Established 35 years ago, the annual "Western American Chinese Mission Conference" was changed to the "2020 Global Chinese Mission Convention (CMC)" this year and held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The theme of this year was "The Gospel", focusing on Christ, the kingdom of God, and His salvation.
Pastor David Lee, director of Chinese Herald Crusades, Southern California District (CCHC LA), gave a lecture entitled "A New Perspective in Reaching Out to Immigrants through Community Services". He pointed out that with the advancement of social science and the improvement in people's quality of life, the previous community service provided by the church for immigrants cannot meet the needs of the new era. To answer the question of how to effectively provide community service for new immigrant groups, Pastor Lee made five suggestions:
First, adapt to the new context by reaching out to others(new opportunities in an unprecedented era).
In the past, the church organized most of their activities within the church. Due to the epidemic this year, the church has been restricted from having in-person services, but can only meet with them virtually. This new situation has led to the blurring of not only the invisible community wall but also the visible church wall. However, the church can take this opportunity to serve a larger community.
Second, preach the gospel not only by words but also in deeds.
Teaching is about sharing values; the gospel is the truth from heaven; healing is about caring for people. These three aspects are indispensable for church ministry. The pastor emphasized that preaching is not just in words, but also by actions. Many people today have heard the gospel, but a better way for the church to let people see and feel the gospel is through our caring work.
Third, serve new immigrant groups by accepting them.
Most immigrant groups now face issues within marriages, including divorce, as well as parent-child relationship problems related to how to educate the next generation. The church has to think about how to help them in this. Therefore, some churches have found professional people to provide targeted counseling. The church should also move from helping immigrants to accepting them, for example, invite them to Christian activities, or encourage them to participate in some gospel ministries.
Fourth, develop expertise in order to serve the community efficiently.
Aiming to better serve the community, Pastor Li suggested that the church "find its strengths and develop them". Although the church might not be able to respond to all the community needs, it could efficiently meet some of them by focusing on what they are good at.
Last, evangelizing by doing community service.
Which one is more important, the gospel ministry or the community service? Pastor Leevsaid that we must preach the gospel, but don’t use words unless necessary. Therefore,vcommunity service as a kind of preaching is even more important.
- Translated by Xiao Dan
有着35年历史的每年一届的“美西华人差传大会”在今年改为“2020全球华人差传大会”，并因为疫情原因改在网上举行。此次大会的关键词是“福音”，是关于基督、神的国度和救恩的信息。
会上，美国角声南加州分会总监李伟强牧师以“关怀邻舍：社区服务与移动事工的更新概念”为主题进行了分享。
随着社会科学的进步和人们生活水平的提高，从前教会针对移民的一套社区服务显然已经跟不上新时代的需求，因此，如何针对新移民群体来有效地进行社区服务？李伟强牧师提出了五点建议：
一，新的处境：从安守墙内走出墙外
教会的活动大多都在教会里面。今年因着疫情的关系教会没有办法实地聚会，只能在网络上聚会，所以这个墙逐渐变得模糊——不但是社区变得模糊，教会的墙也变得模糊。这段时间虽然很多聚会变得不再方便，但同时我们可以抓住这个机会去面对更大的群体。
二，新的观念：从福音预工到全人福音
教训是一种价值观的输出；福音则是天国的真理；医治是对人的关怀。这三方面缺一不可。李牧师强调：布道不仅仅是用嘴巴讲，也要用行动做出来。今天很多人都听过福音，当我们关怀的工作是实际行动时，这就是在让人看见福音。
三，新的移群：从服务他们到接纳他们
现在的移民群体多数面对的是结婚问题，特别是离婚。教会要思考怎么在这个方面帮助他们。还有亲子的关系，下一代不知道怎么教育。因此有教会找一些专业的人士来针对性进行辅导。
教会要从服务移民到接纳移民。可以接纳移民群体进入到基督徒中间来，甚至是让他们参与一些福音事工。
四，新的资源：从回应所需到发展所长
从回应需要到发展所长——能力导向，意思是“我有什么强的地方，我去发展它。”包括动员会友，培养平信徒和提高士气。
五，新的策略：从社区事工到福音鱼塘
福音事工和社区服务哪一个重要？李牧师表示，我们要传福音，但除非必要我们不要开口，只要做给人家看就好。所以，在这个时候福音事工就显得不那么重要，社区服务反而更加重要——这也是一种传道。
2020全球华人差传大会丨李伟强牧师：更新社区服务与移民事工的五个实用概念
Established 35 years ago, the annual "Western American Chinese Mission Conference" was changed to the "2020 Global Chinese Mission Convention (CMC)" this year and held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The theme of this year was "The Gospel", focusing on Christ, the kingdom of God, and His salvation.
Pastor David Lee, director of Chinese Herald Crusades, Southern California District (CCHC LA), gave a lecture entitled "A New Perspective in Reaching Out to Immigrants through Community Services". He pointed out that with the advancement of social science and the improvement in people's quality of life, the previous community service provided by the church for immigrants cannot meet the needs of the new era. To answer the question of how to effectively provide community service for new immigrant groups, Pastor Lee made five suggestions:
First, adapt to the new context by reaching out to others(new opportunities in an unprecedented era).
In the past, the church organized most of their activities within the church. Due to the epidemic this year, the church has been restricted from having in-person services, but can only meet with them virtually. This new situation has led to the blurring of not only the invisible community wall but also the visible church wall. However, the church can take this opportunity to serve a larger community.
Second, preach the gospel not only by words but also in deeds.
Teaching is about sharing values; the gospel is the truth from heaven; healing is about caring for people. These three aspects are indispensable for church ministry. The pastor emphasized that preaching is not just in words, but also by actions. Many people today have heard the gospel, but a better way for the church to let people see and feel the gospel is through our caring work.
Third, serve new immigrant groups by accepting them.
Most immigrant groups now face issues within marriages, including divorce, as well as parent-child relationship problems related to how to educate the next generation. The church has to think about how to help them in this. Therefore, some churches have found professional people to provide targeted counseling. The church should also move from helping immigrants to accepting them, for example, invite them to Christian activities, or encourage them to participate in some gospel ministries.
Fourth, develop expertise in order to serve the community efficiently.
Aiming to better serve the community, Pastor Li suggested that the church "find its strengths and develop them". Although the church might not be able to respond to all the community needs, it could efficiently meet some of them by focusing on what they are good at.
Last, evangelizing by doing community service.
Which one is more important, the gospel ministry or the community service? Pastor Leevsaid that we must preach the gospel, but don’t use words unless necessary. Therefore,vcommunity service as a kind of preaching is even more important.
- Translated by Xiao Dan
Pastor Li Weiqiang Shares Five Practical Concepts of Community Services to Reach Immigrants
