The Media Evangelism Ltd.(Hong Kong) has just partnered with Grace Foundation International  in setting up the first Grace Eat-for-Good EFG Restaurant in Hong Kong.

Brother Yuen Man-Fai, Executive Director of the Media Evangelism, Ltd., explains for us here his vision in this endeavor. He prays that more Christians would join him in “eating for good,” a joint missionary project with Grace Foundation International.

Firstly, Grace “Eat for Good” Restaurant is a platform for youngsters in Hong Kong and abroad (including graduates from the Education Center, Grace Foundation Thailand)  to know more about God’s grace and to learn about giving rather than receiving. It is hoped that the miracle of “five loaves and two fishes” can feed the multitude, both in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Secondly, the theme song of this missionary project is “Five Loaves and Two Fishes.” The lyrics are as follows:

      Oh Lord, I pray that You would accept and make use of all that I offer,

      even though it is not much;

      I consecrate my body, my heart, and my spirit to You.

      Like the miracle of five loaves and two fishes,

      You will multiply what little I have to offer.

Thirdly, in addition to matching our resources to each effective pattern of missionary multiplication, we also pray that more miracles like “five loaves and two fishes” can occur to benefit the people of Hong Kong and other places. We pray that this sharing of loving kindness through feeding the multitude will manifest God’s love for humanity. This way, Christians who share food and fellowship with non-believers will form the nucleus of what we call “groups of divine joy.” Spread the joy around by doing good (because God is good as in Luke 18:19), and He will pour down His blessings on His people who trust and obey Him.

The following Bible verses testify to this very truth:

1) “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them”  (Jacob 4:17).

2)   “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

3) “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act” (Proverbs 3:27).

4) “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).

5) “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25).

6) “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35).

7) “…good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting … to all kinds of good deed” (1 Timothy 5:10).

8) “…do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

One can see that exhortations in doing good are very down to earth in the Bible, such as treating people with love, sharing food with the poor, bringing up godly children, helping those in trouble, and giving freely rather than receiving.

This project of Grace Eat-For-Good Restaurant not only reminds people to do good at all times, but also encourages more of such projects to be set up for the benefit of all. Doing good not only helps others, but also helps oneself.  Doing good actually improves the physical, mental, spiritual and interpersonal wellbeing of an individual, as supported by scientific studies, in addition to the Bible:

1. Charity and doing good can reduce physical pain. Those who are willing to spend money to help those in need often pay less attention to the pain in their bodies; the more willing they are to donate, the faster their pain will diminish.

2.  Helping others without expecting reward in return is, not just obeying God’s Word on loving our neighbors, but may well create a feeling of satisfaction and happiness that has been found to be associated with biochemical changes in brain activity. British scientists have found that if one can do one good deed a day, one’s “happiness index” will increase a lot.

3. Doing good can also promote kinship between people, improving interpersonal relationship,  and promoting community health.

No wonder longevity ensues when there is holistic health. Grace Foundation’s Founder  Rev. Dr. Stephen Sai-fung Lee and co-Founder Rev. Dr. Joseph Teoh are such good examples.

Good deeds are simple and easy to do, not like driving all the way to the beach to pick up garbage, or peddling merchandise for charity on the streets. They are simple acts of kindness, such as giving away a sum of money for charity (including eat-for-good project) or praising others. No good deed is too small. It is hoped that the project “Eat-for-Good” would flourish in Hong Kong and elsewhere, and that through sharing food and fellowship, goodwill will dwell among all peoples, bringing to fruition the blessings of God.

In addition, Rev. Dr. Stephen Sai-fung Lee summarizes the four dimensions of Eat-for-Good, which is one of the Seven Patterns of Missionary Multiplication:

1. Eat right – Be kind to yourself (eat the right kind of food that suits your body and soul, including the Bread of Life).

2. Eat to reach out – Know new friends and lead them to know Christ.

3. Eat to help the poor – With the little profits made from Eat-for-Good project, release the poor (in body and spirit) from their bondage.

4. Eat without waste – Recognize that food comes as a divine provision, and should be shared among us all, including the hungry and the poor

For details, watch Rev. Dr. Stephen Sai-fung Lee’s two sermons on the Seven Seals and the Seven Patterns of Missionary Multiplication (video information attached here in earlier posts).