初谈宋尚节

       宋尚节（John Sung, 1901–1944）是20世纪上半叶最有影响力的中国布道家，被誉为“中国的布道王”。他的布道对中国教会和海外华人教会产生了深远影响。

       第一次听到宋尚节这个名字，是我1998年夏天参加鹤岗市教会举办的义工培训班上。有一位叫贾兰菊的神学生在“讲道法”那门课上提到宋尚节的讲道很有特点，比如：宋尚节会把棺材带到现场，告诉人要及早悔改信耶稣。又比如：当宋尚节讲乃缦得医治（王下第5章）时，他当场从讲台上跳下去、再上来7次，用以表达乃缦到约旦河里沐浴7回。这是我对宋尚节的初步印象：一位讲道方式灵活的传道人。

       在南京神学院读书期间，老师和同学偶尔会谈到宋尚节，然而他的形象在我心中若隐若现，并不明晰。 在2003年南京神学院读研究生时，陈泽民副院长（1917年10月15日—2018年10月15日）上课时见证：我小时候在宋尚节布道会上决志信了耶稣。“基督时报”上也记录过这件事：

         “一篇报道记载，1931年宋尚节在汕头伯特利教堂举办布道会，此时年仅14岁的陈泽民被深深震撼——‘他的眼睛和视野被扩大了’，他‘开始第一次看到一个中国人，以中国化的方式宣讲福音所能彰显的能量’，这段经历对他的一生产生了重大影响，从此萌生了尽快成为全职传道人的念头”。

        陈副院长学识渊博，对神学各家各派的思想也颇为熟悉。尽管他后来的神学路线倾向于自由主义神学，但他对宋尚节却心存敬意。

• 为何研究宋尚节？

        43岁这个年龄将宋尚节和我联系起来。宋尚节43岁被主接走；我43岁做了开胸手术，生命得到更新和复兴。 

       我自幼患有先天性心脏病，15岁时因心衰开始寻求信仰，受圣灵感动，认罪悔改，接受耶稣基督为救主，并将一生奉献给福音事工。主奇妙地保守医治我活了下来。2020年2月13日的开胸手术后，我再次将自己奉献于主。作者是阿尔伯特·本杰明·辛普森（Albert Benjamin Simpson, 1843–1919）所唱：“前要的是祝福，今要主自己，前要的是医治，今要主而已；前我贪求恩赐，今要赐恩者；前我寻求能力，今要全能者”。

        术后修养康复期间正值疫情肆虐、闭门不出时，我听到完整的宋尚节见证。 他的见证点燃了我祈祷的火焰和圣洁的热忱。宋尚节27岁在美国获得化学博士学位后，因受主呼召毅然决然地返回中国，并在横渡太平洋、临近中国海岸时，他将象征世上荣耀和身份证明的盒子和金钥匙抛掷到大海，宣告自己彻底向世界死、向基督活。想到这些使我心潮澎湃，巴不得自己也能爱主不顾一切。

        宋尚节的布道像使徒保罗那样大有能力。他的布道使一个个灵魂获得救赎，脱离罪恶，甚至经历大神迹、大医治。愿主在二十一世纪想起更多大有能力的工人，在这黑暗的时代唤醒一个个将死的灵魂，使更多人经历救主死里复活的救恩。

        宋尚节英年早逝。他在43岁完成主所托付的使命后被主接走。圣灵借着他的死更多唤醒我灵性上的觉醒。主说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，一粒麦子若不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来”（约12:24）。若不死后不能生。经历心脏大手术死里复生的我，在今后的日子里怎能再苟且偷生、为自己而活呢？

        王明道称：宋尚节是中国近代历史上中国教会的“铁柱子”。宋尚节的见证让我流泪。一日在小区作晨祷时，圣灵感动我博士论文要研究宋尚节。我的祈祷是，愿我的研究不仅是知识上的探讨，更是灵性上的进深！愿感动宋尚节的灵加倍地感动更多神所呼召的仆人！

• 宣教学课

        2022年秋天，我修一门宣教学课程。Dr. Dean Sieberhagen教授建议我，如果要研究宋尚节，必须要从教会历史的角度先探索宋尚节之前他的老家福建省的传教史。当时我的学期论文题目是：“这人撒种，那人收割：探索宋尚节之前中国福建的新教宣教历史”（ “One Sows and Another Reaps”: Exploring the Protestant Missions History in Fujian China before John Sung’s Ministry）。关于这方面的资料很难找。时间短，任务重，在一个半月内写出一篇25页的学术性文章并非易事。我恒切祷告，求主带领。很奇妙，主预备我在网上认识了Dr. Bill Brown教授。我写邮件向他寻求帮助，他第二天就把大量早期去福建的宣教士及相关材料发邮件给我，并在邮件中说：

       “我还有两篇关于他（宋尚节）的传记，并且采访过一位中国的年长弟兄和一位姊妹。他们在孩提时代曾参加过宋博士在鼓浪屿的聚会，至今仍清晰记得当时许多人不喜欢他，但他们亲眼看见一位校长的儿子——自出生起就瘸腿——被人推着上台，却当场得了医治，走下台来。整个鼓浪屿为之轰动。我本人是个非常怀疑的人，尤其是在电视上看到那么多的欺骗（保罗的时代也同样如此），但听他们如此生动的分享，真是一个祝福。”

（未完待续）

An Initial Reflection on John Sung

          John Sung (1901–1944) was the most influential Chinese evangelist in the first half of the 20th century, hailed as the “Evangelist King of China.” His preaching had a profound impact on the Chinese church and the overseas Chinese church.

         The first time I heard the name John Sung was in the summer of 1998, when I attended a Christian volunteer training program held by the church in Hegang City. A seminary student named Jia Lanjü mentioned in the “Preaching” class that John Sung’s preaching had some very unique features. For example, Sung would bring a coffin to the site, telling people to repent and believe in Jesus right away. Another example: when he preached on Naaman’s healing (2 Kings 5), he would actually jump down from the pulpit and climb back up seven times, to demonstrate Naaman dipping himself seven times in the Jordan River. This was my first impression of John Sung: a preacher with a very flexible style of delivering sermons.

        During my studies at Nanjing Theological Seminary, teachers and classmates would occasionally talk about John Sung, but his image in my mind was vague and indistinct. In 2003, while I was a graduate student at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, Vice President Chen Zemin (October 15, 1917 – October 15, 2018) testified in class: “When I was a child, I made a decision for Christ at one of John Sung’s revival meetings.” Christian Times also recorded this event:

         “A report noted that in 1931, John Sung held revival meetings at the Bethel Church in Shantou. At that time, 14-year-old Chen Zemin was deeply moved— ‘his eyes and vision were broadened,’ and he ‘for the first time saw how a Chinese person, preaching the gospel in a Chinese way, could display such power.’ This experience had a significant impact on his whole life, and from then on, he developed the desire to quickly become a full-time preacher.”

Vice President Chen was very learned and familiar with the thoughts of different theological traditions. Although his later theological orientation leaned toward liberal theology, he nevertheless held John Sung in high respect.

Why Study John Sung?

         The age of 43 connects John Sung and me. John Sung was taken by the Lord at the age of 43; I, at 43, underwent open-heart surgery, through which my life was renewed and revived.

I was born with congenital heart disease, and at the age of 15, because of heart failure, I began to seek faith. Moved by the Holy Spirit, I confessed my sins, repented, accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, and dedicated my life to the gospel ministry. The Lord wonderfully preserved and healed me so that I survived. After my open-heart surgery on February 13, 2020, once again, I dedicated myself to the Lord. As American pastor and hymn writer Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919) sang:

       “Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord; once it was the feeling, now it is His Word;

once His gift I wanted, now, the Giver own; once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.”

        During my post-surgery recovery, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, I heard the full testimony of John Sung. His testimony ignited in me the fire of prayer and a holy passion. At the age of 27, after earning a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States, Sung, compelled by the Lord’s call, resolutely returned to China. While crossing the Pacific Ocean and nearing the Chinese coast, he threw into the sea the box and golden key that symbolized worldly glory and his identity credentials, declaring that he had died completely to the world and now lived only to Christ. Thinking of this stirred my heart greatly, making me long to also love the Lord without holding anything back.

         John Sung’s preaching was powerful, like that of the Apostle Paul. His messages brought salvation to souls, delivered them from sin, and were accompanied by great signs and healings. May the Lord in the 21st century raise up more mighty workers, awakening dying souls in this dark age, so that more people may experience the salvation of the risen Lord.

         John Sung died young. At the age of 43, having completed the mission entrusted to him, he was taken by the Lord. Through his death, the Holy Spirit further awakened me spiritually. The Lord said: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24). Without dying, there can be no life. Having experienced death and resurrection through open-heart surgery, how could I in the days ahead live carelessly for myself again?

         Wang Mingdao once called John Sung the “iron pillar” of the modern Chinese church in China’s recent history. John Sung’s testimony moved me to tears. One morning during my neighborhood prayer walk, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that my doctoral dissertation should focus on John Sung. My prayer is that my research will not only be an academic exploration but also a deepening of my spiritual life! May the Spirit that moved John Sung also move, in double measure, more servants whom God has called!

Mission Class

        In the autumn of 2022, I took a course in mission. Professor Dr. Dean Sieberhagen suggested that if I wanted to study John Sung, I must first explore, from the perspective of church history, the history of missions in his home province of Fujian before his ministry. At that time, my term paper was titled: “One Sows and Another Reaps: Exploring the Protestant Missions History in Fujian China before John Sung’s Ministry.” It was very difficult to find materials on this topic. With little time and heavy workload, producing a 25-page academic paper in just one and a half months was not easy. I prayed earnestly, asking the Lord for guidance. Miraculously, the Lord prepared for me to meet Professor Dr. Bill Brown online. I wrote him an email seeking help, and the next day he sent me a large amount of material on early missionaries to Fujian, as well as related resources. In his email he also said:

         “I’m glad to hear you are writing about John Sung. I have the very large volume of his diaries, which were thought to be lost. I also have two bios about him, and I interviewed an elderly Chinese brother and sister who attended his meetings on Gulangyu Islet when they were children, and remember vividly how he was disliked by many, but they saw the son of a school principal who had been lame since birth wheeled on stage, and then healed and walk off. The entire island was abuzz. I’m a very skeptical person, after so much fraud on TV (and in Paul’s day as well), but it was a blessing to hear them both share so vividly.”

(to be continued)

回忆赵证耶老牧师
沈师母的见证

          一位好的牧者会对人的生命产生巨大影响。在回忆盲人基督徒刘瑞英老人[1]的同时，我又想起了另一位老人，他叫赵证耶牧师。“证”是见证的“证”，“耶”是耶稣的“耶”，他的名字合在一起就是“为耶稣作见证”的意思。他曾经和一位叫李文光的长老（他在中国教会历史上曾有记载）一起服过刑。他们都是那年为了主的缘故，在同一个监狱里服刑。好像是在上个世纪1950年代，我们家乡那边有好多老人都进过监狱，包括我公公沈牧师的父亲，但他是平信徒，只判了一年就回来了。
          赵老牧师1914年出生，2006年9月30日被主接走，享年92岁。自从79年4月19日他来到我们家，我接触到他，让他做一个信主的见证。他当时怎么讲的，记得不太清楚了，但大概的情形是这样的：他大约14岁的时候，在长春的街头第一次接触福音。当时有人在街上传福音，场面有点儿像玩儿式的[2]，有人弹琴，有人拉手风琴，带着孩子们唱歌。赵牧师自己很喜欢音乐，就被吸引过去了。那时他被苏联恩（曾在金陵协和神学院任教）的爷爷看见了，就亲切地招呼他说：“进来吧！进来吧！”于是他便跟着小孩子们一起参加了聚会。也就是在那时，他开始接受福音，心里被触动，信了主。他家境比较困难。他常常跑去参加聚会、唱诗歌，家里的一些事就顾不上做了。他奶奶对他很不满，不给他饭吃，还拿“烟袋锅子”（东北方言，指的是一种传统的长烟管，用来抽烟，形状像一个小烟袋，通常是木头或竹子做的）拦着他，不让他出去。但他依然偷偷地往外跑，坚持去聚会敬拜主。他的见证感动了我。赵牧师觉得我这个人挺实在的，心直口快。他在我身上下了很大的功夫，对我在信仰上的成长关怀备至。这么多年我们和他及他的家人一直保持着联系。
          1979年初，在邓小平历史性访美期间，美国总统吉米·卡特（Jimmy Carter）与这位中国领导人就中国的宗教自由进行了私下交谈。卡特提出了三个具体请求：

• 保障宗教信仰自由：卡特强调，应允许中国公民公开实践自己的信仰。
• 允许圣经发行：他建议中国政府允许在国内印刷和分发圣经。
• 重新开放教会：卡特提议中国重新开放在文化大革命期间关闭的基督教教会。

