Give back the glory of my family
Taipei Lutheran Church of Truth strives to protect families
Interview/Yang Hanjiahua
Influenced by Hollywood-style culture, sexual values in the global village are becoming more and more consistent, and the same is true in Taiwan. Among the young people of the Me Generation 1 who are self-conscious, the popular thinking is: "As long as I like it, there is nothing wrong with it"; "Sex is my personal matter and other people cannot interfere"; "I don't have to be responsible, the big deal is to have an abortion." "; "I am not opposed to "one-night stands""; "I would rather live together than get married"...
At the end of 2008, Taiwan's Xingling Medical Foundation was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to conduct a survey among junior high school graduates and senior high school students. It was found that 5% and 10% junior high school graduates and high school vocational students had had premarital sex with the opposite sex. Among these students aged 15 to 18, about 30% have tried dangerous paid dating2 or one-night stands; therefore, among those who are pregnant, 28.9% are junior high school graduates, and 19% are high school vocational students. It is worth noting that many parents believe that their children will not have premarital sex; parents or teachers often avoid talking about teenage sex. 3
When churches and Christians talk about the above-mentioned chaos of the Me era, they feel sad, shake their heads and sigh.
This magazine used an overseas phone call to interview Yang Ningya, the senior pastor of Taipei Lutheran Church in Taiwan, and his wife Guo Yingfu. They asked the Truth Church how to teach the prevention of premarital sex in the church, and even went beyond the walls of the synagogue to connect with those who share the same vision. Churches and institutions, linked with schools and governments, rescue young people from the stormy waters of today's lustful passions and strive to restore the beauty of God's creation of the family.
Eating forbidden fruit leads to bitter consequences
Mrs. Yingfu pointed out that on campus, many boys regard having little sexual experience as inferior, while girls also view having sexual experience as cool. Not long ago, a female student revealed on her blog that she was sexually assaulted by two male classmates while drunk. The case was brought to the principal, and the two boys were expelled. The girl was shocked. She was just unhappy and wanted to vent her anger, but she didn't expect that the consequences of promiscuity would be so serious. On the surface, students seem to have gained freedom of sexual desire, but they have fallen into a deeper dark trap. As everyone knows, if you violate the strict laws, you will be prosecuted and subject to social sanctions.
From many years of counseling experience, my wife has discovered that teenagers who eat the forbidden fruit usually have the following psychological characteristics:
‧Poor self-image.
‧Afraid to show your true self.
‧It is not easy to have real emotional communication.
‧It is difficult to establish healthy close friendships.
‧It is not easy to establish a relationship with God.
‧Easy to suffer from depression.
‧Easy to be infected with promiscuity, pornography and homosexuality.
Yingfu, who has raised three children, reflected sadly: "Why are children who are the most precious in the eyes of God deceived by the lies of the world, unable to resist sexual temptations and temptations, and so easily abducted by Satan?" She saw that the child being devoured was the result of the destruction of the family and the deterioration of the parent-child relationship. Moreover, if young people respect marriage, family and sexual relationships, and live a God-fearing life, it will be easier for them to stay steady and not stumble when lust strikes.
▲Taipei Truth Church, a Lutheran church dedicated to protecting families.
Prevention is better than cure
My wife grew up in the fellowship of Truth Church. When Pastor Yang Ningya was studying at National Taiwan University, he lived in the Lutheran school building next to Truth Church. The two met, fell in love and got married. After getting married, we became even more connected and understood each other in the Lord, and we deeply felt that our marriage was blessed. However, young couples often see disharmony among Christians, and even those who often come to gatherings are not immune. Surprisingly, there are also pastors and co-workers among them who serve the Lord diligently, but they have been in the old culture for a long time and do not know how to manage the relationship between husband and wife. Although they are not divorced, they have given up on marriage. These families are riddled with problems, and the unseen problems are worse than the visible ones.
Since then, Pastor Yang and his wife have received a vision: to build a Christian family with deep love and unity in accordance with the Bible’s intention on family. When parents have a healthy and happy marriage, they will be more persuasive to their children, and their children will be protected and can easily clean themselves up and care for themselves.
In the early days, young Brother Yang and Sister Six (the nickname given to Pastor Yang and his wife) foolishly devoted themselves to one-on-one marriage counseling, trying to save the rifted family. However, in 1984, Pastor Yang came to study at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, in Minnesota. Professor of Pastoral Studies Bill Smith pointed out that the focus of family ministry in the United States is no longer on treatment, but on prevention. On the road to running for the vision, this concept set a benchmark. In 1986, they returned to Taiwan after completing their studies and designed a set of positively oriented courses and activities with the goal of building a Christian family. They actively promoted cooperation in the Truth Church. God-intended family culture.
