A Brotherly Tribute to Br. Joseph Yang

 Furthermore we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you and take the lead among you in the Lord and admonish you, And to regard them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, RecVer)

Br. Joseph Yang was specially gifted by the Lord in shepherding the saints and the new ones in a very fine and detailed way, yet all in a hidden way. The Lord sovereignly used him in my life while I was struggling inwardly to take spiritual turns. At some crucial junctures, amidst my inward struggles, on my spiritual journeys forward, he was very instrumental in shepherding me step by step and ushering me into the church life in the Lord’s recovery. Below are some instances where the Lord used him to shepherd me.

In Discerning My Inward Struggles

In 2002, as a student seeking the Lord for His leading concerning the church and not being satisfied with the degraded and denominated system of Christianity, I was spiritually stuck not knowing how to go on. I was desperately praying for a clear sky whether to leave the denomination I was in. At that juncture, I came into contact with the saints and Br. Joseph Yang took a special interest on me. One day, he visited my hostel room and brought a book by Witness Lee, The Genuine Ground of Oneness. He proposed that we read that book together weekly. As we read a few pages in ch.1, my spiritual eyes were opened, I felt light dawning within, and I knew immediately that this book addressed the very questions I had on the ground of the church. After a few pages of reading in turns, he paused, stopped the meeting, and proposed to meet again the next week to continue the reading. Deep within, I saw light dawning concerning the questions on oneness and division. I just tasted something I had been longing for! After he left, I continued reading the book until I finished the entire book. Then I saw the ground of oneness which enabled me to come out of the denomination I was in. My two years of struggling to leave the denomination came to an end. I got the answers! Then, I became very clear about the ground of oneness and fully came into the church life!

In Seeing the Vision of the Age

I was just a Master's degree student in Chennai. Surprisingly, he invited me to attend a "Responsible Brothers' Training in Mumbai" for which he paid the price for my two ways train tickets along with the training registration fee. In fact, I was not qualified for that training as I had not yet taken the way of the Lord’s recovery, much less, a responsible brother. But the Lord used that training to open my eyes to see the vision of the Body as the training subject was on the vision of the age. The messages I heard, the book and the outlines I read were very timely. In that training, I saw the vision of the age, the need to do the work of building up the Body of Christ in this age! If brother had not invited me for that training, I would have missed seeing the vision on time.

In Giving Me Hospitality When I Needed the Most

I just graduated from my Master's degree and I had to leave my hostel. I was wondering where to stay for a week before I went home. I did not have any guts to request for hospitality. Surprisingly, Br. Joseph Yang discerned my need though I did not mention it to him. He invited me to stay with his family. He even came to pick me up from my hostel with all my luggage. Oh, what a cherishing it was for a student to find a home far away from home!

In Genuine Care and Concern

He exhibited a genuine care for me in action. In ushering me into the church life and in shepherding me to join the training, he wanted to confirm my decision before the Lord. One day, he came alone to my hostel room with a lot of burden for me. He fellowshipped with me about the church and the church life, and the need for training to be equipped with the truth. Then, he requested me to kneel down and consecrate my life to the Lord. So, he and I, we both knelt down and prayed a prayer of consecration. First, for me to fully come into the church life. Then, to join the full-time training. I could sense his heartbeat in all his deeds as a serving one who cared for me genuinely. 

In Suppling My Material Needs

While I was serving full time in the church in New Delhi in 2005, brother came to visit me. He enquired about my well-being, shared his recent enjoyment of the ministry imparting what he learned, and prayed for me. Then, he took me to a woolen shop and purchased for me a navy-blue woolen sweater as it was a winter time. I did not mention this need at all to him, he just discerned my need and supplied immediately.

Since he had impacted my life at crucial turning points, I felt so blessed to be shepherded by such a brother. I felt the Lord had sent him to India to shepherd me. Though I received help from other brothers too, his portion was very unique and it came at special times when I needed the most. I praise and worship the Lord for such a member in the Body from whom I receive a specific shepherding at crucial and critical times of my life.

