張志江牧師：信心英雄和生命鬥士
前香港建道神學院--梁家麟院長
張志江牧師除了是上帝忠心的僕人外，也是一位信心英雄和生命鬥士。
張牧師身長於越南華僑的家庭，沒有太亮麗的文憑和專業；但認識他的人都知道，他是個絕頂聰明的人，博聞強記，過目不忘，知識淵博得教人咋舌，特別是對歷史掌故的認識，比我這個歷史專業科班出身的還要豐富。他的語言能力尤其出色，英語、法語、越文、寮國語，都能言說滔滔；我曾聽過他用寮語和越文講道，前者略為生疏，後者則全無窒礙，特注意這是他離開宣教工場三十年後的表現，我可以想像他在工場打拼時嫻熟地以當地語言作傳道牧養工作。
張牧師的聰敏也活現在他生存的能力之上。是的，我說的是生存，因為他常處於惡劣的生存環境之中，如何活下去是首要的考慮，但他不僅生存了，更是活得好端端的。在越南的亂世出生和成長，逕自尋求學習和發展事業的機會。到香港唸神學後，偕同妻子到寮國(後稱老撾)宣教，沒有差會的支援，憑兩夫妻的協力同心，在異域不僅活下來，更在政治動盪和戰火漫天的環境下，勉力建立教會，離去時留下一幢宏偉的禮拜堂。舉家遷美以後，以半百之齡重頭開始，同樣是在沒有支援下建立教會，也維持家計，供養三位出色的子女完成學業和專業的訓練。
我聽說張牧師是個深具眼光和長遠視野的投資者，要是他將傳福音的熱忱挪用到世俗的追求之上，他肯定成為腰纏萬貫的富翁。當然，他離世前的生活豐盛是無與倫比的，這是主對祂鍾愛的僕人的應許。
張牧師給我最深刻的印象，不是他成就的業績，而是尚未竟功的各項目標與夢想。雖然每天都在努力打拼，但他卻仍是一位造夢者。他所領受的異象，遠遠大於他眼前所投身的事奉；而他亦一直拒絕被現實種種來規限他的視野和理想。他在中晚年專心著述的幾本書，都反映了他對好些亞洲民族的託付與期許。張牧師是實幹者，更是充滿異象者。
張牧師勇敢、自信、樂觀、有魄力、有擔當、不服輸。不認識他的人，或會覺得他略為頑固倔強，堅持己見，不擅與人交際；但我深深看到這正好是上帝對祂所揀選的僕人的預備，張牧師若無這種擇善固執、雖千萬人吾往矣的性格，根本無法在惡劣的環境下堅持事奉，締造出人所不能想像的成果來。事實上，我看到跟張牧師有生命連繫的人，特別包括張師母和三位兒女，及教會的弟兄姊妹，都很愛張牧師，以他為榮。最親暱的人能為張牧師的信仰和人格站台，便已說明他的生命是如何亮麗了。
打從投身宣教工場開始，張牧師便選擇了孤身上路的事奉模式；沒有宗派和機構支援，沒有同工團隊和關係網絡。他也沒有參與基督教公共圈子的活動，吹捧與受吹捧。因此，聞知張牧師其人的不少，但真正認識他和充分了解他的服事的價值和所締結的貢獻的卻不很多。我有一個強烈的感覺，張牧師是華人教會裡較被忽略的信心英雄，他的一生蘊藏豐富的寶藏，供後人瞻仰和學習。這有待我們後輩努力，還他一個歷史的地位。至於人間的掌聲，我深信這是張牧師不介意的。他從未刻意粉飾自己，只將一個粗獷、樸拙的面貌展現出來。上帝在永恆裡對他的悅納，才是真正還他的公道。
張牧師從來都是不合時宜的，但他的不屬世界，卻讓他有效地服事了他的世代。
2008年1月20日在老撾前往桑怒的路上，張志江牧師說了他的遺言，他用提摩太後書四章16至18節保羅的心聲自況，又唱出「救世主凡事引導我」的詩歌。提後四16~18這段經文，張牧師在他的《南疆之戀》裡已曾引述過。[1]我曾立志要為張牧師一生作見證，當日已在電腦裡為他寫了半篇追思會的講章。因各方面的攔阻，無法親臨張牧師的聚會，於他全然無損，卻是我此生其中一件憾事。
「救世主凡事引導我，我何用別有所求？主應許我何用多疑？我一生蒙主眷佑。」這幾句歌詞堪為張牧師的畢生終結，雖然其中充滿血淚，恩典卻是真真實實的。
----2013年7月7日
張牧師身長於越南華僑的家庭，沒有太亮麗的文憑和專業；但認識他的人都知道，他是個絕頂聰明的人，博聞強記，過目不忘，知識淵博得教人咋舌，特別是對歷史掌故的認識，比我這個歷史專業科班出身的還要豐富。他的語言能力尤其出色，英語、法語、越文、寮國語，都能言說滔滔；我曾聽過他用寮語和越文講道，前者略為生疏，後者則全無窒礙，特注意這是他離開宣教工場三十年後的表現，我可以想像他在工場打拼時嫻熟地以當地語言作傳道牧養工作。
張牧師的聰敏也活現在他生存的能力之上。是的，我說的是生存，因為他常處於惡劣的生存環境之中，如何活下去是首要的考慮，但他不僅生存了，更是活得好端端的。在越南的亂世出生和成長，逕自尋求學習和發展事業的機會。到香港唸神學後，偕同妻子到寮國(後稱老撾)宣教，沒有差會的支援，憑兩夫妻的協力同心，在異域不僅活下來，更在政治動盪和戰火漫天的環境下，勉力建立教會，離去時留下一幢宏偉的禮拜堂。舉家遷美以後，以半百之齡重頭開始，同樣是在沒有支援下建立教會，也維持家計，供養三位出色的子女完成學業和專業的訓練。
我聽說張牧師是個深具眼光和長遠視野的投資者，要是他將傳福音的熱忱挪用到世俗的追求之上，他肯定成為腰纏萬貫的富翁。當然，他離世前的生活豐盛是無與倫比的，這是主對祂鍾愛的僕人的應許。
張牧師給我最深刻的印象，不是他成就的業績，而是尚未竟功的各項目標與夢想。雖然每天都在努力打拼，但他卻仍是一位造夢者。他所領受的異象，遠遠大於他眼前所投身的事奉；而他亦一直拒絕被現實種種來規限他的視野和理想。他在中晚年專心著述的幾本書，都反映了他對好些亞洲民族的託付與期許。張牧師是實幹者，更是充滿異象者。
張牧師勇敢、自信、樂觀、有魄力、有擔當、不服輸。不認識他的人，或會覺得他略為頑固倔強，堅持己見，不擅與人交際；但我深深看到這正好是上帝對祂所揀選的僕人的預備，張牧師若無這種擇善固執、雖千萬人吾往矣的性格，根本無法在惡劣的環境下堅持事奉，締造出人所不能想像的成果來。事實上，我看到跟張牧師有生命連繫的人，特別包括張師母和三位兒女，及教會的弟兄姊妹，都很愛張牧師，以他為榮。最親暱的人能為張牧師的信仰和人格站台，便已說明他的生命是如何亮麗了。
