Spreading the Gospel to the Cantonese Speaking
向粤语人士传福音. Xiàng yuèyǔ rénshì chuán fúyīn.
Psalm 95:1-6
95 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
On Saturday 14th August 2021, more than 200 Cantonese speaking Auckland Chinese gathered at the Lucky Star Restaurant’s Mini-Theatre, Great South Road, Papatoetoe, to listen to the Cantonese Opera songs of praise. The songs started at 3:30pm and lasted until 6:30pm when they were organised into seventeen tables of twelve each for a sumptuous Cantonese dinner of ten courses - Cold Starter; Steamed Fish (Garoupa); Roast Duck; Steamed Chicken; Hot Plate Stirred Fried Beef; Steamed prawns with garlic sauce; beans in preserved olives; just to name a few of the favourite dishes.
The event was organised by the Auckland Chinese Baptist Church Onehunga and the aim is to spread the gospel to those in the audience who were still to believe in Christ our Lord.
The Church’s Pastor Kien Choo delivered the opening prayer, the prayer before dinner and the closing prayer while Reverend Man gave a short and interesting sermon on the origin of the famous hymn “Amazing Grace.” The man who composed the hymn was John Newton and his life story is another testimony to the Lord.
Diana Ross - Amazing Grace. https://youtu.be/0JnpBu8CDos. https://youtu.be/jyM9sRqR9Uk.
Amazing Grace, composed by Joh Newton, published in 1779.
- Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see. - ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed. - Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. - The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures. - Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace. https://youtu.be/jyM9sRqR9Uk. https://youtu.be/0JnpBu8CDos. - The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine. - When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Three of the Church Members gave testimonies on the miracles that happened to their lives that turned them into their faiths in Christ. These were very interesting stories that would have to be the subjects of other future episodes to this website.
For me personally, I was very pleased to meet up with some old friends of more than twenty, thirty and one even forty years - Mr. & Mrs. Chik; Mr. Yam; Mr. Tsui; Mrs. Lo Mei Hung; Mr. & Mrs. Ting; Mrs. Margaret Yu; Gordon and Pek Chan; Mrs. Lok; and several others whose names had escaped me.
If you are a fan of Cantonese opera songs, listen to the following pieces where the themes have been changed to deliver the Christian messages while the music and tunes remain totally Cantonese. As the saying in Cantonese goes, the Cantonese hymns here did softened my ears’ wax.
I’ll start with those I like best and in that order, rather than in the order of presentation.
My favourite song # 1 is 福音金曲 主愛貫千秋 (調寄: 上海灘/粵). Gospel Golden Melody: The Lord’s Love Through the Ages (Music and Tune from: Shanghai Bund - Cantonese Song). https://youtu.be/2tSAFLLePRs
主爱贯千秋
调寄：上海滩
词(粤)：余佩珠 (2008)
上主 全能 十架舍身基督救苍生
神是爱 感天父 为我牺牲给我自由
此生 何求 但盼主恩天天永看守
无畏 起落 赖我基督安慰复扶佑
祢嘅话语 心中紧扣 似活水解困纾我忧
愿能为 主事奉 赞颂神深恩施拯救
没有悲 没有愁 罪已得释 主爱贯千秋
神大爱 今身受 伴我一生福份厚
祢嘅话语 心中紧扣 似活水解困舒我忧
愿能为 主事奉 赞颂神深恩施拯救
没有悲 没有愁 罪已得释 主爱贯千秋
神大爱 今身受 伴我一生福份厚
神大爱 今身受 尽此一生喜已乐尝透
My favourite song # 2: 盡靠耶穌 Peter Yuen 主唱 [ 將軍令 余佩珠詞]. https://youtu.be/uKxyguqMKtY
盡靠耶穌 調寄: 男兒當自强(古曲: 得勝令) 調/粵: 余佩珠(2012.6.14) 為您為我受殘酷, 為您為我情義高. 荊冕蓋頂 鋼鐵穿貫, 痛走那苦路, 血灑為信徒, 十架恩救迷羊, 捨身告. 覓信願尋道, 那堪再迷途, 讓聖靈護守, 盡靠耶穌.
任一切盡見是迷惑, 永生天路, 藉我主去鋪. 心已經洗潔, 願靠基督誇勝罪惡奴, 作父孩兒感自豪.
常共我主將心聲傾吐, 盡相告. 謝主恩深重, 願瀝肝相報. 為主盡全力, 為愛盡全力, 盡靠耶穌.
任一切盡見是迷惑, 永生天路, 藉我主去鋪. 心已經洗潔, 願靠基督誇勝罪惡奴. 作父孩兒感自豪.
常共我主將心聲傾吐, 盡相告. 謝主恩深重, 願瀝肝相報. 為主盡全力, 為愛盡全力, 盡靠耶穌. 為主盡全力, 為愛盡全力, 盡靠耶穌.
