One of the basic functions of a church is to feed all believers with the word of God. However, it is not enough for them to just learn theories. Taking single believers as an example, they should prepare themselves for a better marriage. For married believers, it is necessary to improve and enhance the marital relationship. For working Christians, it is necessary to learn to be the light and salt in the workplace.
For the majority of believers, it is indeed necessary to receive the knowledge and training mentioned above. However, a church may encounter difficulties doing all these things at the same time. The church is often out of resources and strengths to provide many specialized programs. By the church alone, it is almost impossible for these ministries or projects to be done.
In addition, there are many extra ministries and series that are developed to meet the needs of the majority of believers and solve their practical needs.
In this regard, Brother Wang Zhenhai (pseudonym) thinks that many ministries and projects are beneficial. He has served in a northern urban church for many years. When believers participate in the projects, they do benefit significantly from them. However, problems are encountered when organizing the events.
For instance, he has provided several trainings for couples. Generally, the programs may last from two or three days to four or five days. However, in the third- and fourth-tier cities where he lives, it is difficult for potential participants there to receive the training completely because they have to continue working at the weekends.
The solution is to schedule the training in the evenings. A two- or three-day program is broken into three or four evening trainings. The church asks the registered trainees to go directly to the church after work and start the learning immediately after having a dinner prepared at the church.
Such efforts are being made because they find that many married believers now have family and marriage problems. If these problems are not solved, it will be difficult for their faith to grow. Brother Wang said that there were originally more than 100 believers in his church, but their practical problems were not well solved, and that led to a large loss of believers. In the end, there are only 20 or 30 believers in the church.
Many ministries and projects are very good. However, they should definitely be localized and grounded. It is not advisable to be arrogant and unwilling to change. Doing a good job in localized ministries and projects will truly have vitality and bring good changes to many participants.
Brother Wang said that all this is to gain the lost souls. A person is either captured by the world and Satan or by God and Christ. What the church can do is pull everyone as much as possible to the side of God and Christ from the world and Satan. It is just like the Apostle Paul once said, “so that by all possible means I might save some.”
- Translated by Charlie Li
对于一所教会来说，用上帝的话语牧养好所有信徒这是它的基本职能。但是对于信徒来说，只是得到基本的牧养这个是远远不够的。比如，对单身信徒来说，应当预备自己更好的走入婚姻；对已婚信徒来说，需要改善和提升夫妻关系; 对于职场基督徒来说，需要学习在职场上作光作盐。
对于广大信徒来说，确有得到上述这些学习和培训、装备的必要性。但是对于一所教会来说，是很难同时做到这些事情的。对于很多专业化的学习和培训，教会常常是“心没有余而力也不足”。这些事工或者说项目仅仅依靠教会来做几乎是完全不可能的。
除了教会之外，还有很多的事工，针对广大信徒的需要开发了一系列的事工，来解决信徒的实际需要。
对此，在北方一所城市教会服事多年的王振海（化名）弟兄认为很多事工、项目都是很好的。信徒在参加这些事工、项目的时候，确实有很多实际的收获和得着。但是另外一方面，在落地过程当中遇到了问题。
比如，他们曾经做过几次针对夫妻的营会，一般营会都是短则两三天、长则四五天全天。但是他所处的三四线城市，周末的时候要继续上班或者单休，很难有人完整地参加。
他们的解决方法是，把营会从白天挪到晚上。从原来的两三个全天改成连续三四个晚上。教会让报名的信徒下班以后直接过去教会，在教会吃好晚饭以后马上开始营会。
他们之所以如此改变，是因为他们发现现在很多已婚的信徒都存在家庭问题、婚姻问题。这些问题不解决的话，他们的信仰就很难继续往前走。王弟兄说，有教会原本有100多名信徒，但是因为信徒的问题没有解决好导致了信徒的大量流失，最后整个教会只剩下20,30人。
很多的事工、项目都是很好的。但是每个事工、项目都必须跟本地处境对接，要“接地气”。而不是高高在上、什么都不变。做好本地化的事工和项目才会真正具有生命力，给很多的参加者带来改变。
王弟兄说，这所有的一切都是为要得着人。一个人要么被世界和撒旦得着，要么被上帝和基督得着。教会能够做的就是尽可能的把每一个人从世界和撒旦手中拉过来，拉到上帝和基督这一边。就像使徒保罗他的自我告白一样——“无论如何，总要救些人。”
北方牧者谈如何让事工更接地气和本地化
One of the basic functions of a church is to feed all believers with the word of God. However, it is not enough for them to just learn theories. Taking single believers as an example, they should prepare themselves for a better marriage. For married believers, it is necessary to improve and enhance the marital relationship. For working Christians, it is necessary to learn to be the light and salt in the workplace.
For the majority of believers, it is indeed necessary to receive the knowledge and training mentioned above. However, a church may encounter difficulties doing all these things at the same time. The church is often out of resources and strengths to provide many specialized programs. By the church alone, it is almost impossible for these ministries or projects to be done.
In addition, there are many extra ministries and series that are developed to meet the needs of the majority of believers and solve their practical needs.
In this regard, Brother Wang Zhenhai (pseudonym) thinks that many ministries and projects are beneficial. He has served in a northern urban church for many years. When believers participate in the projects, they do benefit significantly from them. However, problems are encountered when organizing the events.
For instance, he has provided several trainings for couples. Generally, the programs may last from two or three days to four or five days. However, in the third- and fourth-tier cities where he lives, it is difficult for potential participants there to receive the training completely because they have to continue working at the weekends.
The solution is to schedule the training in the evenings. A two- or three-day program is broken into three or four evening trainings. The church asks the registered trainees to go directly to the church after work and start the learning immediately after having a dinner prepared at the church.
Such efforts are being made because they find that many married believers now have family and marriage problems. If these problems are not solved, it will be difficult for their faith to grow. Brother Wang said that there were originally more than 100 believers in his church, but their practical problems were not well solved, and that led to a large loss of believers. In the end, there are only 20 or 30 believers in the church.
Many ministries and projects are very good. However, they should definitely be localized and grounded. It is not advisable to be arrogant and unwilling to change. Doing a good job in localized ministries and projects will truly have vitality and bring good changes to many participants.
Brother Wang said that all this is to gain the lost souls. A person is either captured by the world and Satan or by God and Christ. What the church can do is pull everyone as much as possible to the side of God and Christ from the world and Satan. It is just like the Apostle Paul once said, “so that by all possible means I might save some.”
- Translated by Charlie Li
Northern Pastor Urges Ministries to Be More Grounded and Localized
