追憶我的父親 -- 張志江牧師
張銘恆
從我父親的生平簡介中你也許得知他的故事始於當他將他的生命奉獻給主與其事工。從他開始在越南與老撾從事宣教事工一直到他與2012年去秘魯宣教-- 也是他最後一次的宣教之行， 他實實在在愛他所見過的所有的人，特別是少數民族人士。我父親跟我說他最願意去世界最偏遠的地方對沒有聽過福音的人傳道。
他向我的母親與他們的三位子女-- 銘恩、銘言、及銘恆 -- 分享他的信心旅途。在我的記憶中，我的父親常常教導我們要永遠信靠主，不管周遭環境如何變化。的確，我父親最喜歡在我們每週的家庭敬拜中唱“要忠心”這首詩歌。這首詩歌就是大家在看影像回顧時所聽到的曲子。在我的腦海裡，我仍然可以聽到他說：“我們一起唱宣道詩，第200首，要忠心。”他常常帶著我們一家人一邊唱詩歌一邊講故事給我們聽。他特別喜歡講故事，不管聽得人喜不喜歡聽。
我父親的健康狀況是一個神蹟，見證了上帝的醫治與保守。當他開始在老撾從事宣教事工時，我的父親就開始出現在長期講道後咳血的症狀。在我六歲的那一年，有一天我們回家時看到我父親因為流血過多而失去知覺。當時我們並不了解真實情況。我們以為他在睡午覺。之後，有一位來自與美國的醫療宣教士告訴我父親手術是唯一的治療方法。但是，手術後他可能就會喪失說話的能力。我父親寧可面對持續內出血的風險也不願意失去說話的能力。過去的這些年裡，他的內出血狀況從來沒有停過，但是他傳講神的話語的決心也沒有終止。他身體裡的這根刺永遠陪伴著他，但是這根刺沒有毀了他的事工。
我的父母親一直過著簡樸的生活。他們這麼做乃是為了減輕教會在財務上的負擔。但是，我的父親永遠慷慨的對待需要的人。他也如此對待教會及他所愛的神學院。他對他的家人、孩子、孫子亦是如此。
我的父親並不在乎世上的獎賞。上世紀80年代，為了表彰他一生的宣教事工，一家神學院授給他一個榮譽博士學位。他告訴我們在他還活在世上時不要把這件事告訴他人。他不願意讓這個學位蓋過他認為更寶貴的頭銜-- 牧師。對他而言，作為一個牧師-- 神的僕人-- 是最崇高的榮譽。
父親愛他在36年前所創辦的中國基督徒宣道會裡所有的弟兄姐妹。當他最後一次住院時，他很不願意在週五晚上入院因為如此他就無法參加週日的主日崇拜。向弟兄姐妹打招呼、握手、談笑是他一周裡最嚮往的事情。
我們一家的確很想念父親。但是我們知道神的時間與計劃永遠是完美的。在他在世的最後七週，我的父親無法進食、談話。他最喜歡做這兩件事。儘管他在肉體上受苦，神還是憐憫他。在他離世的前一天，他有機會與他的三個孫子在一起。他的笑容是那麼的燦爛、充滿著慈愛。他用手勢與他們交通。疾病在他體內攻擊他，但是他仍然滿面笑容的面對他的孫子們。當他的孫子們離去參加那天晚上的團契時，他與他們道別。他留給了他的孫子們一個信心與堅強的榜樣！神是憐憫的，因為我相信我父親在離世時這些美好的時光迴盪在他的腦海裡。
今天，我們的安慰來自於我們知道我的父親現在與他的老朋友們在天堂享用宴席並談笑風生。他終於在耶穌的懷抱裡，安息在一個他所傳講並懷念的天家裡。
我們一家希望承傳我父親對宣教的熱忱。因此，我們設立了“張志江牧師宣教基金。”我們祈禱這個基金將繼續支持他所奉獻一生的宣教事工。
在此，我代表我的家人向大家表達我們對你們的感謝。你們用行為、分享、禱告來支持我父親在世的事工。他在宣教戰場上打了一場美好的仗，也在疾病戰場上打了一場美好的仗。我希望我父親的一生見證了神的供應與主權。願神的話語繼續給你平安與鼓勵。讓我們知道我們在世上雖有苦難，但是耶穌已經戰勝了世界！讚美主！
他向我的母親與他們的三位子女-- 銘恩、銘言、及銘恆 -- 分享他的信心旅途。在我的記憶中，我的父親常常教導我們要永遠信靠主，不管周遭環境如何變化。的確，我父親最喜歡在我們每週的家庭敬拜中唱“要忠心”這首詩歌。這首詩歌就是大家在看影像回顧時所聽到的曲子。在我的腦海裡，我仍然可以聽到他說：“我們一起唱宣道詩，第200首，要忠心。”他常常帶著我們一家人一邊唱詩歌一邊講故事給我們聽。他特別喜歡講故事，不管聽得人喜不喜歡聽。
