Congress
Webinar
Hybrid
Since its establishment in 1976, CCCOWE has consistently focused on advancing the global mission of evangelism, striving to build bridges of communication and collaboration between churches and believers. In 2022, CCCOWE officially launched the Missional Discipleship @ Workplace (MDW) Movement to address the needs of workplace believers in integrating faith and work, and to encourage churches to more actively engage in workplace mission. From October 21-24, 2025, CCCOWE will host the 2025 MDW Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Centered on “The Gospel at Work: Where God Is Not Absent,” this forum calls forth devoted believers and pastoral leaders. Through focused breakout sessions, we will deeply explore the landscapes and pastoral needs of various workplace communities. May this convergence ignite a deeper unity between church and marketplace, unveiling fresh avenues for Mission. Embark with us; together, we shall become stewards of blessing in the workplace harvest field!
will be held in 2026 in Kuching, Malaysia, under the theme “Open our EAR, Understanding our ERA, Here we ARE.” The conference aims to bring together 1,500 global Chinese leaders from pastoral ministry, missions, the marketplace, theology, and youth ministries.
Three Core Pillars of the Conference:
The five-day event includes keynote messages, panel discussions, Xplore 360 workshops, affinity group exchanges, and evening testimonies. It seeks to connect participants, inspire them to discern God’s work in this era and invite them to join in His new creation.
Venue: Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia
Date: 13 – 16 May 2024
Participants: ~130
Conference Highlights Video
Click here to watch the highlights
The “Future Church” initiative began with two gatherings in Taiwan 2022, jointly organized by the CCCOWE Taiwan and Lausanne Taiwan Region. These gatherings invited Taiwanese pastors and co-workers to engage in dialogues and exchanges on three themes— “Gospel, Discipleship and Global Mission.” Together, they developed sacred imagination and identified prayer directions for the future of the Taiwanese church. In 2023, inspired by Taiwan’s experience, CCCOWE hosted Future Church @ Penang with 72 pastors from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore, embodying the ethos of “Facilitation, Connection, and Co-Creation.” In 2024, the scope expanded further to include Hong Kong and Indonesia, with 115 pastors and co-workers gathering in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, for Future Church @ KK. This event will explore the challenges Chinese churches face, including breaking through the difficulties of ministering to the younger generation, being salt and light in the rapidly evolving media and technology landscape, equipping pastors for holistic workplace discipleship and ministry, and envisioning the future development of the church.
Reflections by Ting Tsz Fung
At Future Church 2024, Pastor Doong remarked, “Building trust and friendship is an expression of the gospel.” I wholeheartedly agree with this perspective and observed how the organizing team intentionally designed the event with this principle in mind, creating numerous opportunities for interaction. Cross-generational and cross-regional groupings, ample “buffer time” in the schedule, and even chauffeured trips to the beach to watch the sunset reflected the team’s thoughtful arrangements.
Future Church exemplifies its purpose of fostering connection. The speakers did not offer quick-fix solutions but presented ideas to inspire more excellent thought and discussion among participants. I vividly recall the third day’s theme on “Workplace Discipleship,” where differing views among speakers and participants sparked some creative tension. Remarkably, this tension became a springboard for continued dialogue beyond the conference. A speaker’s memorable quote captured the spirit of the event: “You may disagree with my views, but please trust my intentions.” Through mutual trust in each other’s commitment to Christ and the gospel mission, we can continue to converse and seek common ground amid differences.
Such interactions are beautiful but, unfortunately, rare in church settings. Why? One reason is that those who have served for many years often carry emotional scars. To protect themselves from further harm, they may unconsciously “armor up.” This armor might manifest as keeping others at a distance, avoiding vulnerability, forming exclusive cliques to maintain superiority, or climbing to positions of power to soothe inner anxieties.
Thus, I sincerely appreciated Pastor Doong’s emphasis during his opening remarks on the importance of “laying down our armor.” For leaders to coexist amid tension, trust is essential, and such trust must be built on a foundation of relationships. These relationships begin with the willingness to take the risk of vulnerability—removing our armor, opening our hearts, and sharing our weaknesses, while also creating space to hear the stories of others. This is not functional dialogue but genuine friendship: sharing, listening, and broadening perspectives through mutual exchange. I am grateful for the many encounters I experienced during the event—lamenting church challenges, sharing ministry inspirations and struggles, and praying for and encouraging one another. Each encounter was a gift from God, bringing blessings to my life.
Recently, I have been reading contemporary theologian Kathryn Tanner’s work “Jesus, Humanity, and the Trinity: A Brief Systematic Theology”. She writes that all actions of the Triune God are acts of gifting to the world and that creation itself is meant to participate in this process of gifting. However, sin disrupts this process, blocking the flow of gifts and blinding people to them. As a result, humanity resorts to self-salvation, attempting to fill the void that gifts were meant to occupy with power, indulgence, or despair—only to become further ensnared by sin. The gospel of Christ is God’s gift to the world, and the church, as the body of Christ and the embodiment of the gospel, becomes a gift through the work of the Holy Spirit: believers become gifts to one another.
At Future Church 2024, I tangibly experienced this exchange of gifts. Through every encounter, trust and friendship formed, I received God’s gifts and was prepared to give more gifts to others in the future, creating a cycle of grace.
May God’s people become His gift to the world—healing brokenness, forgiveness of hatred, and light to darkness. To become a gift is to embody the gospel.
Venue: Taoyuan, Taiwan
Date: October 2 – 5, 2023
Participants: ~230
On October 2, 2023, the Global Chinese Mission Summit, organized by the CCCOWE, officially commenced. The four-day summit, themed “Diaspora · Mission · Intergenerational Collaboration,” brought together over 230 leaders and representatives from Chinese churches worldwide in Taoyuan, Taiwan, to respond to the call for global missions.
In the opening ceremony, General Secretary of CCCOWE, Rev. David Doong, openly addressed the summit’s purpose: confronting the “elephant in the room.” The program structure and meeting formats were designed to rethink Chinese church culture and its attitudes toward missions. From the seating arrangements at the opening banquet—eschewing hierarchical norms and mixing participants regardless of seniority—to forming consistent discussion groups for the duration of the summit, the organizers demonstrated their determination to break conventions.
The summit also incorporated the “World Café” concept, creating two afternoon tea sessions for informal discussions. One session featured a panel of young leaders under 40 from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia who shared their efforts to bridge generational gaps—whether by advocating for more communication, “shielding” one generation from the other, or serving as “interpreters” between the two. To maximize engagement, the summit also hosted affinity groups during lunch, allowing participants to join topics of interest freely.
Each morning, three keynote speakers—Dr. Patrick Fung, Rev. Isabel L. Chang, and Rev. Sean Long—led expository sermons based on the Book of Acts, encouraging participants to become workers sought by God: unafraid of cultural currents, steadfast in the face of trials, and faithful torchbearers of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Session Discussions
The summit embodied its motto: “Moving beyond traditional one-way communication, we engage through thematic messages and interactive dialogue.” Across eight thematic sessions and 25 speakers, the summit employed collaborative discussions to address global mission issues, share experiences, challenge current paradigms and advocate for change.
We Are the Elephant!
The intensive summit concluded on October 5. Former CCCOWE General Secretary Rev. Joshua Ting publicly blessed his successor, Rev. David Doong, demonstrating trust, appreciation, and support while candidly sharing his post-retirement reflections—both relief and a sense of loss.
Rev. Ting then revealed the “elephant in the room” being discussed throughout the summit: us. “Should the Chinese church rise? The Chinese church must kneel!” Under Rev. Doong’s leadership, participants knelt before God in repentance, ending the summit with hope and renewed commitment to missions.
Missiology, mission strategies, and mission practices were central to the discussions. Yet, more crucially, the summit challenged participants to embody the gospel by becoming a community of mutual reception and edification. In embracing unity amid diversity, the Chinese church must relinquish nationalism, and generations must abandon mutual biases. With God’s kingdom as our vision and Christ’s heart as our guide, the Chinese church’s “One Heart, One Vision” dream can transcend ethnic barriers and reflect a true kingdom mindset.
Venue: Penang, Malaysia
Dates: Apr 17-20, 2023
Participants: ~76
Conference Highlights Video
Click here to watch the highlights
The world is changing so rapidly, and the pandemic has also broken down the limitations and boundaries between regions and languages. From the perspective of both believers and pastors, there have been significant changes in how they view “the church.” CCCOWE Taiwan and Lausanne Taiwan jointly held two “Future Church” forums in 2022. During the two-day, one-night journey, pastors and co-workers lived and fellowshipped together, and through dialogue and exchange on the three themes of “Gospel Mission,” “Disciplemaking Church,” and “Global Mission,” they connected with each other, jointly developed a sacred imagination, and identified directions for intercession for the future of the church in Taiwan. Referencing the experience of CCCOWE Taiwan, and embodying the spirit of “Promote, Connect, Co-create,” CCCOWE invited pastors from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore to participate in the significant gathering of Future Church @ Penang, held from April 17-20, 2023, in Penang, Malaysia. A total of 72 people participated, and through 4 days of exchange, dialogue, and intercession within the context of fellowship life, they jointly discerned God’s will and action throughout the earth.
In the conference, we continued with the three themes of “Gospel Mission,” “Disciplemaking Church,” and “Global Mission,” inviting pastors from different regions to share their insights with us:
Gospel Mission
Dean Clement Chia profoundly explored the essence of the gospel and its crucial place in church life. He pointed out that the gospel is not just the starting point of Christianity, but also the process and the endpoint, and called for the church to return to the core of Christianity, placing the gospel at the central position of its ministry.