For these reasons, when as a family we visited Taiwan last June 2024 and heard about his ill-health, I determined to visit him or at least his wife, at whatever cost. Though we could not meet him due to hospital restriction for critical patients, at least we met Sis. Marline Yang and their son Zion. I reckoned that as a sign of honor to a brother the Lord had used to shepherd me.

Render to all the things due: …, honor to whom honor is due. Romans 13:7

As the Lord used him as a pattern to me, may the Lord grace me as well to be a pattern to others. All glory to God! 

Much grace to sister Marline and brother Zion.

 

Palmei, INDIA 12 July 2024

Learning to Be Apolitical

Blending and Exhortation Fellowship

Last Lord’s Day, the saints from the church in Mathura gave us an impromptu visit. Though we were not informed beforehand, we welcomed them and let them also function during the meeting in bread breaking and in prophesying. The Lord has been working in their being so much that we could easily blend with them in oneness. Their visitation truly uplifted the meeting. Praise the Lord for the blending in the Body!

Last Lord’s Day was also the last Lord’s Day for the present term of trainees undergoing their training and participating in the church life in Gurugram. Since the saints from Mathura and trainees were with us, we invited them to a time of blending and fellowship over lovefeast dinner. All the saints willingly participated in the meetings.

As we fellowshipped, the Lord burdened us to exhort the trainees with words of love from the Scriptures. First of all,  a good number of them shared how the Lord brought them to join the training and many of them shared their experiences of being trained by the Lord theough the corporate God-man living in their coordination. I encouraged them to love the Lord, fear Him, and serve Him. Then, I addressed the trainees who were persecuted with prison term for a while and that they could not go home due to the case registered against them for preaching the gospel. Though it was a sad decision for the young sisters, they willingly accepted the Lord’s arrangement. To them, I specifically addressed to exhort them and even comfort them with the words of the Scriptures.

Beloved, do not think that the fiery ordeal among you, coming to you for a trial, is strange, as if it were a strange thing happening to you; But inasmuch as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice exultingly. If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler into others’ affairs; But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. (1 Peter 4:12-16, RecVer)

Henceforth let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the brands of Jesus. (Galatians 6:17, RecVer)

With these few words, we all prayed for them as they were going home during their training interim. Then, we feasted together too. The following day, I was given the opportunity to drive all of them to the metro station trip by trip with all their luggages. While driving them too, I prayed with them and encouraged them to spend their time wisely. I was glad that I could at least participate in whatever way, within my limited capacity, to blend with them and encouraged them too.

What a sovereignty of the Lord! The saints in Gurugram, Mathura, and the trainees all blent together!

Faithful Over a Few Things

In the Lord's word to the slaves for a reward of entering into the joy of the Master, the only qualification is, "Be faithful over a few things."

His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master. Matthew 25:21, 23

I was enlightened by the Lord with this verse. The Lord has never told us to do things we cannot do. Neither did He demand that we do big and great things. Much less, trying to become famous and popular with a huge crowd of followers in order to be approved by Him. The thought of bigness and greatness has corrupted man servants of God. What God only requires from us is, to simply be faithful over the few things He apportioned to us in His wisdom and sovereignty.

The few things may refer to the talent mentioned in the preceeding verses. These talents are our natural abilities God has given to us. In this age, as the Lord is working Himself into us to transform us, He requires us to be faithful to His transforming work. The faithfulness over the few things refer to the Lord’s work in us as we cooperate with Him. Our faithfulness is required in two aspects:

Subjectively in our inward being, He moves as the anointing, teaching us what we should do and what we should not do.

And as for you, the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you; but as His anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, abide in Him. (1 John 2:27, RecVer)

We must simply be faithful to the anointing within us. We say amen to His teaching and abide in Him. This will lead us to obey the anointing. Such obedience is our faithfulness. In everything, obey the anointing. Then, the presence of the Lord will be our enjoyment.

