Did you notice that the earth we live on is so wonderful? Plants absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale through the photosynthesis of green leaves and provide us with oxygen. Plants reuse microorganisms as decomposers to break down food waste. Animals and plants also provide us with nutrients, water, and the material foundation we need for growth and life. They come together to create a sophisticated and cohesive dynamic balance system, which is the living environment that God designed for us.
This is the ecosystem. There are two million known creatures on the earth, and they are not chaotic. Instead, they are interconnected and rely on water, sunshine, and nutrients in the soil to survive and develop together. This dynamic equilibrium system, which is composed of biological groups and the environment, is interdependent, interactive, and restrictive, and it is the ecosystem.
In a seminar titled “Global Evangelical Movement” at the Jakarta 2023 Global Convention on Christian Faith, Pastor Liu, who has pastored churches for decades, discussed a dynamic balance system among churches, which he called the “evangelical ecosystem.” Pastor Liu quoted Pastor Timothy Keller’s book Church Growth in the 21st Century to point out the meaning of the gospel ecosystem: “A church or a denomination cannot win a city. It needs the cooperation of all denominations and churches in a city to win the city. The whole city is booming. Changing a city requires evangelical movements.”
There are enough pressures and problems in planting churches, so how can we still have the heart to build a “gospel ecosystem”?
Acts 16 shows the Apostle Paul’s experience of accepting “the calling of Macedonia.” Pastor Liu pointed out that church planting models, like ours, are “arranged by God to bless people, thus bringing them a new life.” Therefore, in the face of pressure and suffering, we will see that God continues to conserve us.
Pastor Liu encouraged everyone to reach out and think about “what opportunities the church can have” and “where it can cooperate” in our respective cities, so that we can testify to the Lord, let everyone see that Christianity and Christians are different, and let them have the opportunity to trust in Jesus.
In India, a pastor explored to do evangelical movements. Pastor Liu shared his story. The Indian pastor combined church planting with training great leaders for the city. The pastor said, “We are working on urban renewal to help leaders train intermediaries who can bring changes to the city. We help people apply the ancient gospel to all aspects of life in novel ways.”
In addition, Pastor Liu also shared the approaches to planning churches from European cities to cities—"different stages of planting churches in cities.”
The first stage is competition. Churches do not trust each other. Although they notice the existence of others, they only care about personal interests.
The second stage is mutual existence. Churches ignore each other. They do not compete openly or attract other church members.
The third stage is communication. The churches know each other. Their leaders also try to communicate about planting churches. This gospel ecosystem already has a foundation, and if it can move forward, it will affect the city.
The fourth stage is cooperation. Churches help each other, and their leaders begin to share resources and experiences with each other and even discuss strategies together.
The fifth stage is the common goal. Churches are connected with each other for a shared goal, sharing a heavenly mentality and urging people from all walks of life to work together for each other and the city.
Finally, Pastor Liu concluded, “When churches cooperate with each other, we will have testimony and power.”
- Translated by Charlie Li
你有没有发现我们所赖以生存的地球是如此的美妙——植物通过绿叶的光合作用吸收我们所呼出的二氧化碳并我们提供可以吸收的氧气；微生物作为分解者将我们所产生的食物垃圾分解，再由植物重新利用起来；动物与植物也为我们提供了成长和生活所需要的一切营养、水分和物质基础。他们共同组成了一个复杂且统一的动态平衡系统，便是上帝为我们所创造的生存环境。
这便是生态系统。地球上已知生物已经达到了200万种，而这些生物并不是杂乱无章的，。而是彼此相互连接，依靠地球的水、阳光和土壤中的营养物质，共同生存和发展。这种由生物群体与环境之间所组成的互相依存、互相影响、互相制约的动态平衡系统，就是生态系统。
在雅加达2023基督教研讨大会的一个以 “全球福音运动”为主题的工作坊中，牧会几十年的刘牧师便在其中探讨了教会之间形成的一种动态平衡系统，他称之为“福音生态系统”。
刘牧师引用了提摩太·凯勒牧师在《21世纪教会成长学》中提到的教会要有大公合一的精神，来指出福音生态系统的含义：“一个教会、一个宗派不可能赢得一个城市，需要一个城市所有宗派和教会合作来赢得一个城市。整个城市分蓬勃发展。改变一个城市需要福音运动。”
和植堂的压力与难题就已经够多了，怎么还有心思构建“福音生态系统”呢。
使徒行传16章展示了使徒保罗接受“马其顿呼声”的经历，刘牧师指出这种植堂模式和我们的一样，都是“被神安排去祝福人，从而带给人更新的生命” 。因此，在面对压力和苦难时，我们会看到神继续的保守。