The main points are briefly described below:
Pre-marriage counseling and post-marriage updates
‧ For more than 20 years, Cana marriage courses have been offered at least three times a year, with ten to twelve pre-marital counseling sessions each time.
‧ A couples discussion meeting is held every year, and non-Christians are welcome to attend to consolidate and renew the relationship between husband and wife.
▲The vow card is as big as a credit card and should be kept in your wallet to remind you: Be chaste before marriage and keep your promise after marriage.
Keep chastity before marriage and keep promises after marriage
‧ Organizing various series of courses and gatherings on "Chastity before marriage and keeping promises after marriage".
‧ A Virginity Sunday is held every year, allowing brothers and sisters to make a covenant before God and man: unmarried people should keep their virginity, and couples should keep their marriage contracts, and sign them as letters.
‧ Teach sex education in Sunday schools for teenagers and college students - how to stay safe, not fall into sexual traps and prevent sexual violence, etc.
‧ Teach chastity, making friends, love, marriage and true love in youth and college fellowship groups on Saturdays.
‧ Organize youth camps that non-Christians are welcome to attend to instill correct values in life.
Strengthen families and improve communication
‧ Provide courses to enhance the relationship between husband and wife and parent-child relationship.
‧ Integrate the teaching of strong families into Sunday lectures and believer equipment.
‧ Hold at least one family camp every year.
Go into society and teach the truth
‧ In 2008, a group of mothers from Truth Church jointly compiled a set of teaching materials with cartoon videos and vivid pictures, and went to elementary schools three times to teach gender education, with six to eight classes each time.
‧ The Ministry of Education established a plan to hire social experts to teach courses in universities. What surprised Pastor Yang and his wife was that they were both hired by the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology to co-teach the course "March of Love" on family, love and sex. knowledge. The students responded very well. In a post-modern society where chastity is unheard of, they finally learned the consequences of indulging in lust.
Aimeng Family Cultural and Educational Foundation
According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan's divorce rate ranked second in the world in 2006; the island has seen the rise of the gay movement, the proliferation of pornography, the establishment of the Gender Education Equality Act (which includes equal rights for homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals), and the control of homosexuals. Sex education... was defeated like a mountain, and moral standards were retreating steadily. Pastor Yang painfully realized that it was time for the church to break its silence and stand up!
Before the 2008 election, the current President of Taiwan, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, came to the Truth Church to visit Pastor Yang and have an in-depth discussion. When Pastor Yang asked Mr. Ma about his "Core Value," Mr. Ma responded with a "horse" shot and challenged him: "The church is good at bearing witness. What good testimony can it bring forward?"
If we want to fight against various unhealthy tendencies in society, we must start with law and education, which will have the most far-reaching impact. Truth Hall’s expertise is education, and we are happy to share it with everyone. The Constituent Assembly has a consensus: if we want to connect with the people and the government, establishing a private foundation is more effective than using the banner of a church. However, to apply for a national foundation, you need to have more than NT$30 million (approximately US$930,000) to set up. Pastor Yang, who does not "ask for money" from others, was silently saddened by such a huge number.
Truth Church encourages its members to give their first income as a “firstfruits offering” in January and February of each year. During this season, a brother who was in business handed Pastor Yang a check. Miraculously, the number written on it was enough to establish three foundations.
In November 2007, the Christian Love Alliance Family Cultural and Educational Foundation was officially established (referred to as Love League, website: http://www.lcf.org.tw)
The Love Alliance particularly emphasizes three types of true love covenants: with God; between husband and wife, between parents and children; and between churches and church institutions.
The purpose of Aimeng is:
‧Transform families with the love of Christ through a renewed church.
‧Connecting churches, governments, and private organizations with a common vision to serve families together.
‧Integrate marriage and family courses and provide education and training.
‧Promote correct marriage and family values through the media.
‧Healing, release and counseling to assist people who have been traumatized in marriage and family.
▲Couples who applied for the "Youth Safe Start a Family" loan subsidy attended classes at Truth Hall to learn the true meaning of buying a house and starting a family.