Objectively in our outward environment, He moves. He has spoken to us in the Son through the Word. Obeying the word is our faithfulness over the few things. He has already commissioned us to preach the gospel. He has commanded us to love Him and also love one another. He has charged us to be a man of prayer. Our carrying out of His commission and charge is our faithful over the few things.

And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, RecVer)

Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the consummation of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20, RecVer)

Unceasingly pray, (1 Thessalonians 5:17, RecVer)

Humanly speaking, we must be faithful to all the tasks assigned to is. As a father in a family, I must be faithful to my responsibility. As a brother in the church, I must be faithful in functioning for the building up of the church. As a serving ones in the literature service, Imuat faithfully serve. In this way, I can be faithful over the few things.

Or service, let us be faithful in that service; or he who teaches, in that teaching; (Romans 12:7, RecVer)

To be faithful over few things is to be faithful over whatever responsibility the Lord has blessed us with. It is not a herculean task, but normal and ordinary. Besides, He gives grace to all those who desires to be faithful. 

Practically, it is also to be faithful to the fellowship in the Body, in the church, in the work, and in the ministry.  If the church says, let us preach the gospel, so must we. If the church says, come for prayer meeting and come on time for all the church meetings, do likewise. If the church says, every one prophesy, simply obey.

This enlightened words were my prophesy last Lord’s Day, and the same message I minsitered last Wednesday night.

Lord, grace me to be faithful over the few things You apportioned to me that I may hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful slave. Enter into the joy of Your Master!"

Family Visit to Taiwan

After six years, we visited our parent in Taipei this time. The plan was first initiated by our youngest daughter about six months ago. She started praying to God to allow our family to be able to visit Taiwan. When I first heard, my innate response deep within was, it would be difficult considering the cost for flight tickets and many other expenses. I did not pay much attention to it then, reckoning the prayer as childish. But later, it was proved as a childlike prayer in simplicity with faith. As she continued to pray every night ferventy in our daily prayer meeting, I began to consider seriously before the Lord. When I prayed about it and fellowshipped with my wife, I realised that it was the Lord’s desire for us to visit Taiwan.

One day, a co-working brother was with us after a training and we had to drop him to the Airport in New Delhi. As I drove him, he fellowshipped with my wife about our parents and even suggested that we visit them. This to me was a confirmation to the prayer initiated by our young daughter of 10 years old. A few days later, he informed us that we could also visit Singapore on the way. The suggestion sounded very good to us. Then, we started praying about it daily as a family and even in my personal prayer. Gradually, the matter became very clear. 

Once I was sure it was from the Lord, I had the faith that the Lord will also provide the needed money for our flight tickets and other expenses. Then, my prayer turned from the will of God to the way of God. After a month or so, the Lord also provided the needed money for the flight tickets. Then, the prayer went into more detail on the date, duration, and carrier. All this became more and more clear until one night I finally booked the tickets. Along with this, I also planned for joining the church administration visit of the brothers from India to the churches in Taiwan. Everything fit right in!

Even only the process of prayer, planning, and preparing itself taught me a lot of spiritual lessons and experiences of the Lord. His definite leading and provision added to the riches of experiencing Him subjectively. 

When we actually carried out the plan, we enjoyed the Lord’s bountiful supply in His tender human care. The Lord was so good in meeting all our human needs, even making us happy emotionally. He is indeed the God of small things too! He used the brothers in Singapore to take a good care of us in a fine and detailed way to the extend the we spent nothing from own own pocket in the entire trip, yet on us it was spent a lot. The saints took care of our evey need; food, lodging, transportation, and even our visit to different places of tourism and sightseeing. On top of that, we received double offering in Singapore Dollar and Taiwan Dollar. Our God is a living God. Even so living to take care of even a very practical and human needs too.