Pastor Perng Shyang Teng then led us to deeply contemplate the spread of the gospel in different cultures and contexts. He reviewed the transformations the gospel has undergone in different periods, from Hebrew to Greco-Roman culture, and then to modern society today. This allowed us to see how the gospel has been embodied in various cultures and has continuously maintained its vitality.
Finally, Pastor John Kuo emphasized that the gospel should not be held hostage by politics or ideology. At the same time, he presented views on applying technology, breaking through past discourses, and the concepts of respecting the environment and simple living. This is a concrete and visionary outlook for the future development of the church, which will guide the church to welcome new challenges.
Disciplemaking Training
Senior Pastor Chiru Yang from Blessed and Blessing Church in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, spoke about “selfishness” being a critical weakness in disciplemaking training. The Vicar of St. Peter’s Church, Ipoh, Malaysia, Jacob Bau, then shared with the pastors present the greatest obstacles and key factors in building a disciplemaking church. Senior Pastor Kenneth Goh from Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church in Singapore led everyone to assist disciples in developing life skills through biblical principles and shared how to apply existing theoretical frameworks (e.g., developmental tasks at different life stages, emotional management skills) to nurture disciples.
Global Mission
President John Ong from Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary clearly pointed out that a church losing its Mission mandate is like losing its heartbeat. President Ong profoundly analyzed the reasons for the decline of churches in Europe, presenting three key factors: lack of power in the pulpit, lack of testimony in the pews, and lack of the gospel outside the church building.
Senior Pastor Albert Chuang from Tamkang Church in Taiwan challenged the balance between the church’s “coming” and “going,” emphasizing that the church is not just about receiving believers, but even more so about becoming a missionary church that goes out to lost souls. Pastor Juang encouraged the church to overcome the fear of stepping out of their comfort zones, to embark on the path of the Great Commission, and offered concrete suggestions for implementation.
Pastor Desmond Tian from Lighthouse Evangelism in Singapore focused on the vision for Chinese Global Mission, emphasizing the need for Chinese churches worldwide to connect, share resources, support each other, and engage in training and evangelistic ministry. He deeply explored the 10/40 Window and the opportunities in the Middle East today, calling on Chinese churches at this special juncture to jointly commit to the Mission mandate.
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 3 Dec 2022
Participants: ~842
MDW Annual Conference Highlights
Click here to watch the conference highlights
The Workplace Is the Mission Field
In early 2022, the Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (CCCOWE) launched the Missional Discipleship @ Workplace (MDW) initiative, driven by the concept that “workplace and Mission are inseparable.” Starting in 2022, multiple roundtable meetings were held. Thank God, during this period, we have successively seen numerous MDW gatherings initiated by regional leaders in Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada, and other places.
To further transmit the concept and momentum of Missional Discipleship @ Workplace to Chinese churches worldwide and transform it into missional action, CCCOWE, in conjunction with CCCOWE Canada Region and the Work as Mission Strategic Alliance (WAMSA) from the US, held an online international annual conference on December 3, 2022. We felt that in the past, when we talked about mission ministry, we seldom connected with brothers and sisters in the workplace; and when we talked about workplace ministry, we less often connected with pastors in local churches. For this reason, in this conference, centered on the “worker,” we attempted to build a cross-sector dialogue platform, inviting leaders from pastoral, mission, workplace, and theological fields to have opportunities for candid communication and exchange, jointly promoting the idea that the workplace is the Mission Field, and participating in the mission movement of the Great Commission through the workplace. The three-hour online conference had 842 total participants, with a peak attendance of 531. In addition to the main conference message, we also invited entrepreneurs, professionals, young workers, and pastoral leaders to share their experiences with us in workshops.
Missional Discipleship @ Workplace – Why? What? How?
Rev. David Doong (General Secretary, CCCOWE)
Rev. David Doong, General Secretary of CCCOWE, shared with us in the main message – why should we talk about Missional Discipleship @ Workplace?
How then should we live as disciples in the workplace, where action and decision-making are constantly required? Pastor Doong shared that whether in the workplace or the church, compared to the world’s culture that pursues efficiency, we should rather pursue “doing the right things.”
Dear, I’ve Turned My Work Into a Feast
Rev. Daniel Chuang (Executive Manager, Spring of Water International Ministries, Taiwan)
Rev. Daniel Chuang led us to view work through the lens of a “feast.” It’s not about striving to make our work a feast, but about discovering with new eyes that we are already in God’s feast! Pastor Chuang used the entire Book of Esther as his scripture basis, sharing relevant passages that talk about “feasts.”
The First Feast: An Unexpected Feast Leading to Disaster Amidst Merriment
Today’s global political and economic situations are increasingly unpredictable. In Esther Chapter 1, King Ahasuerus, who had just ascended the throne, was experiencing a feast that seemed splendid and abundant at the time, but was on the verge of tragedy. However, while earthly feasts collapse and disperse, the heavenly feast is about to unfold.
The Second Feast: A Feast of Survival Beyond Morality
Following Vashti’s dethronement, Esther was sent to the king’s palace, presenting a contrast with another “good witness” of that time, Daniel. Daniel refused to defile himself with the king’s food and openly declared his faith, while Esther was forbidden by Mordecai from revealing her identity and background, and being sent into the palace was equivalent to intermarrying with a foreigner and participating in the king’s immoral marriage. From this perspective, Esther’s outward actions might easily be judged by us as immoral, but Esther’s testimony also reveals that perhaps the highest priority in the workplace is not whether one can maintain perfect morality and never stumble, but rather experiencing a relationship founded in God’s grace. Pastor Chuang encouraged brothers and sisters who are struggling in the workplace and feel misunderstood, to return to the Bible, allowing the stories of biblical figures to comfort and encourage them.
The Third Feast: A Feast of Grace Amidst Undercurrents
Pastor Chuang concluded by sharing that in the entire book, where God seems hidden, He saved Esther and the Israelites in the third feast. Esther’s final victory was not due to her own cleverness or wisdom, but because God had already arranged the best timing and position for her. Viewed this way, Esther’s final “successful feast” was God’s work from beginning to end (Eph 2:8-10), it was God’s feast (Psalm 23:5-6). Pastor Chuang finally exhorted that no matter what our identity is, what our workplace environment is, or how successful we become, the most important thing is for me – a servant invited to participate in the feast – to discern what God – the Host of the feast – is doing in this feast? So that we can give Him the glory He deserves!
How Can Young Christians Find Their Positioning Under Multiple Identities and Responsibilities?
Sister Helen Yi-Han Lien (Co-founder, Love Binti International)
Today’s young people often live in a “slash” lifestyle with multiple roles. As Christians, what distinguishes us is the ability to find balance and prioritize among these numerous identities, anchored by our core identity as children and disciples of the Lord. Sister Helen Lien, drawing from her rich experience having worked in non-profit organizations and currently pursuing relevant graduate studies in an English-speaking country, shared how she found her way back to her calling amidst various confusions and busyness.
Pastoral Care is Journeying Alongside Young People
Brother Jing Xian Tung (Ministry Director, Life SOAR Resources Center, Malaysia
Many young people today find it difficult to adapt to traditional church pastoral care models. However, this does not mean they are unwilling to commit to their faith. Rather, it requires someone to spend time, journeying alongside them in daily life to help them become mature disciples, and assisting young people in living out their faith in daily life, enabling them to respond to the needs of the world with both faith and their profession. Brother Tung himself is actively involved in a life group for brothers and operates an entrepreneurship platform for young Christians, providing us with insightful sharing and reflection.
Let the Church Become a Base Supporting Young People’s Entrepreneurship and Mission
Rev. JJ Tsai (Pastor, Hualien Mei-Lun Baptist Church, Taiwan)
The area Pastor JJ Tsai ministers in faces the problem of a large outflow of young people seeking education and work. Therefore, he has long focused on pastoring and caring for young people, even establishing an entrepreneurship base within the church to provide a strong support system for brothers and sisters who wish to stay and start businesses. At the same time, Pastor Tsai also leads brothers and sisters from all professions within the church to utilize their talents and become a blessing for church mission, enabling everyone to concretely participate in God’s Great Commission through their own professions, thus allowing the church to step outside the building and enter the community.
How to Live Out Discipleship Life in a High-Pressure Workplace Environment?
Dr. Ming Xi Fan (General Manager, MediaTek’s Communication System Design Department.)
In a workplace environment that pursues performance and money, Dr. Fan shared with us how, as an “expat from the Kingdom of Heaven,” he relies on God to live a life pleasing to God and make right decisions every day.
The Workplace Is the Mission Field, Everyone Can Participate in Mission”
Speaker: Rev. Eunice Yeo (Founder, Soaring Eagle International)
Tentmaking mission involves spreading the gospel in cross-cultural regions, even in creative access nations, while working as a professional. What challenges do tentmakers face? How can mission be done in difficult creative access regions? In addition to introducing tentmaking mission, Pastor Yeo also reviewed the history of Christian missions to look at the current stage where everyone is called to Mission, enabling Christians from all walks of life to play a crucial role in mission.
Four Key Factors for Professionals Participating in Mission
Susan (Coordinator of Missions Mobilization Strategy in Creative Access Nations)
It is increasingly difficult for full-time missionaries to enter creative access nations today, hence there is a great need for more Christians to enter these regions using their professions. However, living and doing mission in creative access nations is not easy. Susan shared from a practical perspective how Christians should prepare themselves.
As corporate executives, we often need to face the forefront of major environmental changes and easily experience extreme situations “from having everything to having nothing.” As entrepreneurs and as Christians, what is the faith we need to hold onto amidst these changes? How can we continuously rely on God and dedicate our lives to Him?