          邓小平回应说：“你的三个问题太难，请允许我今晚考虑一下”。第二天，邓小平则向卡特承诺对前两个请求表示肯定，他说：“我们会在中国重新开放教会”，“我们会在中国印刷圣经”。然而，他拒绝了允许外国传教士进入中国的提议，解释说中国的教会必须由中国自己的领袖来带领，但他欢迎外国人到中国教英文或进行医疗互访等。[3] 改革开放后在新中国印刷的第一批圣经是邓小平亲自用他军委主席的经费支持的[4]。这次交流决定和标志着中国基督教发展的历史性新阶段！这也是多年来上帝对海内外所有弟兄姐妹为中国教会能尽早获得自由坚持不懈祈祷的回应！
          赵证耶读过神学。在中国教会开门那年——1979年4月19日，他第一个在我们县里得到通知：《告全国主内弟兄姊妹书》。这个通知是关于允许教会开门的。他带他的女儿、女婿，还有其余的弟兄到我们家送这个通知。从那天开始，教会在我们家恢复聚会了。当时信主的人主要是老年人，也有两位年轻人，一位是张兴牧师，他于82年考入东北神学院，成为那里的第一届学生。另一位是沈牧师，他于81年入南京金陵协和神学院。
          我认识的这些老人，只要去我们古城堡，就都会去看望这位刘瑞英老姊妹。如果他们要住下，就把老姊妹带过来，在我们家住，在我们家交通。那个时候，那一代人，在他们身上看到了很多主内弟兄姊妹真正相爱的光景，我觉得我的生命也跟着他们同时成长起来了。
         在85年沈牧师南京神学院毕业后，86年我们全家就回沈阳了。我们家在农村的那个房子有三间屋，分东西屋。东屋一直是给教会用，直到87年秋教会盖了房子。他们到政府要一块地盖教堂。我们不知道那个地方。沈牧师有个叔辈哥回老家去看坟去了。他说：“我们家那坟地怎么变成教堂了？”我说：“是吗？我也不知道啊。”当教会向政府申请地方要盖房子，政府就把那个坟地给教会，教会就盖了房子。现在还是那个地方。教会开始先盖了几间平房；后来又盖了瓦房。再后来有位年轻弟兄作教会负责人，现在就盖成很好的彩钢房子了。
          盖教堂的时候，家乡那些老人都到我们家来了。他们一起探讨一下、交通一下，我们也都参与了。因为最开始是在我家，大家习惯了。现在也是，有点儿什么事儿，我一回去大家都围着我。我就觉得还像在家里一样。我们农村就是那样儿，你跟她、她跟你都有点儿亲戚关系。福音也好传，一个亲戚信了，就传另一个亲戚。这样，接二连三亲戚们就都信主了。在教会里，亲戚多。等信主了，我们在主里都是弟兄姊妹，就更亲了。
          赵牧师每周四到我们家里来弹琴，他女儿教唱诗歌。沈牧师他父亲在解放前、五几年就和赵牧师在一起同工。沈牧师的父亲回天家之前和我说：“你到任何时候都不要离开赵叔，有啥事儿找赵叔商量。”自那以后，我一直就像依靠他家似的。他家女儿现在都八九十岁了。我上个月还回了一趟老家。每次回老家，我都要到这个赵牧师的儿子家坐一坐。有时候赶上吃饭时间，我就在他家吃点儿饭，就像和自己家一样。给我的感觉就是那种“爱”——与世人不同的那种爱。
          赵牧师回天家，包括所有老人回天家我都参与了。他走以后，他的儿女没有读神学，但都在教会里，他们家都会弹手风琴。他儿媳是下乡知青，弹琴弹得也特别好。女儿唱得好、弹得也好，都在教会服侍。现在他们年纪都大了，只剩他儿子，77岁了，比沈牧师大一岁。他有时服侍一些小聚会点儿，讲道非常好。虽然没读过神学，可能是他父亲带领的吧，他对圣经非常熟悉。
         赵牧师特别有爱心。他从来不批评人。我这个人总是犯错误，性子急，好说话。有时候李文光长老直接批评我：“你不能那么说……。” 李长老性情急，希望我的灵命能快点儿成长，而赵牧师却非常有耐心，他总是和我说：“慢慢来，别着急。”他给我留下了很深的印象。我对圣经里的真理什么都不懂，他就很有耐心地给我讲。我觉得这个老人是值得人敬佩的。

注：当沈师母回忆盲人基督徒赵瑞英老人时，同时也想起这位赵证耶老牧师。沈师母于2025年7月21日以微信的形式讲述了赵牧师的见证。字里行间，我们听出了二十世纪时在中国东北老一代基督徒信仰的真与纯，以及他们对主对人的那份无伪而真诚的爱心。令我们感恩的是，作为在美国的华人教会，我们和这些属灵长辈流淌着同样的属灵血液，我们敬拜同一位圣父、圣子圣灵三位一体的真神。这些长辈是为基督舍己、作监、谦卑、以生命传递生命，走十字架道路的见证人。他们的故事如同云彩一样围绕着我们，激励后辈效法先贤谦卑随主，使我们在21世纪的今天继续靠主砥砺前行，为主作出更多更新更美的见证。                                                                                                                                          
（李春海）

[1] 沈师母的见证，“盲人姊妹刘瑞英”，https://lricbc.org/?p=1680，浏览于2025年8月18日。
[1]“场面有点儿像玩儿式的”这句话听起来简单，但背后却隐藏着很深的传福音或宣教理念，那就是以人们容易接受的、较为灵活的方式把主的福音自然地分享出去，如保罗所说：“我们传扬他，是用诸般的智慧，劝戒各人，教导各人，要把各人在基督里完完全全地引到神面前。”（西 1:28）
[1]此段关于卡特总统与邓小平主席的交流请参Michelle A. Vu, “Transcript of Jimmy Carter’s Opening Speech for the China Bible Ministry Exhibition in Atlanta,”  Christian Post Reporter, Friday, June 09, 2006, https://www.christianpost.com/news/transcript-of-jimmy-carter-s-opening-speech-for-the-china-bible-ministry-exhibition-in-atlanta.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com，浏览于2025年8月18日。
[1]我（李春海）曾听我的老师Dr. Faye Pearson 亲口讲过这件事。她曾担任美南浸信会海外宣教部驻亚洲区的总干事。参https://www.imb.org/2019/02/21/faye-pearson/，浏览于2025年8月18日。她说，当时她曾受到卡特总统的接见，并听总统亲口讲到这件事。参李春海：“缅怀一位特别的母亲裴斐老师”，https://lricbc.org/?p=1023，浏览于2025年8月18日。

In Honor of Memorizing Pastor Zhao Zhengye
 Testimony by Mrs. Shen, the Pastor’s Wife

         A good pastor can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life. While recalling the blind Christian elder Sister Liu Ruiying,[1] I was also reminded of another elder—Pastor Zhao Zhengye. His name carries deep meaning: “Zheng” means testimony, and “Ye” stands for Jesus—together, “a testimony for Jesus.” He once served time in prison together with Elder Li Wenguang (who is mentioned in the history of the church in China). Both of them were imprisoned in the 1950s for the sake of the Lord, in the same prison. Many elders from my hometown, including my father-in-law, were also imprisoned during those years. My father-in-law was a lay believer, sentenced only to one year before being released.   
        Pastor Zhao was born in 1914 and was called home by the Lord on September 30, 2006, at the age of 92. On April 19, 1979, he came to our home, and that was when I first had close contact with him and asked him to share his testimony of faith. I cannot remember his words in full, but the outline was this: when he was about 14 years old, he first encountered the gospel on the streets of Changchun. At that time, some people were preaching in the streets in a lively manner [2] —playing musical instruments, with accordions, and singing hymns with children. Zhao, who loved music, was drawn to it. He was noticed by a grandfather of Su Lian’en (who later taught at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary), who warmly invited him: “Come in, come in!” So, Zhao joined the children’s gathering. It was then that he was touched by the gospel and came to believe in the Lord. 
        Zhao’s family was poor, and his devotion to worship often led him to neglect household chores. His grandmother, unhappy with him, sometimes denied him food and even blocked the door with a smoking pipe (a traditional Northeastern Chinese long-stemmed pipe that some ladies would use to smoke) to keep him from leaving the house. Yet he still found ways to sneak out to attend worship. His testimony deeply moved me. Pastor Zhao himself thought I was an honest, straightforward person, and he invested much effort in guiding me and caring for my growth in faith. For many years, we kept close contact with him and his family.
        In early 1979, during Deng Xiaoping’s historic visit to the United States, President Jimmy Carter privately discussed with him the matter of religious freedom in China. Carter made three requests:

1. Guarantee freedom of religious belief, allowing citizens to openly practice their faith.
2. Permit the printing and distribution of the Bible.
3. Reopen churches that had been closed during the Cultural Revolution.

        Deng replied: “Your three requests are very difficult. Allow me to think it over tonight.” The next day, he promised Carter that he would agree to the first two: “We will reopen churches in China, and we will print Bibles in China.” But he declined the third—allowing foreign missionaries back into China—explaining that the Chinese church must be led by its own people. However, he welcomed foreigners to come teach English or engage in medical exchanges.[3] The very first batch of Bibles printed in post–Cultural Revolution China was directly supported by Deng Xiaoping, who allocated funds from his Military Commission budget.[4] This exchange marked a historic turning point in the development of Christianity in China, and was a clear answer to the persistent prayers of countless believers, both within China and abroad, who had long sought freedom for the church.
           Pastor Zhao had studied theology. On April 19, 1979—the very day churches were officially allowed to reopen—he was the first in our county to receive the notice titled “A Letter to All Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Nationwide.” He came to our home with his daughter, son-in-law, and several other believers to share the news. From that day, worship gatherings resumed at our home. At first, most of the believers were elderly, though two young men joined as well: Pastor Zhang Xing, who in 1982 enrolled in Northeast Theological Seminary as one of its very first students, and Pastor Shen, who entered Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in 1981.
         The elders I knew would often go to our hometown Guchengpu to visit Sister Liu Ruiying. If they stayed overnight, they would bring her to our house, where we would fellowship together. That generation of believers displayed genuine love for one another in Christ, and through their example, my own spiritual life grew as well.
         After Pastor Shen graduated from Nanjing Seminary in 1985, our family returned to Shenyang in 1986. Our rural home had three rooms; the east room was always set aside for church gatherings until the autumn of 1987, when a new church building was constructed. Pastor Shen’s brother from his uncle disclosed that the government granted land for it, which, interestingly enough, turned out to be the burial cemetery of our family. When the church first applied for land, the authorities allocated that very plot. Today, the church still stands there—at first simple houses, later tiled rooms, and now, under the leadership of a younger brother, a well-built chapel with steel roofing.
          When the church was being built, the elders would always gather at our home first for discussion and prayer. Because worship had begun in our home, everyone naturally continued to meet there. Even now, when I return to my hometown, people gather around me as if we were still family. In our rural setting, everyone is related in some way, which made evangelism easier—one relative believing, then another, and so on. The church became a family of both kinship and spiritual fellowship.
           Pastor Zhao used to come to our home every Thursday to play piano, while his daughter taught us hymns. My father-in-law had worked with Pastor Zhao before the 1950s, and before he passed away, he told me: “Never leave Uncle Zhao. Always seek his counsel.” Since then, I leaned on Pastor Zhao’s family as though it were my own. Even now, I visit his son’s home whenever I return. Sometimes I stay for meals—it feels just like being at home. That sense of love—different from the world’s kind of love—is what I always experienced in their family.
           When Pastor Zhao went home to the Lord, I attended his funeral, as I did for many of the elders. Though his children did not go to seminary, they all served faithfully in the church. His children could all play the accordion, his daughters were gifted in music, and his daughter-in-law, a former “sent-down youth”- relocated to a rural village during China’s Cultural Revolution, where she worked in agriculture and learned from the local peasants, played especially well. His son, now 77 years old, still serves at small gathering points, preaching with great familiarity with Scripture, even though he never had formal theological training.
           Pastor Zhao was filled with love. He never criticized people. I, on the other hand, often made mistakes, quick-tempered and outspoken. Elder Li Wenguang would sometimes rebuke me directly: “You cannot say that!”—hoping I would grow more quickly in faith. But Pastor Zhao was patient, always saying: “Take it slowly, don’t rush.” He left a deep impression on me. Even when I knew nothing of biblical truth, he gently and patiently taught me. He was truly a man worthy of respect.

Note: While recalling the blind Christian Sister Liu Ruiying, Madam Shen also remembered Pastor Zhao Zhengye. She shared this testimony on July 21, 2025, via WeChat. Between the lines, we can hear the authenticity and purity of faith in the older generation of Christians in Northeast China during the 20th century—their sincere love for the Lord and for others. We give thanks that, as Chinese Christians overseas, we share the same spiritual bloodline as these elders of faith. We worship the same Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These elders bore witness to Christ through self-denial, imprisonment, humility, and the passing on of life through life as they walked the way of the cross. Their stories are like a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, encouraging us to follow in their steps of humility and discipleship, so that in the 21st century we too may continue pressing forward in Christ, bearing ever new and more beautiful testimonies to His glory.    (Chunhai Li)

 __________________________________________

1. “Sister Liu Ruiying – The Blind Prayer Warrior,” Testimony by Mrs. Shen, the Pastor’s Wife, https://lricbc.org/?p=1680, access August 18, 2025. 
2. “In a lively manner.” This description may sound simple, but behind it lies a profound principle of evangelism and mission: sharing the gospel of the Lord in a natural and flexible way that people can easily accept. As Paul said: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). 
3.This section regarding President Jimmy Carter’s exchange with Chairman Deng Xiaoping is referenced in: Michelle A. Vu, “Transcript of Jimmy Carter’s Opening Speech for the China Bible Ministry Exhibition in Atlanta,” Christian Post Reporter, Friday, June 9, 2006, https://www.christianpost.com/news/transcript-of-jimmy-carter-s-opening-speech-for-the-china-bible-ministry-exhibition-in-atlanta.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com, access August 18, 2025.
4.  I (Chunhai Li) personally heard this account from my teacher, Dr. Faye Pearson. She once served as the Executive Director for the Asia Region of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. See: https://www.imb.org/2019/02/21/faye-pearson/
, accessed August 18, 2025. She said that at the time she had been hosted by President Jimmy Carter and personally heard him recount this event. See: Chunhai Li, “Remembering a Special Mother: Dr. Faye Pearson”, https://lricbc.org/?p=1023, access August 18, 2025. 

