Pray

The motorcycle popped up three cars back in my rear view. I knew in seconds its driver would decide to go in between my rental car and the fiery sports coupe to my left. All six lanes of traffic were maintaining 75 mph and shifting through the slim margins of space between them like a school of Albacore Tuna. Like all other school settings, there are those who defend and those who offend. In our case, the offender wore black from helmet to toe and displayed his predator nature proudly across the side of his motorbike – TRIUMPH. He sifted through the school, 20 mph faster than all the others. I could see the frightened faces of the drivers behind me as they made room for him and slowed their speeds. The coupe saw the approach and pressed itself dangerously closer to the median, then decided it safer to come into my lane but never noticed my rental car in the way.

My break lights screamed danger! The school dispersed. The black shark of triumph blazed through towards feistier foe, and the remainder gathered ourselves back at 65mph and moved in a more focused  manner toward our final destinations.

Ever been to LA?

This moment in the 405 traffic between Irvine and Los Angeles stuck with me for days. I was spending those days teaching on prayer with good friends in Long Beach, meeting with the SEAPC network in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, Riverside, and Los Angeles, and finally sharing stories about Jesus at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro. I began the week fasting and praying for personal revival and fresh anointing as I knew this trip was the start of a season of travel and ministry that would take me through December.

That day on the highway raised a question in me. Am I speeding through at 75 mph, seemingly progressing toward a final destination? Am I one step or lane shift away from disaster? Am I texting my way there? When the predators and fears of life creep up behind me, am I caught unprepared?

Prayer is the lifeblood of missions. Prayer is the precursor to compassion. Prayer is what you do in May, June, and July as you trust God to keep the ministry functioning in August.

At SEAPC we are believing God for the miraculous on a daily basis. As our efforts of bringing life to a new generation around the globe produce new fruit, we must maintain our focus on the call to prayer and the stabilizing abundance of Christ. He has been faithful to us. When you see the potential danger approaching in the mirror, slow down, re-read the promises of God, focus to fast, and pray.

If you are believing God for revival in this generation, then please designate time in your day to pray for breakthrough! He is faithful and will hear our prayers.  He will keep us focused, moving safely toward the promises He has for us.

Matt

中文 Matt Geppert, 06-10

I Had a Moment

Deep beyond the shuffle of the seasons and the ringing bell of mid-year’s freedom, is a promise you made. Yep, remember back in January, when Pittsburgh, PA was a frigid ice box (I miss you guys in CA) and you spoke those visions and goals out loud.

Don’t worry, I almost forgot mine too.  But my God is a good God who answers prayer and He decided I should remember one of them specifically. So, by the time I reached my mid year, I found myself back in Lhasa, Tibet. This time I was surrounded by medical doctors from Hong Kong, India, Shanghai, and the U.S., working 16-hour days and challenging the physical impossibilities of treating the previously considered untreatable in the world’s most adverse environment. My prayer was, “Let me see your heart for Tibet, oh God, and use me to do your will.”

This amazing team screened 1,720 children over two days in a rural village of southern Tibet. They treated 20 children with interventional noninvasive catheter procedures in the Cath lab at Peoples Regional Hospital. They led strategic government meetings with the health bureau of Tibet. They ministered to countless families and they never stopped working. I was blessed.

In the swirl of high altitude, praying parents, spiritual oppression and the pressures of managing international health and political diplomacy, the Lord met me; and I had a moment. My phone rang. I answered the call and heard a hundred voices in the background worshipping God in Mandarin and praying in the spirit. I looked back through the cath lab window to the child receiving treatment. I looked at the doctors who’d come from  far off lands. I looked at the local doctors, desperate to be able to treat their own. I also looked at the mother softly praying for her son. Time stopped for a moment and I could feel the presence of God.

I found out, later, that the call came from Hong Kong GA611 who had gathered their church to pray for Tibet that day. They will never fully know the situational pressure and spiritual warfare I stood in that day and they will never know how that call ministered to our team. But they do know that the will of God is for these Tibetan families to know Him and to worship Him too.

The heart of God for Tibet is in the eyes of the desperate mothers and His victory is in the child’s life that is restored.

I know you were praying too. Thank You! In our tenth year serving Tibet, we have again seen the miraculous occur, the people come to know God, the darkness be pushed back by the light, and hope be ushered in to a hopeless generation.

