Bible fellowships often begin with a single spark and step of faith – that one conversation, email, text message, or phone call to people who have the desire or yearning to experience the love, hope, and power of God’s Word. The journey from one to many is not just about numbers; it is about transformation. It is about lives being changed, hope being restored, and faith being strengthened. It is about creating a space where people can encounter God’s love and grace in profound ways, and to share together in His goodness and wonders.

As I write this, I celebrate the journey of the SEM Staff Bible Fellowship. It began with one person attending the Fellowship in the Fall of 2023. Since then, the Fellowship has grown into a group of six Brothers and Sisters in Christ that regularly meet every week. What started as simple acts of sharing among a community of believers transformed into book readings (e.g., finishing A Grander Story: An Invitation to Christian Professors, written by Rick Hove and Heather Holleman) and going through Bible study notes from Faculty Commons. There is an indescribable joy that comes with seeing faculty members (ranging from juniors to seasoned academics) experience transformation in their lives – for instance, for them to realize His guiding hand over their lives, to proclaim His goodness in breaking down traumas, anxieties, and vulnerabilities that have held onto them, and to reaffirm their Christian identity and relationship with God. It truly is a blessing and encouragement to witness this weekly. 

Encouraged and humbled by the goodness of God and the impact of faith in action, SEM launched a Bible Fellowship for English-speaking students in the Fall of 2024. As if to remind us of our humble beginnings with the Staff Bible Fellowship, the Student Bible Fellowship too started with one person! No beginning is too humble, and we delight in the opportunity to gather and fellowship with one another. As it is written in His Word, in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Just as the Lord has blessed our Staff Bible Fellowship with passionate members from all walks of life (and academic disciplines), we trust that God will multiple our efforts in reaching out to the English-speaking student community.

As we step out in faith that God will touch those who attend the Fellowships, I pray that He may also nurture and grow other communities on campus that spread messages of hope and love to all who seek it. There is no effort too small, nor any beginning too humble, that would escape Him. Trust that the Lord will meet you where you are, and He will deliver. 

Paul Vinod Khiatani (APSS)

開學崇拜在 9 月 25 日（星期三）舉行，先由理大基督徒樂隊帶領敬拜，以「除祢以外」及「愛永不止息」來讚美上帝，又以「最美好的仗」來激勵會眾為主盡忠。接下來，由香港浸信會神學院院長曹偉彤牧師分享信息，講題是 “You do you”。You do you 是英語世界的一個說法，意思是「我做我自己，你做你自己」，背後反映一種自戀的心態︰人有自由去滿足自己的慾望，不用考慮別人。諷刺的是，人實際上所追求的不過是想人有我有，到頭來成為他人欲念的奴隸。這就是歌羅西書 3:1-14 所指的「舊人」，舊人的惡行包括淫亂、惱恨、說謊等等。然而作為上帝的選民，我們應當脫去舊人、穿上新人，並要存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛等美德，最重要是要有愛心，因為愛心能貫通全德。我們之所以能夠不再行惡，是因為我們已與基督一同復活。曹牧師勉勵大家，在新學年之始，要看清自己是新人或是舊人，並回想過去曾怎樣經歷耶穌的大能。

10 月 11 日（五）使命團籌備了半天「文化深度遊」給親善家庭。當天早上一行 20 人從美孚地鐵站出發，沿天橋繞到荔枝角山崗上的饒宗頤文化館。全團分成兩個小隊，隨導賞員帶領參觀保育館、 藝術館及戶外園區。這擁有百年歷史的三級歷史建築群，曾經是檢疫站、監獄、傳染病醫院和精神病療養院，經導賞員細心講解，再配合館內圖文並茂的互動裝置，一幕幕香港歷史活現參加者眼前。導賞後，每個家庭自由參觀，當中以「活字生香」漢字文化體驗展最受大家喜愛。由於親善學生來港只一個多月，對於粵語文化特別好奇，這個展館則以趣味方式呈現漢字演變過程及介紹廣東話文化，讓學生上了寶貴的廣東話課。各個家庭聚首時，大家都以一幀照片分享最具文化氣息的場景及擺出相應姿勢，當中不乏在「活字生香」展拍下的照片。臨別時，全團在荷花池旁合照，再步行到酒樓飲茶。原來學生們都是初次在香港飲茶，大讚點心比學校食堂的食物好吃。家長及學生邊品嚐美食，邊分享，增進情誼。飯後，大家來到九龍區最大的公園—荔枝角公園。這公園不單是城市中的一片綠洲，亦是不少古裝劇取景勝地，大家在園內悠閒地拍照遊覽，而隨著各家庭自由活動，文化之旅亦就此結束。