代禱！為比爾•威爾森在敘利亞中彈後健康恢復守望 (2017年10月20日)
記者 劉以琳 整理報導
曾多次來台的牧師，日前在敘利亞被人從後方開槍。大都會國際兒童事工於今（18日）透過比爾牧師的粉絲專頁表達聲明，10日晚間9點30分（敘利亞當地時間），歹徒從他背部開槍，但還好比爾牧師當時身穿防彈衣，但因子彈威力過高，仍造成他肋骨斷裂、肺部出血。
大都會國際兒童事工（Metro World Child）指出，受傷當下被轉往耶路撒冷接受治療，取出子彈。但為了許多孩子，他仍繼續紐約和英國的服事行程。因為比爾牧師認為「不能讓孩子失望！」
新店行道會主任牧師張光偉也在社群平台上呼籲為比爾•威爾森牧師後續恢復健康，以及巡迴佈道守望代禱。
被喻為「紐約貧民窟孤兒之父」之稱的比爾•威爾森牧師，長期服事全美最貧窮、危險的紐約布魯克林區的兒童，甚至為照顧全球需要的孩子，奔走於各地、戰亂的國家，因為他曾說「看見需要，回應呼召！」而「路邊主日學」也是由他設立，為的是把教會帶到街頭，他甚至改裝貨車成為流動的教會講台，開到那裡就在那裡向兒童分享信息，得著許多兒童。這樣的福音行動也影響了許多國家，看重街頭、弱勢、基層的孩子。
大都會國際兒童事工聲明如下：
From: The Official Board of Metro World Child
As you may have heard, last week Pastor Bill Wilson was participating in Sunday School and medical ministry work at an undisclosed classified location on the Syrian border. On Tuesday, October 10th, at 9:30 pm local time, he sustained a gunshot wound to the back.
The Board feels it is necessary to personally share the details of the event, as multiple media outlets were sharing information, some accurately and some without accuracy. Therefore, we are providing you with an accounting of the events as they unfolded.
Pastor Bill was wearing a bullet-proof vest, which kept the bullet from penetrating into his body, and helped save his life. However, due to the high velocity of the weapon, he sustained serious injuries, including cracked and broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured skull.
After the injury, he was taken to Jerusalem and from there was sent on to London in the United Kingdom to receive follow-up medical care.
As many of you know, Pastor Bill has been referred to as “a very tough individual.” As you would also expect from him, this will not deter him from doing what needs to be done, particularly at this critical time of year.
He has already informed us here in New York that he is planning to continue his tour in the UK. Although he has had to cancel at least one meeting, and possibly more in the next few days, he is still pressing forward.
“It was the Hand of God, and the prayers of God’s people that protected me. I’m so grateful for those prayers.” stated Pastor Bill. “But since we’re moving towards Christmas, we can’t let the children down; they are depending on us.”
Although Pastor Bill is still coughing up blood even as he was speaking to us, he has left the hospital and is continuing his work. However, due to the gravity of the injuries, he must curtail some of his other, more physically demanding, obligations.
As you know, Pastor Bill has participated every year in multiple Christmas telethons for Operation Holiday Hope, in order to be able to provide all the children in Metro Sunday Schools around the world with a Christmas gift.
Due to the telethons requiring 2-3 hours of rigorous standing and significant physical exertion, these events may now need to be cancelled.
Without these telethons and other meetings required at this time of year, the Christmas outreach to the 200,000 children currently reached by Metro is in jeopardy.
Therefore, we are turning to you, our friends and partners, for your help.
左為比爾•威爾森牧師資料照；右為比爾牧師在敘利亞中槍的子彈，擷取自張光偉牧師臉書。編輯部製
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