ABCs in Missions 第二代參與宣教事工

我雙親家中擺設了許多從世界各地的記念品：一個像非洲地圖形狀的掛鐘，一件巴拿馬的樂器，從非洲斯帶回來的一粒駝鳥蛋。這些裝飾品並非只代表了我父母曾到過不少地方，他們還會告訴我神在每個地方所做的奇妙工作，同時也印証了他們曾把神的福音帶給各地的人民，並激勵了他們。

當我年幼時我的父母親就把這種神聖的使命感傳遞了給我。我十四歲時，父親帶我一同去澳門宣教，這是我第一次嘗試宣教的體驗。我經歷了離鄉背井的滋味，同時獲得分享信仰之喜樂，也體會到千萬人從未聽聞福音，令我的心震撼，因此萌生了到海外宣教的心志。十二年後，我和我丈夫決定放棄加州矽谷的生活，遷往中國透過專業服事主。

我的經歷並沒有什麼獨特，許多人也曾同樣被呼召去到海外服事主，可能有一點使我與其他人差異的，就是我是一位在美國生長的中國人(簡稱華裔或ABC)。一般華裔基督徒，都不會作出像我一樣的選擇。我的華裔親友們會選擇在本土安居樂業，找一份好職業，買一幢新房子，建立豐厚的經濟基礎。而神也確實是呼召許多人留在本地，參與本地教會的服事，作一個宣教支援者。雖是如此，為何華裔對回應神宣教的呼召卻是那麼寥寥無幾呢？

華裔獨特的掙扎
我相信其中一個主要的原因，就是我們許多人都沒有把神放在首位。我們不知不覺繼承了父母，甚至祖父母的新移民心態之影響。上一代為了要建立一個好的家園給我們，他們歷盡滄桑，飽受痛苦才能渡過艱辛的日子，逐漸立足於這個社會。他們注重教育，教導下一代要勤奮學習，認為書中自有黃金屋，所以盡一切所能供書教學，讓兒女得到最好的教育。我相信一般父母都會很自然地反對他們的兒女放棄「光明的前途」，而回去故鄉。甚至當第二代的華裔有到海外宣教的心志時，作為華人基督徒的父母也常藉口推辭，阻攔他們去遵行。「找份好差事，奉獻多一點金錢支持宣教事工」，「你可以去幾個禮拜，不必終身在那裡」。我常聽到基督徒父母反對兒女委身服事主的事，這些都令我非常的難過，特別是當我看到好友面臨順服神與尊重父母的意見時之掙扎，我只有默默祈求神使這些父母們能放手讓兒女回應神對他們的宣教呼召。

我們自己也不能完全推搪責任。我們追求自己的美國夢勝於神在我們身上的計劃，期望擁有一個美滿幸福的家庭比承擔一個民族的福音使命更殷切。我們都很願意事奉主，真的，但這必須是在自己的時間及計劃去進行。請別誤會我，安舒的居所，穩定的經濟都是神所賜予人的福氣。但我們必須小心不讓這些東西迷惑了神對祂兒女的教導：「你們要先求祂的國和祂的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」(太六33)。

華裔獨特的貢獻
假若美國華裔教會願意起來承擔宣教的責任，神必會藉著華裔成就奇妙的大事。一般來說，華裔大部份是接受了高等教育及有高技術、技能。試想一下，我們基督徒若能以工程師、醫生、商業顧問、教師等等技能去協助有需要的國家或社區，用所受過的訓練去參與神國大業，而非只為了自己的事業，這將會帶來何等的影響。

住在美國的華人，我們是生活在雙重的文化裡。我們懂得結合兩種文化的優勢及挑戰。同樣地，屬於少數民族的華裔，我們也知道自己不會徹底地成為主流文化和社會的一份子。這些體驗讓我們更懂得如何在這種交叉文化裡生活。
此外，由於我們不是白種人的面孔，我們反而擁有獨特的機會表明了基督教的信仰並非僅屬西方人的宗教，而是屬於全人類的福音。在中國，老百姓至今仍存在著「中國人是信佛教，西方人是信基督教」的觀念。他們並不認為這是與文化有關而形成的觀念。但是如果他們知道無論白種人、亞洲人、非洲人、拉丁美洲人…都是基督徒的話，他們就比較容易接受耶穌基督是全人類的救主。事實上華裔在傳福音上也不會受到像白種人一般的阻力。

