Pastor Cao Qien and Brother Liang Weibin (pseudonym), from South China, shared their pastoral experiences on how the church can better reach and shepherd Gen Z with the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China.
Christian Times: What do you think of the personality and characteristics of Gen Z? What is the primary difficulty for the church in reaching them?
Liang Weibin: It's truly difficult to shepherd Gen Z. For me, the difficulties I've experienced in pastoring them were that I did not know how to communicate with them and understand their thoughts well. For example, the method of witnessing that I have found effective doesn’t seem to attract them much. I entrusted them with something to do, and they may dismiss it immediately as ineffective. No matter how hard I asked them to try, they rejected to do so. It’s hard for pastors to promote ministries and communicate with them.
I also faced challenges in teaching them the truth of faith. If they held a view different from yours, it would be very difficult for them to accept your teachings. When I tried to tell them the way of truth, they may listen or not listen. They liked to argue and debate with me very openly, and sometimes I felt I was not respected. They are very individualistic, and I am greatly challenged in pastoring them.
Christian Times: How did you establish a relationship of trust with them?
Liang Weibin: We can divide Gen Z into two groups: unbelievers or seekers and believers. To shepherd them, I believe that we should both invite them in and go out to them. The traditional way of doing youth ministry is to invite young believers to churches and small groups. Besides, I also want to go out and preach the Gospel to them, which is a part of the Great Commission.
I started to minister the Gen Z in 2015 through English corner. We invited foreign friends to come and communicate with them, and many young people were attracted to attend our activities. We also invited them to have a meal together whenever there was an opportunity. During the meal, we prayed and let them know about our faith. Those who were interested were later invited to a group and finally came to worship in church.
For unbelievers, we must have a common hobby with them, such as English corner, music, or playing guitar. Through these hobbies, they can trust us easier, and then we can invite them to church. This is a successful practice.
However, one difficulty of pastoring second-generation Christians is that they have preconceived judgments and impressions. For some of them, their parents are pastors, and they have a prejudice against the church because they grew up in it and have noticed many problems. Negative incidents may have shattered their faith. They may have a very persistent, negative perspective on the church.
I invited them to eat together every week after their group is finished. Sometimes they were busy with their studies and can't come regularly to the monthly church meal. We also tried to know their hobbies and organized activities like music bands so that they can participate. No matter what, we tried hard to establish a relationship with them.
Christian Times: Patriarchal or friend-like pastors--which one is more suitable for Gen Z, or do both have pros and cons? How do you balance the two different roles?
Liang Weibin: My personality is a bit strong, and I may put a little pressure on them. For example, I hope that one of them will soon be willing to lead a Bible study group, but they always say they are very busy and don't have time to prepare. I am disappointed and even argue with them. It is very stressful to try and push them into something. I may be “pushy”, so they oppose me. They prefer to do nothing and let the pastor take care of all things. They don't like paternalistic pastoral care – only friend-like care. They don't like a hierarchical relationship, which would put them under pressure.
Regarding balancing these two roles, pastors need to pray and ask God for wisdom. In addition, personally, I think I need to listen more to their thoughts and understand better why they think as they do. Oftentimes, I am in the position of a parent, giving advice and direction to them like a father to a child, which is based on great trust. But for Gen Z who are still in the process of building relationships, I need to be a friend-like pastor.
Christian Times: How can the church enhance its attraction and catch the attention of Gen Z drawn to online games? What preparations have you made?
Liang Weibin: They really do like playing games, but many of them are anxious. It's a big challenge to steer them towards loving the church and to be willing to attend small group meetings. One of my previous practices was to send a text message every week, asking about their prayer topics. Sometimes, I would meet one or two students who hadn't come during the last week and talk about things that happened. I remind them to attend the gathering in this way, and that's all I can do. For doing so, I need to be very patient because some of them won't reply, and then I would be hesitant to send messages to them again.
I think we need to change the way to guide them to small groups and churches. Why not raise new leaders among them? The practice of some para churches is to have one older person shepherd two younger students. I am thinking about the reason why traditional churches cannot practice in this way.