盲人姊妹刘瑞英
沈师母的见证
         在我信主的生命历程中，有一位属灵长者对我意义非凡。她叫刘瑞英，是一位失明多年的祷告者与见证人。我今天能坚定地走在信仰的道路上，与她的引领和代祷密不可分。

一、她的生命印记
          刘瑞英于1901年5月10日在山东平度县出生。她家境贫寒，是个小脚女人。她丈夫一家是基督徒，当她嫁到丈夫家之后也成了一名信心坚定的基督徒。平度是山东胶东地区的重要县城，地理位置处于青岛与潍坊之间。20世纪初，西方宣教士（尤其是美北长老会、美南浸信会）已在平度建立了教会、学校和诊所，为山东大复兴的到来铺垫了基础。刘瑞英早年曾参加和经历过山东大复兴。[1] 她1950年随家人迁居至沈阳市法库县古城堡（pù）。她一生共养育了六个孩子，家庭负担沉重。虽然生活朴素艰辛，她却常年洋溢着祷告的香气与天国的盼望。她的家是一座属灵的灯塔，多代儿女信主，信仰根基稳固。
         在她身边，有一群属灵前辈的见证人，为我们这一代留下了极其宝贵的榜样。古城堡地区信仰根基深厚，早在解放前，当地就有一位敬虔老弟兄王臻一。他虽然不是牧师，却谦卑地承担起讲道的责任，他自营生意，却坚守主日关门敬拜，店中从不售烟酒，信仰见证感人至深。
          有一年，王臻一弟兄因故前往山东，或为生意，或为探亲。在那里，他遇见了刘瑞英姊妹。她在山东的信仰背景也十分独特——她的小叔子江顺天，是当时在山东极具影响力的传道人。据教会历史记载，江顺天曾因传福音被捕入狱，是中国教会为主受苦的一员，他后来成为吉林长春教会的创会人之一，影响了许多人信主。                 
         那一代忠心的信徒中，许多人都为信仰坐监受苦。我年幼时不懂其中的艰难，如今才明白那是怎样的代价。比如李文光夫妇等不少属灵前辈，曾在黑暗年代被捕判刑三年、七年不等。教会恢复聚会初期，他们常来我家聚会，讲述那段为主受苦的经历。这些见证深深刻在我心中。
        虽然东北生活略优于关里，但农村毕竟人多地少，日子依旧艰辛。1959年左右，刘瑞英为了生活每天下地拾柴，在酷烈阳光下劳作，边干活边祷告、边流泪。那时，她的眼睛开始出现问题，因无钱医治，视力渐渐衰退，最终完全失明了。然而，在她后半生30年失明的岁月里，她属灵的眼睛却更加明亮了，她好像什么都能看见……。

二、属灵母亲的影响
         我和刘瑞英老人接触20年。1969年我作为知青下乡到古城堡时认识了她。她家就在我们家两道门之外。当时我从城市来到农村，极不适应。她是第一个给我讲福音的基督徒。起初我对信仰毫无概念，只知道佛堂，却从未听过福音。我喜欢听她祷告，她有时用悟性祷告、有时用方言祷告。她一口山东话，我开始时听不太懂，但觉得她的话特别亲切温暖。渐渐地我就都能听明白了。她讲上句，我能接下一句。经常有人来她家探访，我成了她的“翻译”，帮别人解释她说的话。透过她，我开始认识主、明白真理。
         她不仅在言语上教导我，更在生命中塑造我。如果没有她，我不会和沈牧师走在一起。虽然当时我身边追求者不少，沈牧师也有其他适合的对象。她为我的婚姻祷告后说：“主给了我异象，你和光玮是最合适的”。事实印证她灵里的判断是正确的。
         我的两个女儿小时候我经常带着她们去刘瑞英家里玩儿。二女儿最喜欢坐在她大腿上。刘瑞英抱着她就给她祷告祝福，女儿则用小手摸着她的眼睛，看看她是否真的什么都看不见。她们今天能全职奉献走在事奉的道路上与她的影响有很大关系。

三、属天的香气
        1986年我们搬回沈阳市里。1989年春，我收到一封信。信上说刘瑞英老人已近四十天滴水不沾，她盼着我回去看看。我和沈牧师立即动身。那是春节前后。我们到她家看到屋里炕上坐满了弟兄姊妹。她正坐着，我一进门，她就把我抱住，手轻柔地摸我的脸和眼睛，一遍又一遍，好像从未真正看清过我似的。她说：“还这么瘦啊……”
          她接着问：“光玮呢？”
          我说：“他忙，他没来”。
          她却盯着我身后说：“他不就站在你身后吗？”
          沈牧师诚实不说谎。他说：“大娘[2]，我在这儿呢！”光玮走到她面前，她用手从上到下摸着他说：“光玮啊，你瘦成这样……吃不饱饭呐……”
         当时我眼泪就止不住地流。那年头的确艰难，人口多、交公粮、缺衣少食，光玮能坚持求学（读南京神学院）实在不容易。刘瑞英总是在艰难时给我们鼓励和安慰。当时我没在意，如今回想起这些发现我竟没领会到她体贴的心肠，心中甚感愧疚。
         那天她对我说了许多话：“你记着大奶的话，你要好好信主。信主不是一件简单的事儿。我们奉献给神的人，一定要有个样儿。你不能再像小孩子了，也不要随意开玩笑。”她又说：“光玮将来要作整个辽宁省的牧羊人、领头羊，要做信徒的榜样。你是师母，也要有师母的样儿，要有师母的态度和生命。你们是一体的，你的生命要成熟，要好好读经祷告。”
         那番话使我深受触动。从那天起，我的生命发生了很大的改变。   
         我忘不了她说过的一句话：“我闻到一种地上从来没有的香气”。我问她：“大奶，这四十天你到底经历了什么？怎么还能活着？不饿吗？”她微笑着说：“我不饿，好像是看到天堂了，隔着一条河。那边站着一个白衣人，不让我过去，说我还没到日子，地上还有四十天的工要做。他说完我就醒了，我闻到一种香气，那是一种地上从来没有的香气”。         
         当年我腿受伤，久治无效，常坐在炕上，不能下地。但我常回想刘瑞英所描述的属天香气，心里想着：“我若也能闻到那香气，我的腿也许就会好了。”那晚，我梦见她回来了，亲手交给我一瓶药。醒来后，我虽没闻到那香气，但我的腿却奇迹般地痊愈了。从那天起我就能下地干活了。那是主的医治与她祷告的恩典。我觉得一切都是上帝的安排。
          她的家人把那句 “地上还有十四天” 的话忘记了，但我却记得。果然，整整四十天后，刘瑞英安详离世。那是1989年3月10日，她享年90岁。她自己提前穿上为天家预备的“礼服”，口里唱着诗歌、躺在东北的火炕上安静地“睡去了”。三天后打开棺木，人们发现她的身体依然柔软并充满荣光，这使家人得到了属天的安慰！

四、影响深远的属灵遗产
          刘瑞英老人家无论走到哪儿，哪里就有主的爱与平安。她一进我们家时，我们家整个气氛都不一样了。她带给我们那么多天上的话！她开口就是神的话，从不论断张家长李家短。她的生命就是一首不断的祷告诗篇——坐着祷告、站着祷告、躺下也祷告。她的生活几乎每一刻都活在主面前的甘甜中。这样的一位属灵长辈是教会的祝福。她活着的时候，教会里没有任何矛盾，大家非常和睦。
         刘瑞英的女儿江老师是我童年的老师，也教过沈牧师。那时江老师还没公开信主，虽然从小在信主的家庭长大，但后来她进入了体制，回沈阳后还当过学校的党委书记。她很优秀，也很积极，但她心里一直有主。这个老师信得很真，退休后她就公开承认自己是基督徒。她住的小区里有一个跟我很熟的邻居，80多岁了。有一次我在她家，她说：“你认识江老师吗？”我说：“太熟了，那是我老师啊。”她说：“我们是邻居，她可了不起了。我们从前不知道她信主，但她在家庭里、在小叔子、婆婆、公公面前做得太好了，我们都做不到。”江老师经历过许多人生的苦难。她八岁的女儿因先天性心脏病去世了；后来，她有一个儿子30岁也因肝病去世了。然而，她并没有放弃对主的信仰。她常和我说：“我的孩子们能见着耶稣，能见着我娘吧。”我就对她说：“要是真心信主，到天堂，我们都能见着面。等到那天就好了，我们就都能见到你娘了。” 她听着心里也得到很大安慰！
        我有一本“属灵前辈回天家记事本”，每一位带领过我的长者安息后，我都会记上一笔。不久前搬家时，这本记事本不慎遗失。但刘瑞英老人的故事却深深铭记在我心中。她不仅影响她全家、我们全家、当地教会，也影响了沈阳、武昌、东北神学院许多老师、学生及众多弟兄姐妹。我曾经引荐过许多人去探望她，她都一一为他们代祷祝福。
         刘瑞英是一位默默无闻、不为人知的农村姊妹，但她用一生的祷告、盲眼的信心、真诚的爱心点燃了许多人的生命。她的一生是荣耀基督、祝福他人的一生。她是我心目中真正的“信心伟人”。

附注：
今年暑假回国期间，我于2025年6月11日前往沈阳，拜访沈光玮牧师和师母。在早餐交通中，沈师母提到有位盲人姊妹对她生命的影响深远。她寥寥数语深深打动了我。回美国后，我特别邀请沈师母通过微信语音更加详细地将这位盲人姊妹——刘瑞英的见证讲述出来；有些内容沈师母还专门与刘瑞英的女儿江老师核实过。感谢沈师母的慷慨分享。我特将其整理成文，与在美国的众弟兄姊妹共享。  （李春海牧师）

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[1] 柯理培（Charles L. Culpepper）：《山东大复兴》（Shantung Revival）, https://www.found-treasure.org/cht/Shup%20Chun%20Chap/Shup%20Chun%20Chap%20056/pageshupchunchap056.htm, 检索于 2025 年 8 月 12 日.

[2] 沈师母称刘瑞英为“大奶”，沈牧师则称她为“大娘”。根据中国东北的风俗，他们从不同的角度尊称对方。

8/17/25 Pastor’s Word
Sister Liu Ruiying – The Blind Prayer Warrior
Testimony by Mrs. Shen, the Pastor’s Wife
 

In my journey of faith, there was a spiritual elder whose influence on me has been immeasurable. Her name was Liu Ruiying, a woman who had been blind for many years, yet remained a steadfast intercessor and living witness. My ability to walk firmly on the path of faith today is inseparable from her guidance and prayers.
 
1. The Marks of Her Life
       Liu Ruiying was born on May 10, 1901, in Pingdu County, Shandong Province. She came from a poor family and had bound feet. Her husband’s family were Christians, and after her marriage, she too became a believer with strong faith. Pingdu, located between Qingdao and Weifang, was an important county in the Jiaodong region of Shandong. In the early 20th century, Western missionaries—especially from the Northern Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Southern Baptist Convention—had already established churches, schools, and clinics in Pingdu, laying the groundwork for the great Shandong Revival.[1] Liu personally attended and experienced the Shandong Revival in her early years.
       In 1950, she moved with her family to Guchengpu, Faku County, Shenyang City. She raised six children in her lifetime, bearing a heavy family burden. Though her life was simple and difficult, her home was always filled with the fragrance of prayer and the hope of heaven. It became a spiritual lighthouse, with multiple generations in her family coming to faith and standing firm in it.
        Among the faithful in her area was Brother Wang Zhenyi, a devout Christian in Guchengpu before the founding of the People’s Republic. Though not a pastor, he humbly took on the responsibility of preaching. He ran his own business, yet closed his shop every Sunday to worship and refused to sell tobacco or alcohol—a testimony that deeply touched many.
       One year, Brother Wang traveled to Shandong—perhaps for business or to visit family. There, he met Sister Liu Ruiying. Her own faith background in Shandong was remarkable—her brother-in-law, Jiang Shuntian, was a highly influential preacher at the time. Church history records that Jiang Shuntian had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel and was one who suffered for the Lord in China. He later became one of the founders of the church in Changchun, Jilin, impacting many for Christ.
       That generation of faithful believers included many who endured prison for their faith. As a young sister, I could not understand the hardships they faced; only now do I realize the cost they paid. For example, Brother and Sister Li Wenguang and others were arrested during the dark years and sentenced to three or seven years in prison. In the early days when the church resumed gatherings, they often came to my home, sharing stories of their suffering for the Lord—accounts that left a deep mark on my heart.
       Though life in the Northeast was somewhat better than in Shandong, rural life was still hard—too many people, too little land. Around 1959, in order to survive, Liu would collect firewood in the fields every day, working under the scorching sun while praying and weeping. It was during this time that her eyesight began to fail. With no money for treatment, her vision gradually deteriorated until she became completely blind. Yet in the thirty years of blindness that followed, her spiritual eyes became all the more radiant—it was as if she could see everything.
 
2. The Influence of a Spiritual Mother
        I have known Sister Liu for twenty years. In 1969, when I was sent as an educated youth to the countryside in Guchengpu, I met her for the first time. Her home was just two doors down from mine. Coming from the city, I found rural life extremely difficult to adjust to. She was the first Christian to share the gospel with me.
        At first, I had no concept of Christian faith—only of Buddhist temples—and had never heard the gospel. I enjoyed listening to her prayers; sometimes she prayed with understanding and sometimes prayed in tongues. She spoke in a thick Shandong dialect. Initially, I could not understand her well, yet I felt a special warmth and kindness in her words. Gradually, I understood more and more. She would say one sentence, and I could finish the next. She had many visitors, I became her “translator,” helping others understand what she said. Through her, I began to know the Lord and understand the truth.
        Her teaching was not only in words but in life itself. My marriage would not have happened without her. Though I had many suitors at the time, and Pastor Shen also had other suitable candidates, she prayed for us and said, “The Lord has given me a vision—you and Guangwei are the most suitable.” Time proved that her spiritual discernment was accurate.
          When my two daughters were young, I often took them to visit Liu’s home. My younger daughter especially loved to sit on her lap. Holding her in her arms, Liu would pray for her and say blessings over her, while my daughter would place her little hands on her eyes to see if she really could not see anything. The fact that they are now serving full-time in ministry is greatly related to her influence.
 
