Dong Yu Lan -- With the Lord

[Koinonia]

*Pedro Dong, 04/09/17, 07:00*
Queridos irmãos e companheiros de luta pelo avanço do evangelho: acabamos de ser informados pelo hospital que o irmão Dong descansou no Senhor. Estamos indo agora para o hospital e darei mais informações depois de tomar pé da situação.

Dear brothers and sisters and companions fighting for the advancement of the gospel, we have just been informed by the hospital that Brother Dong rested in the Lord. We are going now to the hospital, and I will give more information after assessing the situation.

*Pedro Dong, 04/09/17, 07:35*
Queridos irmãos, de um lado estamos profundamente sentidos com a partida de alguém tão querido nosso, mas, por outro lado, quero dizer a vocês que a família está desde já muito confortada, pois o Senhor o tomou para Si, nos Seus braços. O Senhor foi soberano no tempo e nas circunstâncias, o timing está perfeito, Ele o segurou entre nós até este momento da conferência, as mensagens dadas. Não queremos tristeza, queremos alegria de presenciar uma partida tão gloriosa de alguém que marcou profundamente as nossas vidas e que alegrou o coração de Deus.

Dear brothers and sisters, on the one hand we are deeply moved by the departure of someone so dear to us, but on the other hand, I would like to tell you that the family is now very comforted, for the Lord took him to Himself, in His arms. The Lord was sovereign in time and circumstances, the timing is perfect, He kept him among us until this moment of the conference, with the messages given. We do not want sadness, we want joy to witness such a glorious departure from someone who deeply impacted our lives and who rejoiced in the heart of God.

[Koinonia]

NOTA DE FALECIMENTO

Comunicamos aos nossos clientes, fornecedores, amigos e irmãos o falecimento de nosso irmão, amigo e presidente da Estância Árvore da Vida Dong Yu Lan, neste dia, aos 97 anos.

O ministério de nosso irmão Dong, como era conhecido, sempre foi pautado em dois pontos: Espírito e Vida. Desde a sua conversão nunca deixou de anunciar o Evangelho e ensinar as pessoas a guardar a Palavra de Deus e Invocar o nome do Senhor Jesus. Deixa um legado de centenas de igrejas nas Américas do Sul, Central e Norte, África, Europa e Ásia. Nosso coração é de gratidão ao Senhor por nos permitir conviver com esse homem-dom, que tanto nos ajudou a conhecer mais a Deus e Seu plano para toda a humanidade. Que continuemos com o coração perseverante em prosseguir conhecendo dia a dia ao nosso Senhor Jesus e ensinando as pessoas a também conhece-Lo.

O corpo do irmão Dong será velado na Estância amanhã, terça-feira, dia 05/09, a partir das 12:00h.

A reunião de despedida, em homenagem ao irmão Dong, será das 15h às 17h30. Este é um evento especial. Não precisa estar inscrito na conferência. A sua presença é importante.

Haverá um mural em que os irmãos poderão colocar suas fotos com ele. Se tiver foto com o irmão Dong, imprima e traga.

Estância Árvore da Vida

NOTICE OF DEATH

We communicate to our customers, suppliers, friends and brothers and sisters the death of our brother, friend and president of Estância Árvore da Vida Dong Yu Lan, on this day, at the age of 97.

The ministry of our brother Dong, as he was known, was always based on two points: Spirit and Life. Since his conversion he has never ceased to proclaim the Gospel and teach people to keep the Word of God and to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus. It leaves a legacy of hundreds of churches in South, Central and North America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Our heart is grateful to the Lord for allowing us to live with this gift-man, who has helped us so much to know God and His plan for all mankind. May we continue with our hearts that are persevering in continuing to know our Lord Jesus day by day and teaching people to know Him too.

Brother Dong's body will be veiled at the Estancia tomorrow, Tuesday, September 05, starting at 12:00.

The farewell meeting, in honor of Brother Dong, will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This is a special event. You do not have to be a conference member. Your presence is important.

There will be a mural where the brothers can put their photos with him. If you have a picture with Brother Dong, print and bring it.

Estância Árvore da Vida

[Koinonia]

Live webcast of Dong's memorial meeting will be shown here at 10:45AM (PT) on Tuesday, September 5.

[aron]

From talking to those who knew Dong personally, the impression was that he was kind, meek, gentle, and loving, that is until you touched the family property, the EAV. Then he became dogmatic, rigid and inflexible. They'd say that God's plan and will were entirely centered around the person and Spirit of Jesus Christ - but practically speaking this orientation was only realized in the testimony of the Church, which testimony was "birthed" or given explication through the ministry. Long story short it all came back to Dong, just as it had with Nee & Lee before him. In this regard Dong wasn't an innovator, but copied well the Lee model; too well according to the Blendeds.

And the impression given from reading EAV writings during the 2005-07 split was that the ministry of Dong defended itself with a paranoid zeal, seeing every gathering of two or three not as a testimony of Christ but rather as a potential conspiracy. And I sensed is that the way to save oneself in such an environment was to make every meeting about the "riches", ostensibly of Christ, but practically realized through the Spirit aka fellowship aka ministry. . . again it all revolves around the person of Dong. Personality cult, pure and simple. Every gathering was a de facto cheerleading session for the latest bulletin from the ministry.

When Lee went to be with the Lord, one skeptic said that in 10 years the movement would be rent into division. We were aghast - "Haven't you seen the hymn? 'We stand as one, and cannot be divided; for our oneness is of Christ alone' (Hymns #1107). It's right there in black and white: 'We cannot be divided' ".

Yet lo it came to pass - in 2007 someone said, "Titus Chu has rebelled", and shortly thereafter we noticed that Dong & the Brasilians were gone. But unlike Lee, who tried & failed miserably with son Philip, Dong made family members not only the beneficiaries of his empire, but also its administrators. Therefore the EAV may do a better job warding off the inevitable stasis, decay, and factious party spirit.

[Koinonia]

I watched the memorial meeting yesterday in its entirety. It struck me as typical LC-style hero worship. Ezra Ma (MC) said something to the effect that such a leader comes along "only once in an age." Another interesting moment was when Ezra Ma called up his brother, Miguel, as well as Pedro and Andre Dong, to declare that despite what anyone might say, the Ma and Dong families will never be divided. This was met with cheers and applause from the audience...

[aron]

Originally Posted by Koinonia

Ezra Ma said something to the effect that such a leader comes along "only once in an age."

Why not let God make this assertion at the Judgment Seat? Why say such things, today while in the flesh of sin? It has every appearance of being self-serving, servicing the corrupted flesh and its desires.

Originally Posted by Kononia

Ezra Ma called up his brother, Miguel, as well as Pedro and Andre Dong, to declare that despite what anyone might say, the Ma and Dong families will never be divided. This was met with cheers and applause from the audience...

Again, Paul said to avoid appearance of evil; likewise I feel we should avoid every appearance of politics. This has the appearance of a political alliance. Such things should be avoided. Have we no discernment, anymore?

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

When Lee went to be with the Lord, one skeptic said that in 10 years the movement would be rent into division. We were aghast - "Haven't you seen the hymn? 'We stand as one, and cannot be divided; for our oneness is of Christ alone' (Hymns #1107). It's right there in black and white: 'We cannot be divided' ".

The next line reads, "Because our oneness is of Christ alone."

Then why would Dong and Titus Chu be excommunicated for breaking the extra-biblical rules that Witness Lee established? Like not writing books.