Young people can start a family safely
To achieve generational change, each woman must have a fertility rate of at least 2.1. The average number of children in Taiwan is only 1.07, the lowest in the world. Many baby product stores have closed down, but pet stores have increased significantly. Many families who do not have children have adopted pets. 4 In order to encourage young people who get married and start a family to have children, the Construction Administration of the Ministry of the Interior has formulated the "Youth to Start a Family with Peace of Mind" program, which provides loans of up to NT$2 million (approximately US$62,000) to young people who are newly married or have children. Families, with no interest for the first and second years, hope to create an environment conducive to childbearing and raising by reducing their housing burden. However, one of the application conditions is that they must attend a three-hour "pre-family counseling course."
Mr. Liao Liaoyi, the former Minister of the Interior, had a daughter who loved the Lord. She reminded her father that starting a family is not only about owning a "house" but also having a "family." Minister Liao then entrusted the task of tutoring 20,000 young men and women to organize a course organized by Aimeng, and decided that in addition to a guide to buying a house, the course content would also include two hours of instruction on establishing family core values.
Aimeng compiled family teaching materials and linked up with churches and church institutions that share the same vision. It provided money, effort, and venues to hold 81 "Pre-Family Counseling Courses" across Taiwan in three months. The society made a fresh voice, showed a true and pure life, and received overwhelming praise. Without any hesitation, the Building and Construction Department once again entrusted the next level of 10,000-person counseling courses to Aimeng.
In order to encourage young people to continue participating in church activities, each church also raises raffle gifts on its own, including small household appliances, vacations, and a number of third-year mortgage subsidies. The hard-working church is enjoying a bumper harvest. Taking the Truth Church as an example, among the more than 600 students who participated in the "Pre-Family Counseling Course", 26 couples participated in the Love Journey parent-child one-day trip organized by the church, and 100 people signed up for Dad's School, Mom's School and Eight-week marriage enlightenment course (Marriage Alpha). In other regions, especially in the central region, more than a thousand people went to churches to continue taking marriage counseling courses. Aimeng also collects marriage, parent-child and family lectures offered by participating churches, and produces promotional materials according to the northern, central, southern and eastern districts and distributes them to the public for free.
▲Students at Dad’s School encourage each other and strive to be good dads.
Dad's school and Mom's school
The Truth Church brings the "Tiranu Father School" and "Tiranu Mother School" from Korea's Earth Church into the church. With the assistance of the Alliance, it holds at least two to three sessions every year.
Dad School is about presenting the biblical image of masculinity and the complete image of a father. Dad is God’s agent in the family and is also the leader, priest and shepherd. Through learning, dad can regain his spiritual authority in the family and understand his biblical mission and role in the family. 5
Pastor Ha Yongzuo, the dean of Tyrannus Study Room, explained that the purpose of the establishment of Mother’s School is: “Let mothers become the cornerstone of a beautiful (family) construction.” He said: “Through Mother’s School, we reveal the biblical image of mothers; and through Mother’s School, we reveal the biblical image of mothers; The restoration of the female image allows the original image of the mother to be restored, thereby establishing a healthy family and a clean society.” 6
▲Mom’s school introduces non-Christian students.
During the graduation ceremony, the father washes the feet of his wife and children, or the mother washes the feet of her husband and children as a graduation ceremony. Both those who were washed and those who were washed shed tears, and the school became a sea of tears for a while. In expressing their apologies and gratitude to their families, the responses and encouragement they received supported their father and mother on the road to restoring the glory of the family.
Aimeng did not hesitate to mobilize a large number of manpower to decorate the school in an elegant and refined manner and warmly receive students. In the fall of 2009, more than 50 brothers and sisters participated in the Mother School, serving 70 students, 18 of whom were non-Christians. When they graduated, they all decided to believe in the Lord. Aimeng has become an open door to contact non-Christians, and it is also a driving force in reversing gender culture and saving families.
Family revival is true revival
Pastor Yang Ningya and his wife worked together to write a prayer letter every week. Not only will we serve, but we will also raise our families; we will ask our co-workers to pray for coverings not only for ourselves, but also for our children. God values the family very much. His intention is:“Turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” (Malachi 4:6)The revival of the church must first revive the family. However, if the evil one wants to attack the church, he must first destroy the family, especially the pastor’s family. Pastor Yang called for prayers for the marriages and families of preachers.