Matt

我感受到那一刻

季節流轉，時序進入六月，是從校園出籠得自由的時候了。還記得你作過的允諾，立下的心願嗎？是的，就是一月份，賓州的匹茲堡像個硬梆梆的大冰盒（當然，加州除外），那時你大聲說出的願景和目標。

不要擔心，我也差不多忘了自己的新年新願望。但我的神是一位應允禱告、良善的神，祂決定，其中有一項是我應該特別記住的，。因此，這時我回到西藏的拉薩，身邊有許多來自香港、印度、上海、美國的醫生，每天工作十六小時，在世界上最艱困的環境中，要以手術治療向來被當作不治之症先天性心臟病。我的禱告是：「神啊，讓我看到你對西藏的心意，使用我達成你的心意。」、

短短兩天的時間，在西藏南部的一個村莊，這個驚人的團隊篩檢了一千七百二十個孩童；們用無侵害性的導管插入手術在人民地方醫院的心導管室治療了二十個孩子；他們帶領許多重要的會議，和西藏的衛生保健當局進行研討；他們服事了無數的家庭；他們不停地工作。我真是深受祝福。

在高山的暈眩、禱告的父母們、屬靈的壓迫、處理國際醫療與政治外交的壓力中，主與我相遇，我感受到了那一刻。我的電話響了，我一接起來就聽到上百的人的聲音用中文在靈裡敬拜人，我轉頭，隔著心導管室的玻璃窗看著那個手術當中的孩子，看著那些從遠地而來的醫生，看著當地的醫生們，盡一切力要救他們自己的人，看著那位母親，輕輕地為她的兒子禱告。時間停住了，我感受到神的同在。

我後來才知道，這通電話是從香港 GA611 打來的，那天他們全教會聚集為西藏禱告。他們永遠不會知道那天我所面對處境中的壓力與屬靈的爭戰，他們也不會知道這通電話是如何托住我們的團隊，但他們知道，神的旨意是要這些西藏家庭也來認識祂、敬拜祂。

神對西藏的心反映在這些別無指望的母親眼中，祂的勝利彰顯在被救活的孩子生命裡。

我知道你的也在禱告，謝謝你們！這是我們服事西藏的第十年，我們再一次見到神蹟，人們來認識神，黑暗被光明推開，盼望導入這無望的一代。

Matt

中文 Matt Geppert, 05-10

Tibet

My dad stuck a note into my YWAM journal early this year.  The note was his reference points from a recent study in Matthew 5-7.  These days he and I do not have much time together. So, when he hands me something or shares something with me, it bears tremendous value to me.  I’ve carried this note with me through the nations and have come back to read it hundreds of times.  Before I speak at a church or go into a meeting of significant consequence, or even face some major decision that will impact my family socially or financially, I’ve read the note.

The note I’m carrying is a list of 21 things. 21 keys to live by. This list will be right next to wherever my head rests this month. I’ll need it, especially just before I meet Dolma, a 9-year-old girl from Geda township, in Damxung county of Lhasa, Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of Tibet, PRC. She is one of 132 who have been miracu-lously found. Like a needle in a hay stack, she has been set apart, identified to be very sick and desperately in need of help. The pressure in the moment is tremendous. My note starts with this:

-  You are Salt and Light

I will hold Dolma’s hand this month and we will pray the same prayer that I’ve been praying with parents and children in Tibet for six years. When we end, she will undoubtedly look right into my eyes and smile…

-  Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

Then, her mom and I will sit in a waiting room, hold hands and pray like never before, as Dolma receives the treatment she needs. We will pray for Dr. Gu Hong, Dr. Prem, Dr. Boon, Dr. Keller, Belinda, Rocky, Dr. Gesang, Dr. Bin Zhen and, mostly, for Dolma…

-  Fast for God

Then, as sleepless and endless prayer has broken through, Dolma will come bouncing down a hallway and her mom and I will be able to smile back at her.  And, we will be joined by the presence of God in an eternal moment predestined by faith, accomplished by the body of Christ and sustained through time by the 21 things you need to know.

The note ends with very clear direction and simple instruction for SEAPC, the body of Christ, and you and I who pray for these kids on a daily basis.

-  Build on the Rock

I need you to pray with me this month for Tibet, its children with heart disease, the doctors coming to help and the finances it will take to cover the costs. I leave on the May 13 for Tibet.

