張志江牧師生平
張志江牧師藉貫廣東省南海縣裡水鄉人,父親旅居越南海防謀生。日軍侵華時,其母帶著他們兩兄弟,投奔在海防工作的父親。母親是基督徒,每主日必帶兩子同往禮拜堂,所以他從小已讀聖經。但他不信,只把聖經當作「水滸傳」般看。後從海防南下西貢,先在華僑學校接受中文教肓,初中畢業後轉入法文書院。因為非常勤奮,所以成績優異。1949年九月十七日,偶然在聖經報中讀到一篇慕迪講章「悔改與賠償」,便蒙聖靈感動,悔改信主,並且立刻奉獻自己,為神使用。
他第一個工場是向當年內戰退守進入越南境內之國軍傳福音。因他已熟讀聖經,且每禮拜天被母親帶著去禮拜堂聽道,所以也有道可傳。
1952年三月往香港建道神學院受造就。1954年七月,法越雙方在日內瓦簽妥和約,把越南暫分南北,兩年後普選。為要把握傳福音機會,他趕緊在同年暑假返回西貢。當地華僑教會邀請他任福音車的主任。他從南端到北方分界線,一村又一村,一鎮又一鎮地留下了傳福音的腳蹤。此外也騎腳踏車往一些汽車不能進入的小鄉村派單張及個人談道。也印發了十萬份福音單張,鼓勵青年人派給西貢堤岸商店或住家,並邀請外來的有名講員主領佈道大會。這兩年間,他可說是盡心竭力的向華僑及越南人傳了福音。
1956年七月回港,與有開荒心志的女同學馮綺覺結婚,婚後於1958年四月一日同往寮國首都永珍開始他們的宣教工作。起初借用寮人那破舊的小教堂,第一次崇拜聚會只有九個人。以後因他會講越南話,便開始主領越語崇拜;同時服事華僑及越僑。其後有一位越南的執事帶他去黑傣族傳福音,他講越語,執事翻譯作黑傣語。當他開始學習寮文後,神賜更多機會傳福音,能南下北上地向寮人、苗人,及一些少數民族工作。十七年期間,他創立了華僑基督教會和越僑基督教會;聯合華越信徒修建了那破舊的小禮拜堂,並買地興建了華僑基督教會禮拜堂。
因為寮國政治局勢非常不穩定,旅居美國的弟弟勸他先辦移民手續,帶三個兒女銘恩、銘言、及銘恆來美升學,然後他倆夫婦再回寮國留守工場。於是1975年三月十二日離開了事奉17年的工場,一家五口踏上了美國境。可是數週後寮共入城,並封鎖邊境。五月九日,在電視機前看到了那擠擁的逃難人群,便知道不能再回去了。
既然要留居在美國,就要計劃在美國再次開荒了。他選擇了華府地區,並租借了美國教會地方,開辦了「中國基督徒宣道會」。其間寫下回憶錄《南疆之戀》,敘述他們早期的宣教經歷。又於1986年獲台灣國際神學院頒授榮譽博士學位,以表揚他在宣教工場的貢獻。
自九十年代初期,張牧師夫婦開始每年一次探訪海外福音工場。不單重回越南、寮國,更到中國各省,雲南、西藏、新疆(從南彊到北彊)考察福音工場,更到處尋覓福音未到之區,特別是曾被忽視的少數民族,把當地宣教歷史及背景文化記錄下來,整理出版了三本書籍﹕《活水南流—福音與越南》、《我愛哈尼—一個鮮為人知的民族》及《新疆之光》,以供日後宣教新力軍參考備用。
張牧師早年為主放棄從商高職,神卻沒有虧待他的僕人。夫婦兩人生活簡樸,投資有道,節約儲蓄。但他從不吝惜,多次以積蓄、退休金竭力支持教會建堂,海外少數民族教會建堂及神學院經費,並支持多位在敏感地區默默耕耘的「無名傳道者」。
在美國創立中國基督徒宣道會並牧養36年,眼見工作根基穩定,教會人數漸多;也有神揀選差來之同工接他的棒,他非常安心與欣慰。只想繼續他所帶領的查經班、主日學,安享餘下的日子。無奈主要接他回天家的日子已到,他只好不捨地向所愛的家人和教會內外弟兄姊妹們揮手話別,待他日救主再來時,在祂施恩足前再見了。
他第一個工場是向當年內戰退守進入越南境內之國軍傳福音。因他已熟讀聖經,且每禮拜天被母親帶著去禮拜堂聽道,所以也有道可傳。
1952年三月往香港建道神學院受造就。1954年七月,法越雙方在日內瓦簽妥和約,把越南暫分南北,兩年後普選。為要把握傳福音機會,他趕緊在同年暑假返回西貢。當地華僑教會邀請他任福音車的主任。他從南端到北方分界線,一村又一村,一鎮又一鎮地留下了傳福音的腳蹤。此外也騎腳踏車往一些汽車不能進入的小鄉村派單張及個人談道。也印發了十萬份福音單張,鼓勵青年人派給西貢堤岸商店或住家,並邀請外來的有名講員主領佈道大會。這兩年間,他可說是盡心竭力的向華僑及越南人傳了福音。
1956年七月回港,與有開荒心志的女同學馮綺覺結婚,婚後於1958年四月一日同往寮國首都永珍開始他們的宣教工作。起初借用寮人那破舊的小教堂,第一次崇拜聚會只有九個人。以後因他會講越南話,便開始主領越語崇拜;同時服事華僑及越僑。其後有一位越南的執事帶他去黑傣族傳福音,他講越語,執事翻譯作黑傣語。當他開始學習寮文後,神賜更多機會傳福音,能南下北上地向寮人、苗人,及一些少數民族工作。十七年期間,他創立了華僑基督教會和越僑基督教會;聯合華越信徒修建了那破舊的小禮拜堂,並買地興建了華僑基督教會禮拜堂。
因為寮國政治局勢非常不穩定,旅居美國的弟弟勸他先辦移民手續,帶三個兒女銘恩、銘言、及銘恆來美升學,然後他倆夫婦再回寮國留守工場。於是1975年三月十二日離開了事奉17年的工場,一家五口踏上了美國境。可是數週後寮共入城,並封鎖邊境。五月九日,在電視機前看到了那擠擁的逃難人群,便知道不能再回去了。
既然要留居在美國,就要計劃在美國再次開荒了。他選擇了華府地區,並租借了美國教會地方,開辦了「中國基督徒宣道會」。其間寫下回憶錄《南疆之戀》,敘述他們早期的宣教經歷。又於1986年獲台灣國際神學院頒授榮譽博士學位,以表揚他在宣教工場的貢獻。
自九十年代初期,張牧師夫婦開始每年一次探訪海外福音工場。不單重回越南、寮國,更到中國各省,雲南、西藏、新疆(從南彊到北彊)考察福音工場,更到處尋覓福音未到之區,特別是曾被忽視的少數民族,把當地宣教歷史及背景文化記錄下來,整理出版了三本書籍﹕《活水南流—福音與越南》、《我愛哈尼—一個鮮為人知的民族》及《新疆之光》,以供日後宣教新力軍參考備用。
張牧師早年為主放棄從商高職,神卻沒有虧待他的僕人。夫婦兩人生活簡樸,投資有道,節約儲蓄。但他從不吝惜,多次以積蓄、退休金竭力支持教會建堂,海外少數民族教會建堂及神學院經費,並支持多位在敏感地區默默耕耘的「無名傳道者」。
在美國創立中國基督徒宣道會並牧養36年,眼見工作根基穩定,教會人數漸多;也有神揀選差來之同工接他的棒,他非常安心與欣慰。只想繼續他所帶領的查經班、主日學,安享餘下的日子。無奈主要接他回天家的日子已到,他只好不捨地向所愛的家人和教會內外弟兄姊妹們揮手話別,待他日救主再來時,在祂施恩足前再見了。
Rev. Barnabas Cheung's Biography
Rev. Cheung was born in Lishui Village in Guangdong Province’s Nanhai County. His father moved to Vietnam’s Hai Phong to earn a living. When Japan invaded China, his mother took him and his brother to be with his father. Rev. Cheung’s mother was a Christian. Each Sunday she would take her two sons to church. For this reason, Rev. Cheung had begun reading the Bible at a young age. However, he did not believe what he was reading and treated the Bible as a folk legend. Later, Rev. Cheung moved south to Saigon (present-day Ho Chi Minh City). He first studied in the local overseas Chinese school. Upon graduation from middle school he was enrolled in a French college. He received excellent marks due to his diligent studies. On September 17, 1949, he read a sermon by D. L. Moody entitled “Repentance and Redemption.” He was moved by the Holy Spirit, repented and declared his faith in the Lord, and immediately committed himself to God’s work.
Rev. Cheung’s first ministry was to share the Gospel with Chinese government troops who had retreated to Vietnam after fighting in the Chinese civil war. Because he was already deeply familiar with the Bible and had listened to sermons every Sunday, he was able to preach the Word of God.
In March 1952 he was enrolled in the Hong Kong Alliance Bible Seminary. In July 1954, France and Vietnam signed a treaty in Geneva, which stipulated that Vietnam would be provisionally divided between the north and the south before a popular election would take place two years later. To take advantage of the opportunity to share the Gospel, he quickly returned to Saigon that summer. The local Chinese church invited him to lead the Gospel truck ministry. His footsteps could be found in villages and townships from the southern tip of Vietnam to the country’s north-south border. In addition, he rode a bicycle to enter villages that were inaccessible by motor vehicles, where he distributed Bible tracts and engaged in personal witnessing for the Lord. He also printed and distributed 100,000 Gospel tracts, encouraged young people to distribute them to shops and residences in Cholon, Saigon’s Chinese quarter, as well as invited famous speakers from abroad to hold evangelical meetings. During those two years, Rev. Cheung had made every effort to share the Gospel with the local Chinese and the Vietnamese people.
In July 1956, Rev. Cheung returned to Hong Kong and married his fellow seminary student Yee Kok (Mary) Fung, who also felt the calling to become a missionary. In April 1958, they went to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to begin their ministry. In the beginning they borrowed a small, worn-out church used by Laotians. Only nine people attended the first service. Later, because he spoke Vietnamese Rev. Cheung began leading services conducted in Vietnamese while serving both local Chinese and Vietnamese residents. Afterwards, a Vietnamese deacon accompanied him to preach the Gospel to the Black Thai ethnic group. Rev. Cheung would speak Vietnamese while the Vietnamese deacon translated his talk into Black Thai. After Rev. Cheung learned Laotian, God blessed him with even more opportunities to preach the Gospel. He would eventually work with Laotians, Hmongs, and some ethnic groups throughout Laos. During the 17 years of ministry in Laos, Rev. Cheung would establish a church for local Chinese Christians and a church for Vietnamese in Laos. He also mobilized the Chinese and Vietnamese Christians to repair the small, worn-out church. In addition, he purchased a piece of land to build a sanctuary for the Chinese Christian church.
As a result of Laos’ unstable political situation, Rev. Cheung’s brother, who had immigrated to the United States, advised him to immigrate to the United States with his wife and their three children. After their children were enrolled in schools in the United States, Rev. and Mrs. Cheung would then return to Laos. Therefore, on March 12, 1975, they left the place where they had served for 17 years and arrived in the United States. However, several weeks later the Pathet Lao, a communist group, entered Vientiane and closed off Laos’ border. On May 9, when he saw on television the throngs of refugees who were crowding to leave Laos, Rev. Cheung knew he would be unable to return to Laos.
Since they were staying in the United States, they had to begin a new ministry. Rev. Cheung chose the Washington, D.C. area, where he leased an American church and established the Chinese Christian and Missionary Church (CCMC). During this time, he also wrote his memoir, entitled A Love for the Land to the South, which detailed his and Mrs. Cheung’s earlier missionary experience. In 1986, Rev. Cheung was conferred an honorary doctorate degree from Taiwan International Seminary in recognition of his contribution in the mission field.
Since the early 1990s, Rev. and Mrs. Cheung would visit the ministry field outside the United States once every year. They not only returned to Vietnam and Laos, but they also visited various Chinese provinces, including Yunnan, Tibet, and Xinjiang (from southern Xinjiang to northern Xinjiang). They also searched for areas that have not been reached by the Gospel, especially regions occupied by overlooked ethnic minorities. Rev. Cheung would record the local missionary history and culture. His research resulted in three books: The Living Water’s Flow to the South – Gospel and Vietnam, I love the Hani People – A Little-Known Ethnic Group, and The Light of Xinjiang, which were to serve as references for future missionaries.
Early in his life Rev. Cheung gave up well-compensated positions in the business world. However, God had never been unkind to his servant. Rev. and Mrs. Cheung lived a simple life, managed their investments soundly, and accumulated savings. Yet, Rev. Cheung was never a miser. He repeatedly donated his savings and his retirement income to support church-building, the planting of churches for ethnic minorities, and seminaries. In addition, he supported multiple anonymous missionaries working quietly in sensitive parts of the world.
After shepherding CCMC for 36 years in the United States, Rev. Cheung was filled with peace and felt gratified as he witnessed the ministry’s stable foundation, an expanding congregation, and co-workers who would take up his mantle. He only wanted to continue to lead his Bible study and Sunday school classes while enjoying the remainder of his days on earth. However, God wanted to take him back to his heavenly home. Therefore, he had no choice but to wave goodbye to his beloved family as well as brothers and sisters in Christ for now, until we meet again at the Lord’s feet when the Savior returns.
Rev. Cheung’s first ministry was to share the Gospel with Chinese government troops who had retreated to Vietnam after fighting in the Chinese civil war. Because he was already deeply familiar with the Bible and had listened to sermons every Sunday, he was able to preach the Word of God.
In March 1952 he was enrolled in the Hong Kong Alliance Bible Seminary. In July 1954, France and Vietnam signed a treaty in Geneva, which stipulated that Vietnam would be provisionally divided between the north and the south before a popular election would take place two years later. To take advantage of the opportunity to share the Gospel, he quickly returned to Saigon that summer. The local Chinese church invited him to lead the Gospel truck ministry. His footsteps could be found in villages and townships from the southern tip of Vietnam to the country’s north-south border. In addition, he rode a bicycle to enter villages that were inaccessible by motor vehicles, where he distributed Bible tracts and engaged in personal witnessing for the Lord. He also printed and distributed 100,000 Gospel tracts, encouraged young people to distribute them to shops and residences in Cholon, Saigon’s Chinese quarter, as well as invited famous speakers from abroad to hold evangelical meetings. During those two years, Rev. Cheung had made every effort to share the Gospel with the local Chinese and the Vietnamese people.
In July 1956, Rev. Cheung returned to Hong Kong and married his fellow seminary student Yee Kok (Mary) Fung, who also felt the calling to become a missionary. In April 1958, they went to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to begin their ministry. In the beginning they borrowed a small, worn-out church used by Laotians. Only nine people attended the first service. Later, because he spoke Vietnamese Rev. Cheung began leading services conducted in Vietnamese while serving both local Chinese and Vietnamese residents. Afterwards, a Vietnamese deacon accompanied him to preach the Gospel to the Black Thai ethnic group. Rev. Cheung would speak Vietnamese while the Vietnamese deacon translated his talk into Black Thai. After Rev. Cheung learned Laotian, God blessed him with even more opportunities to preach the Gospel. He would eventually work with Laotians, Hmongs, and some ethnic groups throughout Laos. During the 17 years of ministry in Laos, Rev. Cheung would establish a church for local Chinese Christians and a church for Vietnamese in Laos. He also mobilized the Chinese and Vietnamese Christians to repair the small, worn-out church. In addition, he purchased a piece of land to build a sanctuary for the Chinese Christian church.
As a result of Laos’ unstable political situation, Rev. Cheung’s brother, who had immigrated to the United States, advised him to immigrate to the United States with his wife and their three children. After their children were enrolled in schools in the United States, Rev. and Mrs. Cheung would then return to Laos. Therefore, on March 12, 1975, they left the place where they had served for 17 years and arrived in the United States. However, several weeks later the Pathet Lao, a communist group, entered Vientiane and closed off Laos’ border. On May 9, when he saw on television the throngs of refugees who were crowding to leave Laos, Rev. Cheung knew he would be unable to return to Laos.
Since they were staying in the United States, they had to begin a new ministry. Rev. Cheung chose the Washington, D.C. area, where he leased an American church and established the Chinese Christian and Missionary Church (CCMC). During this time, he also wrote his memoir, entitled A Love for the Land to the South, which detailed his and Mrs. Cheung’s earlier missionary experience. In 1986, Rev. Cheung was conferred an honorary doctorate degree from Taiwan International Seminary in recognition of his contribution in the mission field.
Since the early 1990s, Rev. and Mrs. Cheung would visit the ministry field outside the United States once every year. They not only returned to Vietnam and Laos, but they also visited various Chinese provinces, including Yunnan, Tibet, and Xinjiang (from southern Xinjiang to northern Xinjiang). They also searched for areas that have not been reached by the Gospel, especially regions occupied by overlooked ethnic minorities. Rev. Cheung would record the local missionary history and culture. His research resulted in three books: The Living Water’s Flow to the South – Gospel and Vietnam, I love the Hani People – A Little-Known Ethnic Group, and The Light of Xinjiang, which were to serve as references for future missionaries.
Early in his life Rev. Cheung gave up well-compensated positions in the business world. However, God had never been unkind to his servant. Rev. and Mrs. Cheung lived a simple life, managed their investments soundly, and accumulated savings. Yet, Rev. Cheung was never a miser. He repeatedly donated his savings and his retirement income to support church-building, the planting of churches for ethnic minorities, and seminaries. In addition, he supported multiple anonymous missionaries working quietly in sensitive parts of the world.
After shepherding CCMC for 36 years in the United States, Rev. Cheung was filled with peace and felt gratified as he witnessed the ministry’s stable foundation, an expanding congregation, and co-workers who would take up his mantle. He only wanted to continue to lead his Bible study and Sunday school classes while enjoying the remainder of his days on earth. However, God wanted to take him back to his heavenly home. Therefore, he had no choice but to wave goodbye to his beloved family as well as brothers and sisters in Christ for now, until we meet again at the Lord’s feet when the Savior returns.