Use pen and love to cultivate your heart
Interview with Su Wen’an, full-time lecturer of KRC Writing Practice Camp
Two men are dueling. However, the weapon is not a sword or a pistol, but a piano. The three consecutive rounds of the miraculous performance competition not only left everyone in the video dumbfounded and fell into silence, but also the students of the writing camp who watched attentively were all dumbfounded and amazed.
"Pay attention to how the director and screenwriter manage the details!" Teacher Su Wen'an repeatedly warned. ─This is a scene during the explanation of "Ten Secrets of Writing".
From late July to early August, students from the writing camp will reunite with Teacher Su at the picturesque Maria Monastery. This year is his seventh consecutive year as a lecturer at the Writing Practice Camp. In the past six years, Teacher Su has always tried her best to cheer her students on and encouraged them to continue working hard in writing. He said that it is a great joy in life to have the opportunity to inspire and lead a group of brothers and sisters who have potential and dreams for literature ministry and are always looking for breakthroughs. In the literature camp, he encouraged every student to make the determination to practice the "Qi Every Movement" until they develop a life temperament and lifestyle that is in line with God's will.
We specially interviewed Mr. Su Wen’an, a senior author, editor, and trainer who has been devoted to literature ministry for many years. He often said: "Workers come before work, authors are more important than works, and sincerity is better than everything else." From this belief he upholds, let us share the Lord's trials and improvements in his life and see how he Use pen and love to cultivate the desolate hearts of this generation.
※How did you first get involved in writing ministry?
I think, like many people, "reading" is an important first step in contacting the world of words. When I was a child, there were books everywhere in my house, and the reading atmosphere was very strong. It allowed me to taste the sweet fruits of literature and meet the great minds of ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad.
The second step is writing and submission. There are three family members who have had a profound influence on me in this regard.
The first is my mother, who is very good at telling stories, and her expressions, movements and tones are all very vivid. There is family worship almost every day at home, and my mother loves to talk about "Jesus' return" during family worship, especially the scene of the rapture of the saints, which makes us all unknowingly believe that this is what "that day" will be like. I remember I once had a vivid dream in which Jesus came again. He appeared in the sky, very huge, with fire everywhere. Many people were running in panic on the streets, including me. Watching the whole family ascend slowly, leaving me alone on the ground, I felt extremely regretful. From my mother’s storytelling skills, I learned the tricks of layout and description.
The second brother is Wenbo. He is very patient. When I entered elementary school, he was already in medical school, but he often spent a lot of time listening to my stories. Not only did he listen carefully, he also asked many questions seriously. In fact, many of the stories were It came from my imagination, but my second brother let me make it up randomly. Seeing how absorbed he was every time, I went out to tell the story to the children again, and the story became more and more exciting. In this way, I cultivated my rich imagination, so that I could later write novels like "L.A. Story".
The third person is Brother Wenfeng, who had a profound influence on me on my journey to full-time literary ministry. I really started submitting articles when I was in high school in 1971. Before the end of a winter conference, the speaker, Rao Xiaoji, Brother Rao, asked each of us to write a salvation testimony and hand it over. Later, this work was published in Wenfeng Editor-in-Chief In the middle school student magazine "Good News", the ecstasy of having the article printed in type made me write non-stop since then. From then until now, my third brother has been constantly encouraging me because he has been on the narrow road of full-time literary ministry and has given me many precious examples and reminders.
In 1979, I made my decision to serve full-time at the first Youth Evangelism Conference organized by the campus fellowship.
I immigrated to the United States from Taiwan in November 1982, when I was 28 years old. From January to August 1983, he went to Paradise Town, Pennsylvania, and assisted in the editing work of the bimonthly "Messenger" under the guidance of Su Wenfeng, who was in charge of the literary department of the Christian Messenger Association at that time. This is my first exposure to professional literature ministry besides writing and submitting articles.
In September 1983, I went to Fuller Theological Seminary in Los Angeles to further my understanding of the Bible, theology, culture and mission. In August 1985, he was invited to join the Taifu Church in charge of the literary ministry. From then on, he determined to make the literary ministry his lifelong career and target the broad readership for missionary and pastoral care. He knew that he would be alone and lonely. , is still willing to become a literary preacher who is still considered "non-mainstream" in the Chinese church.
Reverend Peter Huang, my literary predecessor, has encouraged me many times: "Although there are not enough Chinese preachers, there are still many pastoral talents in comparison, and there are very few professional literary ministers. However, literary ministry is so important. You have thousands of pastoral talents." You must persevere to the end!"
Thank you Lord, because I have always been surrounded by many elders and friends who care and support me, so that despite my failures and weaknesses, and despite the setbacks and difficulties, I have still made it all the way to where I am today.
※Since you have been engaged in writing work, what aspects of service have you participated in?
