Hong Kong Brother : Caleb
I will talk about two things, very short
One is the Lord's providence.
The other one is the benefit and growth being a full-time preacher.
So talking about full-time preacher, actually when I was 16
having special team with Bro fish and other B/S
really influenced me to think about being a full-time preacher,
when I was 17, I really want to, and even share this with B/S.
But the Lord told me to learn waiting on Him
So I became a full-time preacher in 1984, during 1989-1994,
I have work outside for a few years.
And since then I've always been a full-time preacher.
Throughout these years, I found the Lord's providence really in time.
So we mentioned the salary-free system, I think it is very good.
It avoids the greediness of man,
and also we don't need to look at other people's face.
Sometimes, if you go to some districts, some B/S might not be very pure,
they will stare you when talking, and sometimes if you need to correct people
it’s hard to avoid “offending” some of them.
The good thing is, I come from the Lord, I look up to the Lord’s providence.
Of course, it’s not always abundant, some days maybe very broke.
There are times that I don’t have much money.
I had this experience,when I need to go to team
to DNG with B/S, and after that go to cell group, and I got no money after taking bus
so what can I do with no money? it's also beneficial
you can go up to the mountain, actually there are lots of wild food(fruits)
so full-time B/S should go to the mountain more because there are benefits
Actually the Lord was really good in those days,
there were plenty things from the mountain
we picked up a lot and eat with bread while sitting by the stream
really deeply enjoy what was described in Psalm 23.
Not that we feel the Lord is not faithful when there’s no money
in contrary, I find the Lord even more faithful in these experiences.
Why? Because He is so real that you cannot just exchange it with money.
His true presence can teach you and train you
also He wants you to grow, to experience something special.
So I found the Lord very faithful in this way.
The other thing, the Lord’s molding, being a full-time is a really good learning for myself.
I don’t know lots of things at the beginning.
But most important is to spend more time with B/S, especially the mature B/S
pursue with them, learning while working, practicing and trying, asking and improving,
I found it a great help to me.
And after so many years, I found that the Lord does not value how many talents
and skills I have or how much I know, but through His molding all these years
I found that He values how I serve Him, how I am as a person.
How you as a person serve the Lord, not how many talents
or other stuff you have to serve Him.
Therefore I encourage B/S, I was 16 when I had that mind
actually do not think about how old you need to be
actually at that time I need to face a question, in my age
I become a full-time preacher, how do I face other people?
Would the society accept it? Would my family accept it?
Of course my family will not accept it.
But I encourage B/S do not lack of that mind.
The Lord really delight in my mind back then. I will stop here..