打從投身宣教工場開始，張牧師便選擇了孤身上路的事奉模式；沒有宗派和機構支援，沒有同工團隊和關係網絡。他也沒有參與基督教公共圈子的活動，吹捧與受吹捧。因此，聞知張牧師其人的不少，但真正認識他和充分了解他的服事的價值和所締結的貢獻的卻不很多。我有一個強烈的感覺，張牧師是華人教會裡較被忽略的信心英雄，他的一生蘊藏豐富的寶藏，供後人瞻仰和學習。這有待我們後輩努力，還他一個歷史的地位。至於人間的掌聲，我深信這是張牧師不介意的。他從未刻意粉飾自己，只將一個粗獷、樸拙的面貌展現出來。上帝在永恆裡對他的悅納，才是真正還他的公道。
張牧師從來都是不合時宜的，但他的不屬世界，卻讓他有效地服事了他的世代。
2008年1月20日在老撾前往桑怒的路上，張志江牧師說了他的遺言，他用提摩太後書四章16至18節保羅的心聲自況，又唱出「救世主凡事引導我」的詩歌。提後四16~18這段經文，張牧師在他的《南疆之戀》裡已曾引述過。[1]我曾立志要為張牧師一生作見證，當日已在電腦裡為他寫了半篇追思會的講章。因各方面的攔阻，無法親臨張牧師的聚會，於他全然無損，卻是我此生其中一件憾事。
「救世主凡事引導我，我何用別有所求？主應許我何用多疑？我一生蒙主眷佑。」這幾句歌詞堪為張牧師的畢生終結，雖然其中充滿血淚，恩典卻是真真實實的。
----2013年7月7日
Rev. Cheung: Hero of Faith and Warrior of Life
By Rev. Dr. Ka Lun Leung
President, Hong Kong Alliance Bible Seminary
July 7, 2013
Born and raised in a Chinese family in Vietnam, he owned neither a fancy degree nor impressive credentials. However, those who knew him were convinced that he was a brilliant, learned man with a photographic memory. His knowledge, especially with respect to history, was unbelievably deep and broad, putting a history major like me to shame. He had outstanding language skills—fluent in English, French, Vietnamese, and Laotian. I had heard him preach in Laotian and Vietnamese. While his Laotian was a bit rusty, his Vietnamese was flawless. Note that this took place 30 years after he left his mission field. One can only imagine how well he had spoken those local languages when he served and shepherded there.
Rev. Cheung’s intelligence was also on display in his ability to survive. Yes, I’m talking about mere survival, as he often was in appalling living conditions. In those situations, survival was the primary concern. However, he not only survived, he lived well. Born and raised in war-torn Vietnam, he made the quest for learning and for career opportunities. Upon graduation from seminary in Hong Kong, he took his wife to Laos as a missionary. Not supported by any mission organizations, the couple worked to support one another. In a foreign land they not only survived, but they thrived and built churches in an unstable political and military environment. When he left Laos, he left behind a grand place of worship that still stands today. After the family moved to the United States, he started all over again in his middle age. Again, without any support he established a church and provided for his family, raising three wonderful children to complete their education and professional training.
