you won't regret it

【Whisper of the Shepherd】10

After years of association, coordination, co-work, and trials large and small, I see that the church is changing. Members gradually become "brothers and sisters" - not just a title, but a true "family." I have witnessed with my own eyes the rise of more loyal, selfless, and lovable intercessors—not criticizing pastors or co-workers, but trusting, respecting, loving, and committing to each other, and walking together with one heart. We discussed, sought, and discussed together—examining the DNA of the church, formulating the core values that we jointly identified, and the most important burdens that God has placed on everyone’s hearts, and then wrote these down, both in Chinese and English, and were reviewed many times by adults and young people. After reviewing, revising, and finalizing it, it becomes the compass, direction, and indicator of the church.

Next comes the real challenge. Three Generations "Being in the Same Hall" - Can Children Worship Together with Adults? Wouldn't it be easier to separate? Merging worship every week - translating Chinese into English and English into Chinese sounds like no one likes it, and it doesn't please both sides. Is this feasible? The songs sung in Chinese and English have completely different styles. Who will sing them? Time control, young people are really afraid that our gatherings will be too long! After translation, the complete thoughts become intermittent - those who understand one language may not be able to understand clearly, while those who understand both languages need to listen twice. Can you adapt? How about using headphones? It may lead to a general strike and change churches! Isn't it? There are many churches around, so why come here and suffer? …

The merger of Sino-English Hall is worth a try

But we are prepared in our hearts and are willing to give it a try even if we have to pay a huge price. Why? Because if there is no change, the consequences can already be imagined and are clearly visible: not to mention the fact that many English church pastors have taken young people away. Even if that pain has not happened, Ethnic churches still have a unique problem-

The Chinese and English churches have always been two churches under one roof, with little handover between the two generations. The next generation has no spiritual inheritance from their parents, and the previous generation does not ask for their own cultural advancement. The church reflects the special phenomenon of overseas Chinese families - people living in foreign countries speak Chinese, eat Chinese food, read Chinese newspapers, watch Chinese programs, and think about traditional Chinese thoughts. Of course, they also require Children should obey their parents.

In the church, children still come to worship and attend Sunday school with their parents today because they have no choice. In fact, the church is their parents’ church. They have never integrated in and have little contact with their older brothers and sisters. Not to mention the impact on life, there are several "faults" hidden within the church. Many young people go to college and never go to any church again, leaving their parents in tears...

I sincerely admire the determination and courage of the Evangelization family! It has been four months since May, and the experiment turned out to be a success. Not only do we invite young people to participate in church decision-making, we also invite them to participate in preaching. In the past four months, young people have preached five times. They have spoken very well and will continue to do so. Worship is okay, I'm still getting used to it. The message I prepared will be more concise - a maximum of thirty minutes for speaking, and twenty minutes for translation, so the total will not exceed fifty minutes.

During the snack time after worship, we no longer separate into two corners and do our own thing. We all gather together, talk to each other, and get to know each other─I love it. The theme of my sermon last Sunday was: "We have I will die one day, so how should I live today?” My son was in charge of the group time this Friday. He not only came to me to review the key points of the message, but also asked me how to lead the discussion. I think it’s great for the two generations to learn and grow together. This is a normal and healthy family.

It happened to be my birthday a few weeks ago, and I celebrated it after worshiping. After that, we all went to a restaurant for dinner. Seven adults and seven children came. What made me most happy was that eleven young people also came and ate at the same table. , harmonious and comfortable. When I saw "home", I felt deeply gratified. The beauty in it is hard to describe in words...

Become a spiritual parent

In fact, the most important thing in the formation of a family is nothing else. It is for pastors and co-workers to grow up and become spiritual parents, not just brothers and sisters, pastors or teachers. Not only focusing on teaching and management, but also having fatherly love - only then will the church have true harmony, order, and peace. “This is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15) But it takes time and effort. Don’t be afraid to pay the price: Just like The ground has to be plowed, the fruit has to be reddened by the sun, the rice has to pass through the threshing machine, and the BBQ meat has to be roasted by fire. Are there any exceptions to the growth and maturity of life? If you don’t give up, I congratulate you and congratulate your church!

These days have been the most peaceful and joyful days in my life. External reasons include:

1. Being able to get along comfortably with my son who has been rebellious for seven years and share honestly is God’s precious compensation for me in the past ten years, encouraging him, guiding him, and loving him. Our relationship was not only restored, but even closer than it had been with my father. Seeing him washing dishes, vacuuming, and cleaning the toilet again today, how can it not be a joy to see the prodigal son come back?

2. From the time we met in the second year of college to the present, our relationship with Meijin has been the best in the past forty-nine years. It’s not that she has changed, it’s that I have grown up and been healed, and many of the landmines I had planted in my life have finally been cleared.

3. The church really has love! The atmosphere of the church has improved so much compared to the past! There are really not many homes like this. What the pastor has dreamed of for many years has finally come true. That cannot be replaced by numbers.

4. I saw the lives of several brothers and sisters changing. Everything that had been tied up for many years, whether it was personality or relationship, was loosened one by one today. I couldn’t help but cheer for joy, and I couldn’t help but declare loudly on the prayer line: “The seventy-year captivity has expired. Lord, work! Everyone is released and fully gained by the Lord. May the Lord fill in what was lacking in the past, and everyone will gain the richness and freedom in Christ!”

There are also internal reasons for peace and joy:

1. I am more relaxed than before. On the one hand, I am getting older and have slowed down; on the other hand, I have seen and experienced more, and I know that value does not lie in numbers and gifts, nor in people’s praise and admiration, but in the intimacy with the Lord and the love with others. , that is what is long-term, and what God values. Therefore, I have taken a dim view of some things - I no longer pursue myself; the priceless jewels of the Kingdom of God are what I pursue. He must increase and I must decrease.

2. The less we are without ourselves, the happier we will be. Why is the Lord so lovely? Because He is all for others and not for Himself. If I can stop thinking about myself today, I believe I will become as lovely and happy as the Lord.

3. I no longer have any needs or worries. I trust God more than I can see. Even in the midst of personal difficulties or the turmoil and persecution of the world, I can still be sure of God’s love, so I can still surrender fully.

4. I no longer deliberately pursue gifts, but healing is natural and experiencing miracles is natural, because it is a normal Christian life and is obtained after years of affirmation, denial, and re-affirmation. Regarding this, I Always be grateful. (I am forever grateful.)

Suddenly I thought of the elders I admired and had helped me: like Pastor Lin Daoliang and Pastor Shen Paulo who have been faithful preachers all their lives, like Teacher Zhang Longyan who only believed in the Lord at the age of ninety-five, like John Wimber who helped me enlighten the Holy Spirit, like Teacher Li Jinluan of Beijing Normal University Primary School who loves us third and fourth graders, Teacher Lu Liangsuo of fifth and sixth graders, and my father and mother... I wonder how they are doing in God’s eternal kingdom? I miss them. Although they are dead, they are still alive (refer to John 11:25 original text). What they said and did will remain in my life forever and will be passed down forever. So what about me today? What about you? What will be left behind for you and me?

To get love, to give love. The more we have Him, the less we have self. The happier you will be and the more abundant your life will be. You will be fruitful, fruitful, red and orange. There is a reward for you in heaven, saints throughout the ages are waiting to see you, and the Lord Jesus will kiss you. Please believe me, you will never regret what you give on earth! Love you!

Author profile

Pastor Xu Zongshi holds a PhD in microbiology and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Theological Seminary in Chicago. He is currently the senior pastor of the New Jersey Evangelization Center in the United States. Author of the book "Flying Out of the Bird Cage".