六十週年籌委小組訂定主題為「薪伙傳家愛」，表達了承傳福音使命，需要結連福音「夥(伙)伴」，包括堂會、熱心贊助的商界和朋友，攜手同行，向社會傳遞家庭的「愛」。
11月17日晚上，我們安排了異象分享晚會，邀請各介襄助，一起幫助孩子建立他們的「第二人生」。
《Life Renewal》 – Leo
Leo, a former resident of the youth home, attended the “2nd Chance in Life – Youth Ministry” kick-off ceremony to inspire other young people with life renewal testimony.
Struggles in Personal Growth
Leo grew up in a traditional family. His father is strict, and he would discipline him by beating and scolding. In order to reduce conflicts, he avoided the father who came back in shifts at night. Starting when he was young, he would sleep with his head before 11 o’clock every night. When he did something wrong, he was beaten by his father, and there was case that he was admitted to hospital for stitches. Later, he was referred by a social worker to live in the youth home of the Evangelical Children’s Home. From that time, he had to rely on his own ability to make ends meet. At that time, he just graduated from high school and failed to enter university. For the sake of his future, he took IVE Advanced Diploma course during the day and worked at night to make a living. Even though the social worker suggested him to apply for CSSA, he refused. He led a busy life of self-improvement and self-reliance every day, and he never looked back to the past, nor remembered who he loved or hated.
Turing Point in Life
It was God’s plan for staying in the youth home. There were other home alternatives at that time, but I moved into the youth home of the Evangel Children’s Home. He was invited by his family mentor to participate in an evangelistic fellowship with Tung Fook Kowloon East Church to learn about the gospel. During the period, he heard a sermon that touched his heart deeply. The content was roughly to remind that living a Christian life should follow bible and act like Jesus. The two passages of Scripture were like fists into his heart:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:3
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24
Reconciliation of Relationship
As time passed by, he thought he should have let go of his past pains and forgave his father. It was not until one time the pastor prayed for him and gave him a hug like a father, which softened his heart. When the pastor said “I’m sorry” on behalf of his father, Leo burst into tears because he hadn’t has such beloved feeling for a long time. The feeling of “love”, the Holy Spirit reminded him to forgive his Dad verbally, and to express it from the bottom of his heart. Indeed, there is no denying the fact that parent-child relationship is an ironclad DNA, and the Ten Commandments of the Bible also state: “Honor your parents so that you are blessed.”
A strange thing happened. After a few weeks, when he returned home for dinner with his mother, his father asked him if he no longer recognized him as his father. At this moment, he finally understood why he was moved to forgive his father when he ran that day. It was no coincidence. , God has already prepared. On that night, their father and son broke through the long-frozen iceberg and repaired the relationship between father and son. When you “really” “from the heart” forgive your father and repair your relationship with your father, you can share your heartfelt feelings with each other frankly and feel relieved.
After sharing his testimony at the “2nd Chance in Life – Youth Ministry” kick-off ceremony, Leo embraced his father and was much moved. Dr. Choi Yuen Wan prayed for them after the event.
《A Different Growth Path》 Supporter and Chak Kwai
Chak Kwai, who had left Evangel Children’s Home admitted to the Chinese University of Hong Kong to study Information Engineering four years ago. He has achieved a lot today. He has been working in the IT field for half a year. Graduated with first-class honors and stepped into the workplace, Chak Kwai is grateful for God’s guidance and care. He also thank for the supporters. “Only relying on your own ability is unmanageable.” Chak Kwai humbly shared his path of growth that was full of grace.
Earlier, he made a special trip back to the Evangel Children’s Home to meet up with superintendent, the trustee of Yuk Ching Charity Trust which sponsored him tutorials, the house parents, social workers and the DSE students of the home. Precious memories are around corners in the home. This “home” has witnessed the love of Heavenly Father, and the staff healed his childhood trauma with love. In a stable environment, he can plan for his career development.
Due to illness, Chak Kwai’s family member was unable to take care of him. He began to move into the Evangel Children’s Home in Form 2. At that time, he refused to open up himself. He was restrained and found it hard to communicate with others. In retrospect, the house parents described him as “unable to be connected”. Onson, the house parent, has an unyielding will to serve and bring changes to the children with love, time and patience. On the day of the home reunion, Onson described Chak Kwai as responsible and hard-working that he earned a living with part-time job. He is well-prepared for future, diligent and studious, and admired him in giving back to Evangel Children’s Home as volunteer. This beloved “Dad” who is not his biological father, always sees the merits of him.
At the reunion, the memories came to life. Onson had been taking care of Chak Kwai at the Peter House for many years. Onson had evening prayers by bedside with him, asking him to entrust his troubles to his heavenly Father; serving him with desert when he studied at late night. Chak Kwai responded inadvertently and truly, saying, “As long as it is made by Onson, it is delicious.” What a heartwarming response!
Onson and Chak Kwai are in ties like “father and son”. Though he has left the home, Onson still cares about him. This “Home” is filled with extra love because God is love.
《Aiming on the Target》– Siu Yui Ming
Due to domestic and family violence and emotional issue, Yui Ming was arranged to stay in Evangel Children’s Home when he was 10 years old. He had to leave his home at a young age. According to the social welfare regulations, he must age out at the age of 18. However, Yui Ming has not yet completed the DSE course yet, so he went home to live with his mother with an attempt of trying. There were still many conflicts. Because he had to take care of both school and part-time jobs, his mother complained that he had been often away from home, and he is useless with little earnings, and should not live at home. He was often ridiculed, and his belongings were being thrown away from home. It was not possible to continue living with her, and he was forced to leave again.
