2016-10 (十月禱告信)

弟兄姊妹主內平安!

從美中校園向您問好,願主的恩典,豐豐富富的臨到您的身上!

校園事工的「斷層」

在九月初的美中夏令會中, 有一次的校園事工研討會,各地校園代表齊集,一同交通分享,大家不約而同地看到,過去數年中,各校園的青年學生數字雖不斷增加,但只有少數校園的聚會人數有增加,大部分校園團契的人數,非但沒有增加反而減少;雖然有一些校園聚會的人數有所增加,但信主的人數卻仍趕不上學生增加的速度,不信主人數與信主人數所相差的比例,有增加的趨勢。我們既知道神已把這些眾多的學生帶到我們的校園,就是要我們得著他們,建立他們成為祂國度的新力軍,為什麼神的心意不能成全? 大家思想這個問題時,所一同歸納的原因就是:「斷層」。

「斷層」,就是舊的一班學生畢業離開了,卻沒有新的同學來補充,舊的一班同工走了,卻沒有新的同工興起,所以「斷層」來到,校園聚會服事的人手減少,同工越作越累,教會的事工缺乏動力,受到關懷的人數減少,來聚會的人數也相對地減少,這「雪球」越滾越小,這是教會面臨的危機,校園教會或聚會也向著「衰退」的方向走。

「斷層」如何發生?一般人認為:斷層發生是因為學生流動得太快! 其實「斷層」是提醒我們:校園傳福音的速度、門徒栽培和同工被建造的速度,都趕不上學生畢業的速度,以致聚會人數越來越少,同工越來越缺乏。「斷層」也提醒我們:校園曾有一段盛景,校園事工是可以作得興旺的,只是我們沒有能力建立後繼、有影響力的學生作校園同工,使他們能從剩下的一批學生中,扭轉衰退的方向,重建下一回的復興,好使他們繼續成為有影響力的校園同工。

「斷層」的防備

從開始參與校園事工時,我們就知道學生流動得很快,早就該作好準備,阻止「斷層」的發生,準備的方法可以有下列幾項:

  1. 讓主的「大使命」今天成全在我們的校園中──大使命是要我們建立能為主作見證的門徒,然後差派他們出去,使遠處的人成為主的門徒。使人信主不是校園事工的終旨,我們工作的目標,不是使學生離開時只是個基督徒,也不是只成為門徒,乃是盼望他們畢業以前就能成為:能見證主的門徒,在畢業以前,學生就已經可以向人傳福音、帶領人信主、並在校園中已能影響別人作主門徒。當他們能影響別人作主門徒時,校園事工就不會有「斷層」,校園事工必能興旺;當他們畢業時,我們可以安心的差他們去其他城市、或其他國家,為主的名作見證,使萬民作主的門徒。
  2. 常記著校園事工的秘訣:就是快快傳福音,快快使人作主的門徒──我們盼望學生到美國求學,能在第一個學期信主,信主一年後,已建立好了門徒的根基,活出門徒的生活,在校園中見證主; 在來美一年半後,開始參與關懷、與帶查經的事工,畢業時就能看見他們建立他人作主門徒的果效。我們不怕學生流動快,只怕傳福音與建立學生為門徒的速度不夠快。快快的建立學生,「斷層」就不容易發生。
  3. 著重門徒訓練──要快快建立學生成為能見證主的門徒,校園事工必須要注重門徒訓練,平常在學生上課時,在校園中就著重門徒訓練,在假期時,鼓勵弟兄姊妹參加門徒訓練營。僅靠在校園學期間的門徒訓練不夠扎實,僅靠假期的訓練營也還是不足夠,乃是要雙管齊下,才能快快建立可以被主使用的門徒。
  4. 建立校園教會(團契或查經班)成為帶職或全職宣教士的基地──校園團契不是學生的遊樂場,輕輕鬆鬆的帶領人信主;校園教會(團契或查經班)若能幫助學生帶著學業傳福音,畢業後就可以帶著職業事奉主。校園就不至「斷層」,神的國度也會大大的興旺。

九月短宣隊:

九月的短宣事奉在主的恩手帶領中完成,共分三隊,雖然跑的路遙遠,南近墨西哥灣,北近加拿大,在20多個校園中傳福音。感謝主!信主的人中有一些是剛從中國來讀書一個月左右的同學,有一位是剛來到校園兩週,第一次被邀請來聚會、在他人生中第一個佈道會中信主了。真讓我們看到,只要我們肯去傳福音,都會看到神奇妙的作為,雖然很多人以為九0後的學生不容易信主,但主卻提醒我們今天就是收割的日子,祂說:「你們豈不說『到收割的時候還有四個月』嗎?我告訴你們,舉目向田觀看,莊稼已經熟了(原文作發白),可以收割了。」(約4:35)

冬季各項聚會:

