在監獄事工中，我們經常遇到難民和尋求庇護者。我們的事工不只涵蓋香港各監獄，也包括入境羈留中心。當作為難民或尋求庇護者來到香港時，他們經常需要找到一種離開自己國家的方法，而他們往往很容易被利用，或者對其他國家的法律和程序如何運作不太了解。他們付款所得的非法出境通道，可能意味著他們在抵達香港時會被拘留或監禁。由於尋求庇護者在香港期間不得工作，如果他們工作或尋找其他非法手段賺錢，他們也可能被逮捕和監禁。我們的事工在羈留設施內開設基督教課程，囚犯和被拘留者可自願參加，與義工一起敬拜上帝、團契和閱讀聖經。
當我們一起敬拜時，這確實是一件非常深刻的事。這些設施裡沒有任何花巧的東西；沒有任何技術、強烈的視覺效果或互動視聽來吸引人們的注意。相反，它只是一群崇拜者聚集在一起唱歌，有時沒有任何音樂，並使用平裝版聖經，一起翻閱聖經，分享聖經。這份簡樸，讓不同階級、種族、教育、經濟或地位之間變得沒有任何區別，我們只是基督裡的兄弟姊妹，一起敬拜我們的主。我們可以在世界任何地方，用自己的語言、自己的文化和表達方式分享敬拜歌曲，人人都可以加入。
當我們相信我們是祂的孩子時，無論我們的背景如何，都會接受並理解我們都是按照上帝的形像創造的。正是在監獄裡，我們共同體認到，我們都是基督裡的兄弟姊妹，上帝呼召我們每個人都有一個目的，而我們的生活就是為了祂的榮耀而活出這個目的。相比之下，在香港作為難民及尋庇者（RAS）的生活非常艱難，因為當他們的難民身份聲請尚在處理，他們常常要等待很長時間，而且他們有很多顧慮，要處理起來，亦因為香港的法律所限而無能為力。
許多人分享了為自己和家人創造未來時所遇到的掙扎，他們很容易陷入自憐和沮喪，或重新陷入非法的生存方式。然而，我發現，那些在監獄裡得到了福音真理的人，他們的信心會繼續堅強起來，當他們出獄時，即使在等待他們的聲請處理時，他們也能成為別人的祝福。他們決定在等待期間相信上帝並服事他，而不是重新犯罪。
我認識的RAS兄弟姊妹，儘管他們被認為是最貧窮的，仍會利用出獄後的時間，參加為窮人提供食物的餵養計劃；親自探訪仍在裡面的囚犯；在各個教堂提供幫助，甚至建立他們自己的事工來支持其他RAS人士，讓他們在對主的信仰和愛上成長。
他們之所以能夠做到這一點，是因為他們對於上帝給他們創造的身份，有著深刻的理解。他們不受別人如何給他們貼上標籤限制，也不受他們的環境限制。相反，他們知道無論他們身在何處，他們都被呼召，正如彼得前書二章9節所說的那樣：「惟有你們是被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬神的子民，要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。」
無論他們身在何處、無論在甚麼情況下，他們都將成為周遭人的光明。他們知道，無論有甚麼缺乏，他們都有一位能夠滿足他們所有需求並供應他們的父親。當他們繼續跟隨祂並允許祂使用他們時，祂正在幕後為他們的好處而工作。這使得他們的見證和影響力更加強大，因為他們能夠表明上帝能夠為悲哀的人賜華冠代替灰燼（賽六十一3）。儘管他們面臨著比我們許多人更多的挑戰和恥辱，他們透過自己的軟弱，證明了他們的父神是強大的！
我個人深被他們的生命所激勵。看到他們的生命完全依賴祂，來滿足他們的所有需要，與此同時，仍然傾盡自己去服務他人，我深受啟發要更有信心。我們會繼續在基督裡作為兄弟姊妹一家人，共同成長。
（作者董怡馨牧師為基督教更新會助理祕書長。本文屬「與難民同行．難民不爛」系列，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。）
From prisoners to brothers and sisters
In the prison ministry we often come across Refugee and Asylum Seekers. Our ministry not only covers the various prisons of Hong Kong but also the Immigration Detention Centres. As often when coming to HK as a refugee or asylum seeker one needs to find a way to leave their own country and often they can be easily exploited or without much knowledge of how laws and procedures work in other countries they are sold a passage out via illegal means which could mean detention or imprisonment when they land in Hong Kong. As asylum seekers are not allowed to work while they are in Hong Kong they can also be arrested and imprisoned if they work or find other illegal means to make money. Our ministry runs Christian classes inside the institutions where inmates／detainees voluntarily attend to worship God, fellowship and read the word together along with volunteers.
It’s really something quite profound as we worship together. There are no bells or whistles in the institutions. There is no technology or strong visuals or interactive audiovisual to attract people’s attention. Instead it is the bare minimum of a group of worshippers coming together to sing sometimes without any music and share the bible together flipping passages using the paperback versions of the Bible. In this simplicity there are no differentiations between class, race, education, financial or status we are just all brothers and sisters in Christ worshipping our Lord together.We could be anywhere in the world as each person shares worship songs in their own language and in their own culture and expression and everybody joins in.
There’s an acceptance and understanding that we are all created in the image of God and when we believe we are His children regardless of our backgrounds. It is in the prison that we share that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that God has called each of us for a purpose and our life is about living out this purpose for His glory.In contrast life outside as a RAS in Hong Kong is very tough as often they have to wait for a long time while their claim for refugee status is being processed and they have many concerns and a powerlessness to be able to do anything about it due to the laws of Hong Kong.
Many have shared their struggles to make a future for themselves and for their families, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of self pity and frustration or going back into illegal means of survival.
However what I have found is that those who in the prison have grasped the truth of the gospel will continue to grow strong in faith and when they come out of the prison they are able to be a blessing to others even while they are awaiting for their claims to be processed. Rather than going back to crime they decide to trust in God and serve Him while they are waiting.
RAS brothers and sisters that I know will use their time post-release to participate in feeding programs to feed the poor even though they themselves are considered the most poor, undertake personal visits to inmates who are still inside, help at various churches and even establish their own ministries to support other RAS people to grow in their faith and love for the Lord.
They are able to do this because they have a strong understanding of who God made them to be. They are not restricted by how others may label them or how their environment restricts them instead they know that wherever they are they are called to be as it says in 2 Peter 2:9 “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that [they] may proclaim the excellencies of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvellous light”.
They will be a light to those around them wherever they are and in whatever circumstances. They know that regardless of lack they have a Father who can supply all their needs and who will provide for them. That He is working behind the scenes for their good as they continue to follow Him and allow Him to use them.
This makes their testimony and their impact even more powerful as they are able to show that God is able to turn their ashes into beauty (Isaiah 61:3) despite all the challenges that they face and the stigma which is much more than many of us. Through their weaknesses they demonstrate that their Father Lord is strong!
I’ve personally been so encouraged by their lives and am inspired myself to have more faith through seeing their lives of complete dependence on Him for all their needs as well as still pouring out themselves to serve others. We continue to grow together as family, brothers and sisters in Christ.
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