金句: 你當倚靠耶和華而行善，住在地上，以他的信實為糧；又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。〔詩篇 37:3-5〕
My favourite song # 3: Gospel Cantonese Opera-Creation and Salvation. 福音粵曲—創世與救恩. https://youtu.be/6Jj23Ez1AD8【創世與救恩】[粵語] 詞：楊偉技 寄調：平湖秋月
- 神靈充滿宇宙間，將百物創成，
星星鳥獸木草皆讚頌佢名，
佢造了人類有個特徵，仿照佢像形！
佢本願人人互愛，彼此互維互敬，大家快樂齊居伊甸園。
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朗誦：自從造天地以來，神的永能和神性，是明明可知的，雖是眼不能見，
但藉著所造之物就可曉得，叫人無可推委！(羅1:19)
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可惜！可惜祖先抗主命，食了園中禁果招死症，
痛苦火堪，多災多劫斷碎心靈，此後人共神阻隔，
罪惡充薰世間，至今人人歎悲聲，
到何方尋找途徑，使得赦罪進到永生，
從此得歡欣且免那永刑？ - 凡人應當信奉主，一生靠賴佢名，
必得赦罪o既深恩，救贖我靈，
佢藉那童女降下世間，慘遭坎坷與極刑！
佢本係極其神聖，天使萬民崇敬，
卻肯救贖人間棄天庭。
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朗誦：神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，
叫一切信他的，不致滅亡，反得永生。(約3:16)
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基督灑升捐軀棄生命，讓我重生得保證，
滿心興奮再復見光明，此後全然得勝，
賴我基督救主復活離墳墓已高昇。
我如今全心虔敬，主必有日再復到世間來共我，一起高歌進入聖城！
Favourite song # 4: Gospel Cantonese Opera—True God’s Love. 福音粵曲—真神之愛. 【真神之愛】[粵語] 福音粵曲，曲：楊翠喜、詞：楊偉枝. https://youtu.be/VSQks_onoKg.
世間罪惡百般多，人類痛苦絕望難辭罪過，
心中傷痛恨更多，有乜方法離苦楚？
幸得耶穌一朝救贖賜下永生，基督之愛無虛幻，
今已為人救亡十架間，主愛堪稱讚。
願君信奉神莫晚，此生樂漫漫，
不信之人何太慢，速信真神母怠慢，
佢未會忘情令你空悲歎，只靠信心不懼難。
不必煩！煩！煩！
世間多災劫難，怨恨有幾翻？
基督之愛確是無變幻。
佢將要復臨讓信徒，別那塵世，到天間。
Favourite song # 5: 福音粵曲—福音小唱. Gospel Cantonese Songs - Gospel Tunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IYrSV0GGmI. 【福音小唱】[粵語]. 調寄：四季歌 詞：羅娥珍
- 天國福音我願宣講，盼你願意聽我詳言，
是記存在聖經中不變事實，十架救恩今日仍然樂意傳。 - 感戴基督救贖恩典，挽救罪世，祂顧念垂憐，
為救人類決捨身，寶血願流盡，便棄天家甘降下，完全為愛憐。 - 寶血清洗眾罪恩不淺，快接受救恩到神前，
復挽回屬天子女名份，上帝深恩早接受毋再延！ - 相信基督救贖恩典，接受永生快樂綿綿，
在世如在天歡快渡年日，他日共到天家得，永聚神前樂永年！
Favourite song # 6: 福音粵曲—樂融融. Gospel Cantonese Songs — Happy and Merry.【樂融融】[粵語]
- 一生中，最悲慟！置身鬼魔網羅中，
理當自覺知吉兇，後悔他朝無地容。
真神有百般愛，念顧萬邦富或窮，
當離罪惡操縱，踏上光輝美好前途。 - 主應許，無空洞，信者必得上帝愛寵，
世間幻變且虛空，唯獨主恩永無窮。
江河亦會冰凍，願你信心似日紅，
真神厚賜福音，願你一生一世樂融融。
Favourite song # 7: 福音粵曲—歡樂人生. Gospel Cantonese Opera-Happy Life. https://youtu.be/Rc9eIvvH_ls
【歡樂人生】[粵語]
詩集：喜訊 3 - 福音粵曲，2
調：青梅竹馬（擔番口大雪茄） 詞：林東昇
- 祝福大家，一生快樂好福氣，趁有好音樂，歌意將佳音寄，基督愛你！
真心真意，佢令你心溫暖，開解你愁眉，苦困中添優美，愁共怨都拋棄。
獨有基督，賜下救恩為你，愛你甘捨命，恩深義厚須謹記；接受神大愛，天國裡享永福，掃盡愁累，毋後退，快相信，莫遲延，快樂常在生命裡，為你添樂趣，福氣在基督裡。 - 祝福大家，一生快樂好福氣，趁有好音樂，歌意將佳音寄，基督愛你！
一心一意，佢令你得改變，天天都笑微微，失意都不須記，煩共惱都拋棄。
獨有基督，引導更呵護你，愛你心不二，甘心作贖價應謹記； 接受神大愛，天國裡享永福，掃盡愁累，毋後退，快相信，莫遲延， 快樂常在生命裡，為你添樂趣，福氣在基督裡。
Favourite song # 8: 問我主恩典有幾多. Ask me how much the Lord’s grace is worth? https://youtu.be/zdlPVlEVXSo. https://youtu.be/zdlPVlEVXSo
調寄：鄭秀文《問我》）
問我主恩有幾多，究竟主恩有幾多，
我如何能夠一一去數清楚，
問我點解會高興究竟點解無苦楚，
我笑住回答講一聲主愛我.