How Can High-Pressure Entrepreneurs Find Rest in the Lord?
Dr. Ricky Szeto (CEO and Executive Director of Hung Fook Tong Group, Hong Kong)
Dr. Ricky Szeto’s own business journey has been full of turbulence and changes, with both highs and lows, and he has genuinely experienced God’s saving grace. In this sharing, he explained the common challenges global businesses face today, the unique aspects of East Asian businesses, and how Christian entrepreneurs can emit the fragrance of Christ in the workplace.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Participate in God’s Heart for the World
Dr. Eric Wang (Managing Partner, GRC SinoGreen Fund)
Dr. Eric Wang once considered responding to God with full-time ministry. However, God led him to enter the business world to respond to the Great Commission. Dr. Wang did not forget his passion for service, and through actively participating in missional actions, he realized that regardless of identity, everyone is weak and lacking and needs God’s grace.
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 15 Dec 2022
Attendees: ~16
The sixth MDW Roundtable Meeting, initiated by CCCOWE, successfully concluded on December 15, 2022. We were privileged to invite Dr. Annie Pan, Lam Ko Kit Tak Associate Professor of Practical Studies at China Graduate School of Theology, to speak on “Returning to the Lord’s Love.” Her presentation encouraged participants to emulate long-standing spiritual traditions from church history, enabling them to return to the rest and love promised by the Lord amidst a rapidly changing era.
Throughout her ministry journey, Dr. Pan has accumulated extensive experience in shepherding brothers and sisters in the workplace. She observed that the global environment has undergone significant changes over the past five years, leaving many workplace Christians physically and mentally exhausted. They particularly need to find ways to settle their hearts and understand God’s will in this volatile period. Therefore, this session introduced several long-standing spiritual traditions from church history to guide brothers and sisters in spiritual practice.
The Intersection of Practical Theology, Spiritual Theology, and Workplace Ministry
A shared core principle between Practical Theology and Spiritual Theology is the call to engage in inner theological and spiritual discernment within our current circumstances. This enables us to align with God’s will and take corresponding action. The primary focus of spiritual renewal should first empower us to embrace God’s grace through “repentance and turning to God.” Second, it involves discerning “how God’s kingdom is unfolding” in our present context, so we can actively join God’s work rather than dwelling in past regrets. These principles are highly applicable to brothers and sisters in the workplace, fostering sensitivity to God’s kingdom and work, and preventing deception by superficial worldly appearances.
Establishing a Spiritual Rhythm in Workplace Life
The rhythm of the “Liturgical Year” involves spiritual disciplines based on biblical feasts and natural cycles. Its core lies in being Christ-centered, encouraging reflection on the life, death, resurrection, and certain return of Jesus Christ through these periods. This helps the faith community move forward consistently, anchored by this stable rhythm even in chaotic times. Historically, the practice of the liturgical year empowered the church to maintain hope even amidst periods of persecution, the Black Death, and wartime turmoil. After the Reformation, Protestant spiritual theology shifted its emphasis from the resurrection to the suffering inherent in cross theology. However, this shift might inadvertently diminish our hope for the afterlife and our courage to face the present. Reflecting on Christ’s entire life and proclaiming His certain return equips us with a renewed perspective, enabling us to return to our daily lives and confront everyday toil and troubles.
Steps for Inner Renewal in the Workplace
Many spiritual formation books commonly mention “three basic steps for spiritual renewal”:
Practicing within the liturgical seasons, guided by these steps, can help our hearts be renewed in the right direction. It assists brothers and sisters in the workplace in creating a necessary distance from the world, turning back to God, and being filled by Him. This renewed perspective allows us to see beyond workplace appearances, perceive the true spiritual kingdom, and empowers us with the clarity and direction to walk the path of the cross.
Adjusting the Direction of Prayerful Desires in the Workplace
We need to first empty our hearts to be truly filled by God. Brothers and sisters in the workplace often find their spirits weighed down by professional burdens. Dr. Pan reminded us not to perceive workplace burdens and challenges as “great,” but rather to emulate Mary, the mother of Jesus, who “magnified the Lord.” Knowing that we are simply to do our best, and that God is ultimately responsible for the final outcome, empowers us to release the burdens in our hearts.
Cultivating Positive Habits of Action in the Workplace
Dr. Pan encouraged us, acknowledging that in these immensely challenging times, we may not be able to achieve great things. However, there are numerous small acts of love we can undertake. Every action performed in the workplace, if offered out of love to God, will surely be remembered by Him. We should intentionally cultivate ourselves to become individuals who can bless others and be blessed by God in return.
Relying on the Gifts of the Spirit and Love
Finally, Dr. Pan shared that in this changing era, we particularly need wisdom, ability, and love. Therefore, Christians must earnestly call upon the Holy Spirit. We should ask the Spirit to grant us what we lack in areas where we feel resourceless, enabling us to confront various challenges. Especially when facing difficulties, it is crucial to remember God’s grace and the inherent goodness of humanity.
Rev. Kim-Seng Toh’s Response: Shepherding Workplace Brothers and Sisters Back to Fundamental Spiritual Disciplines
This response featured Rev. Kim-Seng Toh from Pusat Baptist Sungai Ara in Penang, Malaysia. Rev. Toh observed that over the past few years, due to the pandemic, busy professionals finally had time to read the Bible. However, now that life is gradually returning to normal, many are no longer reading it. Yet, pursuing spiritual change and renewal is inseparable from Scripture. To shepherd busy professionals, we might leverage various convenient Bible apps and provide one-on-one companionship to help brothers and sisters understand the Bible. Furthermore, being familiar with God’s Word enables them to discern God’s will in their workplace lives. Rev. Toh then shared that, in addition to Bible reading, prayer is also crucially important. Many individuals in the workplace are busy; they need Wi-Fi wherever they go, but are their lives connected to God? If even Jesus needed prayer to sustain His daily ministry, how much more do busy brothers and sisters in the workplace? We must consistently return to prayer to strengthen our relationship with God. For instance, the RPG (Revival Prayer Group) movement, which has gained traction in Taiwan in recent years, is an excellent method. These prayer groups can be established within churches, or even across churches, to watch over one another, letting workplace brothers and sisters know they are not fighting alone.
Beyond the fundamental disciplines of Bible reading and prayer, Rev. Toh also cautioned that many past theological views need to change. For example, when Paul preached the gospel in Athens, he stated that “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Therefore, workplace Christians should be reminded: they are not just Christians when they attend church on Sunday, but their everyday workplace life is precisely where they experience God. We should promote the concept of “integrating faith into daily life and daily life into faith,” helping brothers and sisters dedicate their everyday existence to God. Practically, pastors should increasingly utilize one-on-one coaching to accompany brothers and sisters as they navigate daily life, enabling them to experience God within it. Moreover, what we do in the workplace may appear to be done for people, but Colossians reminds us that whatever we do, we should do it from the heart, “as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Thus, everything Christians do in the workplace can be transformed into service offered to God; indeed, “the workplace is the harvest field, and work is ministry.” Some pastors worry that if we promote this concept, many brothers and sisters will no longer commit to serving in the church. However, Rev. Toh reminded us that spiritually mature brothers and sisters will naturally be willing to commit to church service. And the more brothers and sisters are willing to serve God in the workplace, the more their spiritual lives will naturally mature, and the greater opportunity they will have to share the gospel with non-Christians in their workplaces.
Finally, Rev. Toh encouraged that all spiritual disciplines must return to a “Christ-centered” foundation. He expressed deep gratitude to Dr. Annie Pan for sharing the message of “Returning to the Lord’s Love” in this session.
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 13 Oct 2022
Attendees: ~19
The fifth MDW Roundtable Meeting, initiated by CCCOWE, concluded successfully on October 13, 2022. We were honored to invite Elder Yu-Feng Ho, formerly an elder at Hsin-Yi Friendship Presbyterian Church in Taipei (HFPC), who later participated in pioneering and shepherding Banxin Friendship Presbyterian Church, to speak on “Biblical Exegesis and Work.” His aim was to re-align our perspective on work based on the light emitted from Scripture.
The Relationship Between Scripture and Life Requires a Paradigm Shift
Elder Ho pointed out that within the Chinese evangelical church context, there is a tendency towards “doctrinal exegesis.” This approach attempts to derive universal and eternal truths and principles from the Bible, which are then applied to our work. However, Elder Ho proposed a new exegetical approach: to more deeply enter the context of the biblical text itself, following God through the Scripture as if personally present in the scene. He posited that the extent of our understanding and experience of the text will lead to corresponding qualities being lived out in our lives, allowing biblical Scripture to genuinely intersect with life’s circumstances.
Three Keywords and Three Themes in This Passage
For this discussion, Elder Ho chose the passage from Matthew 19:1 to 20:16 to explore the relationship between the text and workplace life. Elder Ho first provided an overview, observing keywords that repeatedly appear throughout the passage. First is “follow.” Second is “the kingdom of God.” And the third is “forsake.” From a second perspective, he segmented the text to reveal different themes discussed within this passage. Matthew 19:3-12 discusses marriage through the issue of divorce; 19:13-15 addresses the parent-child relationship by contrasting adults and children; and 19:16-30 explores the impact of a wealthy person’s possessions on his entry into the kingdom of God.
The Focus Is Not on Doing the Right Things, But on Following the Right Person
In verses 16-30 of this passage, a rich young man approaches Jesus with a question, much like someone in today’s workplace who has wealth but also seeks the path of life. His question to Jesus reveals a “what can I do to get what” mindset, a common way of thinking in the workplace. However, Elder Ho pointed out that Jesus challenged him: it’s not about whether you’ve done the right things, but “have you found the right person?” The second challenge then follows: eternal life is not something to be “gotten,” but something to “enter” (to enter a state).