我很高興看到美國華裔在回應神海外宣教呼召的人數增加。越來越多華裔獲得了宣教的異象，他們不單是去亞洲，也到歐洲、非洲、南美洲…。同樣的，美國華裔在拓展神國度的宣教大業裡，也有一個獨特的角色。你願意接受這個挑戰嗎？

(作者為美國華裔，現於中國服事)

本文為譯稿，英文原稿如下:

ABCs in Missions
The Challenges of going and the Challenge to go

Lily Yu

My parents’ home is covered with souvenirs from abroad: a clock in the shape of Africa, a musical instrument from Panama, an ostrich egg from South Africa. These are not just ornaments displaying how well-traveled my parents are. They each tell an exciting story of God’s work in a foreign country, and are evidence of my parents’ commitment to bring the Good News to all peoples as missionaries and mobilizers.

My dad and mom began passing on this godly legacy to me at an early age. When I was fourteen, my father brought me to Macau on my first official missions trip. As I experienced the excitement of living in another culture, the joy of sharing my faith, and also the heartbreak of realizing that millions had not yet had the chance to hear the gospel, the beginnings of a calling to serve overseas was sparked. Twelve years later, my husband and I left our Silicon Valley life and moved to China where we have been serving for the past two years.

My story may not seem all that unique. Many have been called to serve overseas in a similar way. But what may make my experience a little more uncommon is the fact that I’m Chinese-American. For ABC Christians like me, the story does not often play out like this. The majority of my Asian-American peers are settling down, buying houses, building their financial portfolio. God has admittedly called many to stay, serve the Stateside church, and be senders. But still, why are so few Chinese-Americans answering the call to go out?

Our Unique Struggles
I believe one reason is because many of us have not been left with a legacy where God comes first. We’ve been influenced by the immigrant mentality of our parents or grandparents. Those of my parents’ generation have suffered and worked so hard to come to America to make a better life for themselves and their family. They’ve taught their children to march to the beat of higher education, success, stability. I’m sure most immigrant parents would naturally oppose their children giving up the ‘good life” to go back to what they had escaped from. Even parents in the Chinese Christian community often defer to practicality when it comes to their children wanting to serve overseas: “Find a good job and donate to missions.” “Just go for a few weeks. No need to give up your whole career.” Time and again I have heard stories of Christian parents who refuse to give their blessing to their children who desire to go into ministry. This deeply saddens me, especially as I see my peers struggle with the tension to obey the Lord and honor their parents at the same time. I pray that this generation of parents would release their children to answer to this high calling of missions.

My own generation is not free of responsibility. Many of us have bought into the American dream instead of God’s dream. Having a house and a nest egg is a higher priority than having the nations as our inheritance. We want to serve the Lord, sure, but we want to do it on our terms, on our turf. Don’t get me wrong. Things like a house, financial stability, higher education, are all good gifts from God. But we must be careful not to let these things distract us from our eternal purposes as members of his Church. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33)

Our unique contribution
If the Asian-American church would only rise up and respond, the Lord could do amazing things through us. The ABC community is generally highly educated and highly skilled. Imagine the impact that we could make in developing countries through Christian service as engineers, doctors, business consultants, teachers, etc. Imagine using our training to further the Lord’s kingdom and not just our own careers.

Living in the States as Chinese, we also have a taste of bi-cultural living. We understand the challenges and benefits of incorporating and celebrating two cultures. As a minority, we also know what it’s like to not be completely part of mainstream culture and society. These experiences can give us an advantage in dealing with living cross-culturally.

Furthermore, as people without a white face, we have a unique opportunity to represent the Christian faith as not merely a Western religion, but something that is for all people. In China, there’s still very much a “Chinese are Buddhists, Westerners are Christians” mentality. They don’t see it as something that’s culturally relevant to them. But if they see Caucasians, Asians, Africans, Hispanics, etc. all proclaiming Christ, then it’s easier for them to accept Him as universal. The fact that we’re Asian also frees us from some of the negative associations of being white.

I’ve been excited to see a growing number of Chinese-Americans answering the call to serve overseas. More and more of us are catching the vision, not only going to Asia, but places like Europe, Africa, South America. As Asian-Americans, we could play a unique part in furthering God’s kingdom. Will you respond?