Shepherd’s Voice
The Heartfelt Sharing of Service of the Four New Deacons
By Peter Law

With the lessening effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the passing of year 2022, our church welcomes the upcoming 2023 new year. Our English congregation theme of this year is “Set apart for God, Called to be a Witness of Jesus Christ”. May all of us who serve be reminded to keep Jesus Christ as our focus, following the serving attitude of Jesus, living a Christ-centered life, and maintaining God’s work and will with utmost importance.

Since 2017, there has not been any significant increase to our church’s Elders and Deacons leadership team. However, praise be to God as I have some good news to share! We will be welcoming four new deacons to join our church’s leadership. They are all capable, accomplished, and willing to serve God with a pure heart. Please keep them in your prayers, along with the church’s entire Elders and Deacons team.

The following is the four deacons’ sharing and prayer items.

Ever since the beginning of this year, I have had the burden regarding the younger people in the English congregation; their relationship with Jesus and their spiritual growth. After talking with both brother Jeason and Pastor Dave inquiring about the needs and opportunities within the English congregation, brother Jimmy contacted me and asked me to prayerfully consider the role of a deacon. I was very surprised because it was a role I never considered. After talking to my wife about it and spending time in prayer, I felt the calling of the Holy Spirit to take the position. My prayer is that I will be able to serve with humility.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Jack Zhang (Silas Fellowship)

I became a believer in 2008 and started worshipping at PEC in 2010. Looking back on my journey as a Christian from the present, I am indeed grateful to the Lord for His guidance.

I was previously schooled in mechanical design, and then worked as a software engineer. I am what is generally known as an “IT Male”. If not for the grace of the Lord that exposed my heart, I could not have believed in Him on account of my innate analytical nature. In my service to God, I began also with pragmatic assignments such as audio-visual and meal-organization duties. Later on, I became a group leader in my fellowship and subsequently the fellowship leader. As the challenges to my capabilities increased, I became even more aware of my own limitations and deficiencies and evermore grateful to God. If not for His support, I could not have done anything. It is His will that accomplishes all things. I learned also the importance of collective integration in my service, having received the backing of many brothers and sisters.

The role of a Deacon is a new lesson and challenge for me. I am aware of my insignificance and the need to rely more on the Lord. In particular, I require edification and growth in two areas: Firstly, the cultivation of my spiritual life with more time to cleave to the Lord, for that is the fundamental foundation of all things; Secondly, fellowship and coordination with all Brothers and Sisters serving together in the Household of God. Your prayers of intercession on these aspects are much appreciated.

Wilson Chic (Elisha Fellowship)

In the past, some Brothers have regularly reminded me that those who follow the Lord must also have the determination to serve Him. When one of them inquired around 2 months ago whether I had the burden to serve as a Deacon, I had to confess that at that time, I was really not so compelled as I wasn’t even able to distinguish between service and engagement.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 reminds me that a Christian is not only a servant of God, but must obey His commandments and statutes, and serve Him with fear and love and with all of one’s heart and soul.

Then on a recent day, an Elder again asked if I felt the calling to be a Deacon. Even though in my heart I had indeed become aware of it, yet the notion was still agonizing. Oh Lord! I was more fond of coming to church to enjoy the service of others! Even though I fully recognize the pleasure in serving Christ, yet I was afraid of losing it when called upon to make additional personal sacrifices. But God repeatedly admonished me through the Bible: “Let my people go, that they may serve me!”

Whenever I think of the Lord sacrificing His life to save me, I am deeply touched by the love of God that rescued me from sin and death so that I can stand before Him without fear. How precious it will be to serve this glorious Lord, the one and only God, for the remainder of my days!

In this past year, we have traversed many hardships. Thank God for allowing us to partake in His power and providence! When putting my faith into practice, I’ve discovered that there are many areas that require the Lord’s pruning.

Please pray for me on the following:

1) To uphold the truth of the Bible with a pure heart.

2) To refrain from uttering embellishments, malice and falsehoods, and have the conviction to only preach and glorify the Lord.

Jojo Cheung (Elisha Fellowship)

I came to Christ 30 years ago at the Hephzibah Evangelestic Centre, Hong Kong. Thank God for leading me to Richmond Peace Evangelical Church and have been here for 26 years. Richmond Peace Evangelical Church is the place where I grow my spiritual life and learn to serve our God.

I thank God for granting this spiritual home to me. As a member in the family, it is obvious for me to coordinate with other members of PEC with my best effort to make our church a place to glorifying God and bear witness for Him.

Earthly family consists of parent and children, old and young in age and each one has their specific position in the family. Even the young children can have their own function in the family, such as packing up all the toys after their usage to let the parent to have time to handle other more important matters. With the same desire as a young child to clean up the toys after the usage, I shall endeavor to serve the Lord in my spiritual home.

When I am examining myself, I would wonder that I can ever take up the post to serve as “Deacon under probation” of PEC! I can serve God is purely through His grace. God has led me little by little to learn to serve Him in the past years, letting me to understand what is meant by “treasure in earthen vessels”, experiencing His almighty power and His help on me. Through these learning, I shall serve Him with faithfulness and total dependant on Him to take up this post.

I pray that God will guide me to have effective time management, try my best and faithfully to serve in the task He has sent me. I shall also remember it by heart the meaning of “Shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” & “Love your neighbor as yourself”