Church Highlights
January 17-18, 2020
Eighteen adults and fourteen children from Jia En Church traveled to Taupo for a two-day mission trip. We enjoyed fellowship with the local Chinese community, participated in street evangelism, and hosted health seminars. We thank God that fourteen Chinese attendees, including three children, participated in the seminars in Taupo.
January 26, 2020
On New Year's Sunday, church brothers and sisters wore various traditional outfits and prepared wonderful programs to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Family photo from New Year's Sunday.
January 2020
At the deacons' fellowship at Brother Yi Zhou's home.
March 7
A Sunday School teaching exchange meeting was held at Brother Bi Guangxi's home, where all the Sunday School teachers gathered to learn and share teaching knowledge and experiences. We thank the Lord for granting them love and wisdom to guide the children in Sunday School to better learn God's Word.
June 14
During the deacon ordination ceremony, we prayed for God to grant wisdom, strength, and steadfast faith to the eight deacons, so they may serve the church better and fulfill their roles in working for God.
June 21
Brother Wanli brought his family to share his testimony with us, titled "Life Begins at Forty: God's Call to Share the Gospel in My Remaining Years." May the Lord bless and guide their family on the path ahead.
July 19
We witnessed the baptism of siblings Wang Yue and Dai Wei, as well as children Lu Jingchun and Xiong Xiansui, along with the membership ceremony for sisters Li Mei and Zhang Yang.
July 26
On Sunday School Sunday, this week's worship service was led by the senior youth of the Sunday School. The younger children also prepared a special program to present to everyone. Pastor Wang Shoukuan presented gifts to the Sunday School teachers. We are grateful for the faithful teaching of God's Word by the Sunday School teachers.
August 1
The adult fellowship featured a discussion on the topic: "Evolution vs. Creation," with speaker Michael Cook from Creation Ministry.
August 9
The members' meeting of Jia En Church was held, where the church's finance deacon, Wang Liang, introduced the financial situation of Jia En Church. Pastor Ling Ai shared and reminded the members about the mission and goals of Jia En Church, as well as the significance of membership and the responsibilities of being a member.
September 20
Jia En Church celebrated its 14th anniversary Sunday, but due to the impact of the pandemic, our worship service was held online. This was a special celebration, as everyone gathered online to reflect on God's guidance and care for Jia En Church over the past 14 years, filling our hearts with gratitude. The brothers and sisters of Jia En Church have been proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom among the beautiful Chinese community in Tauranga, and more and more Chinese people are coming to know and turn to God. We pray for God's continued guidance and protection, that Jia En Church may be a beautiful blessing from Him.
November 29, 2020
The church's service work is now being undertaken by the youth, as the young people in Sunday School have become a new force within our church. The children are using their individual gifts to serve our Lord and take on the responsibilities of serving the church.
December 5, 2020
The year 2020 has been an unusual one, with a sudden pandemic changing our lives in ways we never expected. Yet, through God's care and protection, we have experienced a rare peace and joy during these difficult times. The brothers and sisters of the church, along with the Chinese community in Tauranga, gathered at McLaren Falls Park to worship, dance, share with one another, and enjoy a BBQ together. Everyone expressed gratitude to God for His guidance and blessings.
December 20, 2020
On Christmas Sunday, we witnessed the baptism of three brothers and sisters: Liang Tao, Zhang Ying, and Wang Yang Dani, along with three children: Liang Xinwen, Yang Jiarou, and Yang Jiamin. We pray that the Lord will strengthen their faith and their hearts to serve Him.
The youth of the Sunday School presented a special program on Christmas Sunday. This musical was entirely written, directed, and performed by the young people, expressing their gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Since January 2020, a pandemic swept across the globe. The New Zealand government announced a nationwide lockdown starting from March 26. During this time, all physical activities of the church were halted and moved online. The brothers and sisters in the church continually prayed for this serious pandemic. In these last days, we must look to our Lord Jesus Christ with even greater determination, for He alone is our Savior and our hope.
---Wednesday Online Prayer Meeting---
---Cantonese Group Online Gathering---
Group Activity Information Sharing
September 25
Deacon Fellowship at Brother Ron's Home
September 30
Youth Outdoor Fellowship Day Trip
Cantonese Group Meeting
The First In-Person Gathering of the Bethany Group
Taupo Group Meeting
Sharing from Brothers and Sisters
Membership Testimony -- Witness: Sister Mei Li
I am Mei, and I thank the Lord for guiding our family to Tauranga, where we are involved in the export food industry. My husband loves God's Word and has a heart for leading others to faith in Christ.
