The Origin of the Seven Annual Gatherings in the Lord’s Recovery
In the fall of 1996, at the home of Brother Witness Lee, brothers and those with special ministries gathered to discuss the seriousness of his health. The brothers assured him that the Lord would provide for whatever was needed. Brother Lee expressed his gratitude and then opened his heart to the brothers with a confident, intimate, and sweet expression. He said, “After I go to the Lord, the full-time training must continue; the summer and winter trainings twice a year must continue, as well as the yearly international Chinese conference. The elders are responsible for two trainings for the brothers, the Memorial Day Conference and the Thanksgiving Conference, these seven gatherings must continue. I want you to take this as my will, the entire Lord’s recovery, you must continue with the seven gatherings a year.”
Saints, this is why the Lord’s Recovery has seven annual gatherings. It is a legacy and a trust. Could God’s servant, in his last moments, have spoken and requested this lightly? Think about it, without maintaining these seven feasts, where would the saints be today, and what would the situation be? Yes, we need local fellowship, regional fellowship, but is it not better and more glorious for the saints in the entire Lord’s recovery to gather from all over? Brother Lee hoped that the saints in the Lord’s Recovery would gather at least seven times a year; he indeed had the burden for the church to gather at least seven times a year, for the sake of fellowship. For saints to gather from overseas, from various countries, this is truly a wonderful time, allowing everyone to have fellowship. Not only that, during this time, the brothers can share some words, which are very beneficial for those seeking the Lord and for the Lord’s recovery. What reason is there to refuse? Should we not continue by the grace of the Lord? Please don’t forget, the enemy is always undermining, it will say, “You don’t need these seven gatherings a year, you don’t need fellowship, you don’t need to be together, just fellowship locally; it’s a long way, you can build in the local church, why go?” You see, the enemy’s trick is to make people pay attention to the local church, too much attention to the Body of Christ; to focus on the doctrines of the Body of Christ, but not touch the practice of the Body of Christ; to see the “church” in the meetings, activities, work, and ministry, but not see the Body of Christ in the resurrection, in that Spirit, in that Spirit Christ, and in the ultimate finished God, in the reality of the Body of Christ.
The Israelites, after harvesting the crops from the good land, kept the Feast of Tabernacles, worshiping God and enjoying their harvest; they gathered together, a true picture of fellowship. For the sake of this fellowship, all Israelites had to go up to Jerusalem three times a year. The last time was after the autumn harvest, to enjoy the produce they had harvested from the good land, to offer their praises and worship to God, to speak good words and praise God. (Deut. 16:13|15)
We believe that the seven feasts a year are Brother Lee’s bequest to the Lord’s Recovery; these feasts have been of great help in keeping us abreast of the Lord’s latest speaking and in keeping us united with the Lord in His global work. The Morning Messages published after the feasts have also been a great supply for the saints.
Brother Lee, before he passed away, emphasized the necessity of fellowship, the saints, the churches, and the entire Lord’s Recovery must fellowship as much as possible. This is based on the principle of keeping the feasts. God appointed His people to keep the feasts three times a year; it was in such a manner of fellowship that the people of God kept the feasts together, making the people of God one. Think about it, how could the Lord’s Recovery have the “one” it has today without the regular fellowship and gatherings over the years? For the sake of experiencing unity of heart and mind, no price is too high. Let us have more fellowship, not be scattered tribes or separated individuals; let us fellowship together and keep the feasts for God.