Keeping the commandments is akin to today’s emphasis on workplace ethics. Yet, simply keeping commandments or ethics is insufficient. Jesus then mentioned that those who enter eternal life are perfect, meant to enter into a life of goodness like God, entering the realm of charity and generosity. Finally, it involves forsaking everything to follow Jesus. But for professionals, how can one remain a follower of Jesus amidst a busy life?
Following Jesus Means “Forsaking”—Adjusting the Order of Your Life
Elder Ho shared that Jesus continuously emphasized “forsaking,” which is about us reordering the priorities of our resources. “Becoming perfect” is the direction of life Jesus pointed out. In our lives, we will continuously experience gaining possessions and then giving them to those in need. Consistently practicing this is a life of following Jesus and moving towards perfection. We will then not focus on what we should do to earn more, but on how we can become more mature and perfect, and whether we can attract people closer to Jesus.
Elder Ho also shared that the three sections of this biblical passage show us how marriage and parent-child relationships are connected to the workplace and wealth. Many successful individuals in the workplace sacrifice other aspects of their lives to gain wealth, which ironically leads to brokenness in their lives. Therefore, the passage mentions that Jesus “healed.” Elder Ho posited that Jesus healed those whose marital and parent-child relationships were broken, and those who had much wealth but impoverished lives.
Brother Paul Chan’s Response: Returning to Biblical Foundations to Explore the Relationship Between Workplace and Faith
Brother Paul Chan shared that the Bible frequently mentions “work” or “the workplace,” which logically suggests there should be extensive discussion on the connection between faith and work. However, the reality is that even in the Western world, between 1980 and 2000, there were only 79 Christian books related to work. From 2000 until now, discussions on faith and work have finally begun to show explosive growth. Yet, this topic is still largely categorized within the “parachurch” sphere, unable to enter the mainstream discourse of church pastoring. Facing such a lack, the church truly needs to place greater emphasis on how to shepherd brothers and sisters in the workplace, and to do so with a biblically grounded perspective, not merely by referencing secular knowledge. Christians do not need eloquent words; returning to the Bible can illuminate profound truths.
Pastor David Doong’s Response: Living in the World but Not of the World
The values of the “modern world” cause people’s original identity to disintegrate, leading them to increasingly rely on “possessions” to define their worth. This is also a primary reason for the struggles faced by churches and Christians in various dilemmas. This “possession” model not only impacts our view of work but also our pastoral care. Today, Elder Ho repeatedly emphasized the idea of “forsaking”—not merely as giving up material wealth, but as actively letting go of worldly values. When facing the “worldly arena,” Christians often respond in a few different ways. One is to withdraw from it—spending more time serving within the church. Another is to seek to conquer it—bringing every sphere under the reign of Christian faith. But perhaps there is a third way: to live above it, with confident grace. As Scripture says, we are in the world but not of it—we live within, yet are not defined by, the world!
Practically, how can we foster a greater emphasis on workplace theology and pastoral care within the church? Perhaps church pastors need to cease relying solely on external parachurch organizations to mobilize brothers and sisters for mission. Instead, they should return to the church’s core identity and personally mobilize disciples to engage in mission wherever they are, which, of course, includes fostering a disciple-making movement in the workplace.
Discussion on Marketplace Theology
Dr. Joseph Pai shared that Marketplace Theology has garnered increasing attention in recent years, beginning with workplace ethics and expanding into discussions on workplace spiritual formation (Spiritual Theology). Indeed, practicing spirituality in the workplace is far more challenging than in the church environment. Spiritual Theology can help brothers and sisters in the workplace translate knowledge into unique personal life experiences, and equip them to navigate the prevailing worldly culture in their professional settings. The Old Testament also offers numerous examples of spiritual practice within the workplace, such as Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, and many others, which are incredibly helpful for brothers and sisters in the workplace.
Rev. Benedict Kwok Hung-biu shared that when we engage in daily Bible reading, particularly from the Old Testament, we can glean much wisdom for confronting our daily work. Therefore, we should maintain our passion for biblical study, ensuring we delve into both the New and Old Testaments.
Beyond this, we ought to assist one another in integrating faith perspectives with workplace life. Rev. Kwok also encouraged brothers and sisters to engage with Historical Theology, noting that theological discourses by figures like Martin Luther, Augustine, and Calvin comprehensively integrated these domains. This offers a holistic perspective that can help us overcome the limitations of today’s highly compartmentalized theology. Concurrently, Rev. Kwok frankly admitted that theological researchers in the Chinese world are still relatively few in the field of workplace theology. Hence, we anticipate future theological seminaries will collaborate more extensively with brothers and sisters like Elder Ho, who possess both workplace experience and profound biblical insights, thereby enriching the scope of Chinese Marketplace Theology.
Rev. David Doong highlighted a persistent tension between seminaries and local churches: seminaries aim for more robust theological research, while churches expect more practical pastoral methods. Yet, this tension can become a “creative tension”—propelling theological and church revival through external environmental shifts and pressures. Societal issues are ceaseless, but perhaps more crucially, how can we identify an essential practice of faith—discovering the fundamental principles of the Christian life and applying them to navigate diverse changing environments? Consequently, our expectation for seminaries may not be merely to offer more courses, but to equip seminary students with this integrated worldview.
Rev. Kenneth Wu responded that while current seminary teaching may primarily cater to the needs of church pastoring, we should not limit ourselves to the church context. Instead, we must integrate the lives of brothers and sisters in the workplace into seminary educational thought. Rev. Wu also raised the issue of “spiritual consistency.” Given the relatively straightforward church environment, practicing faith within the church seems to encounter less resistance and is perceived as easier. However, inconsistencies in our inner lives are often exposed in the complex and high-pressure workplace. Therefore, seminary teaching should consider such intricate circumstances to help brothers and sisters live lives of unwavering consistency.
Speaker’s Concluding Response
Finally, Elder Ho summarized the many issues discussed today concerning the integration between seminaries and local churches, and between pastors and marketplace leaders. Perhaps we could invite seminary professors to teach courses within churches, and simultaneously invite individuals with marketplace experience and biblical teaching ability to teach at seminaries, fostering humble mutual learning.
Ultimately, however, the most crucial element is “people.” What we need most is to emulate the Lord’s example, not just courses or words; we need many individuals who embody the life of Jesus, so that others can witness genuine testimonies. This is where seminaries, churches, and Marketplace Theology ultimately converge—in a particular person, in certain individuals, or within a specific group of people!
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 11 Aug 2022
Attendees: ~25
Understanding God’s Entrustment of Stewardship to Christians from the Concept of “Investment”
The fourth MDW Roundtable Meeting, initiated by CCCOWE, concluded successfully on August 11, 2022. We were honored to invite Dr. Richard Higginson, a retired professor from Ridley Hall Theological College in Cambridge, to speak on “Exploring Finance, Entrepreneurship, and World Mission from the Perspective of Stewardship.” Dr. Higginson also serves as the Director of the “Faith in Business” ministry at Ridley Hall, dedicated to helping Christians in the workplace live out their faith in challenging environments.
God as an Investor – Investing in His World and Entrusting Management to Humanity
The “Faith in Business” ministry believes that God is an investor. In the beginning, God invested (created) in this world with His own resources. Among all creation, humanity holds a special place—only humans are created in God’s image. This signifies that humans possess the capacity to “create, maintain, and restore,” which is reflected in the various professions people undertake. This authority to manage all things comes from God; humanity is subject to God’s authority and is accountable to Him. However, when God entrusted humanity with managerial authority, He also took the risk that humans might stray from His path, act irresponsibly, and mismanage—which is one aspect of humanity’s fall.
How Humanity Utilizes God-Given Resources
The Earth contains numerous resources that require extraction, transformation, and refinement to yield value. Since the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago, the extraction and use of resources like coal, oil, and natural gas have increased dramatically, leading to both positive and negative impacts. On one hand, it has generally improved human living standards and convenience, but on the other, the extraction process has damaged the environment, and issues of uneven resource distribution have emerged. Today, the Earth’s ecosystem is severely compromised as a result. The first step to addressing this problem is to return to the individual level. God has given all of us time, money, and talents. Scripture reminds us to wisely manage our time, money, and talents, and to use them to help the vulnerable. Combining these two core principles—wisdom and compassion—forms the criteria for what is now known as “Social Enterprise.”
The Responsibility of Business Professionals, Investors, and Consumers Regarding Environmental Issues
Business professionals and investors must assume responsibility for responding to the ecological crisis. Many corporate leaders are now willing to confront this crisis, as evidenced by the various green energy technologies mentioned in Bill Gates’ book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.” Even if we are not all highly influential business professionals, we are all certainly investors or consumers, and every consumption and saving decision we make will have an impact. Therefore, we need to examine: are we investing our money in trustworthy products and companies? The power of corporations is like a double-edged sword, causing many societal dysfunctions today, yet simultaneously holding the potential to lead us out of these disorders. We believe God delights in redeeming businesses from sin and setting them on the right path. The concept of “sweat equity” reminds us that investments made based on conviction require such patience and faith. Investing in companies aligned with our values may not yield immediate profits, but ultimately, we will see the reward.
Responding to God’s Three Great Commands in the Workplace
The Bible records three key commands from God to humanity:
The love for neighbor in the Great Commandment encompasses all people, even enemies. Its application in the workplace means loving all stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers, investors, and even competitors. The Great Commission calls us to live in a manner pleasing to Jesus, ensuring our actions, lifestyles, and business practices align with God’s will. May we, in whatever position we hold, respond to these three key commands of God with a life of discipleship.