我父親的健康狀況是一個神蹟，見證了上帝的醫治與保守。當他開始在老撾從事宣教事工時，我的父親就開始出現在長期講道後咳血的症狀。在我六歲的那一年，有一天我們回家時看到我父親因為流血過多而失去知覺。當時我們並不了解真實情況。我們以為他在睡午覺。之後，有一位來自與美國的醫療宣教士告訴我父親手術是唯一的治療方法。但是，手術後他可能就會喪失說話的能力。我父親寧可面對持續內出血的風險也不願意失去說話的能力。過去的這些年裡，他的內出血狀況從來沒有停過，但是他傳講神的話語的決心也沒有終止。他身體裡的這根刺永遠陪伴著他，但是這根刺沒有毀了他的事工。
我的父母親一直過著簡樸的生活。他們這麼做乃是為了減輕教會在財務上的負擔。但是，我的父親永遠慷慨的對待需要的人。他也如此對待教會及他所愛的神學院。他對他的家人、孩子、孫子亦是如此。
我的父親並不在乎世上的獎賞。上世紀80年代，為了表彰他一生的宣教事工，一家神學院授給他一個榮譽博士學位。他告訴我們在他還活在世上時不要把這件事告訴他人。他不願意讓這個學位蓋過他認為更寶貴的頭銜-- 牧師。對他而言，作為一個牧師-- 神的僕人-- 是最崇高的榮譽。
父親愛他在36年前所創辦的中國基督徒宣道會裡所有的弟兄姐妹。當他最後一次住院時，他很不願意在週五晚上入院因為如此他就無法參加週日的主日崇拜。向弟兄姐妹打招呼、握手、談笑是他一周裡最嚮往的事情。
我們一家的確很想念父親。但是我們知道神的時間與計劃永遠是完美的。在他在世的最後七週，我的父親無法進食、談話。他最喜歡做這兩件事。儘管他在肉體上受苦，神還是憐憫他。在他離世的前一天，他有機會與他的三個孫子在一起。他的笑容是那麼的燦爛、充滿著慈愛。他用手勢與他們交通。疾病在他體內攻擊他，但是他仍然滿面笑容的面對他的孫子們。當他的孫子們離去參加那天晚上的團契時，他與他們道別。他留給了他的孫子們一個信心與堅強的榜樣！神是憐憫的，因為我相信我父親在離世時這些美好的時光迴盪在他的腦海裡。
今天，我們的安慰來自於我們知道我的父親現在與他的老朋友們在天堂享用宴席並談笑風生。他終於在耶穌的懷抱裡，安息在一個他所傳講並懷念的天家裡。
我們一家希望承傳我父親對宣教的熱忱。因此，我們設立了“張志江牧師宣教基金。”我們祈禱這個基金將繼續支持他所奉獻一生的宣教事工。
在此，我代表我的家人向大家表達我們對你們的感謝。你們用行為、分享、禱告來支持我父親在世的事工。他在宣教戰場上打了一場美好的仗，也在疾病戰場上打了一場美好的仗。我希望我父親的一生見證了神的供應與主權。願神的話語繼續給你平安與鼓勵。讓我們知道我們在世上雖有苦難，但是耶穌已經戰勝了世界！讚美主！
Remembrance of My Father - Rev. Barnabas Cheung
Mr. Henri Cheung
As you may have learnt from my father’s biography, his story began when he committed his life to the Lord and His ministries. From his humble beginning as a missionary in Vietnam and Laos, to his very last mission trip to Peru last year, he truly had embraced and loved all the peoples he met, especially the ethnic minorities. My father told me that he’d rather go and preach to those unreached in the remotest part of the world than to places where many are already there.