Christian Times: Brother Liang, do you think the traditional way of Bible study needs to be changed? And how?
Liang Weibin: I want to build a relationship with them first so that I can equip them with the truth in an atmosphere of love. The old way of Bible study only imparted knowledge of the Bible but neglected to build relationships. Pastors need to balance building relationships and telling the truth. I had previously focused on equipping them intellectually and spent little time building relationships with them.
Christian Times: Pastor Qien, do you have anything to add?
Pastor Cao Qien: It’s true that pastors need to address the personal needs of Gen Z believers, but it’s hard for us to imply the para-church model. Para churches have many workers and can offer one-on-one mentors and follow-up resources, but it's difficult for a church with only one or two ministers. For churches, we can explore ways to build attractions of a home on the basis of building relationships and let family members have more connections, both vertical and horizontal. Then, members of the church family will bring people of a similar age into the church.
We are also willing to be a platform for them to give full play to their ideas, hobbies, and abilities. The fewer pastors manage, the better, and the best is to leave them alone. Pastors should do everything possible to build a platform with them and then let them “do their own thing”. In reality, it is difficult for us to provide a space big enough for them to give full play to their interests. The church gets crowded with 30 people.
My focus is on training church workers and providing all kinds of channels and resources for them, while their personal efforts are also important. Ministers do not lack theology knowledge since there are many resources on the Internet but the heart of willingness and concentration.
Christian Times: What is the biggest change in your church in the past three years?
Pastor Cao Qien: Church culture is very important and ours is mission and church-planting. In the past three years, the environment has actually been a driving force for us. Our church experienced different environments and pressures in the past, but basically, any situation that didn’t look good turned into a driving force to help the church grow and develop further. This is God’s special grace to our church. Our church has generally grown and developed in the past three years, including a new influx of Gen Z. Also, the harder the circumstance is, the more our church works to overcome difficulties and forged ahead. I think the most crucial thing is the courage of church ministers and their relationship with God.
- Translated by Charlie Li
来自华南的2位牧者同工，曹启恩牧师和梁伟斌弟兄（化名），对于教会该如何更好的触及并牧养好95后00后群体这个话题，分享了他们牧养经历。
基督时报：您怎么看95后00后的个性与特点，您觉得教会牧养这类人群，究竟难在哪里呢？