Dr. Hilton Chan: Being Faithful Stewards in All Aspects of Life
Responding to Dr. Higginson’s concepts of management, Dr. Hilton Chan offered examples like the Data Governance Model and investments in Green Finance and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Today, many private and public organizations, such as governments, hospitals, companies, and schools, need to collect and manage people’s digital information. Responsible institutions are now adopting the concept of a “Data Governance Model.” These entities are merely custodians of the data, not its owners; thus, owners retain the right to access and use their data at any time. Through this new type of management model, we can more wisely safeguard people’s rights. Furthermore, regarding investment choices, Dr. Chan personally invests in the electric vehicle industry as a way to protect the natural environment and supports companies that implement ESG indicators (Environmental, Social, Governance). Beyond this, governments cannot always steadfastly implement environmental protection measures; public participation and advocacy are needed, and Christians, in particular, should not shirk this responsibility! The rise of micro-enterprises within platform-based businesses is also worth our attention today. Micro-enterprises are generally more environmentally friendly, emphasize responsibility for the environment in consumption and production activities, and help reduce unemployment. They represent an emerging business model worthy of our investment and participation.
Rev. Willis Han: Caring for Creation in Response to God’s Glory
God commanded humanity to care for His created world. The severely damaged ecological environment today presents an urgent challenge to human stewardship, and climate change compels humanity to confront environmental care. However, Chinese churches, overall, tend not to recognize the importance of environmental care. This is because Chinese church theological discourse often bifurcates the spiritual and the secular, failing to see the value of the created world. We need to break through this worldview through holistic mission (holistic ministry). Holistic mission believes that God created the universe for Himself, such that when we care for this created world, which reflects God’s glory, this action becomes part of Mission. Mission agencies and church leaders should actively embody and convey the message of environmental care. We hope that through the actions and reflections of all, Chinese churches will increasingly care for the environment in the future, not just for human benefit, but for God’s glory.
Speaker’s Concluding Response
We observe that Christians globally are already deeply involved in charity and giving. However, in their investment behaviors, they often do not apply the same wisdom and principles to manage their resources. Christians should integrate the principles applied in both charity and investment, acting according to God’s will in both domains. Climate change and how to invest have become the most critical issues facing humanity today. The world is gradually awakening from past mistakes, and the church should not lag behind!
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 9 June 2022
Attendees: ~22
The third MDW Roundtable Meeting, initiated by CCCOWE, was successfully held on June 9, 2022. The meeting was honored to have Rev. Edmund Chan, leadership mentor at Covenant Evangelical Free Church in Singapore and founder of the Global Alliance of IDMC, as the guest speaker. Rev. Chan believes that whether in leadership studies, discipleship, or marketplace ministry, if we do not understand the importance of “leading from the inside out,” we are prone to soul fatigue, losing the strength and courage to respond to God’s calling. To build this “inside-out” quality of life, we must understand “soul fatigue” and how to overcome it. Therefore, in this meeting, he addressed the topic of “Overcoming Soul Fatigue,” returning to the biblical foundation to redefine “success” and presenting five key elements for living out “inside-out” leadership in the marketplace.
The Importance of Understanding “Soul Fatigue”
Rev. Chan explained why understanding “soul fatigue” is crucial for marketplace leaders and disciple-makers. He believes that Christian ministry is a natural outflow of inner life, and the quality of inner life determines the quality of ministry. Therefore, paying attention to inner life is vital for living out discipleship and reflecting the image of Jesus in every sphere where we are called. Lack of awareness of “soul fatigue,” and consequently not knowing how to overcome it, will inevitably hinder us from fulfilling our ministry and carrying out God’s calling on our lives.
Rev. Chan used the story of “the dying king and his four wives” as an analogy for what we tend to value in life and our neglect of our inner “soul.” For example, we cherish our physical bodies, possessions that define our happiness and identity, and the constant companionship of family and friends. However, none of these can accompany us into the afterlife; only our souls can. Yet, in our lives, we often choose to be busy with the many demands of life, ministry, the workplace, work, and career, neglecting to care for our “souls.”
Christian Success is “Becoming a Faithful Steward”
Next, Rev. Chan returned to the Bible to redefine “success.” He believes that for Christian disciples, success is not defined by worldly standards but by whether we respond to God’s calling to stewardship. This means that becoming a “faithful steward” before God is more important than achieving worldly success. According to Scripture, the practice of Christian stewardship must align with God’s will. While Christian disciples share a common calling to stewardship, they also possess unique gifts and identities. If we want to be considered successful by God, it means we must follow His calling and properly use the gifts He has given us to fulfill His will. The decisive indicator of a successful Christian steward is faithfulness. Faithfulness is measured by whether we “finish well” at the end of our lives. Many obstacles can prevent a person from finishing their stewardship well, and one of the main obstacles is “soul fatigue.”
Exploring the Symptoms, Causes, Consequences, and Solutions of “Soul Fatigue”
Three Symptoms of “Soul Fatigue”
Rev. Chan believes there are three symptoms of “soul fatigue.” First, a sense of rush – feeling hurried and rushed amidst busyness. Rush is essentially a form of stress felt when one’s inner capacity cannot match the external environment or is insufficient to cope with external changes. As a result, tasks control us rather than us controlling tasks. Second, boredom. Under pressure, people become numb and apathetic. On the one hand, they feel rushed, but on the other hand, they feel that life is monotonous, lacking novelty and excitement, with nothing to be enthusiastic about. Third, isolation. We feel lonely and misunderstood, a consequence of losing passion.
Internal Causes of “Soul Fatigue”
Rev. Chan summarized three internal causes of “soul fatigue”: “running on empty,” “running after emptiness,” and a “flawed inner script.”
Jeremiah 2:5 states, “This is what the Lord says: ‘What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.'” This verse highlights the internal cause of soul fatigue: first following worthless gods, then becoming worthless ourselves. Running on empty leads to soul poverty, while running after emptiness leads to an addiction to emptiness. Once we are running on empty and uncontrollably pursuing emptiness, soul poverty not only depletes our inner reservoir but also makes our souls addicted to everything that destroys life.
The third cause stems from our “flawed inner script,” where we believe our self-worth comes from having things to do. However, the correct inner script is to recognize our true identity – God’s children. We are loved and valuable because God loves us, not because of what we are doing. One’s understanding of identity affects our sense of security and worth. Our first and most important identity is not being a successful leader, but clearly recognizing ourselves as God’s children.
Consequences of “Soul Fatigue”
Soul fatigue leads to three consequences: loss of clarity, loss of courage, and loss of joy. First, the loss of clarity, along with a gradual shift in one’s value system. Second, the loss of courage to respond to God’s calling. We fail to respond to God-assigned tasks because we believe we are too busy or incapable, yet we spend time on things that become soul addictions and distractions. This is because our souls are too weary and need to escape the pain of rush, boredom, and isolation, further diminishing our capacity to take on more tasks. Third, the loss of joy. Psalm 100 is a song of celebration and joy. The mark of a Christian is serving with heavenly joy, finding strength in all circumstances. When our souls see God’s overflowing grace and sense His presence, we become abundant, grateful, and profound, moving forward in heavenly gratitude and joy. But when our souls are weary, empty, or chasing after emptiness, we allow our flawed inner scripts to control us, becoming joyless. Even if we continue to achieve external success and affirmation, deep down, we know we are not joyful.
Solutions to “Soul Fatigue”
The solution to soul fatigue cannot merely address the symptoms but must address the root causes. Rev. Chan mentioned three main solutions: acknowledge soul fatigue, take personal responsibility, and change belief systems. First, acknowledge soul fatigue. Just as an empty fuel tank needs refilling rather than forcing the car to continue driving, we need to acknowledge our needs and intentionally set aside time for the Lord to restore and renew our lives. We do not try to restore our souls through activities or vacations but by “changing our lifestyles” to address soul fatigue. Second, take personal responsibility. This means examining and caring for our personal lives and revising our priorities. Third, change our belief systems from having to accomplish more things to simply fulfilling God the Father’s will. Our flawed inner scripts constantly lead us to commit to or reject external things, but when we allow our souls to return to a place of quietness, seeking time in Scripture and intimacy with the Lord, we can reorder our priorities and recognize and embrace God’s calling and tasks. When we can fully say “yes” to the Lord, we can say “no” to everything else in the world.
Five Keys to Marketplace Leadership
After discussing soul fatigue and the renewal of inner life, Rev. Chan addressed the practical application: how to become a marketplace leader who leads “from the inside out”. He shared five keys to marketplace leadership: curating clarity, re-staging the risk horizon, auditing alignment, zooming in on zeal, and yielding yieldedness.
First, curating clarity. This is the primary task of entrepreneurial leadership and must be developed on the foundation of “clearly understanding God’s calling” and “clear core values.” He emphasized the importance of filtering core values because everything may be good, but not necessarily worth doing. Therefore, it’s not just about filtering values, but filtering the best core values, biblical values, to respond to God’s calling.
Second, re-staging the risk horizon, which is assessing risk and making trade-offs. Marketplace leaders must avoid two extremes: risk avoidance and impulsively jumping into risk. We cannot passively avoid risk without making changes, but we must also be clearly aware of risks while seizing opportunities and potential, otherwise, we will fall into impulsive risk-taking. Therefore, re-staging the risk horizon means having objective evaluation criteria for risk and trade-offs, constantly seeking God’s wisdom and guidance.
