Editor's note: For pastors, it is indeed a real challenge to serve generation Z which has its own specific character and ways of thinking, as pastoral care itself is a very complicated and energy-consuming task.
Pastor Wangdu (pseudonym), born after 1990 in East China, who has been engaged in pastoral work for generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) in the past three years, was interviewed by the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper. This is the first episode of the serial interview "How the Chinese Church Ministers to Generazatoin Z".
Christian Times: What’s the reason why pastors are at a loss facing generation Z?
Wang Du: In my opinion, pastors need to speak persuasively rather than just uphold the Bible. Judging from some short contacts and some online exchanges in the past, I think that generation Z can’t keep an appointment. For example, maybe one day he promised you to come tomorrow, but the next day he told you that he didn’t have time. But the millennials are more trustworthy, and they can attend gatherings regularly if their Christian parents urge them to worship God. However, generation Z can’t insist on gathering if few people can lead them to the church.
Christian Times: How do you think the church could build trust with generation Z?
Wang Du: I think pastors need to have more meals with them, chat more, and get together more to develop a relationship with them. Vulnerable and sensitive in terms of social interaction, generation Z, I think, is still different from post-90s, or even completely different.
Christian Times: Which do you think is better, a paternal pastor or a friend one?
Wang Du: I prefer a friend-like pastor, as a patriarchal pastor is a self-centered shepherd. I think it is not easy for friend-like pastors to spend a lot of time building the kind of friendship to understand and play with them.
The young generation might not like paternal pastors who just set a time for gatherings rather than consider their preferences and situation. But if you respect them like friends and cultivate a relationship through meetings, they will be willing to turn to you and tell you about themselves. Otherwise, they won’t talk to you. You would have the opportunity to help them if they want to share with you.
Christian Times: Are Christians’ worldviews, outlooks on life, and values challenged in the secular world?
Wang Du: Almost all the local generation Z want to take the clerical civil service exam, from national to provincial to village exam. They would deny faith at will if it is needed in the exam. In addition, they also receive a lot of information in reference to non-religious beliefs on the internet. Apart from understanding the Bible, I think Chinese pastors should pay attention to and explain social events with the truth, so they can serve the teens better with authority and ability.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
在教会里，做牧养工作的人应该都有一个体会，那就是牧养工作本身是一件非常复杂且消耗精力的事情。95后00后的这代人，有属于他们的特定的性格和思维特点，因此对于牧者事奉来说，的确是非常真实的挑战。
来自华东的一位90后牧者望督弟兄（化名），他在过去的3年里接触过95后00后牧养工作。望督弟兄就这个话题向一家网络基督教报纸基督时报分享了他的心得和感悟。这是中国教会如何牧养95后00后系列采访的第一篇。
基督时报：面对95后00后，很多教会的牧者都比较茫然，您觉得这是为什么呢？
望督：我认为，牧者需要讲的有理有据，不能拿圣经压人。就过去的一些短暂的接触和线上的一些交流来看，我认为，95后00后没有明显没有什么契约精 神的。比如，可能他今天可以答应你好好的，明天他就告诉你没时间见面了。比如80、90后，他们更加守信用，如果父母是基督徒，再督促他们，他们聚会就非常稳定。而95后00后聚会就变得不稳定，能够给他们影响和督促的人少，他就不愿意坚持聚
基督时报：您觉得教会该如何与95后00后这一代人建立信任感？
答：我认为是牧者需要与他们多吃饭，多多聊天，多聚会，聚的多了，与他们的感情自然而然就有了。我感觉95后00后与90后还是有差异，甚至要完全不一样。在社交方面，95后00后的独生子女是非常脆弱和敏感的。
问：您觉得家长式的牧者和朋友式的牧者哪个更好呢？
答：我认为，朋友式的牧者更好。家长式的牧者，其实是一种是以牧者为自我中心的牧养方式。如果是朋友式的牧者，你会以他们为中心一起玩的方式了解他们。牧者要花大量的时间跟他建立这种朋友的关系是很不容易的。
家长式的，牧者就不用考虑他们的喜好，牧者规定了时间，这个时间你们过来，按照我的方法来聚会，但是他们可能不喜欢。但如果你要像朋友一样尊重他们，你聚会次数多了，有感情了，他才愿意跟你讲他的事情，他才愿意来找你。愿意跟你分享，你才有机会知道他哪方面有什么需要帮助的，否则他们都不会理你。
问：您觉得95后00后的三观有什么变化吗？
我这边的95后00后的人，几乎都想考公，有的人从国考到省考到地方到村官，他们都要考上一遍。如果在这个时候需要否定自己的信仰，通常他们会随意否定自己的信仰。另外，他们通过互联网也接受到了很多非信仰价值观的信息。我认为中国传道人不能只是了解圣经，还需要关注社会和用真理解释社会的事件。这样才能够让95后00后的群体感受到牧者的权柄和能力，这样可以更好的事奉他们。
话题·中国教会如何牧养95后00后(一)| 比起做家长式的牧者，要成为朋友式的牧者
Editor's note: For pastors, it is indeed a real challenge to serve generation Z which has its own specific character and ways of thinking, as pastoral care itself is a very complicated and energy-consuming task.
Pastor Wangdu (pseudonym), born after 1990 in East China, who has been engaged in pastoral work for generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) in the past three years, was interviewed by the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper. This is the first episode of the serial interview "How the Chinese Church Ministers to Generazatoin Z".
Christian Times: What’s the reason why pastors are at a loss facing generation Z?
Wang Du: In my opinion, pastors need to speak persuasively rather than just uphold the Bible. Judging from some short contacts and some online exchanges in the past, I think that generation Z can’t keep an appointment. For example, maybe one day he promised you to come tomorrow, but the next day he told you that he didn’t have time. But the millennials are more trustworthy, and they can attend gatherings regularly if their Christian parents urge them to worship God. However, generation Z can’t insist on gathering if few people can lead them to the church.
Christian Times: How do you think the church could build trust with generation Z?
Wang Du: I think pastors need to have more meals with them, chat more, and get together more to develop a relationship with them. Vulnerable and sensitive in terms of social interaction, generation Z, I think, is still different from post-90s, or even completely different.
Christian Times: Which do you think is better, a paternal pastor or a friend one?
Wang Du: I prefer a friend-like pastor, as a patriarchal pastor is a self-centered shepherd. I think it is not easy for friend-like pastors to spend a lot of time building the kind of friendship to understand and play with them.
The young generation might not like paternal pastors who just set a time for gatherings rather than consider their preferences and situation. But if you respect them like friends and cultivate a relationship through meetings, they will be willing to turn to you and tell you about themselves. Otherwise, they won’t talk to you. You would have the opportunity to help them if they want to share with you.
Christian Times: Are Christians’ worldviews, outlooks on life, and values challenged in the secular world?
Wang Du: Almost all the local generation Z want to take the clerical civil service exam, from national to provincial to village exam. They would deny faith at will if it is needed in the exam. In addition, they also receive a lot of information in reference to non-religious beliefs on the internet. Apart from understanding the Bible, I think Chinese pastors should pay attention to and explain social events with the truth, so they can serve the teens better with authority and ability.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Topic: Pastor Can Be Friend to Nurture Generation Z