He shared his faith journey with my mom and his three children, Deborah, Noah and me. For as long as I can remember, my father often taught us to always be faithful to the Lord, no matter the life circumstances. In fact, in our weekly family worship at home, my father loved to sing the hymn “Be True.” That is the music you heard earlier in the video tribute. In my mind, I can still hear him saying, “Let’s sing #200 of the Hymnal (宣道詩), Be True (要忠心).” He often led the family sing hymns and told stories to us. He loves to tell a story, whether you want to listen or not.
My father’s health was a miracle, a testament of God’s healing and protection. From the beginning of his ministry in Laos, my father begin to have episodes of coughing out blood after long series of preaching. When I was 6 years old, one day we came home to find my father passed out from heavy bleeding. We didn’t know better; we just thought he was taking an afternoon nap. Later when a medical missionary from US visited Laos, he told my father that the only way to treat this was a surgery. However, the risks of such surgery include the loss of the ability to talk. My father would rather take the risk of continual bleeding than not being able to talk again. Over the years, his bleeding never ceased but so was his determination of preaching the Word of God. The thorn in his body had always been there, but that thorn did not kill his ministry.
My mom and dad always lived a simple and frugal life. They did that to alleviate the financial burden on the church. However, Dad was always generous to those in needs, and to the church and seminary that he loved. He also was generous to his family, his children and grandchildren.
My father didn’t care much for worldly recognition. In the 80s, he received an honorary doctorate degree for his lifelong mission work. He told us that he’d rather not tell others about this degree during his lifetime. He didn’t want this to overshadow the title he held more dearly as a Reverend. To him, being a pastor—a servant of God—is the greatest honor of all.
Dad loved all the brothers and sisters at Chinese Christian & Missionary Church, a church he founded and served for 36 years. At the beginning of his last hospital stay, he was upset because sending him to the hospital Friday night meant robbing him of the opportunity to go to church that Sunday. Greeting, shaking hands, and laughing with everyone at CCMC was something he looked forward to all week long.
My family sorely missed Dad in our human way when he passed on to the other side of glory on June 27. Yet God’s timing and plan are always perfect. During his last 7 weeks of life, my father could not eat or talk—two simple things that he loved. Despite this suffering, God was indeed merciful. The day before his passing, he was able to spend some quality time with all three grandsons together—Justin, Enoch and Austin. He smiled brightly and lovingly, communicating with them through hand gestures. Inside his body, his disease was eating him up. Outside, he gave a bright smile for his grandsons. He said goodbye to them as they left for church fellowship that evening. What a legacy of faith and perseverance he was passing to his grandchildren! God is merciful because I am certain that those beautiful moments were in his mind when he departed.
Today, we take great comfort knowing that my father is sharing a huge feast and a laugh with his old friends in heaven. He is finally in Jesus’ outstretched arms, resting in a home he had been preaching about and longing for.
It is our family’s wish to carry on my father’s legacy and passion for mission work with the “Rev. Barnabas Cheung Memorial Mission Fund.” We pray this memorial fund will carry on some of his lifelong mission works and beyond.