Third, auditing alignment. This means that when we face many challenges and potential compromises in the marketplace, we must maintain alignment with the Lord’s values and our core values, walking with Him. It’s not just about intellectual understanding but living out our core values through action.
Fourth, zooming in on zeal. We will encounter many discouragements and setbacks in the marketplace and business world, but we must never lose our passion or courage. A common key that many business owners learn from the marketplace is to persevere in God, maintaining enthusiasm, zeal, and tenacity.
Fifth, yielding yieldedness. Success in the marketplace is not the key; the key is to be God’s faithful servant, working alongside Him. The Bible says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” The Greek uses the plural pronoun “you,” which is a very good pronoun. Only “you” are the salt of the earth, “you” are Jesus’ disciples, and “you” are the light of the world. Through God’s help, let us be salt and light in the marketplace from the inside out.
Dialogue between Rev. David Doong and Rev. Chan: Pastoral Care Strategies for Those without Marketplace Experience
Rev. David Doong, General Secretary of CCCOWE, asked Rev. Chan to share how pastoral leaders without marketplace experience can pastor or equip brothers and sisters working in the marketplace. Rev. Chan believes that pastors without any marketplace experience can pay attention to two principles. First, pay attention to the leadership sensitivity, calling, and gifts that the Lord has given you. Second, learn by observing and incorporating the voices of other marketplace leaders.
Many pastors are enthusiastic about caring for marketplace Christians and possess pastoral gifts, but without marketplace sensitivity, they cannot understand the thoughts of marketplace Christians. Even if they faithfully pastor according to the Bible, there will be a significant gap between their ministry and the actual situations of marketplace Christians. Therefore, when engaging in marketplace ministry, pastors need to be humble learners. First, learn from brothers and sisters in the marketplace, listen to their world, engage in dialogue with them, and even visit their workplaces to understand the reality, sharing Scripture and biblical leadership principles.
Second, incorporating the voices of other marketplace leaders is an alternative learning approach for pastors without marketplace experience. Rev. Chan never tells business leaders what to do in his capacity as a pastor. Instead, he brings the voices of other marketplace leaders into the pastoral context, facilitating collaboration between pastors and marketplace leaders and offering different perspectives. Pastors can observe and learn from the conversations among marketplace leaders. Over time, these marketplace leaders also learn to apply biblical leadership principles to the realities of the business world.
Response by Dr. Hilton Chan: Reframing Ministry Challenges with Creativity
Dr. Hilton Chan (Director of Business with Higher Purpose, Canada) responded that Rev. Chan’s mention of “successful stewardship” resonated with his ongoing reflection on the theme of “the Creator and His creation.” He believes that humans, created in God’s image, are endowed with creativity to solve problems and handle crises. Problem-solving and crisis management often require designing the problem, and problems are often confined within a certain framework. If the definition is limited to a narrow and outdated framework, it is difficult to find solutions. Creativity can break through these frameworks.
He used Hong Kong’s crisis management during the pandemic as an example, illustrating how finding common values can address dilemmas. Dr. Chan believes that wisdom is defined by how creatively we ask and define questions before solving them. Redefining old concepts can often solve problems and allow two values to coexist. He believes that in practical implementation, many things are not clearly either/or, but rather, through creativity, we can find shared and intersecting areas. Therefore, he believes that Rev. Chan’s discussion of the relationship between entrepreneur, missionality, and discipleship demonstrated how to redefine and creatively find problem-solving methods. This can help Christians consider how to redefine difficulties, dilemmas, conflicts, etc., under the core values of faith, hope, and love and creatively serve God in today’s world, facing a challenging future.
Dialogue between Dato Peter T.S. Ng and Rev. Chan: Pastoral Relationships in Discipleship
Dato Peter T.S. Ng (Founder of UCSI Group) invited Rev. Chan to share specific actions that can be taken in one-on-one mentoring with business leaders to help pastors and mobilize disciples. Rev. Chan suggested three things. First, discuss the Bible. Listen and share devotional insights, bringing everything back to God’s Word. Second, discuss family. Understand that their families need to touch important areas of their lives, including parenting, marriage, and spiritual growth within the family. Third, discuss workplace challenges and learn from them. Listen to their challenges to broaden one’s perspective and spark curiosity about understanding their world, then discuss biblical principles and leadership wisdom. Rev. Chan uses Thought Leadership to guide the leaders he mentors, hoping, through God’s grace, to help them achieve the golden triangle of leadership: clarity, courage, and compassion. Without a clear calling, it is impossible to adapt to the ever-changing workplace. Courage means “daring to become who God wants us to be.” Compassion means that God has granted us influence and power to serve, not to conquer.
Dialogue between Dr. Joseph Pai and Rev. Chan: Returning to the Foundation of “Disciple-Making”
Dr. Joseph Pai (Former Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Taiwan) observed that Chinese churches face many difficulties in developing marketplace ministries. Is it possible to integrate marketplace ministry as an internal ministry of the church? How can this be achieved, and how can we break through? To address this question, Rev. Chan believes it is necessary to return to the foundation and core values of faith. Through God’s grace, four things can redefine the core values of Christians: being disciples, making disciples, growing disciples, and mobilizing disciples. God has a redemptive mission for the world. If we can define everything through God’s calling, for the sake of His redemptive mission, then everything else will return to the church’s core mission. Otherwise, we are merely trying to be busy in various areas, such as being good family members and good workplace professionals, losing sight of our role as intermediaries in God’s redemptive mission.
Rev. Chan believes that the challenge is often not with marketplace ministry itself but with church culture. In Chinese churches, when discussing how to develop successful marketplace ministries within the church, the most fundamental definition often depends on who makes the decisions, who has the final say, what the church’s priorities are, what channels, platforms, and ministries attract attention, etc. Churches lack leaders, furthermore, churches have many other needs. Starting a marketplace ministry requires resources and leadership, which means reallocating leadership and resources, easily leading to a Silo Effect.
Therefore, when facing various needs, we must return to the question: what is the church’s most important and fundamental calling? That is, making disciples to respond to God’s desire to redeem the world. In leadership, this perspective allows us to thoroughly consider the process and timeline for completing the task. When we make disciples, we naturally will not neglect the aspects of the workplace and family. Disciples are nurtured in the family and in the workplace. This perspective also helps us plan a three-year journey that truly contributes to disciple-making, not just a series of courses. Rev. Chan also shared that he has seen churches with successful marketplace ministries, but excellence in one area often involves trade-offs in other areas. Even if a church establishes a very successful marketplace ministry, it may not necessarily be successful in other ministries. The point is that there is no perfect church; every church has its own struggles.
Response by Rev. Benedict Kwok Hung-biu: Emphasizing Marketplace Ministry within the Church
Rev. Benedict Kwok Hung-biu (James Cheung Professor of Theology/Vice President) found Rev. Chan’s emphasis on marketplace discipleship being inside-out rather than outside-in to be very insightful. He used his church’s implementation of marketplace ministry curriculum as an example, mentioning that promoting new courses requires communication, coordination, and a shared vision among multiple departments within the church. Developing new courses also requires valuable resources from external colleagues.
Rev. Kwok observed that from a bottom-up perspective, establishing a marketplace ministry director position does not effectively change the church’s emphasis on marketplace ministry. If marketplace ministry is treated as secondary, with only three Sunday sermons dedicated to it annually, it cannot be effectively promoted throughout the entire church. Especially in Chinese churches, where many departments operate independently, it is difficult to achieve synergy. Therefore, the senior pastor’s decision is crucial. Only when the concepts and values of marketplace ministry are integrated into the pastoral care of all church departments can marketplace ministry be effective. This approach echoes Rev. Chan’s reminder to redefine the concept of “marketplace ministry.” As Rev. Chan shared, marketplace ministry begins with building inner life, followed by marketplace missions, which are action-oriented witnessing. Therefore, the order of “inside-out” rather than “outside-in” is crucial.
Churches are accustomed to relying on external organizations to promote marketplace ministry. However, to promote marketplace missions within the church, it is necessary to understand the church’s specific operational methods, habits, and structural conditions. Dr. Kwok, currently serving as a consultant pastor, can share many ideas about marketplace missions with churches. However, he emphasizes that he cannot impose his ideas on every church because each church has its own internal issues and priorities to address. He agrees with Rev. Chan’s point about finding the church’s core values. He adopts an “accompanying” approach, helping them find their core values, but not just focusing on the church’s shortcomings but also recognizing the many external spiritual resources God has already provided to the church, achieving resource sharing with those external resources.
Response by Rev. Daniel Chuang: Reshaping Our Perspective on Today’s World through God’s Word
Rev. Daniel Chuang (CEO of Spring of Water International Ministries Taiwan) responded to Rev. Chan’s point about the inner state of life affecting the outward expression of ministry with Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He believes that this promise of entering into a relationship determines who we are before what we should do.
Rev. Chuang used the Psalms as an example. The 150 Psalms express a range of emotions similar to the joys and sorrows of the workplace. The first five books of Psalms each conclude with a hymn of praise. This doesn’t imply political correctness, that we must always say what God wants to hear. People in the workplace encounter many difficulties and desperately need spiritual mentors to listen to their anxieties, struggles, weariness, and complaints. Praise is often the most difficult thing. Jewish people understand the harsh realities of life, yet in the compilation of the Psalms, each book ends with praise to God. This is because praise focuses on “who God is,” unlike thanksgiving, which focuses on “what God has done.” Knowing who God is depends on our establishing an “I-and-Thou” relationship with Him, returning to a simple “we and You” relationship without any intermediary, and simply praising Him.