Later, he learned that there was a “Second Chance in Life Sponsorship Program”, and he returned to Evangel Children’s Home after half a year to stay in their youth home. The home provided a transitional residence and a stable place to live. A mentor discussed the road ahead with him, and his heart gradually settled down. Yui Ming said frankly that when he was at home, there were no elders to talk to him about this topic, and he was often the only one, and he was very confused about the future. “I need a lamp to see the way forward” was Yui Ming’s voice at the time.
After graduating from DSE, Yui Ming successfully joined the MTR as a railway maintenance worker. The two-year transition period of the Youth Home was over. The mentor helped find a kind-hearted landlord that he moved into small units in the urban area at lower rents. With a stable job and home, Yui Ming set goals for himself to take courses related to maintenance and hoped to become a maintenance master in 10 years. In his spare time, he would also join volunteer services and participate in voluntary tutorials, hoping to help children with similar experiences through his own experience.
Looking back, Yui Ming was very grateful to the people he met, those who helped him, and led him to grow. He used to be introverted and he was afraid of many things. Nowadays he had learned the skills to be independent and he knew how to take care of himself. He believed that “people must be contributing, and the important thing is to learn.” He learned how to deal with things and how to respect others. He did not feel resentment about his background. He saw his family important. Even if he could not get along for some reason, he would still need to meet up family members, love and care for them because his family could not be replaced.
Yui Ming encourages fellow youth to learn to equip themselves, find the target like a shot into a basket, keep their eyes on the shot, and stick to the target.
TVB Sunday Report – “After Age 18”
http://news.tvb.com/programmes/sundayreport/5c8dd478e6038321761c9163/4/十八歲後
《不一樣的花，獻給偉大的媽媽》– 路得家
播道兒童之家路得家家長及小女孩在家舍路得廚房”Ruth Café”，巧製玫瑰花花蘋果酥，藉母親節獻給偉大的媽媽。
「家舍媽媽」擔任Cooking Mama以廚藝教導家舍小女孩，以心思呈獻愛的禮物，家多點愛，同慶不一樣的母親節。Happy Mother’s Day!
晴報–逆境自強—入住播道兒童之家9年 19歲男生努力進修盼做社工助人
【即使面前困難處處，但人生總有出路。現年19歲的浩文生於完整家庭，惟因父親吸毒和母親患病的緣故，他自小被送往不同家庭寄養，自卑心湧現。小三那年他被送往兒童之家，再次轉換環境令他感到不適應；猶幸獲院舍提供很多關懷和協助，浩文逐漸打開封閉而久的心扉，個性漸變開朗。至去年中學畢業，他遷往青年家舍生活，學習獨立的同時亦得到家舍多方面的協助，令他認清人生目標，盼能成為一名好社工，好好回饋社會。】轉載首段
轉載自《晴報》
撰文記者：賴天兒
相片：播道兒童之家提供
有線電視–小事大意義–「愛心業主助無家青年Leo」
在寸金尺土的香港，住屋租金冠絕全球，對於家庭發生突變的青年，霎時失去居所，他們怎樣面對租屋的困難？播道兒童之家青年家舍舊宿生Leo，因遭家暴後入宿，面對有家歸不得，透過「第二人生助跑計劃」服務過渡自立。感恩得到愛心業主平租單位，更感恩是他與父親復和，還帶他返教會。 Leo發奮多年，今天，他已完成學位，有穩定工作，並有能力自住。
Leo與爸爸同住時，因與父親發生爭執，須入醫院治療。經社工介入後，入住播道兒童之家青年家舍。期間正修讀高級文憑課程，晚間做兼職維持日常開支。Leo入宿時大約19歲，是初期「第二人生助跑計劃」青年家舍宿生，唯青年家舍只限住2年，當時青年社區共住服務還未推出。他面對須搬出租屋，感到很徬徨，離開時還在學的他，要應付高昂租金及其他開支，經濟壓力非常大，只能在元朗的偏僻村落租住圍村套房。雖然租金較便宜大約三千多元，但交通費每月差不多要二千元，每月所賺的大部份也用在學費和交租，當時真稱不上是生活，只是為了生存而活。
在全職工作兩年後，他再一邊工作一邊修讀學位課程，因回家須趕尾班車，連放學後與同學研習功課的時間也沒有。家舍導師盡力幫助，透過教會網絡，最終找到以市值六折租金，約三千元以下租住位於太子的劏房。在太子單位居住了約4年，期間順利完成學士學位，畢業後他找到穩定工作。現在Leo已有能力租住其他單位。
Leo感恩得到「第二人生助跑計劃」的幫助，有愛心業主在經濟上的協助，讓他有空間發揮所長，給予機會自力更生。
更感恩的，是Leo入宿期間，獲家舍導師邀請參與播道會同福堂九龍東堂聚會認識福音，有一次牧師為他禱告並給他猶如父親的擁抱，把他的心軟化，聖靈一直作工，他最後與爸爸復和，還帶他返教會。
Leo最近更勇敢接受有線電視訪問，讓公眾了解那「做在小子身上的工」，那助力多大!
節目重溫：有線電視–小事大意義 [愛心業主助無家青年] (https://fb.watch/2PyIrKhyIc/)