西藏

今年初的時候，我父親在我的 YWAM 手記裡塞了一張紙，上面是他那一陣子研讀馬太福音五到七章的筆記。這些日子來，我們父子很少有時間在一起，所以，無論他交給我什麼或是和我分享什麼，對我而言都是極為寶貴的。我去到各國都帶著這張筆記，前前後後讀了不下數百次。我無論去哪一個教會證道，參加什麼重要會議，或是面臨對我的家庭環境或經濟有重大決定，都會先讀這張筆記。

這張筆記列著二十一件事，二十一條人生鑰則。這個月我會去很多地方，無論我在哪裏枕頭，這張筆記一定會放在旁邊。我會很需要這張筆記，特別是我見到 Dolma 之前，她是一個九歲的女孩，來自中國西藏自治區的拉薩縣Damxung 郡的Geda鎮。她是奇蹟般被找到的一百三十二個孩童之一。就像稻草堆中的一根針，她被挑出來，列為重度患者，亟需救助。此刻這壓力十分沈重。我的筆記上寫著：

    你們是鹽和光
這個月我將握著 Dolma 的手，所作的禱告就是六年來一次又一次和西藏的病童與家長們一起作的禱告。當我們結束禱告時，她一定會看著我的眼睛，綻開笑容‥‥。

    不斷祈求、尋求、叩門
然後，她的母親和我就會坐在等候室，握著手，竭力禱告，陪伴她接受所需要的手術。我們會為 Gu 醫生、Hong 醫生 、Prem 醫生、 Boon 醫生、 Keller 醫生、Belinda、Rocky、Gesang 醫生、Bin Zhen 醫生、當然還有 Dolma 禱告‥‥。

    為神禁食
在不眠不休的禱告後，Dolma 會從醫院的走廊蹦蹦跳跳過來，她的母親和我會笑臉迎接她。在這永恆的時刻，我們將在神的同在中聯合，這時刻是是憑信預見，透過基督的身體而實現，靠著你所必須知道的這二十一件事，不斷堅持而成就的。

這張筆記的最後，寫著非常清楚的方向與簡單的指示，給東南亞禱告中心、基督的身體、以及日日為這些孩子禱告的你和我。

   建在磐石上
這個月，我需要你們和我一同為西藏禱告，為那裡有心臟病的孩子，為來幫助他們的醫生們禱告，也為這些費用的資助禱告。我將在五月十三日出發前往西藏。

Matt

中文 Matt Geppert, 04-10

Be a Life-Giver

I met with many of you in the first quarter. I was blessed by your hospitality and red packets for my son in Singapore, touched by your testimonies in Malaysia, challenged by your faith in Laos, encouraged by your commitment in China, humbled by your grace in Tibet and, again, moved deeply to action by what God is doing in your churches here in the U.S.

Jessica, A.J. and I will be starting the second quarter by spending Easter in Long Beach, CA, joyfully participating in the Cambodia Day festivals and parade. This is the fourth year that SEAPC will have a float running down Anaheim street. This year we are joined again by Grace Brethren Church’s Cambodian worship band and the Wong family, as well as several new pastors and friends all dedicated to putting our feet to the concrete and praying for the people, businesses, community groups and government of Long Beach.

May takes me back to Tibet, where in February, the local discussions were focused more on the lack of snow fall and the Mayan 2012 movie than the international political events surrounding their region. For May, 132 children have been identified for life-saving heart procedures. Treatment is scheduled through the Touching Hearts medical team, led by Dr. Brad Keller who is again committed to come and help.

Each procedure ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 and I’m am constantly praying for sponsorship — 132 people who will save a life. I’m again asking you to help. There are now over 250 kids alive because of you, let’s come together again and be life-givers to the needy of Tibet. Psalm 112:9-10

成為給生命的人

我在第一季時曾與你們許多人會過面。在新加坡，你們款待我們，又給我的兒子的紅包；在馬來西亞，你們的見證讓我深受感動；在寮國，你們的信心讓我受到挑戰；在中國，你們的委身激勵我；在西藏，你們的恩惠使我謙卑；在美國，因著神在你們各教會中所做的，督促我前進。

第二季的開頭，Jessica、A.J 和我一家三口會在加州長濱巿過復活節，歡喜參加柬埔寨日的節慶與遊行。這是東南亞禱告中心第四年在 Anaheim 街有遊行的花車。今年我們又是與 Grace Brethren 教會柬埔寨敬拜團、王氏家族聯合，另外還有一些新加入的牧師和朋友們，都是委身於腳踏實地，為長濱巿的人民、商業、社群與政府禱告。

五月我會回到西藏。上一次到西藏是二月，那時的討論的重點是降雪量不足以及2012 年的電影Mayan，較少談到鄰近地區的國際政治事件。五月份，確定有 132 名孩童將接受救命的心藏手術，手術的安排是由「動心計劃」醫療團隊負責，這團隊是由 Brad Keller 醫生帶領，他這次再度委身來幫助。

每一個手術的費用為 $1,000 至 $5,000。我不斷地為費用贊助禱告 ── 一百三十二位能夠救命的人。我再次請求你們伸出援手。因著你們的幫助，現在已有超過二百五十個孩子得以活下來，讓我們再一次攜手，成為給生命的人，幫助西藏這群有需要的人。

Matt

中文 Matt Geppert, 03-10

Psalm 112

Who is SEAPC? For the past six years it has been my task to share the answer to that question around the world.  I’ve become quite comfortable in communicating our vision, strategy, core values and platforms with those who ask. Simply put, “SEAPC is a growing global community that is dedicated to changing lives through prayer.” Even simpler, SEAPC —“ Changing Lives through Prayer.”

