恩典河國際教會是香港宣教會轄下一所英語教會。其創辦人歐萬斯牧師（Daid Aufrance，下簡稱「歐牧」）曾有十年時間，服侍一群在港尋求政治庇護的朋友。他於三年前已退休回國，筆者趁他回港探訪之便，訪問他服侍難民的心得。
一九七五年，歐牧只是一名二十來歲的年輕伙子，拖著結婚剛一年的妻子，從美國來到香港，一心想著在中學教書，在學生中間見證神，「三年」工作結束後便回國。沒想到，成長於宣教家庭的他，「泥足深陷」地愛上香港，並且在這兒服侍了四十五年之久。
首十五年的他，在中學當教師；接下來約十九年時間，擔任國際宣教協會（One Mission Society）香港區工場主任，亦參與好些學校管理層的工作。直至二〇一〇年，他卸下工場主任之職，才開展恩典河的植堂。他們起初借用宣教會恩雨堂團契的地方，二〇一七年正式獨立，並遷往石峽尾的滙基書院聚會。
觸動歐牧開展難民工作，是他知道在尖沙咀的重慶大廈有一群外地人，因著逃難被迫離開家園，為尋找安頓的生活滯留在港。那時教會亦有好一班菲律賓女傭，她們也是離鄉別井，在港過著寄人籬下的生活。因此，他希望能連結這兩批漂泊流離的異鄉人，給他們一個「家」，讓他們感到溫暖與支持。
就是這樣，他開始每週一次到基督教勵行會與難民朋友午飯。透過飯桌聊天與他們建立友誼，亦有舉辦一些興趣班（例如：美容、烹飪和英語等），吸引他們回到教會。此外，他們也會開辦查經班，歐牧亦曾帶領一個專為弟兄而設的門訓小組。
「當他們投入教會後，我會給他們一些機會參與事奉，例如：我會讓非洲的弟兄加入敬拜團隊，主領『非洲式』崇拜。在全盛時期，我們團契有六、七十人聚會，有二十個不同的國籍，我實在很享受這種多元豐富的教會生活。」歐牧滿足地說。
「曾經有五至六位來自埃塞俄比亞的求庇者，他們來我們『家』已有數年。他們住的地方空間有限，但得知一位菲傭姊妹臨時失去居所，便急不及待安排她到自己的家住下來。」歐牧很感欣慰。
「當然，不是所有人對教會的態度都正面，曾有兩位回教徒朋友來過英文班，但看到掛在牆上的十字架，自此再沒有回頭了。」歐牧淡然說道。
歐牧從沒計較有多少難民朋友信主，也沒有想過要怎樣把他們留在教會，因為他深明他們的生活是何等艱難和不穩定。他坦言教會不是富有，能給他們的不過是點點的車馬費與午飯，且他個人力量有限。但他卻深信：「神會保護他們，我只能竭力做所能做的！」
綜合而言，筆者相信是歐牧的真誠、寛容與仁愛，招聚了五湖四海的異鄉人；是他不計回報的付出，使恩典河成為一個滿有上主恩典的「家」。原來，與難民同行需要的不是甚麼策略與資源，而是打從心底的真，以及樂意分享的愛！
Walking along with Refugees: Giving wandered people a “home”
(Approved and revised by the interviewee)
RiverGrace International Hong Kong Evangelical Church (HKEC) is an English-speaking church founded by Reverend Dave Aufrance. Dave has spent ten years in serving a group of asylum seekers and refugees. He retired in 2020 and returned to his home country. I took advantage of his recent visit to Hong Kong and listened to his experience of serving the refugee community.
In 1975, Dave was only a young man in his 20s. He came to Hong Kong from the US with his wife, whom he got married to a year earlier. Since they were sent by a US denomination which allowed them to work in Hong Kong for 3 years only, the couple had never thought that they would stay any longer in Hong Kong. Unexpectedly, after three years of satisfying teaching and flourishing evangelistic work in a middle school, Dave came to fall in love with Hong Kong and determined to serve the city continuously and ended up staying here for 45 years.
On the first 15 years of his time in Hong Kong, Dave taught at a local high school, United Christian College (UCC). On the next 19 years, he served as Field Director of One Mission Society (OMS). During those years he helped start some Christian schools and served on the boards of a few schools. It was not until he had stepped down from the post of field director in 2010, that he and his wife, Cindy began the church planting of River Grace. In the early years, River Grace was an international fellowship meeting weekly at Yan Yue church of HKEC. In 2017, it became independent and moved to a larger place, UCC for church services and activities.
Asking Dave what motivated him to begin the refugee ministry in River Grace. He recalled there was a significant number of arrivals fleeing from his own countries to seek refuge in Hong Kong. Similarly, there was also a group of Filipino maids in the church who worked here to finance their hometown families. Both led a wandering, unsettled life. The missionary therefore thought of connecting them together and established a homelike church where they could feel warm and supported, like a family.
In order to reach the asylum seekers, he began visiting NGO, Christian Action located in Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui once a week where free lunch was delivered to asylum seekers and refugees. He established friendship with them by chatting at the dinner table, inviting them to join the interest classes such as, facial beauty, cooking, and English language held in Yan Yue. For those people with Christian background, there were also Bible study classes.
"When they are deeply involved in the church, I will give them some opportunities to participate in the service. For example, I will let African brothers join the worship team and lead "African-style" worship. In its heyday, there are about 60-70 people from 20 different nationalities gathered to worship God. I really enjoy this diverse and rich church life. "Dave recalled.
"There are once 5-6 Ethiopian asylum seekers who had been in our church for several years. The space they are living in is limited, but when they learned that a Filipino sister temporarily lost her place of residence, they could not wait to ask her to live with them. Dave said contentedly.
"Of course, not everyone has a positive attitude towards the church. Once, two Muslim asylum seekers joined our English class but they never came back afterwards when they saw the crosses hanging on the wall." Dave said calmly.
Dave did not care how many asylum seekers or refugee congregants would end up believing Jesus nor how to retain them at the church. He well understood how hard and distressing their lives were. What the church could offer was simply transportation allowance and free meals. What he personally contributed to this community is very little. But he insisted on doing what he could and deeply believe God would guide them and protect them.
In summary, Dave is indeed a kind-hearted and humble missionary. It is the sincerity, tolerance and benevolence of Dave that attracted those desperate people to join the sweet and warm church. I find the keys to “walking along with refugees” are not any kinds of strategies and resources, but the willingness to share, and having a genuine love for them from the bottom of our hearts.
「與難民同行．社群關愛」系列
本文由難民事工小組提供，小組由香港的基督教教會和機構組成，
一直以來支援在港難民和免遣返聲請者在房屋、教育、心理、生活上的需要，幫助他們融入社會。