We have two daughters, Vicky and Elim, and we are especially grateful to the Lord for blessing them as they attend school in BC. May the Lord guide them to grow joyfully in His love.
*Filled with Gratitude
Reflecting on the Lord's grace brings sweetness to my heart.
Counting the Lord's love fills me with countless words of praise.
On this spiritual journey, I find myself surrounded by the Lord's grace.
When we are weary and thirsty, the Lord grants us a clear spring...
*Arriving in Tauranga
I thank the Lord for the opportunity to meet the brothers and sisters in our group here, as we grow together in Jesus Christ. I am also grateful to Pastor Ling Ai for teaching me the membership class, which strengthened my faith in the Lord's salvation and helped me understand God's great power, faithfulness, and grace. God's selection is truly marvelous, and when I think of believing in the Lord, I am filled with gratitude. There is a lyric that says, "How can I forget Your wonderful selection? How can I forget Your vast grace?"
My parents are in Tonga, where I also conduct business. God led my husband to believe in the Lord, and I witnessed his transformation. I began to step into the church, slowly getting to know and understand the Creator of the universe. When I first attended church, I felt different; there was a true peace in my heart. Shortly after, the sisters in the church invited me to join a small group fellowship. Through reading the Bible and praying, I realized that this God is indeed different. I believe that small group fellowship is very important as it helps us draw closer to God. Thank you, Lord, for your selection; I was baptized in 2009 and became a child of the Lord.
My husband has shared his journey of faith as well. At that time, we were running a supermarket in Tonga. Tonga is a Christian nation where work is permitted from Monday to Saturday, but Sunday is a day of rest. All businesses, except for restaurants and hotels, must close. Before attending church, my Sundays were spent eating and playing with friends, living a cycle of emptiness and dissatisfaction. However, after coming to know the Lord Jesus, everything changed. Attending church on Sundays filled my heart with hope and true peace and joy.
In 2010, we opened a restaurant next to our supermarket. Business was average from Monday to Saturday, but particularly good on Sundays, as many Chinese people dine out then. My husband and I had to take turns going to church, and sometimes we couldn't even make it, needing to ask relatives and friends to help manage the business. Yet, our spirits were weary, so we prayed, "Lord, what should we do? We don’t want to be so exhausted and unable to worship You on Sundays." The Bible says, "What He opens, no one can shut; and what He shuts, no one can open." Not long after, one of our chefs decided to return home, and another no longer wanted to work. The Lord works in His own time, and we eventually closed the restaurant. We then transformed it into a wholesale business, as God had a beautiful plan. Our employees could now attend Sunday services together to worship and praise God.
After my husband and I were saved, our relatives and employees in Tonga also came to believe in the Lord. I am especially grateful for my mother, who had a hardened heart and found it difficult to accept the gospel, but last year, she also believed and was baptized. Thank you, Lord; when one is saved, all the angels rejoice.
Our lives are not always smooth sailing, but I thank the Lord for accompanying us through every step.
Testimony 1
This January, our family returned home to celebrate the New Year, visiting relatives we hadn't seen in years and handling some notarized documents. Upon our return, my father informed us that our marriage certificate, ID card, and household registration book were missing (as he had previously taken these documents for consultation, needing them in person to process the materials. After his inquiry, he carelessly misplaced them). If this had happened before I knew the Lord, I might have panicked and complained about how such important documents could go missing. However, at that moment, I did not. I quietly prayed, "Lord, please help us find them quickly. We need these documents for submission, and with the year-end approaching, the processing
Testimony 2
Due to the pandemic, our flight was canceled when we returned, which allowed us to spend more time with our family. However, because our family's visa was about to expire and the children needed to continue their studies, we had to return to New Zealand as soon as possible. Yet, due to the travel restrictions, we were unable to go back. Our family and the brothers and sisters from the church prayed together, thanking the Lord for listening, watching over, and protecting us, bringing us back to New Zealand safely and healthily. Just two days after we arrived, the country went into lockdown. If we hadn’t returned, we truly wonder what the consequences would have been. We are so grateful.
