About 300 Chinese pastoral workers from around the world attended the "The Unshakable Kingdom" symposium on kingdom theology held in Thailand.
Conducted by the GETS Theological Seminary in Bangkok fom March 4 to 7, the conference was aimed at helping Chinese churches develop a kingdom perspective.
The GETS Theological Seminary started as the Global Enrichment Theological Seminary in 2002, using its current name after its restructuring was completed in 2009. With the vision of cultivating evangelists and theological educators for the global Chinese church, the seminary primarily serves Chinese-speaking communities and equips individuals to serve Jesus Christ effectively in the global church or in the field of theological education, promoting the rooting of faith in Chinese culture and the bearing of fruit in the life of the nation.
During the opening ceremony on March 4, Rev. Dr. Joshua Ting, executive vice president of the seminary, reminded participants to embrace spiritual renewal from five perspectives: opening eyes to see God's work; accpeting the truth with open hearts; reaching out to receive the grace of Christ; transcending self-centeredness to expand God's kingdom; and embracing the Lord to be the manifestation of God’s glory.
The main content of the symposium was kingdom theology explained through theological doctrines and interpretation of scripture.
Additionally, three sessions of "practice and dialogue" were designed over the course of the symposium on March 5-7, covering preaching ministry, micro-churches, and global missions. Each evening also featured a "life interview," where guest pastors shared struggles and challenges they had faced in their personal growth and family life.
Senior Pastor Abraham Liu of Taipei Revival Church shared his personal journey of being a second-generation pastor. Reflecting on his pastoral experience, he said, "The Word became flesh, and people can be reached with the message of the gospel. Instead of discussing doctrines with believers, it's better to talk more about struggles." Believers face varied problems, such as inner doubts, struggles, challenging environments, illnesses, and suffering, he added. Pastors should not just preach doctrines to believers but, like Jesus Christ, engage in one-on-one dialogue with them, understanding and comforting them through their struggles.
Following each "practice and dialogue" session were workshops. The symposium featured five workshops on different themes: facing suffering from the book of Revelation, construscting micro-churches, church growth strategy through micro-churches, pastoral counseling and discipleship, and pastoral ministry.
During the final workshop titled "God's Kingdom and Pastoral Ministry," Rev. Dr. Caleb Soo, the principal pastor of the Singapore Life Church, stated that ministry is not a profession but God's calling. He mentioned five points for ministry workers: not to be at the beck and call of others, to care for believers, to humbly point out each other's mistakes, to learn to use modern technology as a tool for ministry, and to be preachers as well as listeners.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
3月4-7日，2024国度神学研习会——“不能震动的国”在泰国曼谷举行，大约300位来自全球各地的华人教牧同工参加。
此次的研习会由创欣神学院举办，以 “国度神学”为主要研讨内容，帮助华人教会开拓国度的视野。
创欣神学院的前身是普世丰盛神学院，2009年正式更名为创欣神学院，其异象是为普世华人教会培育传道人员与神学教育人才。创欣神学院是以华语为主的学习群体，透过处境化和当代化的神学教育，装备个人在普世教会，或是在神学教育事工领域中有效地事奉耶稣基督，以促进信仰在中华文化中生根，在民族生命中结果。
4日晚的开幕式，该神学院执行副院长陈世钦牧师主要从5点提醒参会者如何迎接圣灵更新与改变： 张开眼观察上帝的作为； 打开心接受真理的教导；伸出手，与人同领受基督的恩典；超越个人主义和本位主义，为了上帝的国度扩张帐幕； 拥抱主，彰显基督的荣耀。
研习会为期4天，以“国度神学”为主要内容做了系统且细致的讲解。每天上午安排这一系列的分享，主题信息分别从圣书新旧约、系统神学三一神论、十字架和教会5个角度分别阐述“国度神学”的概念和特点，通过释经和神学教义来讲解国度神学。
研习会主体内容是国度神学和实践对话，首先通过释经和神学教义来讲解国度神学。