I heard Rev. Cheung was an insightful and far-vision investor. If he invested in the secular pursuits with the same passion he had for the gospel, he must have become a very rich man. Sure enough, he was well off when he departed—a testament of God’s providential promise to His faithful servant.
My most profound impression of Rev. Cheung was not his achievements, but his yet-to-reach goals and dreams. Although he strived to live every day, he was still a dreamer. His God-given vision was far greater than his ministry; yet he refused to allow reality to limit his field of vision and dreams. In his later years he concentrated on writing several books, reflecting his commitment and hope for many ethnic minorities in Asia. He was not only a doer, but also a man full of dreams.
Rev. Cheung was courageous, confident, optimistic, bold, and responsible, while refusing to lose. Those who didn’t understand him might think he was stubborn, insisting on his own views, and not a sociable person. However, I view it as God’s way to equip His servants. Without these seemingly negative qualities, he might not have survived the strenuous conditions, bearing fruits beyond our imagination. In fact, I have observed that Rev. Cheung did connect well with people. His wife and three children, as well as members of his church, adored him and were proud of him. When those who were closest to him stood up for his faith and character, it tells how beautifully one had lived his life.
From his first day in the mission field, Rev. Cheung had chosen to be a lone traveler—with no support from any denomination, institution, team or network. Neither did he actively circulate among the social scenes to rave or be raved. For these reasons, many have heard of him but few had truly known and understood the value of his ministry and the extent of his contribution. I have a strong feeling that Rev. Cheung was a hero of faith in Chinese churches who had not been recognized. His life was full of treasures for others to discover and imitate. It remains the task of later generations to appreciate and recognize him for his place in history. I believe he would not have minded the applause of this world. Yet he has never deliberately glossed over his own image, only showing a simple, rugged face. His acceptance by God in eternity would bring him the final justice.
