Exclusive interview with Pastor He Weizhong, former editor-in-chief of "Golden Lampstand"

Interview/Yu Guoliang

【Editor's note】

We all know that preaching the gospel is the great commission commanded by the Lord Jesus to believers, but how to preach the gospel? It is easy for us to think of missionaries who work hard in the mission field and preach the gospel orally, but we tend to overlook the literary missionaries who are writing straightly or typing on the computer keyboard in the office or at home. The author had the opportunity to interview Pastor He Weizhong, a recently retired senior literature missionary in Houston, and asked him to share the ups and downs of literature missionary.

▲Brother Yu Guoliang, the enterprise editor of this unit, interviewed Pastor He Weizhong (right), a missionary general in the literature, and saw the example of devotion to the word service and diligent service to the Lord.

KRC: As far as I know, you were in your seventies before you retired from the factory. Could you please briefly describe the process of your calling and your different service experiences?

answer︰I am seventy-eight years old this year, and I only resigned from the position of Director General of "Golden Lampstand" at the end of June 2013 (the current Director General is Pastor Zhong Mingyu). After graduating from Bible college in 1960, I began pastoring in Hong Kong. When I was in the Hong Kong Pastoral Church, I didn’t pay much attention to writing work because the environment at that time did not require it and there were no such conditions. Many believers were not very literate.

It was not until he immigrated to the United States in 1967 that he pastored his own church. He deeply felt the importance of literature and propaganda, and began to learn writing. First, I submitted articles to the "Gospel Monthly" founded by the Chinese Overseas Missionary Society in New York. Thanks to the editor, Elder Chen Zhiren, I was given a small space. I wrote about 500 words in each issue, named "Spiritual Journey", and wrote some after-dinner sketches. article. At that time, I was not a person who could write articles at all. The more I wrote, the more I could no longer bear it, and the more I wanted to stop writing and give up.

Unexpectedly, I went to Toronto, Canada to visit relatives that year and met Dr. Ma Youzao, a professor of theology. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Pastor He, I really enjoy reading your short articles in "Gospel Monthly". Every time I receive them, I I must read your article first. You must publish a separate book to help readers.” Because of his encouragement, after returning to the United States, I not only did not give up, but also stepped up my writing practice. Strangely enough, the more I wrote, the more moved I became, which also led to my interest and growth in writing work in the future. Later, God led me to pastor in different churches, and I never forgot to serve in words.

KRC: As early as the 1960s, when I was still in secondary school in Hong Kong, I loved reading the Bible exegesis magazine edited by Pastor Chen Zhongdao. Later, Pastor Chen founded the "Golden Lampstand". Please briefly describe the founding, evolution and current status of this publication.

answer:Pastor Chen Zhongdao once served as the editor-in-chief of "Bible News", but "Bible News" was not founded by Pastor Chen Zhongdao, but by Pastor Bao Zhongjie, the missionary of the Christian Alliance. And "Bible News" did not change its name to "The Golden Lampstand" as many people misunderstood. "The Golden Lampstand" was founded by Pastor Chen Zhongdao when he was pastoring the Chinese Missionary Church in Vancouver, Canada. The "Bible Newspaper" ceased publication for some reasons and later resumed publication, but it was many years later.

The "Golden Lampstand" was originally a Sunday weekly when Pastor Chen was pastoring. Every Sunday, Pastor Chen published his sermons in the program. If some brothers and sisters were unable to attend the Sunday worship due to work, they could I read that day’s Sunday message in a weekly magazine, which was well received by the brothers and sisters. It evolved from there and became the “Golden Lampstand” in the future.

At first, Pastor Chen was responsible for the work himself. Later, due to the increasing demand, Pastor Chen was overwhelmed by the workload and wanted to stop publishing. In 1992, while returning to Hong Kong to understand the situation, he shared his idea of suspending the publication with Pastor Zhu Zhiwei, who was also pastoring the Hong Kong church at that time. Pastor Zhu felt that "The Golden Lampstand" had become such a popular publication that it was a pity to cease publication, so he asked Pastor Chen if he would transfer the ministry of "The Golden Lampstand" to Hong Kong. Pastor Zhu would organize the board of directors and register it with the government as a non-profit. Gospel institutions, and invite pastors who are committed to the gospel text work to serve as directors. This is how "The Golden Lampstand" moved to Hong Kong for development!

▲Pastor He Weizhong (second row, second from right) family portrait. He served throughout his life, and his wife He Limeili (second row, second from left) became his best helper and writing colleague.

KRC: Please share a special joy or experience of God during the ten years you edited "The Golden Lampstand". Have you encountered any challenges?

answer:In these ten years, I am particularly happy to know that the articles in "The Golden Lampstand" have been loved and affirmed by readers. I remember that one year I went to Washington, D.C., to learn about the church I pastored in the past. A deacon came to me and said, "Pastor He, I have been very spiritually depressed for a while, but recently after reading your article, I became more enlightened. I was encouraged and my faith was restored. Thank you so much!” This is what the Bible says about labor not in vain (refer to 1 Corinthians 15:58).

In addition, readers often write in to ask questions about the Bible, theology, etc., and I have the opportunity to answer them one by one, so that they can understand the correct truth more clearly, which is the most gratifying to me!

As for the difficulties and challenges, it is economic supply. After all, "The Golden Lampstand" is an organization established by faith. All funds come from free donations from believers and churches. However, the revenue and expenditure are inevitably unbalanced and often have deficits. This has become a pressure in my heart and I have no choice but to look to the Lord by faith. !