On behalf of my family, I would like to express our gratitude to all of you. You have walked, shared, prayed and supported my father’s life journey. He fought a good fight, not only in the mission field, but also during his illness. I hope that my father’s journey is a testimony of God’s provision and sovereignty. May God’s Word continue to provide peace and encouragement to you, knowing that we may have troubles in this world but Jesus has already overcome the world! Praise the Lord!
He shared his faith journey with my mom and his three children, Deborah, Noah and me. For as long as I can remember, my father often taught us to always be faithful to the Lord, no matter the life circumstances. In fact, in our weekly family worship at home, my father loved to sing the hymn “Be True.” That is the music you heard earlier in the video tribute. In my mind, I can still hear him saying, “Let’s sing #200 of the Hymnal (宣道詩), Be True (要忠心).” He often led the family sing hymns and told stories to us. He loves to tell a story, whether you want to listen or not.
My father’s health was a miracle, a testament of God’s healing and protection. From the beginning of his ministry in Laos, my father begin to have episodes of coughing out blood after long series of preaching. When I was 6 years old, one day we came home to find my father passed out from heavy bleeding. We didn’t know better; we just thought he was taking an afternoon nap. Later when a medical missionary from US visited Laos, he told my father that the only way to treat this was a surgery. However, the risks of such surgery include the loss of the ability to talk. My father would rather take the risk of continual bleeding than not being able to talk again. Over the years, his bleeding never ceased but so was his determination of preaching the Word of God. The thorn in his body had always been there, but that thorn did not kill his ministry.
My mom and dad always lived a simple and frugal life. They did that to alleviate the financial burden on the church. However, Dad was always generous to those in needs, and to the church and seminary that he loved. He also was generous to his family, his children and grandchildren.
My father didn’t care much for worldly recognition. In the 80s, he received an honorary doctorate degree for his lifelong mission work. He told us that he’d rather not tell others about this degree during his lifetime. He didn’t want this to overshadow the title he held more dearly as a Reverend. To him, being a pastor—a servant of God—is the greatest honor of all.
Dad loved all the brothers and sisters at Chinese Christian & Missionary Church, a church he founded and served for 36 years. At the beginning of his last hospital stay, he was upset because sending him to the hospital Friday night meant robbing him of the opportunity to go to church that Sunday. Greeting, shaking hands, and laughing with everyone at CCMC was something he looked forward to all week long.
My family sorely missed Dad in our human way when he passed on to the other side of glory on June 27. Yet God’s timing and plan are always perfect. During his last 7 weeks of life, my father could not eat or talk—two simple things that he loved. Despite this suffering, God was indeed merciful. The day before his passing, he was able to spend some quality time with all three grandsons together—Justin, Enoch and Austin. He smiled brightly and lovingly, communicating with them through hand gestures. Inside his body, his disease was eating him up. Outside, he gave a bright smile for his grandsons. He said goodbye to them as they left for church fellowship that evening. What a legacy of faith and perseverance he was passing to his grandchildren! God is merciful because I am certain that those beautiful moments were in his mind when he departed.
Today, we take great comfort knowing that my father is sharing a huge feast and a laugh with his old friends in heaven. He is finally in Jesus’ outstretched arms, resting in a home he had been preaching about and longing for.
It is our family’s wish to carry on my father’s legacy and passion for mission work with the “Rev. Barnabas Cheung Memorial Mission Fund.” We pray this memorial fund will carry on some of his lifelong mission works and beyond.
On behalf of my family, I would like to express our gratitude to all of you. You have walked, shared, prayed and supported my father’s life journey. He fought a good fight, not only in the mission field, but also during his illness. I hope that my father’s journey is a testimony of God’s provision and sovereignty. May God’s Word continue to provide peace and encouragement to you, knowing that we may have troubles in this world but Jesus has already overcome the world! Praise the Lord!