  1. 冬令會 將於十二月廿二至廿六日在密蘇里州堪薩斯城的Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center舉行。感謝主!祂已為我們預備了許多美好的講員,要向我們分享神的話,幫助我們看見主在這時代給我們的信息,也與我們一同携手傳福音給美中的福音朋友。這次我們的講員有:賴若瀚牧師、林永健牧師、劉傳章牧師、林國亮牧師、郝萬以嘉師母、及美中各地的牧者等,請預備您的心參加,並及早邀請福音朋友參加,也懇切為聚會禱告。網上報名時間為十一月中開始至十二月十八日下午三點五十九分嚴格截止。大會也有英語部, 幫助用英語的弟兄姊妹(中學生、大學生與年青工作者)認識主與追求主,講員有Elder Eugene Chu等。也有Dan Davis夫婦與其他美國同工,帶領兒童從小在主裡長進,好讓兒童的父母能安心學習主道。請您為聚會代禱並預備您的心來參加。
  2. 十二月門徒與同工訓練營 將於十二月廿六日晚至三十一日中午,在基督工人中心的營地(Warsaw, MO)舉行。目標不僅是為了建立門徒,更是為了建立有影響力的校園學生同工,在校園事奉主,為主作見證,影響學生跟從主,帶來校園的復興,並建立日後帶職與全職的宣教工人。這次訓練講員有劉傳章牧師與郝萬以嘉傳道。 請為聚會代禱並儘早報名。
  3. 一月讀經營 將於2017年一月一日傍晚至七日中午在基督工人中心的營地(Warsaw, MO)舉行。內容為歷史書一(從約書至所羅門)。嚴格報名截止日期為2016年11月15日(請儘早報名,儘早準備,恕不接納逾期報名者)。感謝主,已有八十多位弟兄姊妹報名參加,也在各地與網路上成立讀經小組,一同研讀神的話,彼此鼓勵,完成讀經營的功課。這次講員有:諶志豪牧師、高昭鑾姊妹等,請盡早報名參加,好早日開始自修準備,能更蒙福的參加讀經營。 請為弟兄姊妹的準備功課與讀經得著禱告。

謝謝您在禱告及財務上對基督工人中心的支持。願神豐盛地賜福您和您的一家。

在主裡與您一同服事的,
高榮德牧師

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace to you in the Lord!

Greetings from Midwest campuses. May the grace of the Lord rest upon you abundantly and richly!

“The Gap” in Campus Ministry

During one of the meetings on campus ministry at the early September Mid-America Chinese Christian Summer Retreat, representatives from campuses everywhere gathered, fellowshipped, and shared. Everyone had the same observation that, over the past several years, although the number of young students at various campuses continued to rise, only a handful of campus fellowships were seeing proportional growth in numbers. Most campus ministries became smaller instead of bigger. Although some campus fellowships grew in numbers, the count of people who became believers did not proportionally match the growth of student population, particularly the growth of the Chinese-speaking student population. The unbeliever-to-believer ratio is getting bigger. Since we know God has brought this multitude of students to our campuses for us to win to the Lord, to build them up to be soldiers of His Kingdom, why then is God’s will not being fulfilled? When everyone at the meeting considered this problem, we came to the conclusion that “the gap” is the underlying reason.

“The gap” means the former class of students graduated and left, but their vacancies were not completely filled by new students. The former cohort of coworkers moved on, but no new coworkers rose up. That’s the gap. If fewer people serve in ministries, those who remain become overworked, church ministries loose drive, and the gap grows. This is the challenge the overall North American church faces, and no less the campus church or fellowship.

How did the gap happen? Most people think the gap occurred because students come and go too quickly! More precisely, the gap reminds us that when the rate at which we share the gospel on campus and build up disciples and establish capable coworkers does not match the rate of students graduating, this leads to decreasing number of people in fellowship. The gap also reminds us there was a golden age on campus, and campus ministry can be done with sufficient urgency to sustain growth. Have we lost the ability to train influential students to be campus coworkers, who can turn the tides among the remaining students, to usher in the next wave of revival from a depression trend and enable them to grow into influential campus coworkers?

Prevention for “The Gap”

When we entered campus ministry, we knew students come and go quickly. We should be prepared early on to prevent the development of “the gap.” The following are some ways we can be prepared:

