I recently unexpectedly received an old friend’s phone call. We had not contacted each other for many years. After a brief greeting, we recalled the years together.
Fifteen years ago, we met at my training class in Wenling, Zhejiang Province. Then, I taught them the history of Western philosophy. There were over twenty students who were were young people from various churches. The pace of the class was low because their foundation was not sound. I originally planned to progress up to the era of Hegel in a week, but by the end of the week, I could not even finish the era of ancient Greece.
These students studied hard and never escaped their lessons. Their curious eyes moved me as I was looking at them over the podium. Then the idea that God would use them to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth came to me. We did not even have a designated textbook for the course, nor did I print an outline in advance. A student caught my attention because he was almost always taking notes except occasionally looking up at PPT slides. By the end of the lesson, I saw that he had written down nearly twenty pages of A4-size notes. These notes were written thoroughly and neatly, which was touching.
Most of them were potential backbones of their churches. They knew their mission and calling, and they were willing to leave their jobs and families for a while and came to this town to study and equip themselves. Their inner goals were clear, so they did not lack the motivation to learn. Apart from their major courses, the history of philosophy was a minor, but they still showed interest in humanities the same as theology courses.
At that time, everyone was concerned about the spread of the gospel. The gospel was particularly attractive to well-educated people in cities. It was a time when urbanization was well advancing, so how the gospel attracted and established churches of different professional groups became everyone’s interest. It has always been believed that China is an important node for the gospel to spread to the ends of the earth since its birth.
In those past years, the urban trend of the gospel and the church was synchronized with the urbanization after China’s entry into WTO. There emerged the widely known white-collar churches in major cities. Everyone regarded the gospel as a key to China’s culture and history, hoping to open a new chapter with the gospel.
Ten years ago, my friends and I were in a city in northern Jiangsu. Together with the pastors of a local church, we sat around a big globe, imagining the history and future of the gospel’s westward journey from Jerusalem. At that time, everyone seemed to have no disagreement with firm confidence. China was an important site for the gospel’s westward journey, and this site would soon be established.
Later, after graduation, my students set apart and went on their own paths. Some went to Southeast Asia for further study, pursuing degrees in theology and pastoral studies. Those who remained in China were mostly in the service positions of their churches, except a few who left the church to start up a family. In that era, the shortage of trained pastors was still an obvious problem to be solved.
At that time, in addition to the numerous training courses, there was a large amount of megachurches, which developed gathering points in many cities, especially university towns, and campus evangelical fellowship became the norm. Moreover, Sunday schools and their systems in Wenzhou were well-developed and established. From junior high school to senior high school, there were plenty of courses and teachers. When I went to Wenzhou for training fifteen years ago, I attended several Sunday schools in middle schools and established an exam-oriented curriculum in full accordance with the system of public schools.
In those days, the pastors in Wenzhou were very popular and had a high social status. Local believers were proud of marrying their daughters to them. I remember the teacher who taught me the Old Testament. After only graduating from junior high school and becoming a pastor, he even married a local believer, who graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Then, we could still hear about many grand activities, which had a great influence. Brothers and sisters around us joined in, and at the activities, they often shared their experiences of preaching the gospel to their families. At that time, at church gatherings, pastors often encouraged everyone to bring their friends and families. After the gathering, many young people would stay to discuss the gospel. I was fortunate to be a member of the seekers’ group of the church youth fellowship and often discussed with seekers who had questions about the gospel after Sunday services. In those years, you could see many energetic and problematic young people and students entering the church to learn about the gospel.
When did these activities begin to fade away? I could not draw a clear line for them either. But by the time of the pandemic, these activities seemed to come to an abrupt end overnight. At that time, we still thought that this was just a temporary impact, and the enthusiasm within the church did not disappear but was accumulating strength instead. Soon, due to the limited space caused by the pandemic, online gatherings began to rise. Almost every church had an online gathering group. Everyone was in full swing in the group to discuss the gospel and spiritual issues.
The pandemic changed everything. The upsurge of network gathering brought not the revival of the church, but the loss of believers and the reduction of donations. With the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic, the pressure on the church began to increase. Everyone hoped for a rebound after the pandemic was over. However, it ended only to find that everything could not go back.
The church's urbanization development spanned twenty years following China's entry into the WTO. These were also the years when the church's great ideals became widely embraced. This was a defining characteristic of that era, and it reflected the aspirations of the time. Today, it is rare to hear talk of grand gospel plans, and believers with such lofty ideals are few and far between.
I do not know how the students who used to attend my course are now. We rarely contact each other, so I do not know what they are up to at the moment. I heard one of them is doing business, and another is working as a kind of ride-hailing driver (a Chinese service similar to Uber). Anyway, they all seem to be struggling hard, struggling for their very own lives.