Now, mission statements are great, (yes, that is my qualifier to let you know that I read the books on mission statements and I did attend a Guy Kawasaki seminar) but sometimes I want a little more. For example, the mission statement for McDonalds’ fast food is, “To be our customer’s favorite place and way to eat.” Cool, and wonderfully put, yes, but who is Ray Croc, why do I see Golden Arches in the jungle of Malaysia and how do Big Macs taste so good? Most importantly, who are the individuals that make McDonalds what it is today and what do they believe in?

I just spent several days with the leadership of Kuala Lumpur’s GA 611 Bread of Life Church. Pastor Amos, Pastor Esther and their family are the wonderful people who have adopted Lemuel (Lawrence) Ng into their lives and have made a way for him to study the word of God through the Bread of Life course work. I thank God for His answer to Lemuel and in networking him and SEAPC to this amazing “Server” in K.L.

On our last day together, before I left to travel Laos with brother Hubert and SEAPC Garden of Hope, I sat with Pastor Esther and Lemuel for many hours in the church’s prayer room and heard the vision from God for their ministry, how the Lord revealed himself to them individually, how He heard their cry for K.L., how he directed their steps and built a team around them and how he has put Tibet on their hearts. One prophecy that was given to Pastor Amos was that this church would be a “super tanker — serving and refueling.” So, I thought long and hard about the initial question. “Who is SEAPC?” No one knows the answer to that question better than my father. He asked me to read Psalm 112 and in it, I found a clear way to continue the dialogue that so many of you started by joining SEAPC around the globe:

PSALM 112

We are people who fear God.

We are gracious and full of compassion.

We grant favor, give money and guide our affairs with discretion.

Our hearts are established. We do not fear and we trust in God.

We are multiplying. We are giving to the poor and our righteousness will endure.

Matt Geppert

詩篇一百一十二篇

誰是 SEAPC? 過去六年來，我的工作就是在世界各地分享這個問題的答案。我已經很善於向詢問的人傳遞我們的異象、策略、核心價值以及綱領。簡單地說，「東南亞禱告中心是一個全球社群，委身於藉禱告改變生命。」說得更簡單一點，SEAPC－「藉禱告改變生命。」

確實，使命宣言很好，(這樣你可以知道，我讀過那些有關使命宣言的書，也參加過Guy Kawasaki 研討會) 然而，有時我還想要再多一點點。例如，麥當勞速食的使命宣言是「成為顧客最喜歡用餐的地方與方式」。棒極了，但是，誰是 Ray Croc？為什麼我在馬來西亞叢林裡看到金色拱門？大麥克怎麼會這麼好吃？最重要的是，是誰使麥當勞成為今日的麥當勞？那些人的信念是什麼？

我剛去過 Kuala Lumpur 的 GA 611生命糧教會，和那裡的領袖們相聚了幾天。Amos 牧師、Esther 牧師和他們一家真是太好的人，就是他們接待 Lemuel (Lawrence) Ng，讓他進到他們生活裡，並且為他開路，讓他能經由生命糧課程研讀神的話。我感謝神回應 Lemuel 的祈求，並且讓他與 SEAPC 和這美好的 Kuala Lumpur「伺服單位」連線。

這次造訪生命糧教會之後，我就要與 Hubert 弟兄和 SEAPC 希望之園一同去寮國。離去前，我和 Esther 牧師與 Lemuel 在教會的禱告室坐了好幾個小時，聽他們訴說神賜給他們事工的異象，神如何親自向他們各人顯現，祂如何垂聽為 Kuala Lumpur 的呼求，引導他們的腳步，在他們身邊建立一個團隊，還有祂如何將西藏放在他們心上。曾有向 Amos 牧師所發的預言說到，這個教會將成為一個「超級坦克－服事並加油」。因此，我認真思考了很久：「誰是SEAPC？」沒有人比我的父親更知道這個問題的答案。他要我讀詩篇一百一十二篇。從這當中，我找到一個清楚的表達方式，說明為什麼會有你們這麼多人加入 SEAPC 全球事工：

詩篇一百一十二篇
我們是敬畏耶和華的人。
我們是有恩惠且充滿憐憫的人。

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