無論我有百般對，或者千般錯，耶穌已承受結果.
面對世界一切，那怕會如何，全心靠耶穌經過。
問我歡呼聲有幾多 問我悲哭聲有幾多,
我如何能夠一一去數清楚 .
問我點解會高興 究竟點解要苦楚,
我笑住回答 講一聲我係我.
無論我有百般對 或者千般錯
全心去承受結果 面對世界一切
那怕會如何 全心保存真的我.
問我得失有幾多 其實得失不必清楚
我但求能夠一一去數清楚
願我一生去到終結 無論歷盡幾許風波
我仍然能夠講一聲 我係我.
Favourite song # 9: 福音粵曲—讚歌. Gospel Cantonese Song - A Hymn. https://youtu.be/EU0TxVzvKlM
【讚歌】[粵語]
詩集：喜訊 1 - 福音粵曲，6
調寄：彩雲追月 詞：1.陳應寶 2.黃崇護
- 愁悶困苦盡化煙，天空海闊，任鳥翱翔，
上主釋放我生命；莫記前塵，盡棄浮華，
邁向標杆毋後退！承蒙恩義心志堅，一世守主誡命；
行在主愛中，相親相助，讚歌高唱永莫忘！ - 人事幻變盡泡影，禍福千變萬化，但要謹記：
上主管理我生命；莫記得失，盡棄浮名，
邁向高峰能獲勝！承蒙恩召當兵，一世聽主發令；
行在主愛中，不偏左右，讚歌高唱永莫停！
Favourite song # 10: Gospel Cantonese Opera-God Loves the World. 福音粵曲 - 神愛世人 羅娥珍主唱. https://youtu.be/Bt30F-VCQ0k
【神愛世人】[粵語]
詩集：喜訊 3 - 福音粵曲，1
調寄：娛樂昇平 詞：羅娥珍
（主）世間乃是全能神創，當樂意賞鑒，
必令你驚嘆，細觀宇宙循環按規按時限，
日光、月星，運轉掌晝夜照世間，
神造人類、魚類花鳥走獸，供應照料無間，神都不轉眼。
（合）賜甘霖又見豐收擔擔。
（主）神佢令這世界盡顯美態，艷彩斑斑，
（合）地底海洋與高山，
（主）內有礦物以供世間，
（合）鑽石翠玉與金礦山。
（主）重有煤共炭，神所賜確無限，神的愛更無限，
既知神恩，要感神恩，信祂莫怠慢。
（合）實在係獲恩無限，實在無限，自問難謝神愛，神愛重似山．
（主）佢愛你共我，照顧日晚，未因過錯就拋棄你，
更為你分擔，甘心釘在十架犧牲救苦救難。
（合）若有感應，自會感激救主免災難。
（主）不該再慢，速相信未算得晚，
一經接受，即可以獲賜永生與自由，
（合）神願作你父神，永生永同行。
Favourite song # 11: 福音粵曲—喜相見. https://youtu.be/iq1lGBw14G0. Gospel Cantonese Opera - See You Together
【喜相見】[粵語]
詩集：喜訊 4 - 福音粵曲，3 歌詞由 Alexandra Wong 提供，謹此致謝！
調：上花橋 詞：殷振強
- 今天彼此相見真開懷，心中歡欣興奮情澎湃，
共你揮下手，說聲：好嗎？熱誠問候你可康泰！ - 縱使鄉音口語好詼諧，縱使舉止土氣傻傻怪，
亦要牽你手，說出心意；願能藉救恩得愉快！
副歌：好肢體和睦相處，互相多信賴，
互相尊敬互祝福，就必更和諧。
Favourite song # 12: 愛是不保留. Love is never reserved. https://youtu.be/WqoZYKWTuh4
常聽說世界愛沒長久. 哪裡會有愛無盡頭, 塵俗的愛只在乎曾擁有, 一刻燦爛便要走. 而我卻確信愛是恆久, 碰到了你已無別求. 無從解釋, 不可說明的愛, 千秋過後仍長存不朽.
Chorus 誰人受痛苦被懸掛在木頭, 至高的愛盡見於刺穿的手. 看! 血在流反映愛沒保留, 持續不死的愛到萬世不休. 惟求奉上生命全歸主所有, 要將一切盡獻於我主的手. 我已決定今生再沒所求, 惟望得主稱讚已足夠.
Favourite song # 13: 心中恩友 (調寄: 陪著你走/粵) - 福音金曲 - 感恩傳揚系列. https://youtu.be/Bxn7kbBw1UI
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