此外，研习会在三天的下午环节设计了3堂“实践对话”，涉及的话题包括讲道服事、微型教会、普世宣教。每晚还有一堂“生命访谈”，嘉宾牧者从个人生命成长和家庭生活来见证自己经历过的挣扎和挑战。
台北复兴堂主任牧师柳子骏牧师在其中分享了自己从牧二代到牧者的个人经历。他总结自己的牧养经验时说：“道成为肉身，信息要住在人间；与其跟他谈教条，不如多谈谈挣扎。”信徒会遇到各样的问题，有时是内心的疑惑和挣扎，有时是艰难的环境、疾病，甚至是苦难。牧师不能只和信徒说教条性的东西，而是要像耶稣基督一样，和信徒一对一平等地对话交流，理解并安慰他们所经历的挣扎。
每天的“实践对话”后的环节是工作坊。研习会设有5场不同主题的工作坊。每天的“实践对话”后的环节是工作坊，分别为《直面苦难——从启示录看信徒牧养》、《恢复神国度——如何从彰显福音走向微教会建构》、《微教会——不一样的教会迅速增长策略》、《教牧咨商与门训》、《国度与教会牧养》。
新加坡基督教生命堂主理牧师苏立忠牧师在最后一场《国度与教会牧养》工作坊分享时，说：“事奉是来自神的召命，不是一份职业。”他提到5点可以帮助牧者做好牧会：不任人使唤、不唯命是从；关注教会的信徒；谦和指出对方错误；学会以现代科技为服事工具；讲道与聆听并行。
About 300 Chinese pastoral workers from around the world attended the "The Unshakable Kingdom" symposium on kingdom theology held in Thailand.
Conducted by the GETS Theological Seminary in Bangkok fom March 4 to 7, the conference was aimed at helping Chinese churches develop a kingdom perspective.
The GETS Theological Seminary started as the Global Enrichment Theological Seminary in 2002, using its current name after its restructuring was completed in 2009. With the vision of cultivating evangelists and theological educators for the global Chinese church, the seminary primarily serves Chinese-speaking communities and equips individuals to serve Jesus Christ effectively in the global church or in the field of theological education, promoting the rooting of faith in Chinese culture and the bearing of fruit in the life of the nation.
During the opening ceremony on March 4, Rev. Dr. Joshua Ting, executive vice president of the seminary, reminded participants to embrace spiritual renewal from five perspectives: opening eyes to see God's work; accpeting the truth with open hearts; reaching out to receive the grace of Christ; transcending self-centeredness to expand God's kingdom; and embracing the Lord to be the manifestation of God’s glory.
The main content of the symposium was kingdom theology explained through theological doctrines and interpretation of scripture.
Additionally, three sessions of "practice and dialogue" were designed over the course of the symposium on March 5-7, covering preaching ministry, micro-churches, and global missions. Each evening also featured a "life interview," where guest pastors shared struggles and challenges they had faced in their personal growth and family life.
Senior Pastor Abraham Liu of Taipei Revival Church shared his personal journey of being a second-generation pastor. Reflecting on his pastoral experience, he said, "The Word became flesh, and people can be reached with the message of the gospel. Instead of discussing doctrines with believers, it's better to talk more about struggles." Believers face varied problems, such as inner doubts, struggles, challenging environments, illnesses, and suffering, he added. Pastors should not just preach doctrines to believers but, like Jesus Christ, engage in one-on-one dialogue with them, understanding and comforting them through their struggles.
Following each "practice and dialogue" session were workshops. The symposium featured five workshops on different themes: facing suffering from the book of Revelation, construscting micro-churches, church growth strategy through micro-churches, pastoral counseling and discipleship, and pastoral ministry.
During the final workshop titled "God's Kingdom and Pastoral Ministry," Rev. Dr. Caleb Soo, the principal pastor of the Singapore Life Church, stated that ministry is not a profession but God's calling. He mentioned five points for ministry workers: not to be at the beck and call of others, to care for believers, to humbly point out each other's mistakes, to learn to use modern technology as a tool for ministry, and to be preachers as well as listeners.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