When Rev. Chan spoke about “success,” he mentioned that how we finish is important. Rev. Chuang added that the so-called final ending is not centered on us but on the faithfulness of God. Everything in time will disappear; no one remembers the past. Only from the perspective of God’s faithfulness can success be eternally remembered. God has placed the concept of “eternity” in our lives, allowing us to carry this concept into workplace discipleship. Therefore, we must move from the unknown and unfinished to the known and finished. There will always be unfinished tasks and unknown challenges in the workplace, but it is also important for pastors to help workplace Christians see what God has already done and what they already know. This is precisely what Rev. Chan shared: in his pastoral care, he always returns to what God has already said.
Rev. Chuang appreciates Stanley Hauerwas’ Narrative Theology, which reminds us that God’s word shapes the Christian perspective, and the Christian narrative is an expression of life, a unique and true worldview that reflects how we see the world. Taking Naomi from the Book of Ruth as an example, she left Bethlehem during a famine and returned during a famine in her life. Her perspective on her life shifted from sweetness to bitterness. Workplace companions often feel that their lives are bitter. As seen in Ruth 1:6 through chapter 4, Naomi’s objective circumstances did not change (her husband and sons died); Naomi’s workplace was painful, but why could her life ultimately be sweet? The political and economic pressures and environmental uncertainties Naomi faced persisted, just like the pain and pressure of the workplace remained unchanged. Pastors often think about how to empower them in such situations, but they cannot; only God’s word can help them see the eternal promises that transcend objective difficulties.
Rev. Chuang then considered Boaz. From a workplace perspective, Boaz encountered another companion in life’s workplace: Ruth. In Ruth chapter 4, Boaz discussed the land issue with the closest relative, which was actually a discussion about Ruth. While Boaz was discussing with the closest relative, the relative only wanted to increase his possessions. Boaz used excellent language strategies, demonstrating an important inner value, focusing on the legacy of another, and how to preserve the estate of a deceased person (Elimelech). Boaz’s example can serve as a model for pastors to consider an eternal perspective when helping workplace companions weigh gains and losses and uphold inner values.
Finally, Rev. Chuang mentioned that conducting discipleship training in the workplace and guiding workplace companions to see the sovereignty of God is invaluable. Even if the external environment is full of variables, knowing that God is already in control allows us to live out the calmness of a disciple’s life. As seen in Ruth, God was already sovereign during the famine, and the testament to God’s sovereignty is God’s word. Therefore, it is crucial to lead workplace companions to read God’s word and see that God’s sovereignty has not changed from the past, present, and future. Cultivating calmness in the lives of workplace disciples focuses on helping them see that God is already in control and has always been in control. They are not living in a future where God has not yet worked but in a present where God has already worked.
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 7 April 2022
Attendees: ~25
Understanding “Seeing God at Work: The Beatific Vision and the Workplace”
The second MDW Roundtable Meeting, initiated by CCCOWE, successfully concluded on April 7, 2022. We were once again honored to invite Dr. R. Paul Stevens, Chairman and Founder of the Institute for Marketplace Transformation in Vancouver, and Retired Emeritus Professor of Marketplace Theology at Regent College, to present on “The Beatific Vision and the Workplace.”
The “Beatific Vision,” more formally translated as “榮福直觀,” is a concept common in Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Wesleyan traditions. Its meaning is “for humanity to directly encounter God face-to-face, to fully know God, and to receive ultimate blessedness.” Traditionally, this blessing was often thought to be realized only after death. However, in marketplace theology, Dr. Stevens believes we can glimpse a portion of this blessing in this life, by discerning God’s presence through all elements of our workplace experiences.
Seeing God in Every Aspect of the Workplace
To illustrate how our work in the marketplace is indeed intimately connected with “seeing God,” Dr. Stevens sequentially referenced several theologians and his own research. First, French theologian Jacques Ellul, through the message of Ecclesiastes, revealed the truth that “If you do nothing, you will not understand God’s work.” [1] Second, British theologian Derek Kidner interpreted the message of the Psalms as: “As creators at work, humans merely tap into the mystery of God’s creation—’bringing new life to creation’—through their efforts.” [2] Lastly, Dr. Stevens shared insights from the Book of Job, the Psalms, and his travels worldwide, realizing that God reveals His wonderful, unfathomable works through nature. In the Gospels, God is seen through the miracles and wonders performed by Jesus. Beyond the wonders of nature and miracles, Dr. Stevens asserted that we can see God in the following workplace experiences:
Living a “Sacramental Unity” Lifestyle: Prayer is Work, Work is Prayer
However, for Christians in the workplace, as we are busy with daily work, how can we discern God’s presence within it? In the Middle Ages, some in the Catholic Church began advocating for a “mixed life,” which combined contemplative meditation (Mary) with active engagement (Martha). Pope Gregory the Great even proposed a radical lifestyle of “Sacramental Unity.” [3] He believed that all worldly professions (regardless of sacred or secular nature) and all their elements (the material necessities for our lives, relationships with colleagues, the monotony and toil of daily work routines) can become mediums through which we experience and know God.
Prayer is Work, Work is Prayer
Dr. Stevens further elucidated how we can experience this unified life through the Benedictine motto “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work). He proposed “Ora est Labora (Prayer is Work)” and “Labora est Ora (Work is Prayer),” signifying that “prayer” is not merely the act of praying itself, but a life attitude of relying on God in all matters. When we work in the workplace with this attitude, our work becomes a prayer offered to God. A life like Job’s, one of dialogue with God rather than debate, truly embodies what the Apostle Paul referred to as “praying without ceasing.”
Partially Experiencing “The Beatific Vision” in This Life
Gregory of Nyssa believed that when we possess a heavenly perspective, we can use every element of daily life to see and know God, and thereby experience a partial Beatific Vision in this life. [4] 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 mentions that what we currently see is indeed unclear, yet through “praying without ceasing,” we can discern the trajectory of God’s actions. Finally, Dr. Stevens concluded with an article from The Initiatives: “Imagining toil and turmoil as sacramental moments is not easy…. Entwined with the ordinary we know so well is the extraordinary we barely recognize. Yet as in a distant remembering, we deeply yearn for this extraordinary. It is a love so knowing and embracing in our circumstances that it redeems the very stuff of our work and our existence. Through that redemptive love, our very selves are made sacrament, are raised up, are blessed and broken…bread of and for lives we lead on the job, around the home and in the neighbourhood.” [5]
Response from Dr. Jean Lee: Discerning God’s Presence Amidst Daily Toil
Following Dr. Stevens’ sharing, Dr. Jean Lee, Abundant Grace Professor (Theological Studies) and Dean at China Graduate School of Theology, used two examples to illustrate “how to see and experience God in the struggles, pain, and even injustice of daily work.” She recounted how a cleaning staff member, despite being ignored and neglected by their manager, persisted in greeting him daily, testifying to God with the conviction, “This is my work done for the Lord.” The second story concerned a sister employed by a devout Buddhist boss. She successfully managed a stable prayer group in a Buddhist environment and organized annual Christmas caroling events in the office. Yet, behind this “success,” she regularly faced value conflicts vastly different from her boss’s and endured the toil of her work. Dr. Lee believes that in the real journey of work, pain and grace are often coexistent and intertwined. She reminded the Church of the need to help brothers and sisters discover the traces of grace in their work, urging them not to focus solely on the part of grace while neglecting to accompany and understand the part involving pain and confusion. She emphasized equipping congregants to learn to listen and discern God’s presence in their personal stories, encouraging mutual support through darkness and struggles.
Response from Professor Natalie Chan: Cultivating Spiritual Disciplines – Connecting with God in Daily Life
Addressing Dr. Stevens’ sharing on “how one ‘can’ see God in the workplace,” Professor Natalie Chan, Director of the Bethel Ray Bakke Centre for Urban Transformation at Bethel Bible Seminary, Hong Kong, responded by explaining “‘how to’ help brothers and sisters see God in the workplace.” She specifically highlighted the “Ignatian Spirituality Exercises,” which she has recently learned from Catholicism and actively practices. The Ignatian Exercises are a spiritual discipline of self-reflection and awareness in God’s presence, emphasizing not merely reflecting on the superficiality of daily experiences, but using these experiences as material to delve deeply into one’s inner self and discern the movements of the heart. Through this reflective process, God transforms our inner being, cultivating an eye to recognize God’s will in daily life. She suggested that workplace Christians dedicate at least fifteen minutes daily to simple self-reflection. This consciously allows God to guide us in reviewing the past day’s experiences and praying for His presence in the coming day.
Response from Brother Paul Chen: Reaffirming the Importance of Applied and Practical Theology
Brother Paul Chan, a Ministry Staff member at Go Live Serve (活傳國際), believes that if basic sciences are not transformed into applicable knowledge, they lose connection with our lives and become useless. Having been involved in Chinese churches for a long time, he felt that churches historically struggled to help workplace Christians face work challenges and understand the meaning of work. However, with the emergence of applied professionals like Christian counseling centers, Chinese Christians’ faith and life have become more holistic. This sharing further affirmed for him the importance of applied theology, which points towards a life devoted entirely to God’s worship. He hopes theological seminaries will focus more on Applied Theology.
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Response from Dato’ Peter T. S. Ng: Spiritual Life Is Daily Life
Dato’ Peter T. S. Ng, Founder of UCSI Group, believes that the actions of Christians are like a double-edged sword: we must be conscious of the life we live in the workplace to manifest God’s glory. Yet, sometimes an overeagerness to showcase a good side for testimony can lead us to forget relying on God’s strength. Marketplace Theology, however, reminds us that God is with us in our workplace. Therefore, our relationship with God and our daily lives, including our workplace lives, are intimately intertwined!
