IIn his early twenties, Brother K is an undergraduate who also serves as a campus group leader in a registered church.
Previously busy with studies, he has more time during the coronavirus pandemic as schools are closed. He expects to attract more college students to join his group.
“We hope more students will be interested in attending this group, but not by force. Let them feel our group understands them and accepts them as good friends. Then let’s take it slow,” he said.
The group acts as a first step into the church’s youth fellowship.
Founded around one year ago, the group normally sends activity notices on WeChat and holds in-person meetings.
By the first half of this year, it held only three or four activities due to the virus, and the participants became fewer and fewer.
He believes that university students face challenges in different areas, mainly having to do with their hearts.
Many students made all kinds of excuses for not joining in meetings and gave priority to other parties.
Their parents also failed to lead them in their faith growth. During their childhood, these students were forced to attend Sunday school. When they came of age, they wanted to have unlimited freedom. In the end, the Christian faith didn’t take root in their hearts.
“It seems that there are no zealous college students in our traditional churches.
Restricted for various reasons, the younger people can’t release their real inner-self.
The situation not only appears in our church or our region, but also is common among most churches in mainland China.”
He continued,”The majority of the participants are the middle-aged and the elderly. There are few young people; I think the atmosphere created by the worship and praise team is more for their own entertainment, but I feel they are not close to God.”
He stated that traditional churches must make major changes if they want young people to become fervent in spirit.
However, change is hard.
“Our church is traditional and many people have traditional views.
If the church makes changes, the judgment and gossip behind our back are unavoidable. They will also talk about our pastoral workers who are in charge of our group.”
He has many worries.
He has been to 611 Bread of Life Christian Church in Hong Kong. In his eyes, the Pentecostal church has some disadvantages, but has some good things.
“For example, worship. I found that during their worship they were really close to God. The congregation was also very passionate in their worship.
The worship atmosphere made me feel I was so close to God and their church’s members were very zealous in faith.”
The group he leads was proposed by his church’s senior pastor, so it has won some support.
Even so, he recognizes some limitations. “If we continue according to conservative church thoughts, I think the campus group won’t grow. There must be features in the church that attract college students.”
- Translated by Karen Luo
一位教会大学生小组组长的心声
20岁出头的K弟兄是一名在校大学生，同时还在教会组织的大学生小组担任组长。
他平常课业比较繁忙，疫情期间课业稍微轻松一些，所以抓住这段时间通过不同渠道在大学生小组中服侍，期待吸引更多大学生加入进来。
“我们希望更多学生有兴趣加入这个小组，而不是强迫的。
就是要让他们感觉到我们这个小组懂他们，算是知心朋友，然后一步一步慢慢发展。”
k弟兄说道。
大学生小组可以说是起到一个踏板作用，带动更多青年人进入到青年团契，让他们重新拥有信仰。
据K弟兄介绍，这个大学生小组已经组建了一年左右的时间，平时在群里发发通知，然后举行线下活动。
今年上半年只举办了三、四次线下活动，而且参加人数也一次比一次少。
分析起来，K弟兄认为大学生信仰面临的挑战有很多方面，最主要的是自己的内心。
很多大学生都会找各式各样的借口推脱小组聚会，反而会优先考虑其他聚会。
此外，家长大部分都没有起到很好的引导作用，这些大学生从小被强迫带来主日学，长大后又放任自由，信仰没有在他们的心里扎根。
“我感觉类似我们这种传统教会，目前来说估计是没有信仰火热的大学生。
因为受到一些条件限制影响，导致青年人的内心最真实的地方无法释放。
不光是我们教会，我们这个地区，或者中国大陆境内的大部分教会应该都会有这种情况。”
K弟兄继续分析说，“首先我们教会来礼拜的大部分都是中老年人，青年人很少；然后我看见敬拜小组在台上带敬拜的那个氛围，属于自嗨的那种，感觉跟神不亲近。”
他认为，如果要青年人信仰火热，传统教会必须做出大改变。
只是，改变并不容易。
“我们教会属于传统教会，很多人的思想都是属于传统的吧。
如果要改变的话，免不了很多人的指指点点，背后议论，负责我们小组的教牧也会被议论。”
他心里满是顾虑。
K弟兄之前去过香港的611灵粮堂，认为虽然他们有不足的地方，但也有优秀的地方值得学习。
“比如敬拜，他们那个敬拜真的是全心全意跟神亲近，在台下的弟兄姐妹们也非常热情。
那个敬拜的氛围让我感觉到自己和神是如此近距离，而且他们教会的弟兄姐妹们信仰都非常火热。”
K弟兄目前带领的大学生小组是由教会主任牧师提起的，所以得到了教会一些人的支持。
即便如此，K弟兄也看到了其中的局限，“如果按照传统教会思想来的话，我觉得大学生小组行不通，很难发展起来，必须要有属于大学生的元素。”
IIn his early twenties, Brother K is an undergraduate who also serves as a campus group leader in a registered church.
Previously busy with studies, he has more time during the coronavirus pandemic as schools are closed. He expects to attract more college students to join his group.
“We hope more students will be interested in attending this group, but not by force. Let them feel our group understands them and accepts them as good friends. Then let’s take it slow,” he said.
The group acts as a first step into the church’s youth fellowship.
Founded around one year ago, the group normally sends activity notices on WeChat and holds in-person meetings.
By the first half of this year, it held only three or four activities due to the virus, and the participants became fewer and fewer.
He believes that university students face challenges in different areas, mainly having to do with their hearts.
Many students made all kinds of excuses for not joining in meetings and gave priority to other parties.
Their parents also failed to lead them in their faith growth. During their childhood, these students were forced to attend Sunday school. When they came of age, they wanted to have unlimited freedom. In the end, the Christian faith didn’t take root in their hearts.
“It seems that there are no zealous college students in our traditional churches.
Restricted for various reasons, the younger people can’t release their real inner-self.
The situation not only appears in our church or our region, but also is common among most churches in mainland China.”
He continued,”The majority of the participants are the middle-aged and the elderly. There are few young people; I think the atmosphere created by the worship and praise team is more for their own entertainment, but I feel they are not close to God.”
He stated that traditional churches must make major changes if they want young people to become fervent in spirit.
However, change is hard.
“Our church is traditional and many people have traditional views.
If the church makes changes, the judgment and gossip behind our back are unavoidable. They will also talk about our pastoral workers who are in charge of our group.”
He has many worries.
He has been to 611 Bread of Life Christian Church in Hong Kong. In his eyes, the Pentecostal church has some disadvantages, but has some good things.
“For example, worship. I found that during their worship they were really close to God. The congregation was also very passionate in their worship.
The worship atmosphere made me feel I was so close to God and their church’s members were very zealous in faith.”
The group he leads was proposed by his church’s senior pastor, so it has won some support.
Even so, he recognizes some limitations. “If we continue according to conservative church thoughts, I think the campus group won’t grow. There must be features in the church that attract college students.”
- Translated by Karen Luo
The Voice of Campus Fellowship Group Leader