3. The Fragrance of Heaven
        In 1986, we moved back to the city of Shenyang. In the spring of 1989, I received a letter saying that Sister Liu did not have food or water for nearly forty days and hoped I could visit her. It was just around the Spring Festival when we set out to see her.
       Her kang (heated bed) was crowded with brothers and sisters. She was sitting upright. As soon as I entered, she embraced me, gently touching my face and eyes again and again, as though she had never truly seen me before. “You’re still so thin…” she said.
       She then asked, “Where’s Guangwei?”
       “He’s busy,” I replied. “He didn’t come.”
       But she looked past me and said, “Isn’t he standing right behind you?”
       Pastor Shen, never one to lie, answered, “Auntie, I’m right here.” She touched him and said, “Guangwei, you’ve grown so thin… you’re not getting enough to eat, are you?”
        I couldn’t hold back my tears. Those were indeed hard times—many mouths to feed, grain to turn over to the government, shortages of clothes and food. That he persevered in his studies at Nanjing Theological Seminary was no small thing. Sister Liu always found a way to encourage and comfort us in hardship. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention, but looking back now, I realize I failed to appreciate her thoughtful heart, and I feel deeply ashamed.
        That day she told me, “Remember my words. You must live a Christ-like life. In the future, it’s not enough just to be a so-called ‘Christian.’ Those who are dedicated to God must witness His image. You must not be childish anymore, and you must not speak carelessly or joke around. Guangwei will one day be a shepherd in Liaoning Province—a leader among the flock, an example for believers. As his wife, you must live like a pastor’s wife, with the character and life of one. You are one body with him. You must be mature and study the Bible diligently.”
         Her words deeply moved me and marked a turning point in my spiritual life. From that day on, my life has changed dramatically.
         I will never forget what she once said: “I smelled a fragrance unlike anything on earth.” I asked, “Grandma, what have you experienced these forty days? How can you still live without hunger?” She smiled and said, “I’m not hungry. It’s as if I’ve seen heaven, across a river. On the other side stood a man in white who would not let me cross, saying my time had not yet come and that I still had forty days of work on earth. After he spoke, I awoke, and I smelled a fragrance unlike anything on earth.”
         During those days, I injured my leg and could not be healed, I often recalled the heavenly fragrance she described, thinking, “If only I could smell that fragrance, perhaps my leg would be healed.” One night I dreamed she returned and handed me a bottle of medicine. When I awoke, though I had not smelled the fragrance, my leg was miraculously healed. From that day on, I was able to go out and work around. I knew it was the Lord’s healing and the grace of her prayers—God’s arrangement.
           Everyone else seemed to forget her words, “There are forty days left,” but I remembered. Sure enough, exactly forty days later, on March 10, 1989, she passed away peacefully at the age of 90. She had dressed herself well in the “gown” and sang hymns as she laid on her kang and gently “fell asleep” in the Lord. Three days later, when her coffin was opened, her body was still soft and radiant, giving her family heavenly comfort.
 
4. A Lasting Spiritual Legacy
        Wherever she went, the love and peace of the Lord followed. When she entered our home, the whole atmosphere changed. She brought us so many words from heaven. She spoke only God’s Word, never gossiping or judging others. Her life was an unending psalm of prayer—praying while sitting, standing, or lying down. She lived every moment in the sweetness of the Lord’s presence. Such a spiritual elder is a blessing to the church. While she was alive, there were no divisions in the church—everyone lived in harmony.
        Her daughter, Teacher Jiang, was my childhood teacher and also taught Pastor Shen. At that time, Teacher Jiang had not openly professed her faith, though she had grown up in a Christian family. Later, she entered the state system and even served as the Party secretary of a school after returning to Shenyang. She was an outstanding and active person, yet the Lord was always in her heart. After retirement, she publicly acknowledged her faith. An elderly neighbor of hers, over eighty years old, once told me, “Do you know Teacher Jiang?” I replied, “Of course—that’s my teacher.” She said, “We’re neighbors. She’s remarkable. We never knew she was a Christian, but the way she treated her family—her in-laws, her brother-in-law—was extraordinary. We could never do as well as she did.”  Teacher Jiang endured much suffering. Her eight-year-old daughter died of congenital heart disease, and years later her thirty-year-old son died of liver disease. Yet she never abandoned her faith in the Lord. She often told me, “Don’t you think my daughter and my son can see Jesus and my mom?” I would reply, “If we truly believe in the Lord, in heaven we will all see each other. When that day comes, everything will be fine, and we will see your mother again.” This gave her great comfort.
        I once kept a “Homegoing Record Book” in which I would write a note each time a spiritual elder who had guided me passed away. Sadly, I lost it during the move. But the story of Sister Liu remains deeply etched in my heart. She influenced not only her entire family and ours, her church, but also many teachers and students at Northeast Theological Seminary in Shenyang and Wuchang, as well as countless brothers and sisters in Christ. I once introduced many people to visit her, and she prayed for each one of them.
       Liu was an unassuming rural sister, unknown to the world, yet she ignited many lives through her lifelong prayers, “blind” faith, and sincere love. Hers was a life that glorified Christ and blessed others. To me, she was truly a “giant of faith.”
 
Postscript:
During my trip back to China this summer, on June 11, 2025, I visited Pastor Shen Guangwei and his wife in Shenyang. Over breakfast, Mrs. Shen mentioned a blind sister who had profoundly influenced her life. Her brief account deeply touched me. After returning to the United States, I invited Mrs. Shen to share more details via WeChat voice messages. She even confirmed some of the information with Liu Ruiying’s daughter, Teacher Jiang. I am grateful for her generous sharing. I have compiled her testimony here so that brothers and sisters in America may share in this blessing.
(Pastor Li Chunhai)
 

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[1] Charles L. Culpepper, Shantung Revival, https://www.found-treasure.org/cht/Shup%20Chun%20Chap/Shup%20Chun%20Chap%20056/pageshupchunchap056.htm, accessed 8/12, 2025.

Camp Siloam（西罗亚营会）是一个位于阿肯色州西罗亚泉市的基督徒夏令营，专注于儿童和青少年的传福音、门徒训练和属灵成长。今年我们教会于7月28日到8月1日有 18 位青少年和3位辅导员老师参加, 两位青少年决志接受主耶穌为救主。我们想知道他们都有哪些属灵的收获吗？让我们来听听他们的见证吧！
 
磊宏老师：
      各位弟兄姐妹，慕道友朋友你们好！我们今年蒙主保守，带领教会的十八位青少年和小朋友参加位于阿肯色州西部的西罗亚水泉(Siloam Springs)的夏令营会。这是我们教会，也是我个人第二次参加这个营会，不少孩子也是第二次参加，从他们出发前激动的状态就可以看出他们的期待。这次的营会非常顺利。相比于去年我生命的火在敬拜中被神挑旺，今年也有不一样的感动，愿意来和各位分享。
       西罗亚水泉营地离小石城有接近四小时的车程，去年我们是用两辆私家车载着孩子们过去。由于今年的孩子们数量几乎增加一倍，使得我们需要更多的车辆带领我们从小石城前往营地。这在一开始使我苦恼：我们需要更多的司机。如果他们不住在营地的话，一天往返需要开八个小时的车，这对于绝大多数人都是非常大的负担，何况一周需要开两次（周一和周五都需要往返）。感谢主，我们得到普拉斯基浸信会区联会（Pulaski Baptist Association）的支持，用两辆大Van把我们所有的孩子和辅导员们都载了过去！奇妙的是，我们几位辅导员在以往工作的环境中，对这一类的车驾驶都有所接触，使得这次的旅程超乎想象的顺利。感谢主，在我们有限的力量之外，大事小事上都丰丰富富的恩待我们。
       西罗亚水泉营会已经创立有102年，很难想象！如同去年一样，在踏入营地的瞬间我们受到了热烈的欢迎。尽管一路的旅程已经十分疲惫，但在那一刻，我就如同从世界进入乐园一样。因为我，我们，将在这个营地生活敬拜五天，这五天的时间我们完全没有其他的需求，不用去想工作，小孩子和青少年们也没有手机。只有两件事等着孩子们：敬拜和玩耍。如同我们遇到的Shane牧师所说，在营地中，孩子们是在Fast and Feast。Fast，指的是不玩手机，iPad，游戏，甚至包括学习。而Feast，自然就是神的话语和主内的团契了！只有首先Fast，脱离这世界的需求，才能更好的Feast，享受灵里的进深。在这一刻我也突然更深刻地理解了Fast的意义。
        这五天的生活丰富多彩，每天早上和夜晚都有敬拜和信息，以及小组团契。今年的信息是关于传教士(Missionary)，孩子们也都有很大的得着，我想他们都会分享，我就不再赘述。而中间接近8个小时的时间就是各种娱乐活动：可以射箭，BB枪，打篮球，足球，坐水滑梯，以及各样的团体活动；我们有一天还带领青少年们去漂流。当然我主要的工作是给孩子们拍照，但于此同时我也顺带玩了不少项目，很好玩！我很确定，每个孩子都在这过程中得到了充分的享受。奇妙的是，这些活动在营地中似乎特别有趣！到周四晚上结束的时候，大家都不愿意从这样一个美好的经历中出来。
       是这些活动本身好玩吗？我想有一部分的原因吧。但更主要的是，孩子们，包括我，都更加享受和同为基督徒的弟兄姊妹们一起生活的过程。在这个营会的这一周里，我们是唯一的华人教会，我们遇到了很多来自于其他地区的教会，和他们的孩子。肤色不同，种族不同，文化也不同，但就因着主耶稣基督的救恩，我们成为了弟兄姊妹，彼此间有了共同语言，我们敬拜同一位主，能聊着相似的价值观，一起玩耍，敬拜，彼此分享见证，互相祷告。噢，这在这个世界上几乎不可能的事，在主里居然是如此的容易。当你生活在一个心意相通的社区中间，还有什么比这更美好的呢？
       我感谢主，能给我们这样的机会。若是属灵的营会就已经如此美好，那天堂和亲自在天上等待我们的天父，又该有多奇妙？没有病痛，没有悲伤的新天新地，又该是怎样的景象？
       约翰在启示录第五章11节，描写了他看见天堂的异象，乃是”四个活物和众长老的周围有千千万万的天使，又听见他们高声呼喊：‘那被杀的羔羊配得权柄、财富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀和颂赞！’”我想到约翰晚年流放到拔摩海岛的时候，在世上孤苦一人，主耶稣在六十多年前就完成救恩，且复活后亲自显现给约翰看。这么些年来，与约翰一同作见证的使徒们都已经殉道。约翰知道主已经升天，而众使徒们也必在天上等他，我想他的信心是绝不会软弱的。但在世上，他又何尝不想念他们。六十多年前他们一起跟随耶稣走遍迦南地，两两而行，做各样的奇事。耶稣复活升天后，他和彼得也一同传福音，行神迹，带领教会，而如今一切都过去了，只剩他一人。若我是约翰，当神告诉我天堂中有我最渴望的东西，那就是能和我的弟兄们一起永远赞美主。我们身在一个幸福的时代，能够每周去教会敬拜赞美，肯定很难理解这对于约翰有多么的宝贵。
         我相信，神必照看衪的儿女，我们在天上的福分，乃是我们如今想也想不到的，唯一能确信的是它一定比我们想象的更美好。我也感谢神，在这一周的营会中，带领我们的孩子们都对衪，对福音，对大使命有更好的认识。我能清晰的看见属灵的生命在所有的孩子身上都有很大的成长，也包括我。在这一切的事上我都感谢神对我们教会，对我们的青少年和孩子们，以及对我的恩待。我也求神把这恩典和福分，同样丰丰富富的赐给愿意来信靠跟随衪的儿女们，让渴慕衪话语的就品尝主恩的甜蜜，如同我品尝到的那样。
 
Jayson：
      嗨，我叫 Jayson，我想分享一下这个夏天在 Camp Siloam 的奇妙经历。Camp Siloam 是一个在信仰和乐趣中找到完美结合的基督徒营地。本周的亮点之一是 Color Wars（颜色大战）——红队和蓝队之间友好的竞争。我们还参加了各种活动，比如 3v3 篮球、地毯球（carpetball）、桌游等等！
      让这周真正特别的是有机会在与基督的关系上更深入地成长。通过敬拜、灵修和圣经经文，我感觉比以往任何时候都更与神连接。其中让我印象最深刻的一节经文是约翰福音 3:16：”神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。”这节经文提醒我上帝对我们每个人的爱是多么强大。
       Camp Siloam 不只是关于游戏和娱乐——它还关于发现神话语的真理、背诵经文，并学习在日常生活中活出来。度过这一整周浸泡在这种经历中后，我可以肯定地说，我相信耶稣为我们的罪被钉在十字架上，我相信上帝是真实的。
      我们还了解到，根据营会中分享的信息，主将在全世界都听见基督的信息之后回来。
 
Julianna：
       大家好，我是 Julianna Deng，我刚完成在 Camp Siloam 的第一年体验——这是一个融合敬拜、游戏、商店和许多其他有趣活动的意义深刻的基督徒营会。我体验中最让我印象深刻的是 Shane Wilbank 的讲道。他不仅是个极具感染力的讲者，充满激情和深情，而且还让我印象深刻的是他的魔术才艺。他的信息，尤其是关于施洗约翰和作为基督徒该怎样生活的内容，真正触动了我的心，留下了深远的影响。敬拜之外，有很多令人兴奋的活动可以享受。我最喜欢的是在小溪边和朋友们一起抓小龙虾，玩耍于清凉的溪水中。Camp Siloam 是一个充满喜乐、信仰和难忘回忆的美好地方。如果你有机会去，你就会明白我的意思。
 
