Retired Refire — Committed to Missions | 退而不休去宣教

For many, the dream of retirement is to enjoy a peaceful life—no work, no obligations, the freedom to travel, sleep in, and enjoy leisure activities every day. But if you had 20 or 30 years after retirement, would spending them this way truly be meaningful? For Christians, retirement should look different. Even after retirement, God’s plan for your life is still full of meaning and mission.

Christian retirement is both a grace and a blessing from God. It offers more time to spend with family and provides new opportunities to broaden our mission vision—to use the gifts God has given us to build up churches in need and bring more people to Christ. In addition to staying healthy and living a simple, disciplined life, Christian retirees are called to live lives that glorify God and bless others.

May God teach us to wisely use our time, money, talents, gifts, and abilities to serve those in need. As the psalmist says: “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” (Psalm 92:14)

President Abraham Lincoln once said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” However long we live, let us live with purpose and fullness. Moses, the man of God, wrote: “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:10,12)

The Lord Jesus calls us to always be alert and ready for His return, and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Therefore, we must discern God’s will, plan early, and make good use of our brief pilgrimage on earth.

In his book Distinctively Christian Retirement, Simon Van Bruchem writes that while the dream of enjoying leisure in one’s final decades is widespread, it can be spiritually and physically detrimental. He reminds us that the Christian’s dream is not retirement—but heaven. Heaven is eternal, while retirement is temporary. Heaven is perfect; retirement at best is only good. Heaven is centered on God; retirement can easily become centered on self. For Christians, there is something better than the best retirement: the joyful anticipation of a new heaven and new earth, where we will serve God forever.

We thank God that earlier this year we experienced His care in a special way. My wife had been suffering from spinal stenosis and a herniated disc for over a year, with surgery scheduled for March 27. But by God’s mercy and healing—and through your faithful prayers—she did not need the operation.

During the first half of the year, we spent most of our time serving in Chinese churches across the U.S., preaching and sharing our mission vision, and participating in mission-related gatherings. We also taught an eight-week “Family Altar” class at several churches. The interaction in class gave me an even deeper burden for Christ-centered families, and I was greatly encouraged by the participants’ hunger for God.

In mid-June, my wife and I will first travel to Taiwan. On July 20, we’ll meet with a Taiwanese short-term mission team from Chicago in Taitung. This team will serve in an indigenous community, offering children’s English camps, adult community services, home visits, personal evangelism, prison ministry, and city outreach. May God greatly use this team and bless every place they visit. During our two months in Taiwan, my wife and I will also speak at different churches each Sunday. We ask God to sustain our spiritual strength, physical energy, emotional stamina, and adaptability. We plan to return to the U.S. at the end of August.

We are also organizing a “Retired? Refire!” short-term mission team, scheduled for Peru from October 28 to November 5, primarily in Cantonese. If your church is interested or feels led, please contact our office. We are also planning additional mission opportunities and will share more as details become available.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in missions—through your companionship, service, intercession, and support. May God Himself reward and bless you abundantly.

许多人的退休梦想是什么？安享晚年！不用工作，随心所欲，到处游山玩水，睡到自然醒，天天休闲活动。如果退休后你有二三十年的时光，这样度晚年有意义吗？基督徒的退休应该是不一样的。即便你已经退休，神对你的人生规划仍然充满意义和使命。基督徒的退休是神的恩典，也是神的赐福，因为退休给了我们更多的时间与家人相处，也有更多的机会扩展宣教的视野，充分利用神给的恩赐，造就有需要的教会，为主多领一人归主。基督徒的退休，除了要锻练身体，注重健康，过简朴而有纪律的生活，更重要的是，我们要如何过荣神益人的退休生活？求神教导我们，知道如何善用时间、金钱、才干、恩赐、能力，去服事有需要的人，像诗人说的：「他们年老的时候仍要结果子，要满了汁浆而常发青。」（诗92:14）

林肯总统说：「生命像文章一样，不在乎长短，乃在乎内容。」我们不论活多久，总要活得精彩。神人摩西说：「我们一生的年日是七十岁，若是强壮可到八十岁；但其中所矜夸的不过是劳苦愁烦，转眼成空，我们便如飞而去。求祢指教我们怎样数算自己的日子，好叫我们得着智慧的心。」（诗90:10、12）主耶稣要我们时刻儆醒预备，等候祂再来，又要我们先求祂的国和祂的义（太6:33）因此，我们要察验神的旨意，及早规划，善用我们在世寄居的日子。

Simon Van Bruchem在他的书Distinctively Christian Retirement（独特的基督徒退休生活：晚年好好服事耶稣）指出，「在生命的最后几十年里享受闲暇，成为大家的向往和期待，人积攒了一辈子，就是为了这些退休的日子。但他说这对一个人的属灵健康、身体健康都非常不利。作者说，基督徒的梦想是天堂，而不是退休。天堂是永恒的，退休是暂时的。天堂是完美的，退休充其量只能算很好。天堂以神为中心，而退休则很容易以自我为中心。对于基督徒来说，有一种东西比最好的退休生活更好，期待新天新地，在那里我们将永远侍奉神。

感谢神，今年初我们经历了神的眷顾，一直困扰沈师母一年多的脊柱狭窄和腰间盘凸出原定在三月27日手术，但神的怜悯和医治，神听了大家的祷告。上半年，我们大部分的时间在美国的华人教会分担讲台和传道宣教异象，参加与宣教有关的聚会。也应几间教会的的需要开了八周的《家庭祭坛班》，透过上课的互动让我对基督化家庭更有强烈的负担，看见大家的渴慕自己大得激励。

下半年的六月中，我跟师母先到台湾，七月20 日与芝加哥来的台湾短宣队在台东会合。这次到原住民部落的短宣队除了儿童英语夏令营，也有成人的小区服务、家庭访视、个人布道、监狱布道、都市宣教。愿神大大使用这次的短宣队，所到之处带下赐福。我跟师母在台湾的两个月，主日都在不同的教会分享，求神看顾并保守我们的灵力、体力、心力和适应力。八月底回美国。

我们已计划今年10月28日到11月5日招募《退而不休》的短宣队到秘鲁，主要是以粤语为主。若你教会有负担，凡请跟办公室联络。我们还在联络其他的宣教活动，有进一步消息会跟大家分享。

再一次谢谢你对我们宣教的陪伴、同工、代祷、支持。愿神 亲自报答并赐福。