The first aspect is editing. In August 1985, he was invited to serve as the editor-in-chief of "Taiwan News". In 1995, he served as the deputy editor-in-chief of Taiwan's "Christian Tribune". In September 1997, he devoted himself to the "Loving Family Magazine" Editorial work, responsible for the editorial affairs of "True Love Magazine" since June 2001. Among them, "Tribune" joined the existing team to cooperate and learn, and "Taifu News" and "Love Home Magazine" promoted transformation, revised the page and added pages, making it widely reverberated and spread all over the world.
"True Love Magazine" was founded from scratch, starting from scratch. No matter which position I hold, I have wonderful exchanges and interactions with readers, and also have profound coordination and cooperation with authors and translators.
Next is writing ministry. I have been contributing to Christian publications since high school. Most of the works written during the college years used the writing method of "Ancient events are told today" to interpret Bible stories, or write about stories related to one's own personal life. After 1983, it covered a more diverse range of themes and genres. In addition to literary or testimonial works, it also began to experiment with narrative and reporting articles.
The third is training work. In addition to encouraging and guiding authors and translators as an editor, and occasionally giving lectures before 1994, he served as the director of the Publicity Department at Guandu Christian College in Taiwan from November 1995 to July 1997. Starting from opening a writing training class in Los Angeles, I served as a lecturer at a writing practice camp in Pennsylvania. I experienced the joy of "teaching and learning together" and met elite writers from all over the world.
Among the three roles, the one I love most is the "author". I hope that in the near future, I will have the opportunity to adjust my service priorities, gain sufficient time and resources, and share my heart-filled stories and feelings with my close friends.
At present, the realm that God has given me is mainly in the positions of editor and trainer. In fact, the three roles complement each other. For example: If you are an author yourself, when you are engaged in editing work, you can understand the difficulties and pressures of the authors and encourage them more. As an editor, when engaged in training, you can use the journal you edit as a forum to encourage students to submit manuscripts, and provide further training by discussing with them and revising their manuscripts.
※Based on your years of service experience, what are the similarities and differences between Christian writing work and general writing work?
The same thing is: the object of writing is "people", and the writer must be interested in people. Therefore, whether it is general writing work or Christian writing work, team cohesion and interpersonal relationship management are very important. Furthermore, literary work is a talent-intensive, fund-intensive, and technology-intensive profession. Both inside and outside the church, one must have a vision and a sense of mission in order to persevere and make long-term investments.
The difference is that in addition to supplying people's needs, Christian writing work also uses writing to bear witness to the Lord according to God's will. Therefore, Christian literary workers must avoid working behind closed doors, being obsessed with the applause of readers, being proud of burning the candle at both ends, and not knowing enough time and space to give and receive care, and to win the support of co-workers around them. Support and advise, to help your wife and children confirm what you have written with happiness. As the saying goes, "Workers come before work, authors are more important than works, and sincerity is better than everything else." This was the experience I gained from the blood, tears, setbacks, and storms at the end of the first ten years of my full-time literary ministry. It also became my basic mentality in subsequent ministry.
In addition, the deepening of inner life is also extremely important. Don’t blindly pursue superficial performance and achievements. You should avoid imposing responsibilities and positions that exceed your spiritual level. Be willing to cooperate with others, learn humbly, and do the basic work of taking root. This is also what I have learned from my heart.
To engage in Christian writing work, in addition to professional literacy, you must also establish an understanding of the Bible, theology, culture, and missions, constantly rely on the power of God, and cultivate the desolate hearts of this generation with pen and love.
※What kind of training do you think an editor should receive?
This is exactly the focus I want to share with the students in this year’s advanced class of the Writing Work Practice Camp.
First, there is the basic training, that is, the training of life temperament and lifestyle. Secondly, of course, it is the practice of writing skills, planning skills, interviewing skills, interpersonal management skills and execution skills. Literary people should live seriously, treat others sincerely, and reserve space and time for quiet thinking for themselves. It is necessary to study systematically and plannedly, and constantly accumulate writing resources. You must have a learning-by-doing mentality, use your existing gifts, and correct existing deficiencies. Do not pray for work equal to ability, but for power equal to work. Look at the past honestly, be pragmatic about the present, and be faithful to the future. If you can do this often, you will continue to make progress.
When I hold a writing training class in Los Angeles or lead a writing practice camp in Pennsylvania, the challenge I give to all students is to determine and work hard to implement the "Seven Every Movement".
The so-called "Seven Every Movement" means: living a simple and disciplined life every day; carrying inspiration notes every day; running and asking questions every day; copying at least one good article every week; submitting at least one article every month; and reading at least one book every month. Good books; take at least one class per quarter. If you use this to push yourself, over time, you will become more and more comfortable in dealing with the various challenges that editors have to face.
※In such a busy ministry, how do you arrange time to spend with your family?
After much struggle and trials, I finally realized that “the family is the most basic and important pastoral field God has given me.” To be able to leave time for your family, analyzing and adjusting the content of your life is the first priority. The top priorities in my current life are: homeschooling my three children; editing work; preaching or speaking; training work; writing; and promoting the ministry of True Love Family Association.