Benjamin：
       大家好，如果你还不知道我，我叫 Benjamin Du，上周我参加了一个叫 Camp Siloam 的基督徒营会。Camp Siloam 位于阿肯色州西北部，几乎接壤俄克拉荷马州。在 Camp Siloam，我们每天敬拜两次，其余时间基本上是自由活动时间和组织活动。
      在 Camp Siloam，每天早上有一段戏剧，我们可以看到以不同主题演绎的圣经故事，今年的主题是”丛林巡航（Jungle Cruise）”。我们通过”印第安纳·琼斯”风格镜头，目睹了施洗约翰的生命，了解他是谁，他在地上的作为，以及他如何为耶稣基督铺路。
      这周我们有两位讲员，名叫 Luke 和 Shane，他们演讲方式不同。Luke 用逻辑式的讲述，努力与我们青少年的个人经历产生共鸣。他让我感触最深的一次讲道是关于信仰——相信耶稣基督不仅是一时的决定，而是每天在生活中活出耶稣基督的决定。这让我反思自己的状态，帮助我理解在生活中活出基督是多么重要。
        第二位讲员 Shane 是一位魔术师，他总是以魔术作为他讲道的开篇。他真的帮助听众更投入，我觉得他的讲道很有影响力。他主要关注传播福音并造更多门徒，就像约翰所做的。他给我们很多记住如何更有效传播福音的方法，例如使用首字母缩写 “B.R.I.D.G.E.”。
      总的来说，我认为这个营会是一次非常有影响力的体验，对孩子和青少年都是。它是认识许多在基督里的新朋友的绝佳机会。Camp Siloam 是一次很棒的经历，我希望我们的教会每年都能继续去那里。
 
Lindsey：
       大家好，我叫 Lindsey，今天我想谈谈我在 Camp Siloam 的经历。在去 Camp Siloam 之前，我期待会有很多乐趣。果然，我确实很开心，但我也得到了更多。
       今年的信息是关于施洗约翰和他作为传教士的生活。我了解了他的艰辛以及他用来造就门徒的方法。有一件事让我印象深刻，是牧师 Shane 一再强调的一句话：”神必须增加，我们必须减少。”他给我们做了一个魔术，他旋转一个带螺旋图案的圆盘。几秒钟后，他停止旋转，那个圆盘看起来像是他的头被放气了。这意味着当我们与神同行越深，神就越重要，而我们就越不重要。
       今年的敬拜团队真的很优秀，他们真正展现了赞美的意义。今年的娱乐活动也特别好，有 Gagaball、小溪、箭术、游泳等！我最喜欢的活动可能是 Gagaball。我最喜欢的事情之一可能是去 “The Hub”。The Hub 是一个有零食和饮料的商店。那里的零食和糖果是最棒的！
      最后但绝对最重要的是，我要感谢辅导员们让 Camp Siloam 成为可能。
 
Michelle:
        大家好，我叫Michelle，这是我第二次参加西罗亚营会。我在这里玩得非常开心，特别是敬拜中心和射箭活动。今年给我们讲道的传道人是Shane，这一周我从他那里学到了很多。他教导我们要悔改、转离错误、行在正道上，并讲解了“桥”的比喻，以及世界如何因罪而破碎。他每天都会用很酷的魔术来向我们展示真理，他的教导非常有影响力。在自由活动时间，我们有很多好玩的项目，比如运动秋千，有时我会和朋友一起去抓小龙虾。最后，我深受圣灵感动。能和大家一起度过这一段时光真的很开心，就是这样的。
 
Chengen:
        大家好，今天我要和你们分享我在西罗亚营地第二年的经历。西罗亚营地是一个非常好玩的地方，也是一个基督徒教会营地。你可以在这里参加很多有趣的活动，比如射箭、Gaga球、游泳、射击和足球。今年有更多的朋友一起来参加营会。我们玩了射箭捉人、Gaga球和足球。我们会一起去“Hub”买食物，然后回到小屋。我在西罗亚营会最喜欢的活动之一就是射箭捉人。我和朋友玩了一局，用弓和箭射，真的很有趣。去年我们玩的时候用的是枪，虽然不会痛，但听起来像会痛。我希望明年还能再来西罗亚营会，并尝试新的活动。
 
Joanna：
       大家好，我叫 Joanna Ren，我将分享我在 Camp Siloam 的体验。Camp Siloam 有许多有趣的活动。有皮划艇、Color Wars，甚至还有比赛。然而，我真正喜欢的是牧师的教导。他教了我们很多，并给我们看了许多魔术。其中一个让我非常感动的魔术是 Sprite 和可乐魔术。牧师请了一位志愿者，并叫他摇一摇可乐瓶。摇完后，牧师打开罐子，但什么都没出来。然后他拿起 Sprite 罐并打开。出乎意料的是，它爆炸了，但之后牧师又摇了摇 Sprite 罐，它又恢复了。他说，可乐罐代表我们，而摇罐子代表罪，当我们犯罪时，就会导致死亡。然而 Sprite 罐代表耶稣，耶稣承担了我们的罪，使他自己受死。但这还不是结局，因为耶稣复活了，就像 Sprite 罐复原一样，现在，我们可以与耶稣建立永恒的关系。这真让我感动，因为牧师向我们展示了耶稣是多么奇妙。Sprite 罐似乎不可能复原，但它竟然做到了；耶稣似乎不可能复活，但他却真的复活了。
        现在，我在 Camp Siloam 学到了三件事：
        第一，上帝已经对我们说”是了”。过去，一件让我犹豫说”是”的事就是担心上帝不会对我说”是”。我害怕自己罪太多，衪会看我并拒绝我。然而，牧师提到上帝已经说”是”了。可能在我们还未出生之前，衪已经对我们说”是”，衪只在等待我们悔改并向衪说”是”。
        第二，我虽以前学过，但不要追逐会腐朽或不能满足的东西。这句话让我想起了十诫中的一条，不要拜偶像。这两者怎么相关？原因是，我们拜偶像的唯一理由是认为它们会满足我们。我们认为偶像能充实我们，相信它们不会消逝，会让我们幸福。这不就像那句话吗？那句话中的”something”就是偶像。所以，牧师本质上是在说不要追偶像。这句话也让我想起撒玛利亚妇人的故事。如果你不知道，大致是这样的：耶稣向撒玛利亚妇人要水喝。然而，那女人困惑地说，”你是犹太人，我是撒玛利亚人，为什么你向我要喝的？”但耶稣只是微笑说，”你若知道我是谁，你早该向我求水，我就早给你生命的水。”耶稣说的水是活水。那么普通的水和活水有什么区别？普通水和活水并不像它们听上去那样不同。例如，假设你面前有一大碗糖果。当你吃一块后，你还想再要一块，再来一块。但是即使你拥有全世界的糖果，你也永远不会满足。最终，那些糖果会腐烂、过期或丢失。活水就是耶稣，和糖果不同，一旦你用衪充满自己，你永远不会再想要更多。而且最好的是，衪永远不会腐烂。衪不会融化，不会过期，也不会丢失。
       最后，我学到上帝要我们成为门徒，而不仅仅是基督徒。门徒和基督徒之间有什么区别……
 
Yosef：
        这是我这辈子参加过的最棒的营会。我参加过很多不同的基督徒营会，而这是迄今为止最棒的。我是认真的。但稍后我会详细说。让我先介绍几个真正让这个营会如此与众不同的方面。首先，是食物。它真的特别好吃，不骗你。就算是中营（mid camp）时期，这也是我吃过的最好的食物了。就算我们学校的食物都比不上。接下来是宿舍。小伙伴们，我们的宿舍味道真重。床上的尿液和汗水的浓缩体，但至少温度调节不错。也许不是最差的睡眠体验，因为没有电子设备之类的。现在说点重要的东西，敬拜、讲道和戏剧。首先，今年的主题是丛林巡航，而主要话题是施洗约翰。戏剧显然围绕这两个主题展开，用创造性的方式把约翰的故事融入丛林巡航主题。最重要的是敬拜。我觉得看到许多和你同龄的孩子聚在一起敬拜主，是一种非常有力量的体验。真的很感动，我希望我们的教会也能有这样的体验。有两位讲员，Luke 和 Shane。Luke 的讲道更偏逻辑，而 Shane 用魔术并采取更情感的方式。魔术真的让我全神投入，因为它对每个人都很刺激。哦，我也真的很喜欢 Color Wars，就是很多呐喊什么的，太棒了。仅此而已。我觉得如果我当着大家读出来，这一切听起来就不会那么俗气了。
 
Harry:
        当我们刚到西罗亚营会（Camp Siloam）时，我看见所有的建筑物，就立刻喜欢上了这里。Simon、Jason、丞恩和我一到小木屋，就马上挑好了自己想睡的床位。安顿好后，我们便去参加第一次敬拜，学习有关施洗约翰的事。施洗约翰是一个给人施洗的人，他穿骆驼毛的衣服，腰束皮带，吃的是蝗虫和野蜜。敬拜结束后，我们去参加了著名的“西罗亚营地克罗布斯特（Crobster）狩猎”活动。克罗布斯特是一种由龙虾、小龙虾和淡水虾合体而成的生物。可惜我们一直没找到它，也不知道是谁找到了。
       第二天，我们学习了因为罪，人和神之间隔绝的真理，也学习了悔改。悔改的意思是停止并转离一件事，转向另一件事。我们应当离弃罪恶，回转归向神。神爱世人，甚至将祂那独一无二、完全无罪的儿子耶稣赐给我们。耶稣为我们的罪死在十字架上，用三颗钉子付清了罪的代价。第三天，耶稣从死里复活。因为耶稣在十字架上为我们的罪付了代价，我们的罪债已经还清。
        施洗约翰的出生故事是这样的：他的母亲以利沙伯生下他的时候，他的父亲不敢相信，结果口被封住，完全不能说话。邻居们都想按照父亲的名字，给孩子取名撒迦利亚。以利沙伯说“不”，尽管他们的亲族中没有叫约翰的人，但她这样做是因为有天使从天而降，吩咐她给孩子取名为约翰。父亲随后在写字板上写下：“他的名字是约翰”，就在那一刻，他的口立刻开了，并赞美主。
        我们还学习了一个叫做 B.R.I.D.G.E. 的内容，这是一个英文缩写，意思是：
        B – Broken world by sin（罪使世界破碎）
        R – Relationship with God separated（人与神的关系被隔绝）
        I – In Jesus, sins punished（在耶稣里，罪得刑罚）
        D – Decide to turn away from sin（决定转离罪恶）
        G – Gift not good works（得救是礼物，不是靠善行）
        E – Exchange death for life（用生命替代死亡）
每天晚上结束时，我们都要背诵圣经经文。完成之后，承恩、Jason、Simon和我通常会去“小卖铺”（The Hub）一起闲坐，买饮料喝，还会下几盘棋。
 
Tiffany：
       大家好，我叫 Tiffany Li，这是我第二次参加 Camp Siloam。我学到了很多，包括 B.R.I.D.G.E 316 和 M.E.T.H.O.D。我们的儿童牧师是 Shane Wilbanks。他教了我们 BRIDGE，在 BRIDGE 中每个字母都有含义。BRIDGE 解释了整个福音信息：
       B 表示罪使世界破碎（Broken world by sin），
       R 表示与神的关系被隔开（Relationship with God is separated），
       I 表示 “因耶稣，我们的罪被洗净了”（In Jesus our sins are washed away），
       D 表示 “我决定要回归上帝” (I decide to turn back to God)
       G 表示 “恩典是礼物，不是好行为”（Gift not good works），
       E 表示 “以死换生命”（Exchange death for life）。
       BRIDGE 基本上就是一个基督徒的生命。首先你是带着罪出生，但耶稣救了你。虽然我已经是信徒，但我可以用 BRIDGE 向别人传讲福音。我认为 BRIDGE 的好处是它解释了福音的每个部分。不仅耶稣为我们钉十字架，我们还需要一天又一天、时刻跟随耶稣。今年的主题是丛林巡航。他们有一个戏剧，讲述一个叫 Baptist 的丛林导游，他代表施洗约翰，他有个叫 Jesse 的堂兄，就是耶稣。戏剧开始时，Baptist 和他的助手 Andy 想找到国王的宝藏，他们派 Jesse 一同前往。他们克服障碍和挑战，但最终意识到国王的宝藏不是财富或红宝石，而是 Jesse。我觉得这个戏剧很棒。它教会了我，你生命的全部目的不是去追求财富、金钱或名声，而是要过一个配得荣耀上帝的、有价值的生命。
        在我们的一次自由时间里，我们去参加了 Low Ropes Challenge（低空绳索挑战）。我最喜欢 Low Ropes 中的一个活动，是一个类似跷跷板的装置，但不是一块小木板，而是一块大木板和中间的小圆木。这个活动的重点是让一定人数在两边平衡平台。在这个游戏中我学会了耐心并且听从一个人的指导。这就像世界上有很多声音试图让你跌倒，但耶稣是唯一能平衡你的人。
      总之，我感谢主赐给我们这宝贵的机会去参加营会。我想感谢教会为我们提供奖学金并每天为我们祷告。我还要感谢陪同我们的老师：应岚阿姨、磊宏叔叔和艺颖阿姨。谢谢！
 
Coey：
       大家好！我叫 Coey，我会谈谈今年我在 Camp Siloam 的经历。Camp Siloam 是一个为期 5 天的基督徒营会，可以帮助加深你的信仰。在这五天里，我感觉我的信仰得到了加深。
       让我印象深刻的是”他必须增加，我必须减少”（约翰福音 3:30）这个主题。我明白即使我可能会害怕，我根本不需要害怕，因为神曾经、正在，并将永远与你同在。这带来了巨大的平安。
       讲员说了一句话，让我印象深刻：”圣经不是关于你的。”刚开始我不理解，因为圣经给我们建议和指引。但他解释说，圣经是关于耶稣的——我们经常把它扭曲成关于我们自己。每节经文旨在提醒我们耶稣是谁，而不仅仅是我们是谁。
       约翰福音 3:30，是我学到的最大一课。在这节经文中，施洗约翰对他的门徒说耶稣应当增多，我应当减少。这节经文向我展示了我们都需要知道的真理——我们不是主角。
       上帝出于对我们的爱做了很多事。
       我非常感恩敬拜团队、辅导员和老师们愿意教导我们并奉献他们的时间。作为一个想更深入认识主的人，我非常感激他们为使整个营会成为可能所付出的所有时间和努力。
 
Simon:
       大家好，我叫 Simon Wu，我会解释 Camp Siloam 有多好玩，又……并不是那么完美。首先，我很喜欢餐厅很干净，而且食物很好吃。第二，我喜欢我们了解到神关心我们，并希望我们去使万民作他的门徒。我记得圣经里说过：”你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父子圣灵的名给他们施洗，教导他们遵守我所吩咐你们的一切。看哪，我天天与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”你知道那是什么经文吗？你不知道吗？那就让我告诉你，它是……马太福音 28:19–20，也称为大使命。第三，我喜欢希伯来书 6:19：”我们有这盼望如同灵魂的锚，坚固稳妥。”这说明神永远会帮助我们。你知道我在 Camp Siloam 的盼望是什么吗？我的盼望……不，我不该说是我的盼望，是我们的盼望，是耶稣基督我们救主。他是我在Camp Siloam 的盼望。当 32 人敲钟表示他们接受耶稣作他们的救主和主时，我很开心这些原本不信的人接受了耶稣为救主和主，包括我最好的朋友 Harry 和 Juliana。
       现在你们等待的”不是那么好的部分”来了，呵呵。首先，我们其他房间的同伴脚很臭，还爬到我们床上。其次，他们真的非常非常非常臭，还有这种”臭气场”。第三，因为房间闻起来像老香料（Old Spice），Michael 在房间里喷了驱虫剂，结果让我一直打喷嚏。
 
Elaine：
      大家好，我叫 Elaine。我来告诉你我在 Camp Siloam 的经历。今年是我第二次参加这个营会。我非常喜欢那个参考了圣经、主要聚焦于施洗约翰的剧。青年团队每天有两位牧师发言，一位叫 Shane，另一位叫 Luke。他们都谈到了让人相信上帝。但我比较喜欢 Shane，因为他讲得更感性，他为我们哭，也在台上流汗。在第三天，他讲完后不知为何从台阶上摔下去。我们都惊慌了，看他是否安好，但谢谢神让他没有受伤，他确认没事后大家都放心了。
       Shane 谈到了上帝要我们成为门徒，而不是仅仅做一个基督徒，他重点谈的是我们更多地关注自己，他解释了我们需要每天奉献自己、不断祷告、依赖神。他还分享了几种方法，并在台上做了多次魔术，主要在解释耶稣为我们的过犯而死，以及我们应该顺从上帝的方式。我想趁此机会感谢我们教会资助这次露营旅行，感谢那些和我们一起去的辅导员，最后感谢上帝让我有这次经历。
 
Ella：
      大家好，我叫 Ella，这是我第二次参加 Camp Siloam，今天我来分享这次经历。首先，在 Camp Siloam 有很多你能享受的活动，比如 Gagaball、九宫格（nine square）、篮球等等。在敬拜大厅，有一位牧师（Shane），他给我们看了很多魔术。当他教导我们”神与我”时，他拿出两瓶汽水，一瓶可乐一瓶 Sprite。可乐代表我们，Sprite 代表神。Shane 请一位志愿者去摇动可乐，然后他以某种方式把泡泡转到 Sprite 上，以此展示我们的罪怎样被耶稣洗净并在十字架上为我们死。让我最喜欢的部分是那些触动我心的歌曲。这就是我的分享结束。
 
Tina：
        大家好，我叫 Tina，今天我想分享一下我在 Camp Siloam 的时光。今年的主要主题是传教士。其中一个我们特别关注的人是施洗约翰。施洗约翰将他一生奉献，指引人们认识神。他丝毫不为自己做事，这真的深深触动了我。我们的世界现在非常以自我为中心。当我仔细想想，我很少做任何事不是为了自己受益。然而，施洗约翰不是那样的人。他知道自己的一生属于神，他愿意为此付出生命。事实上，在约翰福音 3:30 中，施洗约翰甚至说：”他必兴旺，我必衰微。”你可以清楚地看到上帝参与了约翰生命的每一秒。这让我反省自己。很多时候，我仅在教会或祷告时真正想着神，事后我便忘记衪，开始做自己的事。然而，这周的 Camp Siloam 教导我，耶稣为我献出了衪的一生。我也应该愿意一生为衪而活。Camp Siloam 真正帮助我在信仰上成长，并教会我要专注于神，而不是自己。额外的收获是，它超级好玩。我非常感谢辅导员陪我们去，教会资助这次行程，最重要的是感谢神让我有机会更加亲近衪。
 
Yueshuya:
      参加了为期四天的夏令营，我真的有太多太多的收获。这次的经历让我的信仰有了飞跃性的提升。每次敬拜赞美的时候，我都深深被触动，牧师的讲道也真实地打动了我的心。说实话，敬拜的时候，我的眼睛”进了沙子”——那一刻的感动，让我热泪盈眶。
      这次经历更坚定了我与主耶稣之间的关系，让我意识到：在这世上，没有什么比认识祂、亲近祂更重要的了。以前，我在赞美的时候常常看到别人高举双手，心里不太理解，甚至觉得有些尴尬。但这次，当圣灵触摸我的那一刻，我感受到祂的同在，我仿佛被圣灵充满，那是我人生中第一次毫无保留地举起双手，大声开口歌唱。（了解我的人都知道，我平时根本不唱歌的。）
      还有一个对我来说非常重要的突破：17年来，我从未向任何人下跪，甚至是我的父母。但当夏令营结束后，我心甘情愿地跪在地上，第一次真诚地向我的主祷告。因为我知道——祂配得我的敬拜，祂值得我这样做！
      在人际交往方面，我也不再是那个过去的”社恐”。曾经有位牧师告诉我：”机会是自己争取的。”这次夏令营有两千多人参加，我在午饭时间鼓起勇气，走到一旁的三角钢琴前弹奏了起来。那一刻，我明白了牧师话的意义。正是因为我迈出了那一步，我交到了许多朋友。每天，宿舍门外都有很多女孩来找我聊天、弹琴，这是我人生中第一次感受到如此多的欢迎与接纳。
      顺便提一句，交到这么多朋友，也让我用英语交流的能力突飞猛进！
      总之，这次夏令营让我得到了极大的成长。不仅让我与耶稣的关系更加亲密，也让我变得勇敢、愿意与人沟通；不再只是想着自己，而是有一颗愿意去爱人、关怀人、服侍人的心。
      最后，我非常感谢主让我有机会参加这个美好的营会，也满心期待明年的夏令营，愿主继续带领我，成就更多奇妙的工作！

Ellie:
      你好，我叫Ellie。今年是我第一次参加 Camp Siloam（西罗亚营地）2025年的夏令营。我想告诉你我在营会中期学到了些什么。
      我学到了《约翰福音》3章16节，还学到了”BRIDGE”（桥梁福音法）。我背诵了一些经文，比如《马太福音》28章19-20节，经文是：
      “所以你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守；我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”
       我最喜欢的歌曲是《Sent Me》（差遣我）。
       我学会了”悔改”这个词的意思：就是停止、转向、重新开始。
       我还学习了”known”（认识）这个词，它包含五个相关的词：
       No（没有）、Know（认识）、Now（现在）、Known（被认识）、Own（拥有）。
我也学到了有关爱、儿子，我们制作了一个十字架，象征着耶稣为拯救我们脱离罪而牺牲。

Michael:
       这周在 Camp Siloam，Shane Wilbanks（谢恩·威尔班克斯）讲了关于为神而活，以及成为门徒真正意味着什么。我理解并记住了他分享的一些重要功课。
       其中一课是关于”BRIDGE”（桥梁）的，这是一个简单的方式来讲解福音：
        B 是 Broken（破碎）：这个世界因为罪而破碎。
        R 是 Relationship（关系）：罪让我们与神隔绝。
        I 是 In Jesus（在耶稣里）：耶稣为我们的罪受了惩罚。
        D 是 Decide（决定）：我们必须选择回转归向神。
        G 是 Gift（礼物）：神通过耶稣赐给我们永生。
        E 是 Exchange（交换）：我们将生命交给基督，祂在我们里面活着。
       Shane还讲解了”基督徒”这个词。圣经中只提到了”基督徒”三次，但”门徒”这个词出现了263次。这说明神不只是希望我们称自己为基督徒，而是要我们活出门徒的样式。
       门徒是那些跟随耶稣，并帮助别人也跟随祂的人。
       要成为真正的门徒，我需要每天为神而活。我需要成为一位传递好消息的使者。我必须明白这个信息，就像施洗约翰所说：”祂必兴旺，我必衰微。”我必须拥有自己的信仰，并与神更加亲近。我也必须现在就活出信仰，因为年轻人现在就可以带来改变，而不仅仅是在将来。
       Shane 还解释了 “Known”（被认识）这个词所代表的门训过程：
        No（没有）：每个人一开始与神没有关系；
        Know（认识）：通过耶稣认识神。《约翰福音》17:3说：”认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。”
       Own（拥有）：我们要为自己的属灵成长负责，并顺服神；
        Now（现在）：下一代现在就能带来改变。
        还有一课讲了五个关键词，非常有帮助：Aware（察觉）、Prayer（祷告）、Care（关爱）、Share（分享） 和 Dare（勇敢）。
       Aware：活出与世人不同的生命，好让人们在我们身上看到基督；
       Prayer：为我们认识但还未信主的人祷告；
       Care：去爱人们，因为在他们知道我们在乎之前，他们不会在乎我们知道什么；
       Share：在日常生活中分享耶稣，而不只是局限于教会；
       Dare：勇敢地去践行圣经的教导，而不仅仅是听，也要向他人传福音。
       最后，Camp Siloam 让我明白：跟随耶稣不只是说”我是基督徒”，而是要成为门徒。真正的门徒要活得不一样，传扬福音，关心他人，并帮助他们在信仰中成长。
 
应岚老师:
      感谢各位家长和弟兄姐妹们耐心听完每个孩子的分享。这次营会虽然是针对孩子们的，但对于我们这几个陪同的大人也是收获不少。正如经上所记”看哪！弟兄和睦同居，是何等地善，何等地美。” 在这五天时间里，和孩子们朝夕相处，让我发现了每个孩子的闪光点。他们出入都会结伴而行，从来不会让任何一个人落单。尤其要表扬我们的青少年们，他们不自觉的就有了责任感，非常照顾弟弟妹妹们！
      在这次营会中非常令我感动的就是有非常多的高中生、大学生志愿者，充满热情积极地服事人。无论是准备饭食，刷碗，在户外组织各个体育活动，还是在台前尽情的带领敬拜，我能看到基督的灵浇灌在这些大孩子身上，他们的心是火热的。我有这样一个期望，希望我们的青少年和孩子们以后也能像他们一样，火热的来侍奉主。这次的讲员Shane牧师给我们辅导员也有单独的分享。其中他就提到，我们的孩子在生命中有四到五位属灵的伙伴，老师或长辈来做他们的榜样，他们成年以后坚守信仰的几率就非常大。我们的教会有这么多的孩子和青少年，鼓励我们的家长和同工们积极参与到儿童和青少年事工当中来，给他们更多的关注，爱心和包容，为他们创造更多服侍的机会，让他们在侍奉中灵命不断成长，教导他们行主的道，到老也不偏离。
 
艺颖老师：
       我被我们教会的孩子们深深鼓励了。他们忠心、谦卑。看到他们认真听讲、专注于每一堂信息，并积极学习神的话语，真的让我感到非常喜乐。同时，这次经历也让我反思到我们平时教导他们的方式确实存在一些问题。我们的教学方式往往过于枯燥，缺乏吸引力，也缺乏策略，难以真正触动他们的心。其中让我印象最深刻的信息是关于”悔改”的教导——悔改不是一次性的行为，而是我们每天都需要实践的生活态度。我们每个人都需要常常回转归向神，带着真诚和谦卑来生活。这次营会提醒我, 我们儿童主日带领者，也需要不断成长和更新，更好地引导他们走在神的道路上。

Church Testimony – Camp Siloam
 
Camp Siloam is a Christian summer camp located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, focused on evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual growth for children and youth. This year, from July 28 to August 1, our church had 18 youth, and 3 counselors participated. Two youth made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Each one came away deeply impacted. Curious to know what they received? Let’s listen to their testimonies!
 
Counselor Leihong:
         Dear brothers and sisters, and seekers — peace to you. By the grace and protection of the Lord, this year we led 18 youth and children from our church to participate in the summer camp at Siloam Springs, in western Arkansas. This was the second time both our church and I personally have attended this camp. Many of the children also came for a second time, and their excitement before we even departed clearly showed their anticipation. The entire camp experience went very smoothly.
       Compared to last year — when my spiritual passion was reignited during worship — this year brought a different, deeper kind of touch, and I’d like to share that with you. Camp Siloam is about a 4-hour drive from Little Rock. Last year, we used two private cars to transport the kids. But this year, with nearly double the number of participants, we needed more vehicles to get us to the camp. At first, this was a concern — we simply needed more drivers. If they weren’t staying at the camp, that would mean driving eight hours round trip in a single day, and twice a week (Monday and Friday). That’s a major burden for almost anyone.
       But praise the Lord — we received support from the Little Rock Baptist Association, who provided two large vans to carry all of us, kids and counselors! What’s more amazing is that all of us counselors had some prior experience driving such vehicles through our workplaces, which made the journey surprisingly smooth and easy. Thank God — beyond our own abilities, He has poured out His grace on both big and small details.
      Camp Siloam has been in existence for 102 years — hard to imagine! Just like last year, the moment we stepped onto the campgrounds, we were warmly welcomed. Even though the journey had worn us out, it felt as if we had just stepped from the world into paradise. For the next five days, we would live and worship together, free from all other concerns — no work, no phones for the youth or children.
      There were only two things waiting for them: worship and fun.
      As Pastor Shane put it, camp is a time to Fast and Feast.
      Fast — from phones, iPads, games, even schoolwork.
      Feast — on God’s Word and the fellowship of the body of Christ.
      Only by fasting from the distractions of the world can we fully feast on spiritual richness. That’s when I came to a much deeper understanding of what “fast” truly means.
       The five days were full of color and joy. Each morning and evening featured worship, sermons, and small group fellowship. This year’s theme focused on missions. The children gained so much, and I believe they will each share their experiences, so I won’t repeat it all here.
       During the middle of the day — around eight hours — they had various recreational activities: archery, BB guns, basketball, soccer, water slides, and other group events. One day we even went river tubing! Of course, my main job was to take pictures of the kids, but I got to enjoy quite a few activities myself — and they were so much fun! I’m sure every child had an amazing time. Somehow, everything just feels more exciting at camp. When Thursday night came and things were wrapping up, no one wanted to leave such a beautiful experience.
       Was it just the activities that made it so special? Maybe a little.
       But more importantly, the kids — and I — experienced the joy of living in community with brothers and sisters in Christ. Our church was the only Chinese church at the camp, and we met many other churches from different regions. Though our skin color, ethnicity, and cultures were different, we were united through the salvation of Jesus Christ. We shared a common language, worshipped the same Lord, and connected through similar values. We played together, worshipped together, shared testimonies, and prayed for one another. Oh, what would be nearly impossible in this world becomes so natural and beautiful in Christ. When you live in a community where hearts are aligned — what could be better?
       I thank God for this opportunity. If a spiritual retreat like this can be so wonderful, how much more amazing must heaven be, where our Heavenly Father awaits us? A new heaven and new earth without pain or sorrow — what will that be like? In Revelation 5:11–12, John describes a vision of heaven:
       “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” I imagine John — exiled on the island of Patmos in his old age, alone and suffering. Over 60 years had passed since Jesus had completed His work of salvation and shown Himself to John after His resurrection. Since then, many of the apostles who shared in John’s ministry had already become martyrs. Though John’s faith never wavered, he must have missed them deeply. Decades earlier, they had traveled through Galilee together with Jesus, sent out two by two, performing miracles. After Jesus ascended, John and Peter preached the gospel, performed signs, and led the church. But now, all of that had passed, and he was the only one left. If I were John, and God showed me that heaven would be a place where I could forever worship the Lord alongside my brothers, I would long for it with all my heart.
      We live in a blessed time where we can worship freely every week at church — perhaps we struggle to appreciate how precious that was to John. I believe God watches over His children. The blessings prepared for us in heaven are beyond anything we can imagine — and whatever we do imagine will not compare to what He has actually prepared. I also thank God that during this week of camp, He led our children to a deeper understanding of Him, of the gospel, and of the Great Commission. I could clearly see the spiritual growth in every child — and in myself as well. In all of this, I give thanks to God for His grace to our church, to our youth and children, and to me personally. I also pray that God would richly extend this same grace and blessing to every child willing to trust and follow Him — that all who hunger for His Word may taste and see that the Lord is good, just as I have tasted.
 
Jayson:   
       Hi, my name is Jayson, and I’d like to share the amazing experience I had at Camp Siloam this summer. Camp Siloam is a Christian camp where faith and fun come together in the best way possible. One of the highlights of the week was Color Wars—a friendly competition between the Red and Blue teams. We also got to participate in a variety of activities like 3v3 basketball, carpetball, board games, and so much more!
What made this week truly special was the opportunity to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ. Through worship, devotionals, and Scripture, I felt more connected to God than ever before. One of the verses that really stood out to me was John 3:16: & quote; For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. & quote:
      This verse reminded me of how powerful God' s love is for all of us.
      Camp Siloam isn’t just about games and entertainment—it’s about discovering the truth of God’s Word, memorizing Scripture, and learning to live it out daily. After spending a full week immersed in this experience, I can confidently say that I trust Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and I believe God is real.
       We also learned that according to what was shared at Camp, the Lord will return once the entire world hears the message of Christ.
 
Julianna:
      Hello, my name is Julianna Deng, and I just completed my first year at Camp Siloam—a Christian camp that offers a meaningful blend of worship, games, shops, and many other fun activities. One of the highlights of my experience was the preaching by Shane Wilbank. Not only was he an incredible speaker who communicated with deep emotion and passion, but he also impressed us with his talent for magic tricks. His messages, especially those about John the Baptist and what it means to live as a Christian, truly touched my heart and made a lasting
impact. Outside of worship, there were plenty of exciting activities to enjoy. My favorite was spending time at the creek, where my friends and I loved catching crawfish and splashing in the refreshingly cold water. Camp Siloam is an amazing place filled with joy, faith, and unforgettable memories. If you ever get the chance to go, you’ll see what I mean.
 
 
Benjamin:  
       Hey everybody, if y’all don’t know me, my name is Benjamin Du, and last week, I attended a Christian camp called Camp Siloam. Camp Siloam is located in the northwest of Arkansas, almost bordering Oklahoma. At Camp Siloam, we would have worship twice a day, with the rest of the day being filled with mostly rec time and organized activities.
        During Camp Siloam, each morning, there would be a drama, where we could see a bible story being acted out in a different theme, which this year, was a jungle cruise. We witnessed John the Baptist’s life through an “Indiana Jones” lens, where we learned about who he was, his actions on earth, and how he paved the way for Jesus Christ.
       Throughout this week, we had 2 speakers. Their names were Luke and Shane, and they had many different methods of speaking. Luke would talk in a logical way, trying to connect personally with the personal experiences of us teens. One of his sermons that touched me the most was about belief, and how believing in Jesus Christ isn’t a one-time decision, but rather a daily decision to live out Jesus Christ in our lives each day. This really made me reflect on my current state and helped me understand just how important living out Christ was in my life.
       The 2nd speaker was named Shane. He was an illusionist and would always start off one of his sermons with a magic trick. He really helped get the audience involved, and I think his sermons were really impactful. His main focus was spreading gospel and creating more disciples, just like John did. He gave us lots of ways to remember how to spread the gospel more effectively, such as using acronyms like “B.R.I.D.G.E.
       Overall, I think this camp was a very impactful experience, both for the kids and the youth. It was a great opportunity to get to know many new friends in Christ. Camp Siloam was a great experience, and I hope our church can continue to go there each year.
 
Lindsey:  
       Hello everyone, my name is Lindsey. Today I want to talk about my experience at Camp Siloam. Before I went to Camp Siloam, I expected to have a lot of fun. And I did, but I also got more.
       This year’s message was about John the Baptist and his life as a missionary. I learned about his hardships and some of his methods he used to make disciples. One thing that stood out to me was something Pastor Shane said over and over again. He said God must increase and we must decrease. He showed us a magic trick where he spun a circle with a spiral pattern on it. After a few seconds, he stopped spinning the circle and it looked like his head was deflated. This means the more we walk with God, the more significant God becomes, and the less important we are.
       This year’s worship team was really good, and they really brought out the meaning of praise.
       This year’s entertainment was also really good. There was Gagaball, a creek, Archery, Swimming and so much more! My favorite activity was probably Gagaball.
      One of my favorite things to do was probably going to The Hub. The Hub was a store with snacks and drinks. Their snacks and candy were the best!
      Last but definitely not least, I want to thank the counselors for making Camp Siloam possible.
 
Michelle:
       Hello, my name is Michelle, and this is my second year at Camp Siloam. I had a lot of fun there especially the worship Center and Archery. The preacher for us is Shane Willbanks, I learned a lot from him throughout the week. He taught us to repent, turn and start what’s right, the bridge, and how the world was broken because of sin. He always had cool magic tricks to show us every day, and his teaching was very impactful. We have fun things to do for free recreation which is free time like sports swing and sometimes I would go crawfish hunting with my friends. Lastly, I was very move by the holy spirit, it was a lot of fun there with the others and that’s it.
 
Chengen:
       Hi guys, today I’m gonna tell you what I did in my second year in Camp Siloam. Camp Siloam was a really fun place, and it is a Christian church camp. You can do a lot of fun activities there like archery, gaga ball, swimming, rifle, and soccer. This year more of my friends came to the camp. We played archery tag, gaga ball, and soccer. We went to the hub to buy food together and go to the cabin. One of my favorite activities to do at Camp Siloam is Archery tag. I played a round with my friend. It was pretty fun with bow and arrow in archery tag. Last year we did it with guns. It doesn’t hurt but it sounds hurt. I would rather come again at Camp Siloam next year and try out new things to do.
 
Joanna:
       Hello, my name is Joanna Ren, and I will be sharing my experience at Camp Siloam. Camp Siloam has many fun activities. There were kayaking, Color Wars, and even tournaments. However, what I really loved was the pastor’s teaching. He taught us many things and showed us many magic tricks. One magic trick that really touched me was the sprite and coke magic trick. The pastor asked for a volunteer and told him to shake the bottle of coke. After shaking it, the pastor opened the can, however, nothing came out. Then, he picked up the sprite can and opened it. Surprisingly, it exploded, but after that, the pastor shook the sprite can, and it became as good as new. He said that the coke can was us, and the shaking of the can was sin, and when we sin, it causes death. However, the sprite can represented Jesus, and Jesus took our sins and put it in him, which caused him death. But that wasn’t the end, for Jesus came back alive just like how the sprite can came back alive, and now, we can have an everlasting relationship with Jesus. This really touched me because the pastor just showed us how miraculous Jesus can be. It seemed impossible for the sprite to be revived and yet it did. It seemed impossible for Jesus to come back alive and yet he did.
        Now, here are three things I learned at Camp Siloam:
        First, God has already said yes to us. In the past, one thing that kept me back to saying yes to God is that I would worry that God wouldn’t say yes to me. I was afraid that I sinned so much that he would just look at me and reject me. However, the pastor mentioned that God has already said yes. He probably has already said yes to us even before we were born, he’s just waiting for us to repent and say yes to him.
        Second, I have already learned about this but don’t chase after something that will perish or won’t satisfy. This sentence reminds me of one of the rules in the Ten Commandments which is don’t worship idols. How are these two related? Well, the only reason why we worship idols is because we think they will satisfy us. We think that idols will fulfill us, we think that they won’t perish and will make us happy. Isn’t this like that sentence? The “something” in that sentence means idols. So, the pastor is technically saying is don’t chase after idols. This sentence also reminds me of the story of the Samaritan woman. If you don’t know what it’s about basically what happens is that Jesus asks a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. However, the woman looks at him confused and says, “But you’re a Jew, and I’m a Samaritan, so why are you asking me for a drink?” But Jesus just smiled and said, “If you knew who I am, you would have asked me for water, and I would have gladly given you it.” The water Jesus is referring to is living water. So, what’s the difference between normal water and living water? Well, normal water and living water aren’t exactly what they sound like. For example, let’s say there is a big bowl of candy in front of you. When you take one, you want another, and another, and another. You want more and more and more. However, even if you have all the candy in the world, you will never be satisfied. And eventually, that candy will perish. It will either melt, expire, or get lost. The living water is Jesus, and unlike the candy, once you fill yourself up with him, you will never want more. And the best part, he won’t ever perish. He won’t melt, he won’t expire, and he won’t ever get lost.
       Finally, I learned that God wants us to be disciples, not just Christians. What’s the difference between a disciple and a Christian.
 
Yosef:
       BEST camp I’ve ever been to in my life. I’ve been to so many different Christian camps and this was the best one by far. I mean it. But I’ll get to that later. Let me introduce a couple of aspects of the camp that really made it what it is. First of all, the FOOD. It was so cheeks not going to lie. Like it was over seasoned or under seasoned, most mid camp food of my life. Even our school foods tiers above and that says something. Next, the cabin. Man, our cabin stank. Pure concentrated urine and sweat on the beds, but at least they had good temperature regulation. Not the WORST sleep experience maybe cause no electronics or whatever.  Now to the important stuff, the worship, sermon, and drama. To start, the main theme this year was a jungle cruise, and the main topic was John the Baptist. The drama was obviously centered around both of these, creatively incorporating the story of john into a jungle cruise organization. Now the most important thing, the worship. I feel like its so powerful to see a lot of kids especially your age, just gather together and worship the lord. It’s such a moving experience honestly, I’d love to have something like it at our church. There were 2 speakers, Luke and Shane. Luke was more on the logical side in his sermons, while Shane used magic and took a more emotional approach. The magic really helped me get pulled into the sermon because of how exciting it was for everyone. Oh I also really liked the color wars, just a lot of yelling and stuff amazing. That’s all. I feel like this whole thing would sound a lot less corny if I was reading it to everyone.
 
Harry:
        When we first got to Camp Siloam, I saw all the buildings and immediately liked Camp Siloam. When Simon, Jason, Chengen and I got to the cabin, we immediately picked out which bunks we wanted. After we got settled in, we went to the first worship and learned about John the Baptist. John the Baptist was someone who baptized people. He wore camel hair clothing and a leather belt, he consumed locusts and wild honey. After worship, we went to do the famous Camp Siloam Crobster hunt. The Crobster is a creature created from a lobster, crawfish, and craw dad when they merge together. Sadly we never found it and we never knew who did. The second day, we learned about how God and ourselves are separated because of sin, we also learned to repent. Repent means to stop and turn away to something and go to another thing. We should repent sin and turn back to God. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, who is perfect, Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, with 3 nails, Jesus paid the price for sin. On the third day, Jesus rose again. Our sin dept is paid because Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. The story of how John the Baptist was born began like this, John was born when his mother Elizabeth gave birth to him. His father couldn’t believe it and his mouth was sealed shut, he couldn’t talk at all. All their neighbors wanted to name the baby Zechariah after his father. Elizabeth said no even though none of their relatives had the name John, she did it because an angel came down from the Heavens and told her to name him John. The father then suddenly wrote on a writing tablet, “His name will be John”, just then, his mouth opened and he praised the Lord. We learned about something called B.R.I.D.G.E. , B.R.I.D.G.E. is an abbreviation for Broken world by sin, Relationship with God separated, In Jesus, sins punished, Decide to turn away from sin, Gift not good works, Exchange death for life. At the end of each night, we had to memorize Bible verses and after we completed them, Chengen, Jason, Simon, and I usually just hang out at The Hub and buy a drink while we played chess.
 