- Translated by Charlie Li
突然接到多年不联系的朋友电话，一阵寒暄之后，双方回忆起曾经一起的岁月。
十五年前，我们在温岭的一个培训班认识。那时候我给他们上西方哲学史课程。全班一共有二十几个学生，他们是来自各地教会的年轻人。因为基础较差，我讲课的进度很慢，原本打算一周讲到黑格尔结束，但是五天却还没有出古希腊。
这些学生学习认真，上课听讲从不开小差，我在讲台上看着下面学生的那一双双充满求知欲的眼睛，煞是感动，心中有种上帝将使用它们，使福音传遍地极的畅想。我的课程并没有指定的教材，也没有提前打印大纲。一个学生，在课程上，听讲的时候，除了偶尔抬头看PPT，就是刷刷地记笔记。等到我的课程时间结束，我看到他密密麻麻地记了将近二十页的A4纸笔记。这些笔记内容详尽，字迹工整，的确让人感动。
这些学生大多是一些教会的潜在骨干，他们知道自己的使命，也明确自己的呼召，愿意暂时放下自己的工作和家庭，来到这个小镇上学习，装备自己。他们的内心目标明确，因此不缺乏学习的动力。相对于他们的专业，哲学史是他们的副课，但是他们对神学课程之外的人文课程仍然兴趣盎然。
那时候大家关心的内容，是福音的传播。福音对城市尤其是知识分子群体的吸引。那时候正值城市化方兴未艾的时代，因此福音怎样吸引和建立各种不同职业群体的教会，成为大家的兴趣。大家一直相信中国是福音自诞生之日起，传遍地极的重要节点。
那时候福音和教会的城市化，与入世之后的城市化是同步的。各大城市都有出名的白领群体教会。大家把福音当做一把打开中国文化和历史的钥匙，希望因为福音而翻开新的篇章。
十年前，我和朋友在苏北一个城市，同当地一个教会的牧者一起，围着一个大大的地球仪，畅想着福音从耶路撒冷一路向西的历史和未来，那时候大家仿佛没有异议，也有坚定的信心，中国是福音一路向西的重要站点，而这个站点很快就会到来。
后来这些神学生毕业之后，也各奔东西。有一些去了东南亚继续深造，攻读神学和教牧学学位。其它在国内的，除了少数几个因为成立家庭，离开教会，其它大部分都在教会的侍奉岗位上。那时候，禾场多工人少还是显著的等待解决的矛盾。
那个时代，除了培训班多之外，还有大教会也多，各大团队在很多城市发展堂点，尤其是大学城，建立大学生团契成为一股浪潮。除此之外，温州的主日学还很发达，体系建立也很完整，从小学初中到高中，各种课程和师资都很充足。我十五年前去温州参加培训的时候，参加了几次中学的主日学，完全按照公立学校的体系建立了应试课程。
那个时代，温州的传道人很火热，社会地位也高，本地信徒们纷纷将自己的女儿嫁给他们，并以此为荣。我记得当年给我们培训圣经旧约课程的老师，初中毕业，成为传道人之后，娶了一位温州当地的毕业于北京外国语大学的姐妹。
那个时代还能听到很多宏大的活动，“三化”的影响力很大，身边的弟兄姐妹纷纷加入，聚会的时候常常分享他们传福音给家人的感想。那时候在教会聚会，牧者常常鼓励大家带身边的朋友和家人一起来参加，聚会结束之后，还会有很多年轻人留下来讨论福音。我有幸成为教会青年团契的慕道组成员，常常在主日聚会之后接待对福音有问题的慕道友。那时候可以看到很多有活力、有问题的年轻人和学生，走进教会了解福音。
这些活动慢慢变淡什么时候开始的呢？我也无法给它们画出一条清晰的界线。但是到了疫情的时候，这些活动好像一夜之间戛然而止。那时候，我们还认为这不过是疫情的暂时影响，教会内部的热情并没有消失，而是在积蓄力量。很快，因为疫情活动空间的受限，网络聚会开始兴起。几乎每个教会都会有一个网上聚会的群。大家在群里热火朝天的讨论福音和属灵问题。
疫情改变了一切。网络聚会的热潮带来的不是教会的复兴，而是信徒的流失和奉献的减少。随着疫情带来的经济下行，教会的压力开始增大。大家寄希望于疫情结束之后的反弹。然而，疫情结束了，却发现一切回不去了。
教会的城市化发展，就是入世之后的二十年。这二十年，也是教会大理想爆棚的二十年。这是那个时代的特征，也是那个时代可以容纳的内容。现在很少提到福音的宏大计划了，也很少看到有这样理想的信徒。
曾经那些听我课程的学生们，不知道现在怎样了。以前的朋友现在也很少联系了，不知道他们现状如何。有一个听说在做生意，还有一个开起了网约车。不管怎样，他们应该都很努力，努力过自己的生活吧。
那些年的那些事....忆曾经教会大理想爆棚的二十年
I recently unexpectedly received an old friend’s phone call. We had not contacted each other for many years. After a brief greeting, we recalled the years together.
