Our History

 

It is not a coincidence to find the God of History in the history of the Ling Liang Churches in Kolkata. How so? A couple from China brought together by “divine” providence (a la Bollywood-esque manner of meeting in a park, but then, where else will you find “Beautiful Fragrance”?) to embark on a faith-journey, escaping and braving through two historical events that could have jeopardize the history of Ling Liang in Kolkata, to be a blessing to thousands in Kolkata and around the world. 

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“Preaching The Truth” (Pastor TD Lamb) and “Beautiful Fragrance (Mrs. Mary Lamb) lived up to their names by being just that: preaching and spreading beautiful fragrance of the gospel. When they heard the spiritual needs of thousands of Chinese in the then-called Calcutta, they responded immediately to set off, not knowing how to pay for their passage but trusting in the provision of Jehovah-Jireh. On December, 1948, the Lambs sailed to Hong Kong to obtain visa to enter India, and after three month’s layover in Hong Kong, they finally landed in Calcutta. From April, 1949, far away from what was about to take place in their home in China (The formation of The People’s Republic of China in October, 1949, thereby rendering The Lambs stateless), the Lambs started to preach and spread beautiful fragrance of the gospel among the Chinese in the two Chinatowns. After spending 14 years renting a gospel hall, gathering at homes, and worshipping in a hall in Carey Baptist church, Ling Liang Chinese Church and school was built on the present premises. Here again, the God of History intervened. The Sino-Indo war broke out in 1962 prior to the building of the Ling Liang Chinese church and school. While many properties and schools of the Chinese communist-sympathizers were seized and shut down, Ling Liang premise was left untouched. It seemed that The God of History, One who foresees the coming events, was always ahead preparing and protecting the Lambs to accomplish His plans. 

 

With children admitted to English medium school, parents were connected to the church, giving Rev and Mrs Lamb access to families with whom they worked tirelessly to improve their physical and spiritual condition. Similar needs were seen in the Tangra Chinatown leading to the opening of Emmanuel Ling Liang church and school. In 1974, after miraculous provision and generosity of Grace Community Church, Tempe, Arizona, the present Grace Ling Liang Church and School premises were established, from where thousands of Chinese Christians and students have reached the ends of the world. 

 

After Preaching the Truth and spreading Beautiful Fragrance of the gospel among people in Kolkata for 35 years, the Lambs retired and moved to the US, where they continued to support and encourage co-workers until their last days. From the mid-80s until the present, new leadership under Rev. TT Chiu (presently pastoring Toronto Grace Ling Liang Church) along with Rev. Wu Lit Inn (presently pastoring True Light Lutheran Church in Chicago), Rev. Clifford Li (presently pastoring Scarborough Hakka Alliance Church) along with Rev. Chiu Tham Kuei (presently pastoring Yishun Lutheran Church, Singapore) and the present Pastor have continued the mission of Preaching the Truth and spreading Beautiful Fragrance of the gospel. 

 

我們的歷史

 

從加爾各答靈糧堂的歷史發現掌管歷史的神，絕非巧合。在「神聖的」撮合下，一對中國夫婦（好萊烏電影般的情節：邂逅在公園！除了公園，哪裡找到燦芬-芬芳的香氣？）踏上信心之旅，逃過亦勇敢地走過了兩次危及加爾各答靈糧堂的歷史事件，祝福了加爾各答和世界各地成千上萬的人。

 

欒傳真牧師和太太馮燦芬女士的生命正正活出他們的名字：傳講真理、散發福音的芬芳；當他們聽聞加爾各答華人的屬靈需要後，縱然未知如何支付旅費，卻立刻啟程，深信耶和華以勒的供應。1948年12月，欒牧師夫婦乘船到香港辦理印度簽證，在香港停留三個月後，終於抵達加爾各答。從1949年4月起，欒牧師夫婦遠離中國家鄕發生的事（1949年10月中華人民共和國成立，欒牧師夫婦因而失去國籍），開始在兩唐人街向華人傳道、散發福音的芬芳。 經過14年租借禮堂、家中聚會、並在克里浸信會禮堂敬拜，靈糧華人教會及學校終在現址興建。此刻，掌管歷史的主再次介入，1962年靈糧華人教會及學校建成後，中印戰爭爆發，許多支持中國共產黨的房產和學校被查封及關閉，靈糧堂卻未受影響。掌管歷史與未來的主，似乎常為欒牧師夫婦作好準備、保護他們，以成就祂的計劃。

 

學校以英語教學，家長因孩子而與教會聯繫起來，欒牧師夫婦藉此接觸許多家庭，努力幫助他們身心靈的成長。看見塔壩唐人街有著同樣需要，以馬內利靈糧堂及學校因而開辧。1974年，在亞利桑那州．坦佩市．恩典社區教會的奇妙及慷慨供應下，天恩靈糧堂及學校在現址建成，許多華人基督徒和學生從這裡出發，走進世界的盡頭。

 

欒牧師夫婦在加爾各答服侍35年，退休後移居美國，繼續支持和鼓勵同工，直到最後的日子。從80年代中期至今，丘鼎濤牧師（現任多倫多恩典靈糧堂）、吳立仁牧師（現任芝加哥信義會真光堂）、李昌炬牧師（現任仕嘉堡客家宣道會）、丘添貴牧師（現任新加坡信義會義順基督教堂）和現任牧者繼續使命：傳講真理，散發福音的芬芳。