In this Internet age, any information can be spread around the world within a few hours through Weibo7. The speed of trend influence and interaction is staggering. Taking a look at Taiwan's family and sexual culture, it is not surprising that the chaos is in sync with the world. However, the dedication and dedication of the Truth Hall has made Taiwan's industry, government and academia a great connection 8 resulting in a cultural reversal and cleansing, which is surprising. Marvel! At the same time, we also see that various churches are diligent and loyal, selflessly connected in the Kingdom of God, and share resources, which is respectful and worthy. There are four to five thousand churches in Taiwan. If they can be connected and integrated, they will be able to correct the atmosphere and create a different culture.
Under the protection and struggle of the church and Christians, I believe that the families and young people of the Me generation will gradually recover the full beauty that God the Father prepared for the family on the day of creation.
Note
1. Jane, professor of psychology at San Diego State University. Dr. Jean M. Twenge proposed the term Me generation, which refers to the young generation born after 1970. They always put themselves first, most important, and most unique.
2. Compensated dating (aided dating): It is a special sex transaction of "two-way interaction, each getting what he needs". Girls receive "aid" from adult men, including material comforts such as money, clothing, accessories, and food; adult men accept "aid" from girls, which means sexual dedication. Some middle school students and even elementary school girls seek out strangers for paid dating via the Internet or over the phone.
3. Quoted from Huang Xusheng, Survey on Premarital Sexual Behavior among Teenagers, Central News Agency, September 26, 2009.
4. Quoted from Lin Xiumei, this is a miserable society!!! Not getting married, not having children, not raising children, not living, United Daily News, November 28, 2009.
5. Quoted from the Aimeng website.
6. Quoted from Aimeng, report of the 5th Taiwan Tiranu Mother School.
7. Micro-blogging, Twitter is the representative website.
8. The great connection between industry, government and academia means: the joint efforts of the church, government and academia. "Industry" refers to the industrial sector, that is, private and public institutions, here refers to the church.
The benefits of chastity
1. Achieve your life goals and dreams.
2. Be faithful to your current or future spouse.
3. Respect the health and well-being of others and their future spouses.
4. Protect the health of your reproductive system.
5. Protect the health of current or future children.
6. Preserve the authority of married people over their families and children, and become their children’s covering and example.
7. Unmarried people enjoy their youth without the pressure of sexual relations.
8. Married people enjoy true freedom in the marriage relationship and will not have inappropriate physical and mental ties.
(Information provided by: Aimeng Family Cultural and Educational Foundation)
Suggestions and advice for churches and Christians on family and chastity
Pastor Yang Ningya:
Start with the leader, promoted from top to bottom - In the church, it is usually the sisters who enthusiastically instigate the establishment of a Christian family, while the brothers disdain it. Therefore, the senior pastor should come out, not only to one department, but to personally lead the whole church to practice together. *
Strategy is clear- If a preacher has a bad marriage and is afraid of accusations from his enemies, he will be afraid to promote Christian families. "If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:5) If a serving co-worker has a problem at home, he should be asked to deal with it first before serving. . Every pastor (district pastor) should have a good family and life testimony; they should also be equipped to teach well before and after marriage, and to shepherd the families in their pastoral areas.
Mrs. Guo Yingfu:
Adhere to principles without compromise—Some pastors allow sexual relations before marriage, as long as they get married later. The teacher’s wife disagreed, and she pointed out: Principles are important, and attitude must be love. Do not abandon the "fallen" people, but restore them with love.
Build a Christian family and become a church culture—Good examples are persuasive to the next generation, even to non-Christians.
Teaching relentlessly—The young people in 85% dream of having a happy family and have longing for home. Ethical beliefs and teachings guide their steps.
Interviewee profile
Senior Pastor Yang Ningya and Mrs. Guo Yingfu, Director of Family Ministry, have been pastoring Taipei Truth Church of the Taiwan Lutheran Church since 1978, and have developed eleven "child churches" and three "grand churches". Pastor Yang is currently the chairman of the Taiwan Pastoral Training Association and the chairman of the Christian Alliance Family Cultural and Educational Foundation. He pays special attention to the ministry of youth, small groups and Christian families (holistic care), and strives to promote the training and cooperation of Chinese church workers. one. Pastor Yang and his wife adhere to the concept of "prevention is better than cure" and work together to build a family with faith, hope, love and God's will. They have one son and two daughters, and together with their son-in-law, they serve the Lord wholeheartedly. The most enjoyable thing is having fun with your grandchildren.
Journalist profile
Yang Hanjiahua entered writing work because of his concern for families with special children. On the service platform of the Kingdom Resources for Christ Association, he met many noble souls with God’s unconditional love, which became the blessing and joy of his life.