The following self-requirements help me organize my time effectively:
1. Simplicity. Think "how little" instead of "how much". The money, time and energy saved can be used to add treasures to the family's "museum of memories".
2. Rules. Live a regular life, and do chores and routines efficiently. In this way, in addition to going to work every day, you can also take care of exercise, spiritual practice, prayer, parent-child activities, etc. Adherence to "regularity" can actually add "flexibility" to family life.
3. An autonomous lifestyle. Know what you should do today? Approximately what can be accomplished? If you take the initiative to plan and attack instead of always being chased by work and pushed by others, you will not be exhausted and exhausted every day.
For many years, before I get off work every day, or before going to work in the morning, I will make a detailed list of things to do the next day or that day, such as getting up, exercising, breakfast, sermon preparation, family devotions, going to work, etc. I make a list and cross it off when I finish it. I usually finish it all before three o'clock in the afternoon. Then I can call the author, readers, meditate, write, prepare lessons, and deal with emergencies of the day. Struggling under work pressure and external demands all day long, I don't just leave "leftovers" for my family emotionally, mentally, and physically after work.
There are three very important auxiliary factors:
1. My virtuous wife Lisan, her diligence and loyalty have enabled me to have no worries about my family affairs; her joy and wisdom have prevented me from getting stuck in the difficulties at work and wasting my energy.
2. My eldest son, who is seventeen years old, has handled all computer-related matters for me in the family for five years. He has done interior and exterior repairs, washed dishes, watered the house, and taken care of the second and third children, which has saved me a lot of time.
3. The cooperation and assistance of the co-workers and volunteer teams of the True Love Association and the Kingdom of God Resource Center in various ministries enable me to always feel at ease and not "burn out."
The combination of these subjective and objective factors allows me to stay busy and generally be a "family man." This is God's grace. Of course, it is impossible to be so smooth and satisfied every day, but I have been working hard towards the above goals.
※What are your expectations for the "True Love Magazine" that you edit?
I hope that through True Love Magazine, we can more effectively combine the literary profession with marriage and family issues, and serve the needs of the majority of Chinese people in the form of gospel preparatory work, striving to break away from the stereotype of "Christians writing for Christians." , we operate this publication based on the relationship between marriage, family, and parent-child. We hope that both the editing and printing will be exquisite, so that it can stand out among the many Chinese publications on the market (especially outside the church circle) and make people willing to read, stay, and spread. .
Thank God, this goal has been achieved to a considerable extent since its publication in October 2001.
Please pray for the True Love Family Ministry. Ask the Lord to move everyone’s brainstorming and practical participation. Ask the Lord to grant a clear vision and mission. Ask the Lord to prepare funds. Ask the Lord to personally call volunteers who are willing to commit themselves to assist us. Compatriots, "keep your true love and your home."
※Since you are so busy, why do you still devote yourself to the service of the Kingdom Resource Center?
Students from the writing camp account for a considerable proportion of the writing, interviewing and editing talents required by KRC magazine. Therefore, it can be regarded as an extension of the training work of the writing camp. Of course, I am obliged to participate.
In addition, more importantly, KRC’s vision is ambitious, clear, valuable, and creative, which attracts my investment.
Thanks to my dear co-worker, Pastor Ye Gaofang, president of the True Love Family Association, for his selfless support and encouragement, which enabled me to serve with the KRC team.
At the end of the interview with Teacher Su, my heart is still full of warmth and gratitude. In the past five or six years, whether it was writing, translating, organizing audio tapes, participating in writing camps, or editing special issues of writing camps, I was fortunate to learn under the encouragement and guidance of Teacher Su. What I learned was not only writing skills, but also the generosity and kindness of writers. Humility, love and patience.
He often reminds us: Literary work is a total war, and every elite soldier involved must constantly break through various bottlenecks and weaknesses in his or her personal life, and verify the message to be conveyed by living a life that is in line with God’s will. At the same time, we must unite a group of co-workers and volunteers who share the same vision and burden, and work hard for a long time with the self-understanding and expectations of literary pastors. Not only to produce literary products, but also to form a movement and bring about a Only by changing and triggering the renewal of life can we have effects that affect people's hearts and shake the times.
On May 16, 2004, Mr. Su Wen'an was ordained as a literary pastor, which symbolized that the literary work and full-time literary preachers had been affirmed and supported by the Chinese church and had entered a new realm. Pastor Su's speech titled "Infinite Gratitude, Endless Gratitude, Incomparable Touch" was moved by many people who read it and believed that this article profoundly presented the journey and sense of mission of a literary pastor and missionary.
Although he is loved by many students, Pastor Su Wen'an has repeatedly stated that he still has many weaknesses in his personal spiritual life and life that need to be disciplined and healed by the Lord; and whether in writing, editing, or training, he still has many weaknesses. There is so much unreached ground and unfinished work. He emphasized that if there was any success in the written ministry in the past, he could only say: "I planted the seeds, I watered them, but the Lord Himself made them grow." He sincerely communicated with everyone who sought to serve the Lord with the written word. People who are caring encourage each other: