The growth and development of a church are not solely the work of one person or even one group but rather the result of generational succession. Just as Joshua succeeded Moses, Solomon succeeded David, and Timothy succeeded Paul, the Chinese church must also focus on the issue of succession and prioritize the development of talent to ensure its continued growth.
Recently, Pastor Chen from East China shared his church’s experience regarding talent development, emphasizing that the training of new leaders must start early.
Reflecting on the Lesson of Having No Successors
Pastor Chen, a second-generation Christian in his family and a leader among the new generation of young pastors, oversees a church that places great emphasis on nurturing young staff workers, as elders in his church advocate it.
He shared, "Our church’s elders had this awareness early on. It was a revelation and guidance from God to start nurturing young people ahead of time. In the past, we visited churches across China and personally witnessed and heard the history of their growth. The leaders of these churches, large and small, often endured great hardships, leaving behind many touching stories. However, no matter how well this generation of leaders performed, one day they would all grow old. Many churches, without successors, eventually split apart, causing significant losses. It was heartbreaking." Through these painful events, the church elders reflected and concluded that the reason for these divisions wasn’t that the leaders hadn’t served well, but rather that they hadn’t prioritized the training of young people and the next generation.
As Pastor Chen recalled these vivid examples, it was as if he had returned to those places where he visited and witnessed these events firsthand, with him expressing his sorrow once again.
Each Generation Has Its Mission, as Church Succession is a Relay Race
Pastor Chen mentioned the time of Moses, saying, "Moses served so well. If it weren’t for his old age, he could have continued serving. But every generation has their time and ministry, and Moses completed his work and finished his race."
Indeed, God’s plan isn’t for one person to continue serving just because they are doing well. God’s will is for all who love Him to participate in His work, and so He gives each person limited time and energy. But if each generation runs their part of the relay well, the church won’t wither, and the Great Commission can continue to be advanced, he added.
Talent Development Should Start Early
Pastor Chen said, "We can't see the development of a church from the current situation. Especially when a church grows rapidly or reaches a significant size, special attention is needed. If the preaching and management do not keep up, many problems will remain hidden." This highlights that the church must have a sense of crisis when it grows with the times.
He warned, "You absolutely cannot wait until the moment of succession to start looking for someone. By then, to whom can you hand things over? You won’t find a suitable person, and you can’t just randomly choose someone either. Moreover, leaders aren’t cultivated overnight." Thus, talent development must begin early.
Talent Development Must Be Continuous Rather Than Be Rushed
On the other hand, the issue of talent development is complex, and new leaders cannot be produced through "quick training courses." Pastor Chen described it as something that couldn’t be rushed but must be done slowly, as it required patience. Currently, his church is still in the process of exploring and experimenting with how to train young people.
He shared their approach that they select good candidates and observe them first. They then support their learning and encourage their growth, usually by sending them to study theology. During this process, the church elders maintain long-term observation and communication with the young people. When they return, they invite them to serve in the church and integrate them into the church team. After continued observation, they focus on cultivating them and selecting suitable successors among them.
When Pastor Chen mentioned the young people sent out for study, he smiled with satisfaction. "Many young people returned from their studies with a great deal of professional knowledge. But in reality, the biggest change we’ve noticed is that they’ve matured. Some began to serve their families after returning home, which has greatly comforted their parents."
Finally, Pastor Chen said, "We don’t yet know how God will lead, but what we can do is to train them well."
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
教会的成长与发展不是一个人的工作，也不仅仅是一个群体的工作，而是一代代人传承与接续的工作。就如同约书亚接续了摩西、所罗门接续了大卫、提摩太接续了保罗。中国教会要持续发展，就必须重视传承问题，看重人才的培养。
日前，一位北方牧者陈牧师在谈及教会人才培养的话题时，分享了他们教会的经验，并且格外强调培养人才一定要趁早。
后继无人的教训带来反思
陈牧师作为家族中第二代基督徒，也是新一代青年牧者中的领袖。他负责的教会十分重视年轻同工的栽培。这个重视青年人才的意识起初来自于他们教会的长辈。
陈牧师分享说：“我们教会的长辈在很早就有这样的意识。这是上帝给的启示和带领，提前培养年轻人。过去，我们去到中国各地的教会，亲自看见、亲耳听闻很多教会的发展历史。这些大大小小的教会发展过程中，走在前面的教会领袖都吃过很多的苦，留下了许许多多打动人心的故事。然而，这一代人无论做得多好，有一天都会老去。许多后继无人的教会最终分裂得稀里哗啦，带来挺多亏损，令人惋惜。”正是在一个个痛心的事件中，教会长辈们进行了反思和总结。他们认为教会走向分裂并不是前辈们事奉得不好，而是他们没有重视年轻人和下一代的培养。
陈牧师一边回忆一边讲述着一个个鲜活的案例，他仿佛回到当时跟着走访去到的那个现场，于是再次发出感慨与叹息。
每一代都有自己的使命，要做好传承接力跑
陈牧师提到摩西的年代，他说：“摩西服事得多好呀，如果不是因为年纪大了不能服侍，他可以一直做下去；但一代人就是有一代人的时间和服事，他已经做完了他的工，走完他的路了。”
是啊，上帝的心意不是看某个人做得好，就让他一直做下去。上帝的心是叫爱祂的人都能参与到祂的历史中，所以祂给每个人有限的时间和精力。但如果每代人都做好传承的接力跑，教会就不会衰竭、大使命就可以永续推进。
人才培养要早做准备
陈牧师说：“一间教会的发展，不能只看到当前的光景。尤其是当一个教会发展迅速、甚至到规模很大的时候，就要特别注意。如果真理和管理跟不上，就隐藏着很多问题。”这也正好说明了教会是随着时代的发展而成长与更新的，所以教会要有危机意识。
陈牧师提醒说：“万万不可等到需要交接时，才想着找人。那时候你可以交给谁呢？找不到合适的人，也不能任意抓出来个人就交给他啊。况且领袖也不是一两天就能培养起来的。”因此，人才培养就得早做准备。
培养人急不来，但要持续做下去
另一方面，人才培养问题很棘手，但人才又不可能通过“短期速成班”就能催生。陈牧师用“急不来、慢慢来”来描述培养人是个需要有耐心的事。目前，陈牧师的教会在培养年轻人方面也处于探索和尝试的阶段。
陈牧师分享了他们的做法。首先，他们留心寻找好的人并察看；然后支持他们学习和鼓励其成长，一般会送他们去读神学。在这个过程中，教会长辈要长时间地观察并保持与年轻人的沟通；当年轻人回来时，便邀请其参与教会服事、让他融入教会团队。然后他们继续考察、重点培养、再在其中挑选合适的接班人。
当陈牧师提到那些被选派外出学习的年轻人时，露出了欣慰的笑容。他说：“许多年轻人出去学习回来后，他们确实学了许多专业知识。但事实上，我们看到最大的转变是他们都懂事了。有的年轻人回到家中，开始主动服事家人，父母们都很受安慰。”
最后，陈牧师说：“我们现在也不知道上帝会怎样带领，但是我们能做的就是好好培养他们。”
对话|北方一牧者：做好教会传承，培养人才要趁早
The growth and development of a church are not solely the work of one person or even one group but rather the result of generational succession. Just as Joshua succeeded Moses, Solomon succeeded David, and Timothy succeeded Paul, the Chinese church must also focus on the issue of succession and prioritize the development of talent to ensure its continued growth.
Recently, Pastor Chen from East China shared his church’s experience regarding talent development, emphasizing that the training of new leaders must start early.
Reflecting on the Lesson of Having No Successors
Pastor Chen, a second-generation Christian in his family and a leader among the new generation of young pastors, oversees a church that places great emphasis on nurturing young staff workers, as elders in his church advocate it.
He shared, "Our church’s elders had this awareness early on. It was a revelation and guidance from God to start nurturing young people ahead of time. In the past, we visited churches across China and personally witnessed and heard the history of their growth. The leaders of these churches, large and small, often endured great hardships, leaving behind many touching stories. However, no matter how well this generation of leaders performed, one day they would all grow old. Many churches, without successors, eventually split apart, causing significant losses. It was heartbreaking." Through these painful events, the church elders reflected and concluded that the reason for these divisions wasn’t that the leaders hadn’t served well, but rather that they hadn’t prioritized the training of young people and the next generation.
As Pastor Chen recalled these vivid examples, it was as if he had returned to those places where he visited and witnessed these events firsthand, with him expressing his sorrow once again.
Each Generation Has Its Mission, as Church Succession is a Relay Race
Pastor Chen mentioned the time of Moses, saying, "Moses served so well. If it weren’t for his old age, he could have continued serving. But every generation has their time and ministry, and Moses completed his work and finished his race."
Indeed, God’s plan isn’t for one person to continue serving just because they are doing well. God’s will is for all who love Him to participate in His work, and so He gives each person limited time and energy. But if each generation runs their part of the relay well, the church won’t wither, and the Great Commission can continue to be advanced, he added.
Talent Development Should Start Early
Pastor Chen said, "We can't see the development of a church from the current situation. Especially when a church grows rapidly or reaches a significant size, special attention is needed. If the preaching and management do not keep up, many problems will remain hidden." This highlights that the church must have a sense of crisis when it grows with the times.
He warned, "You absolutely cannot wait until the moment of succession to start looking for someone. By then, to whom can you hand things over? You won’t find a suitable person, and you can’t just randomly choose someone either. Moreover, leaders aren’t cultivated overnight." Thus, talent development must begin early.
Talent Development Must Be Continuous Rather Than Be Rushed
On the other hand, the issue of talent development is complex, and new leaders cannot be produced through "quick training courses." Pastor Chen described it as something that couldn’t be rushed but must be done slowly, as it required patience. Currently, his church is still in the process of exploring and experimenting with how to train young people.
He shared their approach that they select good candidates and observe them first. They then support their learning and encourage their growth, usually by sending them to study theology. During this process, the church elders maintain long-term observation and communication with the young people. When they return, they invite them to serve in the church and integrate them into the church team. After continued observation, they focus on cultivating them and selecting suitable successors among them.
When Pastor Chen mentioned the young people sent out for study, he smiled with satisfaction. "Many young people returned from their studies with a great deal of professional knowledge. But in reality, the biggest change we’ve noticed is that they’ve matured. Some began to serve their families after returning home, which has greatly comforted their parents."
Finally, Pastor Chen said, "We don’t yet know how God will lead, but what we can do is to train them well."
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
Start Training Talent Early for Church Succession, Says Pastor