  1. Let the “Great Commission” of the Lord be fulfilled at our campuses—The Great Commission means for us to build up disciples who can be the Lord’s witnesses and then send them out, so those in faraway places can become the Lord’s disciples. Leading people to accept Jesus is not the ultimate goal of campus ministry. The goal of our work is not for students to leave the campus only as Christians, nor only disciples, but our hope is for them to become capable witnesses for the Lord before they graduate. Our goal is to reproduce, equipping believers who are even more influential than we are. Before they graduate, we hope students can already share the gospel with others, lead others to Christ, and influence others on campus to become disciples. When they can influence others to become disciples, there will be no gap in campus ministry, and campus ministry will surely thrive. When they graduate, we can reassured in sending them off to other cities, or even other countries, to witness the Name of the Lord, to make disciples of all nations.
  2. Always remember the secret of campus ministry is to share the gospel as quickly as we can and to lead others to become disciples as quickly as possible—we hope when students come to the United States to study, they can accept Jesus in the first semester. Moreover, we aim that they have the foundation of discipleship by the end of one year, living out the life of discipleship and witnessing for the Lord on campus. After a year and a half in the United States, we hope they can start participating in caring ministry and leading Bible study. By the time they graduate, we will be able to see their fruit of how they have encouraged others to become disciples. We do not fear the rapid rate of student turnover, but we fear we are not fast enough in sharing the gospel and making disciples out of students. If we build up students, the gap would not happen as easily.
  3. Emphasize discipleship training—In order to build up students to become disciples who can witness for the Lord, campus ministry must emphasize discipleship training. During the semester, we must emphasize discipleship training on campus. During school breaks, we must encourage brothers and sisters to attend Discipleship Training camps. It is not enough to solely depend on discipleship training during the semester on each campus, and it is not enough to solely depend on training camps during vacations either. Only by utilizing both tracks can we quickly build up disciples who can be used by the Lord.
  4. Establish the campus church or fellowship or Bible study group as a base for lay-ministers or full-time missionaries—The campus fellowship is not a playground for students, where they can casually lead people to Christ. If a campus church or fellowship or Bible study group can help students share the gospel as they study, then they will be able to share the gospel as they work after graduation. Campuses would not have the gap, and God’s Kingdom will greatly thrive.

September Short-Term Mission Teams:

September short-term mission was accomplished by the grace and leading of God. There were three teams. They covered long distances, nearing the Gulf of Mexico to the south, nearing Canada to the north. They shared the gospel at more than twenty campuses. Praise the Lord! Among those who came to Christ, some are students who only a month before came from China. One had only been on campus for two weeks, it was the first time he was invited to attend the fellowship, and he came to the Lord at the very first evangelistic meeting he had ever attended. We truly see that as long as we’re willing to share the gospel, we will see God’s amazing works. Although many people think students born after 1990 do not come to the Lord easily, the Lord reminds us today is the day of the harvest. He said, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).”

Winter Meetings:

  1. Winter Conference will be held from 12/22 to 12/26 at Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Praise the Lord! He has prepared many wonderful speakers for us, to share God’s Word and help us see the message the Lord has for us in this generation, and to work together with us to share the gospel to the nonbelievers in the Midwest. The speakers for this conference include: Rev. Johann Lai, Rev. Brian Lam, Rev. Jonathan Liu, Rev Kuo-Liang Lin, Mrs. Ijia Hao, and pastors from the Midwest. Please prepare your heart to attend the conference. Start early in inviting nonbelievers to attend. Please pray earnestly for the conference. Online registration will be open from mid-November until 3:59 pm on December 18, 2016, and this deadline will be strictly observed. The conference also has an English section, which aims to help English-speaking brothers and sisters (high school students, college students, and young adults) know the Lord and pursue the Lord. The speakers are Elder Eugene Chu, and others. Brother and Mrs. Dan Davis together other American teachers will teach the children to grow in the Lord while they’re young. And this will allow the parents to focus on learning the word of God at their classes. Please pray for the conference and prepare your heart to attend.
  2. December Discipleship and Coworker Training will be held at the CWC camp site in Warsaw, MO, from 12/26 evening until 12/31 noon time. The purpose is not only to train disciples but to build up campus student coworkers who are influential and can serve the Lord on campus, bear witness for the Lord, inspire other students to follow Christ, bring about campus revival, and build up the future lay-ministers or full-time missionaries. The speakers for this training include Rev. Jonathan Liu and Mrs. Ijia Hao. Please pray for the conferences register as soon as possible.
  3. January Bible Camp will be held at the CWC camp site in Warsaw, MO, from January 1st, 2017 evening until the 7th noon time. The study will be on The Historical Books part I (From Jonah to King Solomon). Strict registration deadline will be observed as November 15th, 2016. Please register early and prepare early. Late registrations will not be accepted. Praise the Lord, over eighty brothers and sisters have registered to attend and have formed Bible study small groups everywhere and also online. They study the Word of God together, encourage one another, and complete their Bible Camp assignments. The speakers include Rev Chihhao Shen and Sister Chao-Luan Kao. Please register early, so you may start studying on your own and prepare, so it may be a more blessed experience when you attend the Bible Camp. Please pray for brothers and sisters as they prepare their homework and read the Bible.
    Thank you for supporting the CWC prayerfully and financially. May God bless you and your family abundantly!

Serving in Christ with you,
Pastor Billy Ko