A pastor reflected on diverse pastoral training courses, saying there's a need to bravely accept challenges to earnestly practice but also avoid blindly following trends in receiving training.
Changshun (pseudonym), 42, is a pastor in a small fourth- or fifth-tier city in North China. At 28, he entered the church, evolving from a believer to a church staff worker and eventually becoming a church leader.
He recently shared his observations in an interview with the Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper.
Over the years of serving in the church, he noticed a trend: Chinese churches constantly engage in a variety of advanced pastoral training and life growth courses from both domestic and international sources. On one hand, church leaders and believers acknowledge their shortcomings and humbly seek to learn. However, he noticed that each learning and training session appeared to be similar to a trend or fad—after a year or two, it would end, and a fresh wave of learning would take its place.
These courses cover aspects related to the personal growth of staff workers or Christians, disciple training, leadership training for pastors, church nurture, and strategies for church growth.
Changshun personally participated in or led learning sessions within his church related to believers' inner spiritual growth, small group development, spiritual gifts, and mission-oriented evangelism. Despite the considerable effort that pastoral workers and believers put in, the outcomes of this learning did not become apparent. Instead, people seemed to grow more fatigued and lost as they continued learning.
Reflecting on his own experience during a pastor transition in his church, Changshun recalled a difficult time as he wondered how to be a qualified church leader. A fellow pastor recommended he attend a three-day fasting meeting. "At that time, I thought by attending prayer, the problems among believers would be solved, solely focusing on God changing their hearts." However, by solely concentrating on the problems among the congregation, his heart wasn't engaged in the fasting and prayer. The Holy Spirit reminded him, "Only live in the prayer; can you live out the faith?"
Later, Changshun realized, "Believers study courses or participate in diverse spiritual growth trainings not just to acquire knowledge, but more importantly, to undergo and experience it in practice; that is, to live within that course. Without embracing and living within the vision and mission set by that course, it's challenging to see its effectiveness. Many people, due to not seeing results, hastily give up, starting a new cycle of learning."
He also analyzed the mindset of some church leaders: "We merely see a good method someone else has and try to adapt it. Each church usually has its own unique traits, and pastors aim to develop within their established framework. This desire to 'preserve themselves' often leads to merely 'adapting' without genuine integration."
Changshun emphasized, "New course models will inevitably bring challenges. Heads of churches, afraid to challenge themselves and hesitant to let go of established practices, might superficially engage in learning, ultimately failing to grasp the essence of the course content." He believed that to bear fruit, one needs to overcome fear and immerse himself in the course, embracing its vision. Otherwise, it's challenging to get the experiences and fruits others have gained.
He quoted the words of Jesus: "New wine needs new wineskins; new patches cannot be added to old clothes." He likened these training courses to new wine, which the old vessel can't contain; similarly, adding new patches might ruin the old cloth. Overly conservative approaches among pastors and church workers might hinder progress. Outdated ideas need change and renewal because welcoming the new requires shedding the 'old.'"
Additionally, choosing resources suitable for the church is crucial. Different churches face distinct problems, have varied environmental backgrounds, and their members' lives differ, along with unique visions. Some learning resources might not fit a particular church, and pastors should never blindly follow trends.
"Blindly following trends is also one of the main reasons why diverse learning and training resemble short-lived trends or movements," he concluded.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
长顺（笔名）是北方一位四、五线小城市的牧者，今年42岁。长顺28岁那年走进教会，从一名信徒，成长为教会的同工，几年前又成为了教会的领袖。
最近他接受了中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报的采访。
在做同工和教会领袖的这些年，他发现了一个现象，近些年来，中国教会在不停地参加各种海内外先进的教牧培训和学习生命成长课程。一方面来说，各个教会都能认识自己的不足，虚心学习。但他观察到，往往每种学习和培训都好像一个运动一样，一两年过去就停了，然后下一个内容的学习浪潮又出来了。
这些课程和培训有关于同工或信徒自身成长的，有关于如何培训门徒的，如何提升领袖领导力的，还有关于如何牧养教会以及教会如何做到增长的。
长顺亲自参加或在教会中跟信徒一起操练的学习体系有关于信徒内在生命建造的、小组成长方面的、灵恩方面的、传福音使命方面的。但是他了解的情况是，尽管很多教会里的同工和信徒一直非常努力地在学习，但是学习的果效并不明显，反而是越学越疲乏、迷茫。
长顺想到自己的一个经历，教会换牧者期间，作为接棒牧者，他的处境也是艰难。期间，一位牧者推荐他参加一个三天禁食的祷告聚会。“当时我以为自己去参加祷告了，信徒的问题，主就给解决了，只想着主会改变信徒的心。”由于只注重弟兄姐妹的问题，心并没有进入到禁食祷告当中去。圣灵提醒他说，“要活在祷告里，才能活出祷告来（有祷告的果效来）。”
后来长顺领悟到：“学习课程或参加各种灵性成长的培训，不是为了获得知识，而是为了在实践中去经历和体验，也就是要活在那个课程里。如果没有活在那个课程所设定的异像和使命中，就很难看到果效。而很多人因为没有看到果效而草率地放弃，然后又进入下一个循环。”