刘牧师鼓励大家可以走出自己，去思想在我们各自的城市“教会有什么机会可以合作”、“在哪里合作”才可以让我们为主做见证，让大家看到基督教和基督徒是不一样的，让他们有机会可以信靠耶稣。
在印度，有一位牧师去尝试了做福音运动的事情。刘牧师分享了他的故事，这位印度牧师是将教会植堂与为城市培养伟大领袖结合起来。这位印度牧师表示：“我们是在进行城市更新的工作，帮助领袖培养能为城市带来改变的中介人。我们帮助人将古老的福音使用新颖的方式应用在生活的各个方面。”
此外，刘牧师还分享了由欧洲城市到城市事工策划的工具——“城市植堂的不同阶段”。
第一阶段是竞争，教会之间彼此互相不信任，虽然留意到他人的存在，但只在意个人利益。
第二阶段是互存，教会之间彼此互相不理睬，他们并不公开竞争，也不抢别人的羊。
第三阶段是沟通，各个教会彼此认识，教会及其领袖也开始尝试沟通有关植堂的事。这种福音生态系统已经拥有一个基础，若能前进一步就能影响城市。
第四阶段是合作，教会之间彼此帮助，其领袖们也开始互享资源和经验，甚至开始一起商讨策略。
第五阶段是共同目标，教会之间为了一个共享的目标彼此连结，共有一个天国的心态，促使各样的人一同为对方和城市而付出。
最后，刘牧师总结说：“当教会彼此合作的时候，我们就会有见证、有能力。”
健康的福音生态系统使得整个城市蓬勃发展
Did you notice that the earth we live on is so wonderful? Plants absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale through the photosynthesis of green leaves and provide us with oxygen. Plants reuse microorganisms as decomposers to break down food waste. Animals and plants also provide us with nutrients, water, and the material foundation we need for growth and life. They come together to create a sophisticated and cohesive dynamic balance system, which is the living environment that God designed for us.
This is the ecosystem. There are two million known creatures on the earth, and they are not chaotic. Instead, they are interconnected and rely on water, sunshine, and nutrients in the soil to survive and develop together. This dynamic equilibrium system, which is composed of biological groups and the environment, is interdependent, interactive, and restrictive, and it is the ecosystem.
In a seminar titled “Global Evangelical Movement” at the Jakarta 2023 Global Convention on Christian Faith, Pastor Liu, who has pastored churches for decades, discussed a dynamic balance system among churches, which he called the “evangelical ecosystem.” Pastor Liu quoted Pastor Timothy Keller’s book Church Growth in the 21st Century to point out the meaning of the gospel ecosystem: “A church or a denomination cannot win a city. It needs the cooperation of all denominations and churches in a city to win the city. The whole city is booming. Changing a city requires evangelical movements.”
There are enough pressures and problems in planting churches, so how can we still have the heart to build a “gospel ecosystem”?
Acts 16 shows the Apostle Paul’s experience of accepting “the calling of Macedonia.” Pastor Liu pointed out that church planting models, like ours, are “arranged by God to bless people, thus bringing them a new life.” Therefore, in the face of pressure and suffering, we will see that God continues to conserve us.
Pastor Liu encouraged everyone to reach out and think about “what opportunities the church can have” and “where it can cooperate” in our respective cities, so that we can testify to the Lord, let everyone see that Christianity and Christians are different, and let them have the opportunity to trust in Jesus.
In India, a pastor explored to do evangelical movements. Pastor Liu shared his story. The Indian pastor combined church planting with training great leaders for the city. The pastor said, “We are working on urban renewal to help leaders train intermediaries who can bring changes to the city. We help people apply the ancient gospel to all aspects of life in novel ways.”
In addition, Pastor Liu also shared the approaches to planning churches from European cities to cities—"different stages of planting churches in cities.”
The first stage is competition. Churches do not trust each other. Although they notice the existence of others, they only care about personal interests.
The second stage is mutual existence. Churches ignore each other. They do not compete openly or attract other church members.
The third stage is communication. The churches know each other. Their leaders also try to communicate about planting churches. This gospel ecosystem already has a foundation, and if it can move forward, it will affect the city.
The fourth stage is cooperation. Churches help each other, and their leaders begin to share resources and experiences with each other and even discuss strategies together.
The fifth stage is the common goal. Churches are connected with each other for a shared goal, sharing a heavenly mentality and urging people from all walks of life to work together for each other and the city.
Finally, Pastor Liu concluded, “When churches cooperate with each other, we will have testimony and power.”
- Translated by Charlie Li
Workshop: Healthy Gospel Ecosystem Makes the Whole City Flourish