Fifteen years ago, we met at my training class in Wenling, Zhejiang Province. Then, I taught them the history of Western philosophy. There were over twenty students who were were young people from various churches. The pace of the class was low because their foundation was not sound. I originally planned to progress up to the era of Hegel in a week, but by the end of the week, I could not even finish the era of ancient Greece.
These students studied hard and never escaped their lessons. Their curious eyes moved me as I was looking at them over the podium. Then the idea that God would use them to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth came to me. We did not even have a designated textbook for the course, nor did I print an outline in advance. A student caught my attention because he was almost always taking notes except occasionally looking up at PPT slides. By the end of the lesson, I saw that he had written down nearly twenty pages of A4-size notes. These notes were written thoroughly and neatly, which was touching.
Most of them were potential backbones of their churches. They knew their mission and calling, and they were willing to leave their jobs and families for a while and came to this town to study and equip themselves. Their inner goals were clear, so they did not lack the motivation to learn. Apart from their major courses, the history of philosophy was a minor, but they still showed interest in humanities the same as theology courses.
At that time, everyone was concerned about the spread of the gospel. The gospel was particularly attractive to well-educated people in cities. It was a time when urbanization was well advancing, so how the gospel attracted and established churches of different professional groups became everyone’s interest. It has always been believed that China is an important node for the gospel to spread to the ends of the earth since its birth.
In those past years, the urban trend of the gospel and the church was synchronized with the urbanization after China’s entry into WTO. There emerged the widely known white-collar churches in major cities. Everyone regarded the gospel as a key to China’s culture and history, hoping to open a new chapter with the gospel.
Ten years ago, my friends and I were in a city in northern Jiangsu. Together with the pastors of a local church, we sat around a big globe, imagining the history and future of the gospel’s westward journey from Jerusalem. At that time, everyone seemed to have no disagreement with firm confidence. China was an important site for the gospel’s westward journey, and this site would soon be established.
Later, after graduation, my students set apart and went on their own paths. Some went to Southeast Asia for further study, pursuing degrees in theology and pastoral studies. Those who remained in China were mostly in the service positions of their churches, except a few who left the church to start up a family. In that era, the shortage of trained pastors was still an obvious problem to be solved.
At that time, in addition to the numerous training courses, there was a large amount of megachurches, which developed gathering points in many cities, especially university towns, and campus evangelical fellowship became the norm. Moreover, Sunday schools and their systems in Wenzhou were well-developed and established. From junior high school to senior high school, there were plenty of courses and teachers. When I went to Wenzhou for training fifteen years ago, I attended several Sunday schools in middle schools and established an exam-oriented curriculum in full accordance with the system of public schools.
In those days, the pastors in Wenzhou were very popular and had a high social status. Local believers were proud of marrying their daughters to them. I remember the teacher who taught me the Old Testament. After only graduating from junior high school and becoming a pastor, he even married a local believer, who graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Then, we could still hear about many grand activities, which had a great influence. Brothers and sisters around us joined in, and at the activities, they often shared their experiences of preaching the gospel to their families. At that time, at church gatherings, pastors often encouraged everyone to bring their friends and families. After the gathering, many young people would stay to discuss the gospel. I was fortunate to be a member of the seekers’ group of the church youth fellowship and often discussed with seekers who had questions about the gospel after Sunday services. In those years, you could see many energetic and problematic young people and students entering the church to learn about the gospel.
When did these activities begin to fade away? I could not draw a clear line for them either. But by the time of the pandemic, these activities seemed to come to an abrupt end overnight. At that time, we still thought that this was just a temporary impact, and the enthusiasm within the church did not disappear but was accumulating strength instead. Soon, due to the limited space caused by the pandemic, online gatherings began to rise. Almost every church had an online gathering group. Everyone was in full swing in the group to discuss the gospel and spiritual issues.
The pandemic changed everything. The upsurge of network gathering brought not the revival of the church, but the loss of believers and the reduction of donations. With the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic, the pressure on the church began to increase. Everyone hoped for a rebound after the pandemic was over. However, it ended only to find that everything could not go back.
The church's urbanization development spanned twenty years following China's entry into the WTO. These were also the years when the church's great ideals became widely embraced. This was a defining characteristic of that era, and it reflected the aspirations of the time. Today, it is rare to hear talk of grand gospel plans, and believers with such lofty ideals are few and far between.
I do not know how the students who used to attend my course are now. We rarely contact each other, so I do not know what they are up to at the moment. I heard one of them is doing business, and another is working as a kind of ride-hailing driver (a Chinese service similar to Uber). Anyway, they all seem to be struggling hard, struggling for their very own lives.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Recalling the Twenty Years of 'Great Church Ideals'