2023 Lord’s Recovery Seven Annual Gatherings or Trainings
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International Chinese Conference (February 17 – 19, 3 days, location: Anaheim, California, USA)
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Spring International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training (March 24 – 26, 3 days, location: Anaheim, California, USA)
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Memorial Day Conference (May 26 – 29, 4 days, location: Anaheim, California, USA)
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Crystallization-Reading Summer Training (July 3 – 8, 6 days, location: Anaheim, California, USA)
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Fall International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training (October 5 – 7, 3 days, location: Tentatively Philippines)
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Thanksgiving Conference (November 23 – 26, 4 days, location: Dallas, Texas, USA)
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Crystallization-Reading Winter Training (December 25 – 30, 6 days, location: Anaheim, California, USA)
关于主恢复一年七次特会训练的缘起
一九九六年秋天的时候，在李常受弟兄的家里，弟兄们以及有特别服事的弟兄们来在一起，关心李常受弟兄健康的严重情形，有一点交通。在交通时，弟兄们在主里向他保证不管需要甚么，靠着神都会有所豫备。李常受弟兄对弟兄们表示非常感谢，然后他就把他的心向弟兄们敞开，那是一种确定的、很亲密和甜美的表情，他说：「在我走到主那里去之后，全时间的训练必须继续；一年两次的夏、冬季训练也必须继续，还有每年的国际华语特会，长老负责弟兄们的两次训练，国殇节特会和感恩节特会，这七次的聚集必须继续。我要你们把这个当作我的遗嘱，整个主的恢复，你们要继续一年七次的聚集。」
圣徒们，这就是主的恢复里为何要有一年七次特会。这是一个遗赠，也是一个托负。难道神的仆人在他末了的时刻，是很轻率地这么讲、这么要求的吗？想想看，如果没有守住这七个节期，那么今天众圣徒会在那里，情形会如何？不错，我们需要本地的相调，区域的相调，但整个主恢复里的众圣徒从各地来在一起相调，是不是更好、更荣耀呢？李常受弟兄希望众圣徒在主的恢复里面，一年至少有七次来在一起；他的确有负担众召会一年至少七次来在一起，这是为着相调。圣徒们从国外、从各国来在一起，这实在是非常美好的一段时间，让众人能彀有相调。不仅如此，在这样的时间里面，弟兄们能彀交通到一些话语，对那些寻求主的人、对主的恢复都非常有益处。那有何理由要拒绝呢？岂不是要靠着主的恩典，继续下去吗？请不要忘记，仇敌一直在暗中破坏，它会说：「你们不必要这个一年七次特会，不需要相调，不需要在一起，在本地调一调就行了；路途遥远，在当地召会照样建造，何必要跑去呢？」可见，仇敌的诡计就是叫人注意地方召会，过于注意基督的身体；注重基督身体的道理，而摸不着基督身体的实行；看见聚会、活动、工作和事奉上的「召会」，却看不见在复活里，就是在那灵里，在那是灵的基督里，并在终极完成的神里面，在基督身体的实际里。—载自｢美地之声｣
以色列人从美地收成农作物之后，就守住棚节，向神敬拜并享受他们的收成；他们来在一起，乃是相调的一幅真实的图画。为着这样的相调，所有以色列人都必须一年三次上耶路撒冷去。最后一次是在秋天收割之后，以享受他们从美地收割的出产，向神献上他们的赞美和敬拜，说美言称颂神。（申十六13|15）—载自｢约翰福音结晶读经｣
我们相信，一年七次的节期，是李弟兄留给主恢复的遗命；这些节期对于保守我们跟上主最新的说话，并使我们与主在全地的行动上同心合意上，一直有相当大的帮助。在节期过后所出版的晨兴圣言，对众圣徒也一直是极佳的供应。—载自｢欧洲众召会致相调同工们一封确认的信｣
李常受弟兄离世前，非常强调相调的必要，圣徒们、众召会、以至于主恢复的整体，都要尽可能的相调。这乃是在守节的原则里。神命定祂的子民一年三次的守节；乃是这样以相调的方式团体的一同守节，使神的子民成为一。请想想，这些年间，主的恢复中若没有定期的相调与特会，怎能有今天这样的「一」呢？为着经历同心合意，付上任何代价也算不得甚么。让我们有更多的相调，不要成为离散的支派或分离的个人；让我们相调在一起，向神守节。
2023年主恢复一年七次特会或训练的时间和地点：
1、国际华语特会（2/17|2/19农历新年期间，三天，地点：美国加州安那翰）
2、春季国际长老及负责弟兄训练（3/24|26，三天，地点：美国加州安那翰）
3、国殇节特会（5/26|5/29，四天，地点：美国加州安那翰）
4、结晶读经夏季训练（7/3|7/8，六天，地点：美国加州安那翰）
5、秋季国际长老及负责弟兄训练（10/5|10/7，三天，地点：暂订菲律宾）
6、感恩节特会（11/23|11/26，四天，地点：德州达拉斯）7、结晶读经冬季训练（12/25—12/30，六天，地点：美国加州安那翰）