对此，长顺也分析了一些教会的心态：“我们只是看你有个好的方法，或者他有个好方法，我就来借鉴一下。通常，每个教会都有自己的特色，牧者都想在保守自己原有东西的情况下发展。由于要“保守”住自己，常常会造成只能是“借鉴一下”而已。”
长顺指出，“新的课程模式一定会给自己带来挑战。由于教会不敢挑战，害怕放弃自己原有的东西，会导致很多教会在学习中浅尝辄止，最终无法真正领略该课程内容的精髓。”所以，在他看来，要想收获果实，就需要放下自己的惧怕，踏踏实实地活在课程里，活在那个课程的异像中。否则，很难收获别人所收获的经验和果实。
说到此，长顺想到主的话，新酒需要装在新皮袋，新布不能补在旧衣服上。他的意思是，这些培训课程和体系好像新酒，旧皮袋是无力承载的；也好像那新布, 补上的反而把那旧衣服带坏了。教会牧者和同工过于保守也会导致学着学着就进行不下去了。过于保守和陈腐的观念需要改变和更新，因为迎新需要先除“旧”。
此外，选择适合本教会的资源也非常重要。因为不同教会所面临的问题不同，环境背景不同，信徒的生命不同，各个教会的异像不同。有些学习资源确实不适合本教会，牧者绝不要盲目跟风。
“盲目跟风也是导致各种学习和培训像运动一样一段时间被推得很高，一段时间又过去的主要原因之一，”他最后总结道。
访谈| 一牧者对教会各种牧养培训课程的反思：既要敢于接受挑战，认真实践，又不能盲目跟风
A pastor reflected on diverse pastoral training courses, saying there's a need to bravely accept challenges to earnestly practice but also avoid blindly following trends in receiving training.
Changshun (pseudonym), 42, is a pastor in a small fourth- or fifth-tier city in North China. At 28, he entered the church, evolving from a believer to a church staff worker and eventually becoming a church leader.
He recently shared his observations in an interview with the Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper.
Over the years of serving in the church, he noticed a trend: Chinese churches constantly engage in a variety of advanced pastoral training and life growth courses from both domestic and international sources. On one hand, church leaders and believers acknowledge their shortcomings and humbly seek to learn. However, he noticed that each learning and training session appeared to be similar to a trend or fad—after a year or two, it would end, and a fresh wave of learning would take its place.
These courses cover aspects related to the personal growth of staff workers or Christians, disciple training, leadership training for pastors, church nurture, and strategies for church growth.
Changshun personally participated in or led learning sessions within his church related to believers' inner spiritual growth, small group development, spiritual gifts, and mission-oriented evangelism. Despite the considerable effort that pastoral workers and believers put in, the outcomes of this learning did not become apparent. Instead, people seemed to grow more fatigued and lost as they continued learning.
Reflecting on his own experience during a pastor transition in his church, Changshun recalled a difficult time as he wondered how to be a qualified church leader. A fellow pastor recommended he attend a three-day fasting meeting. "At that time, I thought by attending prayer, the problems among believers would be solved, solely focusing on God changing their hearts." However, by solely concentrating on the problems among the congregation, his heart wasn't engaged in the fasting and prayer. The Holy Spirit reminded him, "Only live in the prayer; can you live out the faith?"
Later, Changshun realized, "Believers study courses or participate in diverse spiritual growth trainings not just to acquire knowledge, but more importantly, to undergo and experience it in practice; that is, to live within that course. Without embracing and living within the vision and mission set by that course, it's challenging to see its effectiveness. Many people, due to not seeing results, hastily give up, starting a new cycle of learning."
He also analyzed the mindset of some church leaders: "We merely see a good method someone else has and try to adapt it. Each church usually has its own unique traits, and pastors aim to develop within their established framework. This desire to 'preserve themselves' often leads to merely 'adapting' without genuine integration."
Changshun emphasized, "New course models will inevitably bring challenges. Heads of churches, afraid to challenge themselves and hesitant to let go of established practices, might superficially engage in learning, ultimately failing to grasp the essence of the course content." He believed that to bear fruit, one needs to overcome fear and immerse himself in the course, embracing its vision. Otherwise, it's challenging to get the experiences and fruits others have gained.
He quoted the words of Jesus: "New wine needs new wineskins; new patches cannot be added to old clothes." He likened these training courses to new wine, which the old vessel can't contain; similarly, adding new patches might ruin the old cloth. Overly conservative approaches among pastors and church workers might hinder progress. Outdated ideas need change and renewal because welcoming the new requires shedding the 'old.'"
Additionally, choosing resources suitable for the church is crucial. Different churches face distinct problems, have varied environmental backgrounds, and their members' lives differ, along with unique visions. Some learning resources might not fit a particular church, and pastors should never blindly follow trends.
"Blindly following trends is also one of the main reasons why diverse learning and training resemble short-lived trends or movements," he concluded.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Pastor: Embrace Intentional Practice Over Blind Adherence to Training Courses