This year has been extraordinary for countless people. Some have been infected by the virus, while others have received salvation; some have lost their lives, while others have embraced new life; some have faced many challenges, while others have experienced peace and stability; some have lost their jobs and direction, while others have found purpose and a future. I hope that in our lives, regardless of what is happening in this world, we have an unshakeable kingdom within us. We also hope that no matter how turbulent the world may be, deep in our hearts we know that those whom the Lord loves will dwell in safety. Life brings different events every moment. No one can predict the future, nor can anyone be certain of what changes may occur in their lives in the next second. However, as children of God, we can be assured that our lives are under God's control and protection. I believe this is the peace that cannot be taken away, a peace that the world cannot give us. With the Lord residing in our hearts, although life may be difficult, the peace is greater, and the joy of the Lord surpasses our suffering.
Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
This is a trustworthy statement. God is our refuge in the storms of life, the rainbow that waits in times of difficulty.
May our Lord Jesus lead and comfort everyone who seeks Him. To all who knock, He will open the door.
Once again, I thank the Lord, and I pray that my family and I may serve the Lord our God.
Membership Testimony --- Testifier: Tina
My name is Tina. I came to New Zealand to study in 2001, living in Auckland for six years before moving to Tauranga for seven years. My husband, Jacke, and I have two daughters, one aged 12 and the other 6, and my parents also live with us. Through Pastor Ling Ai's membership class, I have felt many promptings from the Holy Spirit. I would like to share my feelings and some testimonies since becoming a Christian.
First, let me tell you how I became a Christian. In high school, one of my good friends was a Christian. She often shared the gospel with me and told me about God's testimonies, which piqued my curiosity and made me want to learn more about Christianity. In fact, my uncle's family are all Christians, and they gave us a video about the story of Jesus. After watching it, I felt that Jesus was truly great, sacrificing Himself for the forgiveness of people's sins. He is indeed a divine presence, answering prayers and performing many miracles. I memorized the Lord's Prayer after reciting it a few times, so whenever I faced problems or felt scared at night, I would pray using the Lord's Prayer. Later, my good friend took me to her youth group, where I listened to everyone share their testimonies, played games, and heard Bible stories. After a while, they arranged for our baptism. After being baptized, I felt proud to be a Christian, but I still didn’t fully understand what Christianity was or how to pray; I only knew I should be a good person. Before going abroad, a friend
Two years ago, I participated in a discipleship course, during which I read the Bible in its entirety for the first time. I gained an understanding of the events that occurred in each period and how God's plan unfolds through historical events. This membership class helped me grasp the structure of the church and the process of its establishment. I also realized that becoming a Christian means being justified, and our entire lives are a journey towards sanctification.
During the lockdown in New Zealand, I read children's Bible stories to my little daughter every day. I was astonished the first time she prayed after hearing a story. I had never heard her pray before, and she prayed in English. Her first words were "great king," followed by a recounting of her day, and she concluded with "in Jesus' name, amen." When I asked her how she learned to pray, she said she picked it up from her teacher at school, who prays every day. Recently, a friend from church gifted her an English children's Bible storybook, and I started reading the English version to her daily. One night, she asked me to tell her the story of "The Lost Sheep." When I found it and shared it with her, I was deeply moved. God is like the shepherd, and we are like His sheep, often led astray by worldly distractions, wandering away from the places God has promised us. Sometimes we may find ourselves stuck, waiting for God to rescue us, but our shepherd will not abandon any of His sheep; He will find us in every corner of the world.
Lastly, I want to share an interesting testimony. A friend had previously given my daughter a school uniform jacket, and as the weather grew colder, I remembered this jacket. I had searched for it for a long time without success, and that day, while picking her up from school, I thought that if I couldn't find it, I would have to buy a new one. When we got home, I went to change clothes and discovered a plastic bag on the floor. When I opened it, I found the jacket! I immediately took it to my mother's room to share the news. God is truly wonderful; He knows what we need. I am grateful for God's protection and care around us. Previously, Pastor Ling Ai encouraged me to keep a devotional journal. Through my daily devotions, I have gradually come to know this God better and have found spiritual direction. Therefore, I also encourage my brothers and sisters to engage in daily devotions, write devotional notes, and jot down their favorite Bible verses to meditate on regularly.
Finally, I would like to share my favorite verse with everyone: Ephesians 4:2-3, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."