In Taiwan too, the Lord provided offering through various channels to meet all our expenses to the extend that we could offer to a needy saint who was in a hospital and also offered to the church giving us hospitality. Besides, we could vist various places of interests to my children, bought gifts for the saints and families in India apart from buying whatever needs for ourselves. The Lord provided everything abundantly even to meet our human needs. Praise the Lord!

Most importantly, we also spent time with our parent, grandpa who is 88 and grandma 82. Our presence itself was their joy though we could not converse much. Each time we met, the best we could do was just pray together. And on our final day, we printed a family photo, framed it, and presented to them along with a laminated photo of grandpa, me, and my son and captioned, "Be a Pattern!" This was the phrase I selected from the verse:

Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, RecVer)

I added a banner, "Jesus is Lord! Christ is Victor!" Above my signature I also wrote, "God Blessings in Three Generations! 23 June 2024 (the date we took the photoshot).

After 21 days of family visit to Taiwan, 14 days for me as I joined the brothers in India for a week of church visits, then we flew back to India today. The trip taught me a lot of spiritual lesson in a deeper way and a lot of experiences and enjoyment of Christ and His church. 

For all these visits to Singapore and Taiwan, we did prepare sufficient money from our side for our expenses. But we spent nothing from what we had prepared. Instead,  in addition to spending from the Lord’s provision, we received much much more offering, even more than double the entire flight expenses. The Lord blessed us in abundance. True indeed that where the will of God led us, the grace of God provided us, even in abundance!

Lord, continue to bless the churches in Singapore and Taiwan!

Lord, prepare and perfect us to be patterns from what we have seen, heard, and learned from the patterns.

Fellowships in Taiwan

This time my visit to Taiwan and joining with the brothers visiting Taiwan for church administration training was indeed a grace shown to me. Though this was not meant for me as the burden was for the younger serving ones below 35 years and working saints. The brothers gracefully accepted my request to let me join in as I was in Taiwan too for a family visit. In addition to the many spiritual lessons learned, there were also some fellowships that may be worth mentioning.

In this trip, I simply followed the brothers' fellowship. Only when I was asked to share, then only I did share. Otherwise, I just was with the brothers observing, listening, and learning. In addition to the sharing on three Lord’s Days at three different localities, I was also asked to share in three different meetings at three other different meeting places. 

In a meeting at New Taipei City, one senior sister stood up and gave a testimony about me. She seemed to know me from the time I got married and had listened to my testimony as well. In Chinese she shared whatever she knew about me and finally declared concerning me, "He is Br. Andrew Yu of India." It was a surprised statement to hear from a sister who I barely know about. I had not control nor influence over what she said. If the Lord prompted her to say so, may it be the Lord’s speaking. Otherwise, may it be just a statement a sister made according to her understanding of things. Let the Lord’s will alone be done. Nothing to boast, nothing to betray. Only may the Lord’s will and words be fulfilled.

Later she requested me to share something. Though I was not prepared for such an impromptu speaking, I tried to passed on the burden to my brother sitting next to me and who is also senior to me in the Lord and in the work in India. He insisted that I speak as per the request of the sister. So I shared on my present experiences of the Lord is truth pursuing, in gaining Christ, and encouraged all the saints to love the Lord, pursue the Lord, and gain the Lord unto full maturity. Then, we all prayed together. 

In one of the districts of the church in Taipei, the brothers asked me to share about my feeling concerning the churches in Taiwan, I immediately shared what I had been feeling about the churches in Taiwan. I shared point by point how the churches in Taiwan has been our pattern in India. I also described the specific ways we were helped in following the ministry closely by taking Taiwan as our pattern. To name a few of them; in practicing the God-ordained way, gospel preaching, maintaining statistics, the structure of the church life, PSRP, and Life-study pursuit.

In the church in Hsinchu, as brothers asked us to share how we came into the church life, I shared briefly on how the Lord shepherded me into the church life. I was also helped to shorten my speaking as the time alloted was just about 2 minutes with translation. 