KRC: I know that you often take the lead and write your own excellent works published in "The Golden Lampstand". How do you get inspired to write articles? Does The Golden Lampstand welcome reader submissions? How do you invite manuscripts for "The Golden Lampstand"?

answer:When I write in "The Golden Lampstand", I don't have a fixed format, I just go with the flow. Every time I write, I write articles based on the emotions in my heart or my spiritual reading of the Bible. Due to space limitations, I can only write 1,500 or 600 words per issue, so I am quite restricted and cannot speak freely, but I am used to it.

As for invited manuscripts, as long as they are of high quality, we are happy to accept them and will pay the manuscript fee (unless the author states otherwise). It seems that when I first invited manuscripts to my old friends, colleagues, and comrades, they didn’t take any royalties because they knew we were struggling with funding.

KRC: What is the editorial philosophy of The Golden Lampstand?

answer:The editorial philosophy of "Golden Lampstand" still follows the path of its founder, Pastor Chen Zhongdao: 1. Don't sensationalize. 2. No advertising. 3. Divide the way of truth completely according to justice. 4. Do not criticize or attack others. It is a completely positive, exegetical and edifying message. The authors are all experienced writers, and their articles are highly readable. To this day, "The Golden Lampstand" is still a popular and recognized publication!

KRC: I know you have published several good books, please introduce your masterpiece, please?

answer:I have been with "The Golden Lampstand" for ten years and published a total of five books:

• 
  1. "Heavenly Canaan".
  2. "Walking with God".
  3. "The Light of the Golden Lampstand" anthology.
  4. "Shepherding God's Flock"—helping young preachers how to shepherd a church.
  5. "The Light of the Golden Lampstand 2".
• 
  "The Light of the Golden Lampstand" is a collection of articles that I have published over the years of serving on the Golden Lampstand. The others are records of spiritual light over the years.

KRC: I know that you can concentrate on your literary and publicity work because you have a good wife. Please share how Mrs. Lee Meili Ho supports your ministry. Please also introduce some of Master’s masterpieces.

answer:During my forty-two years of pastoring, my wife gave me her full support. Every article I wrote was written on manuscript paper and then handed over to her to write into the computer, where she would revise and edit it for me. Corrections and polishing, etc. In the past seven years, she has written a total of four books. Even my manuscripts were all written by her on a writing tablet.

1. "Eight Thousand Miles to the Clouds and the Moon" - A fund-raising journey in Malaysia.
2. "Pillar of Fire and Cloud Traveling Thousands of Miles" - A record of our life's journey of service (Part 2 of the bound edition).
3. "A Thousand Sails Are All the Lord's Grace" - Remembering our salvation/calling (Part 1 of the bound edition).
4. "A Hundred Days of Life Essays" - is the tenth book in Haitian Bookstore's "Hundred Days Book Series".

KRC: What advice do you have for those of us who are learning to write for missionary work?

answer:Literary work has a long way to go, and you must have a vision and a burden, otherwise you will easily become discouraged. Some people say: "If you want to harm someone, encourage him to start a publication and make him miserable." You must know that the effect of publicity ministry is better than the work of the pulpit. If there is a vision and foresight, this person will definitely will succeed.

KRC: Today’s missionary work has moved from written propaganda and oral preaching to online missionary work. How should literary propaganda catch up to adapt to the times?

answer:Although computers are developed today, there is still room for traditional writing work. After all, not everyone can read the Internet and everyone has a computer. Therefore, traditional writing work still has great potential. We still have a long way to go, but as long as we keep our sights on the target and respond to some of the needs of the times, we can still use words to shine brightly for God.

The following is a brief introduction to the promotional materials of "The Golden Lampstand". We hope readers of this magazine will make good use of it and support this ministry.

Please support "Golden Lampstand"

Golden Lampstand is a non-denominational faith-based writing organization founded in 1986 by Pastor Chen Zhongdao. The Golden Lampstand's loose-leaf bimonthly magazine aims to "explain the truth of salvation, cultivate spiritual life, explore holy works, and practical Bible study" and mainly serves Christians, church volunteers, deacons, theological students, pastoral colleagues, etc. who are pursuing life growth. Each issue also comes with a "gospel leaflet" to encourage readers to give it to their relatives and friends who are not believers in order to spread the gospel of Christ's salvation.

Since its inception, it has had many advantages:
1. Pure faith: correctly interpret the word of truth.
2. Enriching content: Readers can be edified.
3. Please the Lord: It does not please people and has no commercial effect.

For more than 20 years, thanks to the grace of the Lord, I have been able to recommend reading to all believers. Currently, the printed version of this magazine has a global circulation of more than 50,000 copies per issue, and the online electronic version has more than 80,000 views per issue, with readers in more than 90 countries and regions. area.

Since 2008, our publisher has launched the "Christian Concise Bible Study Sermon Outline" as a free copy service to meet the needs of readers from all over the world to study the Bible and preach the Lord's message.

Please support and donate

• 1. Read the Golden Lampstand regularly: I believe it will be helpful to readers.
  2. Promote the Golden Lampstand: Let more people be edified.
  3. Prayer and support: Because literature and propaganda penetrate into every family and every heart anytime and anywhere.
  4. Donate support: After readers have received spiritual benefits, please give back and donate support so that this publication can continue to shine.
  5. Encourage submission: Brothers and sisters who are pure in faith and have the gift of writing are invited to write and contribute.

URL:www.GoldenLampstand.org
e-mail:info@goldenlampstand.org

Author profile:
Yu Guoliang, born in Guangzhou and raised in Hong Kong, received a PhD in atmospheric physics from the United States. He is the author of "Physicists Read the Bible" (Daosheng Publishing), "John's Code - Decoding the Da Vinci Code" (Tian'en Publishing), and "The Seven Tribulations of the Cross - Meditating on Christ's Head, Face, Mouth, Hands, Suffering of body, legs and heart" (Zhengzhu Publishing).