Rev. Cheung had never been in sync with his time; yet his not belonging to this world had allowed him to effectively serve his world.
On the road to Sam Neua in Laos on January 20, 2008, Rev. Cheung told me his last words. He identified with Apostle Paul’s sentiment in 2 Timothy 4:16-18, and sang “Jesus Leadeth Me.” (Regarding the scripture, he mentioned it in his book A Love for the Land to the South.) I have committed to be a witness of his life; and on that day wrote half of the sermon to be used in his funeral. Today, due to many circumstances I am unable to attend the service. It is not a loss to him, but indeed one of the many regrets of my life.
"He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me."
These lyrics fully represent Rev. Cheung’s life journey—full of blood and tears, nonetheless with grace and truth.
Rev. Cheung’s intelligence was also on display in his ability to survive. Yes, I’m talking about mere survival, as he often was in appalling living conditions. In those situations, survival was the primary concern. However, he not only survived, he lived well. Born and raised in war-torn Vietnam, he made the quest for learning and for career opportunities. Upon graduation from seminary in Hong Kong, he took his wife to Laos as a missionary. Not supported by any mission organizations, the couple worked to support one another. In a foreign land they not only survived, but they thrived and built churches in an unstable political and military environment. When he left Laos, he left behind a grand place of worship that still stands today. After the family moved to the United States, he started all over again in his middle age. Again, without any support he established a church and provided for his family, raising three wonderful children to complete their education and professional training.
I heard Rev. Cheung was an insightful and far-vision investor. If he invested in the secular pursuits with the same passion he had for the gospel, he must have become a very rich man. Sure enough, he was well off when he departed—a testament of God’s providential promise to His faithful servant.
My most profound impression of Rev. Cheung was not his achievements, but his yet-to-reach goals and dreams. Although he strived to live every day, he was still a dreamer. His God-given vision was far greater than his ministry; yet he refused to allow reality to limit his field of vision and dreams. In his later years he concentrated on writing several books, reflecting his commitment and hope for many ethnic minorities in Asia. He was not only a doer, but also a man full of dreams.
Rev. Cheung was courageous, confident, optimistic, bold, and responsible, while refusing to lose. Those who didn’t understand him might think he was stubborn, insisting on his own views, and not a sociable person. However, I view it as God’s way to equip His servants. Without these seemingly negative qualities, he might not have survived the strenuous conditions, bearing fruits beyond our imagination. In fact, I have observed that Rev. Cheung did connect well with people. His wife and three children, as well as members of his church, adored him and were proud of him. When those who were closest to him stood up for his faith and character, it tells how beautifully one had lived his life.
From his first day in the mission field, Rev. Cheung had chosen to be a lone traveler—with no support from any denomination, institution, team or network. Neither did he actively circulate among the social scenes to rave or be raved. For these reasons, many have heard of him but few had truly known and understood the value of his ministry and the extent of his contribution. I have a strong feeling that Rev. Cheung was a hero of faith in Chinese churches who had not been recognized. His life was full of treasures for others to discover and imitate. It remains the task of later generations to appreciate and recognize him for his place in history. I believe he would not have minded the applause of this world. Yet he has never deliberately glossed over his own image, only showing a simple, rugged face. His acceptance by God in eternity would bring him the final justice.
Rev. Cheung had never been in sync with his time; yet his not belonging to this world had allowed him to effectively serve his world.
On the road to Sam Neua in Laos on January 20, 2008, Rev. Cheung told me his last words. He identified with Apostle Paul’s sentiment in 2 Timothy 4:16-18, and sang “Jesus Leadeth Me.” (Regarding the scripture, he mentioned it in his book A Love for the Land to the South.) I have committed to be a witness of his life; and on that day wrote half of the sermon to be used in his funeral. Today, due to many circumstances I am unable to attend the service. It is not a loss to him, but indeed one of the many regrets of my life.
"He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me."
These lyrics fully represent Rev. Cheung’s life journey—full of blood and tears, nonetheless with grace and truth.