In Taipei, a brother invited us a time of fellowship over dinner lovefeast. A couple of saints joined the feasting as well. Then he asked me to share my testimony of how I came into the church life. Though I hesitated and tried to avoid, he insisted again and again for the sake of the saints who were there too. Therefore, I gave my testimony of the Lord’s work in me. Though the saints were very interested and even touched by the testimony, I encouraged them to simply enjoy the church life. The Lord’s leading differs from person to person. And it is all the Lord’s mercy that we are in the church life today and still continue to look for the Lord’s mercy to be preserved in the church life.

In all these fellowships, I received training and perfecting. Thank the Lord for all the fellowships and His perfecting works in me through the Body.

Church Life in Taiwan

Since the time Br. Witness Lee was burdend by the Lord to come back to Taiwan and reconsider the practices of the church life especially in the matter of the God-ordained way, there has been a new revival among the churches in Tawian. The God-ordained way, gradually, was also introduced to other countries including mine. In India, we have been very much helped by the brothers from Taiwan in the practice of the God-ordained way. Many new things we have been learning and learning are from the local churches in Taiwan. This time round as I visited Taiwan, I could see with my own eyes what the Lord has been doing in this small country for His recovery worldwide. Thank the Lord for such a vessel whom the Lord can use for the furtherance of the gospel and the ministry of the age for the accomplishment of His heart’s desire!

The fellowship of the brothers concerning their church life practices were so very encouraging. I was very much touched by the way the saints prayed, coordinated, and propagated in their respective localities and also gained the increase. The children work, the teenagers and young people work, the college student service along with student centers, truth pursuing using Life-studies daily, and also the gospel preaching and community propagation. O, too many things to learn from! Without the Lord’s special grace, I wonder if I can even partake of it in any one of these services. My comment will be like the qeen of Sheba commenting on Solomon and his kingdom.

And she said to the king, The word that I heard in my land concerning your deeds and your wisdom is true, But I did not believe the words until I came and my own eyes saw. And indeed the half was not told to me; your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report that I heard. Happy are your men! Happy are these your servants, who attend you continually and hear your wisdom! Blessed be Jehovah your God, who has delighted in you and set you upon the throne of Israel. Because Jehovah loves Israel forever, He has made you king to execute justice and righteousness. (1 Kings 10:6-9, RecVer)

The increase of the church in Taipei especially is breathtaking. About 15,000 saints are regularly partaking the bread on the Lord’s Day is surely God’s blessing. The church life itself will number to about 30,000. As I visited different different meeting halls, some old and some new, I was enthralled by the way the church progressed even physically. Spiritual progess also affects the physical things. Though meeting halls in big city like Taipei even at posh areas are outwards matters, but it surely does reflect the spiritual conditions of the church. 

The hospitality given to the visiting saints, this time from India, was very warm and sweet. They do give hospitality to saints from all over the world. The love, care, and concern the saints showed towards their guests were amazing. I was one of the guests. In fact, I received hospitality in five different localities at five different homes in a week. The saints just poured out whatever they have for the visiting saints. In fact, my whole family is being lodged in a 3 BHK house owned by the church in Taipei, Hall 5.

The lovefeasts were all no less than a five star hotel buffet meal. In fact, my brother-in-law gave our family a lovefeast at the best and biggest five start hotel in Tainan. The meals provided by the saints were more in variety and taste than the ones I ate at a fve star hotel. I really mean it.

The gifts the saints gave to us and also the offerings, all these proved their love towards the Lord. For, loving the Lord truly is reflected in loving the saints. And loving the saints is reflected and manifested in outward things too.

Besides all these, the prayer support from the churches in Taiwan and the yearly visitation by some brothers and saints added to the burning fire of the church life positively. What a blessing!

What more can I say? Now is my turn to take this pattern and be a pattern in return to other saints in India, especially in my locality. O what a church life! Hallelujah for the Lord’s doing in, among, and through the churches in Taiwan!

Lord, continue to bless Your move in Taiwan.

Lord, Thank You for the pattern of the church life You set up in Taiwan!