Tiffany:
        Hello, my name is Tiffany Li. This is my second year going to Camp Siloam. I’ve learned a lot including the B.R.I.D.G.E 316 and The M.E.T.H.O.D. Our children’s pastor was Pastor Shane Wilbanks. He taught us the BRIDGE, in the BRIDGE every letter has a meaning. The BRIDGE explains a whole gospel message. B means Broken world by sin, R represents the relationship with God is separated, I means “In Jesus our sins are washed away,” D means “A decision to turn back to God.”, G means “Gift not good works,” Lastly E means “Exchange death for life.” The BRIDGE is basically a Christian’s life. First you’re born with sin but Jesus saved you, although I am already a believer I can use the BRIDGE to tell others about it. I think the benefit of the BRIDGE is that it explains every part of the gospel.  Not only Jesus died on the cross for us, but also we need to follow Jesus day by day, moment by moment.
        This year’s theme is Jungle Cruise, they had a play and it talked about this tour guide of the jungle called Baptist, He represents John the Baptist and he has a cousin named Jesse, which is Jesus. The play starts out when Baptist and his assistant Andy want to find out the King’s Treasure so he sends his cousin Jesse along to join them. They crossed through obstacles and challenges but they finally realized the King’s treasure wasn’t riches or rubies, it was Jesse. I think this play is amazing. It taught me that the whole purpose of your life is not to chase riches or money or fame, but to live a worthy life  for Jesus that can glorify God.
         In one of our free times, we went to The Low Ropes Challenge. One of my favorite activities in the Low Ropes Challenge was a seesaw-like thing but instead of one small board they had a big wooden board and a small log in the middle. The point of this activity was to get a certain number of people on each side and balance the platform. In this game I’ve learned to be patient and only listen to one person. It’s like there are many voices in the word that try to make you fall but Jesus is the only one that can balance you.
In conclusion, I am thankful for our Lord to give us this precious opportunity to attend the Camp. I want to thank the church for supporting us with scholarships and they pray for us every day. I also want to thank the teachers, Yinglan Ayi, Leihong Shushu, and Yiying Ayi  that went with us and accompanied us. THANK YOU. 
 
Coey:
       Hi everyone! My name is Coey and I’ll be talking about my experience at Camp Siloam this year. Camp Siloam is a 5 day Christian camp that can help deepen your faith. Over these five days, I have felt my faith deepen.
       Something that really stood out to me was the theme of “He must increase, I must decrease,” from John 3:30. I learned that even though I might be scared, I never even need to be, because God was, is, and forever will be near. That brought so much peace.
       The speaker said something that really stuck with me: “The Bible is not about you.” At first, I didn’t understand, since the Bible gives us advice and direction. But he explained that the Bible is about Jesus — and that we often twist it into being about ourselves. Each verse is meant to remind us who Jesus is, not just who we are.
       John 3:30, the verse that I wrote above, is one of the biggest things I learned. In the verse, John the Baptist is speaking to his disciples about Jesus. Then he says, “He must increase, I must decrease.” That verse showed me the truth that we all need to know — that we aren’t the main character.
       God has done a lot out of His love for us.
       I’m so thankful for the worship team, the counselors, and the leaders who were willing to instruct us and give up their time. As someone who wants to know the Lord on a deeper level, I really appreciated all the time and effort they put in to make the whole thing possible.
 
Simon:  
      Hello, and my name is Simon Wu, and I will be explaining about How camp Siloam was fun and how it was……. not the best let’s say. First, I loved how the dining hall was very clean and the food there was very yummy. Second, I loved how we can learn that God cares about us and wants us to make disciples through all the nations I know In the bible that it said “Go and make disciples through all the nations and baptize them in The name of God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and train them to obey everything I have commanded You. And surely, I will be there with you always to the end of the ages.” And do you know what verse that was it was? Oh, you don’t? Well then, let me tell you it is……. Mathew 28 19-20! Also known as the great commission. 3rd I liked that Hebrews 6-19 said “Our hope an anchor of our soul firm and secure. That states that God will always help us, and do you know what my hope was in camp Siloam? My hope well I shouldn’t say my hope , our hope is Jesus Christ our Savior. He was my hope in Camp Siloam when 32 people rang the bell. I loved how they accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and also including my best friend Harry and Juliana. I was very happy that these non-believers excepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Now I know you’ve been waiting for this but it’s time for the “not so good parts”. So…. The first thing that happened was that our other cabin mates had very stinky feet and they started climbing on our beds. Second, they were very very very stinky, and they had this stinky aura. Third, since the room smelled like old spice, Michael sprayed bug spray all around the room and it made me sneeze.
 
Elaine: 
      Hello, my name is Elaine. I am here to tell you about my experience at camp Siloam. This year was my second time going to it. I really enjoyed the play that had a reference to the bible, and it was mostly focusing on John the Baptist. The youth group had two pastors each day, one was named Shane and the other one was named Luke. They had both talked making people believe in God but I had loved Shane more than Luke since he was more emotional when he talked and he had cried for us and sweated on the stage. On the third day after he was done preaching to us he had fallen off the stairs for some unknown reason. We had all panicked to see if he was all right but thank God for making sure he was fine and he had no injuries. Shane had talked about how God wanted us to make us as his disciples and instead of being only a Christian and his key focus was on ourselves explaining how we need to devote ourselves to him daily and made sure we pray and be dependable to God himself. There’s
also a few methods he shared with us and he had done multiple magic tricks on stage and it was mostly explaining how Jesus Christ had to die for our wrong doings and how we should follow God’s way. I would like to take the time off to thank our church for funding for the camping trip, the counselors who were there with us, and lastly to thank God for letting me experience this trip.
 
Ella: 
       Hi everyone, my name is Ella, and this is the second year of camp Siloam and today I’m going to tell you about it. First, at Camp Siloam there are a lot of activities that you can enjoy like gaga-ball, nine square, basketball, and many more. At the worship hall there’s that pastor called (Shane), and he showed us a lot of magic tricks. When it’s time for teaching us God and me he took out two bottles of soda one coke one sprite, the coke is us and sprite is God. Shane called a volunteer to shake the coke, and he somehow moved the bubble to the sprite to show how our sin has been washed away by Jesus and died on the cross for us。favorite part was the songs that touched my heart. That would be the end of my speech (thank you).
 
Tina:
        Hello everyone, my name is Tina, and today I want to share a little about my time
at Camp Siloam. This year, the main theme was missionaries. One of the people we really focused on was John the Baptist. John devoted his whole life to helping point people to God. He didn’t care about doing things for himself at all, and that really hit me hard. Our world currently is focused on ourselves. When I really think about it, I have rarely done anything for a reason other than benefitting myself. However, John wasn’t like that. He knew that his whole life belongs to God, and he was willing to go so far as to die for it. In fact, in John 3:30, John the Baptist even said, “He must become greater; I must become less.” You could clearly see that God was part of every second of John’s life. This caused me to reflect on myself. Many times, I am only really thinking about God and trying to be close to Him at church or during prayer. Afterwards, I just forget about Him and start doing my own things. However, this week’s Camp Siloam taught me that Jesus gave his whole life for me. I should be willing to live for him my whole life, too. Camp Siloam really helped me grow in my faith and taught me to focus on God, not myself. As a bonus, it was super fun. I am very thankful to the counselors for coming with us, the church for funding the trip, and most of all God for giving me a chance to grow closer to Him.
 
Yueshuya:
      After attending a four-day summer camp, I truly gained so much. This experience brought a major breakthrough in my faith. Every time we worshiped, I was deeply moved. The pastor’s sermons really touched my heart. Honestly, during worship, my eyes “got a little dusty”—I was so moved that I couldn’t hold back my tears.
      This experience has strengthened my relationship with the Lord Jesus and made me realize that nothing in this world is more important than knowing Him and drawing close to Him.
      In the past, I often saw people lifting their hands during praise and didn’t quite understand it—I even found it a little awkward. But this time, when the Holy Spirit touched me, I felt His presence surrounding me. For the first time in my life, I lifted my hands freely and sang out loud. (Those who know me know that I never sing!)
       Another breakthrough was even more personal: in my 17 years of life, I had never knelt before anyone—not even my parents. I thought it was about pride or dignity. But after this camp, I willingly knelt on the ground and prayed to my Lord for the first time, because I realized—He is worthy of it. He deserves my surrender.
      Socially, I’m not the same person I used to be. I was once shy and introverted. A pastor once told me, “Opportunities are for those who take them.” At this camp of over 2,000 people, I gathered my courage during lunch and walked over to the grand piano nearby to start playing. That moment changed everything. Because I had the courage to step out, I made many new friends. Every day after that, groups of girls would come looking for me outside the dorm—I’ve never felt so welcomed in all 17 years of my life!
       By the way, having so many friends also dramatically improved my English speaking skills!
       In short, this summer camp has brought tremendous growth to my life. It has clearly drawn me closer to Jesus and helped me become someone who is bold in communication—not the socially anxious person I once was. It gave me a heart willing to serve others, to love, care for, and help them—instead of thinking only about myself.
      Lastly, I’m truly thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be part of this amazing camp, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s! May the Lord continue to lead me and do even greater things!
 
Ellie:
      Hi my name is Ellie. This is my first year of Camp Siloam 2025. I want to tell you what I learned during mid camp. I learned John 3:16 and the BRIDGE. I memorized the verses like Matthew 28:19-20. It says:
     “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
      My favorite song is “Sent Me.”
      I learned what repent means: to stop, turn, and start.
      I learn about “known.”
      I had five words in it:
      No, know, now, known, and own.
      I learn about the love and son, make a cross, save us from our sins!
 
Michael:  
        This week at Camp Siloam, Shane Wilbanks talked about living for God and what it really means to be a disciple. I understood and remembered a few important lessons he shared.
       One lesson was called “BRIDGE.” It is an easy way to explain the gospel.
       B means Broken. The world is broken because of sin.
       R means Relationship. Sin separates us from God.
       I means In Jesus. Jesus took the punishment for our sins.
       D means Decide. We must choose to turn back to God.
       G means Gift. God gives us eternal life through Jesus.
       E means Exchange. We give our life to Christ, and He lives through us.
       Shane also taught about the word Christian. The Bible only uses the word Christian three times, but the word disciple is used 263 times. This shows that God wants us not only to say we are Christians but to live as disciples. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus and helps others follow Him too.
       To be a real disciple, I need to live on mission for God every day. I need to be a messenger who tells people the good news. I must know the message, like John the Baptist who said, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” I must own my faith and grow closer to God. I also must live it now, because young people can make a difference today, not just in the future.
       Shane also explained the word Known as a process of discipleship.
       No means every person is born with no relationship with God.
       Know means to know God through Jesus. John 17:3 says, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
      Own means we take responsibility for our spiritual growth and obey God.
      Now means the next generation can make a difference right now.
      Another helpful lesson was about five key words: Aware, Prayer, Care, Share, and Dare.
      Aware means to live differently from the world so people can see Christ in us.
      Prayer means to pray for people we know who do not believe in God.
      Care means to love people, because people do not care what we know until they know that we care.
      Share means to talk about Jesus in daily life, not just at church.
      Dare means to do what the Bible says, not only listen to it and share the gospel with others.
      In the end, Camp Siloam showed me that following Jesus is more than saying I am a Christian. It means being a disciple. Being a proper disciple lives differently, shares the gospel, cares for people, and helps others grow in their faith.
 
 
 
Counselor Yinglan:
        Thank you to all the parents and brothers and sisters for patiently listening to each child’s sharing. Although this camp was primarily designed for the kids, we adults who accompanied them also gained so much.
        As Scripture says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” During these five days of spending every moment with the children, I was able to see the unique strengths and shining points in each of them. They always walked in and out together, never letting anyone be left behind. I especially want to praise our youth — they naturally developed a sense of responsibility and took great care of the younger kids!
       One thing that truly touched me during this camp was the large number of high school and college volunteers who served so passionately and joyfully. Whether it was preparing meals, washing dishes, organizing outdoor sports activities, or leading worship with full enthusiasm, I could see the Spirit of Christ poured out on these young people — their hearts are on fire for the Lord.
       I have a hope: that our youth and children will one day serve the Lord with the same passion.
       Pastor Shane, our camp speaker, also had a special session just for us counselors. He shared that if a child has 4 to 5 spiritual mentors, teachers, or older role models in their life, they are much more likely to hold firmly to their faith into adulthood.
      Our church has so many children and youth. I want to encourage parents and coworkers to actively participate in children’s and youth ministry — to give them more attention, love, and grace. Let’s create more opportunities for them to serve, so their spiritual lives can grow through service. Let us teach them to walk in the ways of the Lord, so that even when they are old, they will not depart from it.
 
Counselor Yiying:
       I was deeply encouraged by the children from our church. They are faithful and humble. Watching them listen intently, focus during every session, and actively learn God’s Word brought me great joy.
       At the same time, this experience led me to reflect on our usual way of teaching them. There are indeed some problems — our teaching methods are often too dry, lack engagement, and lack effective strategy. As a result, they struggle to truly connect with the lessons in a meaningful way.
       One message that left the deepest impression on me was about repentance — repentance is not a one-time act, but rather a daily lifestyle and attitude. Each of us needs to continually turn back to God and live with sincerity and humility.
      This camp reminded me that we, as Sunday School leaders, also need to grow and be renewed constantly, so that we can better guide the children to grow.