦了一次教會郊遊，蒙神安排美好天氣，參加同靈也很多。
十一月份，我們舉辦了一次宗教教育特別聚會，由傳道主領，以「家庭祭壇」為主題，有家長、學生、教員參加。我們受到鼓勵在家裡建立自己的家庭祭壇，在我們日常的敬拜中建立我們的信仰及與神的關係，並與我們的家人進行有意義的交通，同時也將主的教導傳授給下一代（申命記六6-9）。
在過去的一年裡，我們有數位信徒搬遷到了其他地方，這對一間小教會來說影響很大。雖然這可能會影響參與教會聖工的信徒人數，但我們知道，在我們可能有所不足的地方，神必帶領並確保祂的工作得以完成。只要我們順服並憑信心依靠神的引導，我們就無須為如何作成神教會的工作而茫然無措。
有時我們可能會感覺像以利亞一樣，認為我們是獨自在完成神的工作（列王紀上十八22），或感覺障礙就像歌利亞一樣，在我們面前危急的情況下出現（撒母耳記上十七24-25），但只要憑信心順服神，祂必會堅固並引領我們。只要我們信靠他，神就不會離棄我們，也不會讓我們陷入困境。正如《以賽亞書》第四十一章第10節 中，神向我們保證說：「你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。」