梁伟斌[LK1] ：这个牧养的难，我确实也是深有体会。我个人所遇到的就是牧养95 后的一个难点，就是我很难跟他们沟通和理解他们的想法。比如，我亲身体验的一个见证信仰的方式和方法是有效果的，但是面对95后00后似乎就不是那么吸引他们了。当我给95后00后的弟兄姐妹交托一些事情去做的时候，他们很容易一听就马上否定了，觉得这个是没有果效的。即使你多苦口婆心的叫他们去尝试，但对他们依然是不奏效的。牧者是很难去推动事工，也很难跟他们解释清楚，也不知道是怎么更好的沟通。
另外还有一些信仰上的问题 ，你跟他们讲，如果他们持另外一种观点，他们也很难去接受你的观点。你想教导他们明白合乎真理的做法，但是他们可能听，也可能不会听。他们是会跟你去辩论，喜欢很开放的跟你去辩论，但有时候你又觉得你就不被受尊重了。他们很有个性，因此给我的牧养带来很大的挑战。
基督时报：您是怎么跟他们建立这种信任的关系的？
梁伟斌：要分两个群体看，一个群体是没有信的，或者说是慕道的，另一个是已经信的95后00后群体。我的一个感悟是，牧养他们，不单只是要请进来，我还要走出去。传统做青年人事工的方法是邀请基督徒的家庭的基二代进教会和进小组，比如他们来这里读书，通过介绍或者是通过其他的方式进来，反正他们家里面是信的，或者是他们自己也信的。另外我的感动就是要走出去传福音，这也是上帝给我一个大使命。
我从 2015 年开始做95后事工，当时我们就举办了英语角。邀请了外国友人过来和他们交流，结果吸引了很多95后的青年人，然后就是有机会就邀请他们一起吃饭。在吃饭的当中有祷告，就让他们知道我们的信仰。后面他们有兴趣的，就邀请他们来到小组了，最后来到教会敬拜当中。对于未信主的人群，我们一定要有一个共同的爱好点，比如像英语角，还有比如像音乐弹吉它。好像他们有这样的一个兴趣爱好，他们就更容易信任我们了，我们就邀请他们来小组来教会。这个是成功的案例。
而对于95后00后的基二代牧养的难点在于，他们有先入为主的判断和印象。有一些信二代的爸妈就是牧者，他们对教会是有成见的，因为他们从小到大在教会里面长大，看到教会里面的很多问题，一些不好见证可能绊倒了他们的信心。因为他们有一个很执着的观念，他们不喜欢教会，但是又不得不来教会。我每个星期小组结束后就约他们吃饭。但有时候他们学业也繁忙，一个月一次的爱宴也不稳定过来。我们也会找他们的兴趣爱好的特点，也会通过组建乐队，让他们有这样的兴趣参加。反正了解他们的兴趣爱好是什么，尽量能够跟他们建立关系。
基督时报：家长式和朋友式的牧者，您觉得哪个更适合这一代人，或者两者都有利弊，您是如何平衡两个不同的角色呢？
梁伟斌：我的个性可能是有点强势，会给他们一点压力。比如 ，我希望他们中可以出来带领查经的组长，但是他们总是会说很忙，没有时间预备来推掉，我就会有伤心的时候，甚至会与他们吵起来。这样子后面推动他们做事情就很有压力了。因为我要去做的事情，他们会反对我，他们希望最好什么都不做，牧者去做就好了。因为我给他们一点压力，他们不喜欢家长式的牧养，他们只是喜欢朋友式的牧养。不喜欢有这样的一个等级的关系，这样的聚会对他们就没有压力。
关于平衡这两个角色，首先我觉得还是牧者需要祷告求神给智慧。当然，另外我个人觉得我需要多聆听他们的想法，要知道他们为什么这样想。我是一个家长，是像一个父亲对孩子一样，给他一个好的建议或者一个方向，这是要建立在极大的信任的基础上，但是对于正在建立信任关系的95后00后来说，我需要做好朋友式牧者的形象。
基督时报：在这些在被网络游戏吸引的 95 后00后，教会如何增强吸引力，从而把他们的注意力带回到教会之中呢？您现在做了哪些预备？
梁伟斌[LK2] ：他们确实很喜欢玩游戏，这个是他们的共同点，而且他们当中也有很多非常的焦虑。怎么引导他们爱上去教会，爱上去小组聚会，这是一个很大的难题。我之前的一个做法是，每一周都会发一条问候的短信，问他有什么代祷的事项。当然有时候碰到一两个学生，比如他上周没有来小组或者教会，也就顺带问一下，是不是有什么事情发生等等。这样子问候他，就提醒他们来聚会，我唯一能做的是这些。当然你这样子做，你要承受真的是很多的忍耐，因为有些人从来不回你，，我就再犹豫要不要再发给他。
我觉得我们需要改变一下该怎么去引导他们来小组来教会。为何不在年轻的95后00后里里面要兴起一些带领者，一些传道会的做法是一个年长一点的牧养两个低年级的学生。但是为什么我们传统的教会就没办法做到这一点，这也是我在思考的。
基督时报：梁弟兄，您觉得以往传统的查经模式需不需要做出一些改变？
梁伟斌：我想先建立与他们的关系，让他们有爱的这样的一个氛围，再推动真理的装备。以往查经的方式，只是给予了学习圣经上的知识，却忽略了建立关系，这也是我们要反思的。牧者需要把握建立关系跟真理上的装备的均衡。我之前只是注重在知识上的装备，确实是花很少的时间跟他们建立关系。除非就是大家一起做饭预备每一个月一次的爱宴，还有每次小组查经完之后就叫他们一起吃饭，但是很多时候都不能够一起吃饭。所以就想当时就想隔周一次留下一次大家一起茶话会。
基督时报：启恩牧师 您有什么补充吗？
曹启恩牧师：一方面像这种95后00后个人性需要，确实牧者要去陪伴他们，但是我们很难像传道会那样的模式。因为他们有那么多的工人，可以一对一有陪伴和建立关系跟进资源，而对于只有一两个传道人的教会是很难的。这个群体有很多的不确定性，但是我们可以探索的是在接纳和建立与个人关系的基础之上，怎么去打造一个家本身所产生吸引力，让家庭的成员之间产生更多的这种纵向的，横向的连接关系。教会成为了有吸引力的大家庭，就会开始人带人，会吸引其他同龄的群体。
我们也愿意成为另外一个平台给他们去发挥自己的想法、爱好和能力。牧者能够管的越少越好，能够不管那是最好的，而要千方百计去跟他们搭建平台，让他们自己去做。现实是，我们很难提供到一个让他们能够在自己的兴趣之中尽情发挥的一个空间，因为大概你坐 30 人都显得有点挤了。
我的重点精力放在培养同工上，给教会同工提供各种各样的渠道和的资源，当然也要看个人的追求。现在对于传道人来说，神学知识并不缺乏，网络上很多资源。反而缺乏的是能够脚踏实地的，专心做牧会的工人。
基督时报：您的教会，这三年最大的变化是什么？
曹启恩牧师：我觉得教会有怎样的文化是很重要的，因为我们教会本身的文化是一个宣教和植堂的文化。我们教会这三年，其实环境对我们来讲反而是一种推动力。我们教会过去经历不同的环境和压力，但基本上任何一次看起来不是太好的状况，其实都转化成了帮助教会更好成长和发展的动力。这个是上帝特别的对我们教会的恩典。我们教会在过去3年总体来讲都在成长和发展的，包括95后00后群体的也有新的流入。另一个就是我觉得特别欣赏教会的这些同工，越是有环境的时候，越能够知难而进，越能够勇往之前。我觉得最关键的还是要看教会传道人的胆识和与上帝之间的关系。
话题·中国教会如牧养95后00后？（五）华南两位牧者谈：教会需重视建立爱的关系与教会文化
Pastor Cao Qien and Brother Liang Weibin (pseudonym), from South China, shared their pastoral experiences on how the church can better reach and shepherd Gen Z with the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China.
Christian Times: What do you think of the personality and characteristics of Gen Z? What is the primary difficulty for the church in reaching them?
Liang Weibin: It's truly difficult to shepherd Gen Z. For me, the difficulties I've experienced in pastoring them were that I did not know how to communicate with them and understand their thoughts well. For example, the method of witnessing that I have found effective doesn’t seem to attract them much. I entrusted them with something to do, and they may dismiss it immediately as ineffective. No matter how hard I asked them to try, they rejected to do so. It’s hard for pastors to promote ministries and communicate with them.
I also faced challenges in teaching them the truth of faith. If they held a view different from yours, it would be very difficult for them to accept your teachings. When I tried to tell them the way of truth, they may listen or not listen. They liked to argue and debate with me very openly, and sometimes I felt I was not respected. They are very individualistic, and I am greatly challenged in pastoring them.
Christian Times: How did you establish a relationship of trust with them?
Liang Weibin: We can divide Gen Z into two groups: unbelievers or seekers and believers. To shepherd them, I believe that we should both invite them in and go out to them. The traditional way of doing youth ministry is to invite young believers to churches and small groups. Besides, I also want to go out and preach the Gospel to them, which is a part of the Great Commission.
I started to minister the Gen Z in 2015 through English corner. We invited foreign friends to come and communicate with them, and many young people were attracted to attend our activities. We also invited them to have a meal together whenever there was an opportunity. During the meal, we prayed and let them know about our faith. Those who were interested were later invited to a group and finally came to worship in church.
For unbelievers, we must have a common hobby with them, such as English corner, music, or playing guitar. Through these hobbies, they can trust us easier, and then we can invite them to church. This is a successful practice.
However, one difficulty of pastoring second-generation Christians is that they have preconceived judgments and impressions. For some of them, their parents are pastors, and they have a prejudice against the church because they grew up in it and have noticed many problems. Negative incidents may have shattered their faith. They may have a very persistent, negative perspective on the church.
I invited them to eat together every week after their group is finished. Sometimes they were busy with their studies and can't come regularly to the monthly church meal. We also tried to know their hobbies and organized activities like music bands so that they can participate. No matter what, we tried hard to establish a relationship with them.
Christian Times: Patriarchal or friend-like pastors--which one is more suitable for Gen Z, or do both have pros and cons? How do you balance the two different roles?
Liang Weibin: My personality is a bit strong, and I may put a little pressure on them. For example, I hope that one of them will soon be willing to lead a Bible study group, but they always say they are very busy and don't have time to prepare. I am disappointed and even argue with them. It is very stressful to try and push them into something. I may be “pushy”, so they oppose me. They prefer to do nothing and let the pastor take care of all things. They don't like paternalistic pastoral care – only friend-like care. They don't like a hierarchical relationship, which would put them under pressure.
Regarding balancing these two roles, pastors need to pray and ask God for wisdom. In addition, personally, I think I need to listen more to their thoughts and understand better why they think as they do. Oftentimes, I am in the position of a parent, giving advice and direction to them like a father to a child, which is based on great trust. But for Gen Z who are still in the process of building relationships, I need to be a friend-like pastor.
Christian Times: How can the church enhance its attraction and catch the attention of Gen Z drawn to online games? What preparations have you made?
Liang Weibin: They really do like playing games, but many of them are anxious. It's a big challenge to steer them towards loving the church and to be willing to attend small group meetings. One of my previous practices was to send a text message every week, asking about their prayer topics. Sometimes, I would meet one or two students who hadn't come during the last week and talk about things that happened. I remind them to attend the gathering in this way, and that's all I can do. For doing so, I need to be very patient because some of them won't reply, and then I would be hesitant to send messages to them again.
I think we need to change the way to guide them to small groups and churches. Why not raise new leaders among them? The practice of some para churches is to have one older person shepherd two younger students. I am thinking about the reason why traditional churches cannot practice in this way.
Christian Times: Brother Liang, do you think the traditional way of Bible study needs to be changed? And how?
Liang Weibin: I want to build a relationship with them first so that I can equip them with the truth in an atmosphere of love. The old way of Bible study only imparted knowledge of the Bible but neglected to build relationships. Pastors need to balance building relationships and telling the truth. I had previously focused on equipping them intellectually and spent little time building relationships with them.
Christian Times: Pastor Qien, do you have anything to add?
Pastor Cao Qien: It’s true that pastors need to address the personal needs of Gen Z believers, but it’s hard for us to imply the para-church model. Para churches have many workers and can offer one-on-one mentors and follow-up resources, but it's difficult for a church with only one or two ministers. For churches, we can explore ways to build attractions of a home on the basis of building relationships and let family members have more connections, both vertical and horizontal. Then, members of the church family will bring people of a similar age into the church.
We are also willing to be a platform for them to give full play to their ideas, hobbies, and abilities. The fewer pastors manage, the better, and the best is to leave them alone. Pastors should do everything possible to build a platform with them and then let them “do their own thing”. In reality, it is difficult for us to provide a space big enough for them to give full play to their interests. The church gets crowded with 30 people.
My focus is on training church workers and providing all kinds of channels and resources for them, while their personal efforts are also important. Ministers do not lack theology knowledge since there are many resources on the Internet but the heart of willingness and concentration.
Christian Times: What is the biggest change in your church in the past three years?
Pastor Cao Qien: Church culture is very important and ours is mission and church-planting. In the past three years, the environment has actually been a driving force for us. Our church experienced different environments and pressures in the past, but basically, any situation that didn’t look good turned into a driving force to help the church grow and develop further. This is God’s special grace to our church. Our church has generally grown and developed in the past three years, including a new influx of Gen Z. Also, the harder the circumstance is, the more our church works to overcome difficulties and forged ahead. I think the most crucial thing is the courage of church ministers and their relationship with God.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Gen Z Series: Pastors Need to Build Relationships with Young Believers and Cultivate Church Culture