Response from Brother Timothy Liu: “How” to Practice Marketplace Theology in a Broken World
Brother Timothy Liu, Founder of Marketplace Christian Network (MCN) in Singapore, approached the topic from the perspective of “following God in a broken world.” He noted that most Chinese churches have not yet fully grasped the profound brokenness of humanity and the world today. This era also faces many injustices between generations and genders, as well as humanity’s destruction of the environment—all forms of brokenness. This brokenness is related to sin, and thus, to the Gospel. Historically, Christians’ understanding of God’s salvation has been too narrow, confining the Gospel’s aim to saving individual lives. However, the Gospel also seeks to redeem all forms of brokenness in this world, a major issue everyone in this generation faces. Therefore, we cannot just “talk” about Marketplace Theology; we need to know concretely “how” to practice it in a broken world! Brother Liu felt that historically, Marketplace Theology has rarely been successfully put into practice within churches.
Response to Brother Liu’s remarks:
Dr. Wing Fu Szeto, CEO and Executive Director of Hung Fook Tong Group in Hong Kong, referenced scriptures from the Book of Job, depicting Job’s continuous dialogue with God. He reminded participants that without a connection with God, we cannot discern Him in daily life. When we dialogue with God, encounter Him, and come to know ourselves, we will humble ourselves! He consistently encourages himself to seriously embrace the position God has placed him in, relying on God’s grace even when his abilities fall short.
Dr. Stevens’ Concluding Remarks
Dr. Stevens strongly resonated with every question focusing on “how to practice.” He affirmed that spiritual disciplines or any means can help us see God in daily life! He deeply empathized with Brother Liu’s remarks, stating, “People often see God in poverty and brokenness.” But first, we must recognize our own poverty to see God’s presence in all of it. Dr. Stevens believes that roundtable discussions are a bottom-up approach to theology, but top-down theology should also be valued.
Finally, he concluded with the wonderful story of Jonah. Jonah was called to love his enemies. During his flight from the call, God used him to witness the Gospel. Ultimately, God brought Jonah back to Nineveh, where he reluctantly preached a message of repentance, and they actually repented! This story fills us with gratitude that we have a God who is so powerful, wonderful, and good!
[1] Jacques Ellul, Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes, trans. Joyce Main Hanks (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, nd), 226.
[2] Derek Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes: A Time to Mourn, and a Time to Dance (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1976), 15.
[3] Chris R. Armstrong, “The Problem of Meaning and Related Problems: Four Voices in a Pastoral Theology of Work,” in Loftin and Dimsdale, Work, 206.
[4] Refer to“Gregory of Nyssa: Becoming Human in the Face of God,” in James M. Houston and Jens Zimmerman, eds., Sources of the Christian Self; A Cultural History of Christian Identity (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018), 146-167 (146).
[5] Bill Droel, Initiatives, February 2022
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 17 Feb 2022
Participants: ~27
“Missional Discipleship @ Workplace” Officially Launched
Pastor Billy Graham once said: “I believe the next great move of God will be among believers in the marketplace.” Upholding the concept that “Mission and discipleship are two sides of the same coin, and calling and workplace are inseparable,” the Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (hereinafter “CCCOWE”) believes that Christians in all walks of life bear the responsibility and mission of Global Mission. Beginning in 2022, CCCOWE officially launched the “Missional Discipleship @ Workplace” (MDW), planning to hold regular roundtable meetings, workshops, and an annual conference in the coming year. Its goals are to be rooted in theological reflection, encourage equipping the church, and unite marketplace practitioners to jointly promote missions.
Six-Nation Members Committed to MDW Roundtable Meeting
Guided by its strategic positioning of “Connect, Catalyze, Co-create,” CCCOWE extended invitations to thirteen pastors, organizational leaders, theologians, and mission mobilizers who have long been dedicated to marketplace missions, forming the MDW Roundtable Meeting. Members from six regions—the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia—committed to accompanying the initiative for one year. The first MDW Roundtable Meeting was held online on February 17 this year. The team specifically invited Dr. R. Paul Stevens, Professor Emeritus of Marketplace Theology at Regent College and Chairman & Founder of the Institute for Marketplace Transformation (IMT), as a guest to share on “On Becoming a Marketplace Theologian.”
Dr. Stevens Discusses Marketplace Theology Overview
In his sharing, Dr. Stevens first discussed four benefits of marketplace theology. He believes marketplace theology integrates work and faith, benefiting the body, mind, and spirit. Second, marketplace theology comprehensively analyzes how seemingly insignificant humans integrate into God’s grand plan, answering important questions such as “Why work,” “For whom to work,” “How to work better,” and “The ultimate purpose of work,” providing a holistic theology of work aligned with God’s will. Third, he explained the sources of resistance and hardship in the workplace through marketplace theology, along with coping strategies. Fourth, non-believers can also experience a taste of the Kingdom of Heaven through this.
He then interpreted the definition of “marketplace theology” and its key practices. “Marketplace theology is the science of working blessedly forever.” Dr. Stevens believes marketplace theology is also the study of God and His heart for workers, ministries, and the workplace, and it imparts meaning (the meaning of work). He further presented the important “top-down” perspective for studying marketplace theology, as well as key research aspects for practicing it. Dr. Stevens confirmed with forty years of research and practical experience that the process of practice must include the joint participation of “head,” “heart,” and “hands.” “Head and wisdom” refers to the thinking process; “heart and soul” includes experiencing and exploring the spiritual dimension of marketplace theology through prayer; “hands and strength” refers to application. Regarding the study of marketplace theology, he believes Asians highly value practicality.
Dr. Stevens also mentioned “the differentiation of Western theology and the integration of marketplace theology.” He stated that from the beginning and before the medieval Enlightenment, the Latin word for theology was “habitus” (a disposition of the soul)—which was holistic. Marketplace theology includes Mission, spiritual life (Mysticism), the “Meaning” studied by systematic theology and biblical theology, and Morality. He believes the call to the workplace is comprehensive, and the profession itself is a calling. Therefore, the integration of marketplace theology requires various dimensions, including the Mission dimension—”hands,” the meaning dimension—”head,” and the spiritual and ethical/moral dimensions—”heart.”
Finally, he used Job as a model of a “bottom-up” theologian to discuss the key aspects of “working and resting with the working God.” Job studied life’s realities through prayer. The key was “gratuitous faith”—Job sought God not because he would gain anything from Him (Job 1:9, 14:15). Second, Job’s friends only talked about God to Job, while Job directly conversed with God, exploring suffering through prayer. This reflects the distinction between traditional “top-down” and “bottom-up” theologians.
Translation and Appropriateness of “Marketplace Theology”
Following the sharing, roundtable members actively engaged in reflection and exchange. Dr. Joseph Pai, former Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Taiwan, questioned the origin and appropriateness of using “marketplace theology” in the West. Dr. Stevens believes “marketplace” only presents a single aspect of marketplace theology; if there is no corresponding Chinese term, it might be better to abandon it and call it “workplace theology.” Elder Elaine Kung, Founder and Co-Chair of Called To Work, also believes that based on her years of experience and consideration, the concept of “workplace” is more comprehensive.
Complementarity of “Top-Down” and “Bottom-Up” Theology
Elder Kung also suggested adding a “feet” dimension beyond the three layers (head, heart, hands) in practicing marketplace theology, as consistent application is necessary for effectiveness. Dr. Ricky Szeto emphasized that the “heart” is a missing part in the workplace. The workplace needs to emphasize redemptive theology and return to a relationship with God. This is also the most lacking aspect in business schools today.
Dr. Jean Lee from China Graduate School of Theology expressed concern that believers might diminish divinity when practicing “bottom-up” theology. Dr. Joseph Pai believes that both “top” and “bottom” must go hand in hand; the former is abstract and conceptual, while the latter is accumulated experience. To complete a full learning cycle, both need to be connected, which is what is called “integration.”
Rev. Benedict Kwok from Alliance Bible Seminary believes it is the responsibility of theologians and pastors to establish connections between spiritual resources and personal experiences. However, in reality, many theologians’ understanding of theology or truth is very static, lacking openness to explore new things. They often consider “experience” too subjective, missing objective reality. He believes that “knowing God” and “knowing oneself” are closely related, so “top-down” and “bottom-up” theology absolutely cannot be separated. This is because the connection between humans and God is in relationship; knowing God is knowing truth, which enables understanding one’s own experience, referring to the “heart.”
How to Narrow the Gap Between Marketplace Theology Advocates and Frontline Pastors?
Rev. David Doong, General Secretary of the Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (CCCOWE), believes there is a clear disconnect between pastors and those who emphasize marketplace theology when discussing the subject. In the process of promoting marketplace theology ministry, narrowing this gap between marketplace theology advocates and frontline pastoral leaders is crucial. Dr. Stevens proposed four suggestions to improve the current situation. First, he believes every seminary student should take courses on marketplace theology and integrate practical action. Second, pastors should dedicate half a day each week to visit their congregants’ workplaces to understand the difficulties they face in the workplace, offering support and prayer. Third, churches need more bi-vocational workers. Fourth, he suggested that churches regularly provide sermons related to marketplace theology.
Finally, Rev. Raymond Leung invited Dr. Stevens to list a few points that those studying “marketplace theology” should “unlearn,” so that past lessons can guide future understanding. Dr. Stevens believes that when examining the concepts and practices of marketplace theology, the most crucial step is to first grasp the understanding of its definition. Second is to understand the connection between Mission and the workplace. Third, to clearly understand that work itself is an act of worship to God. Fourth is to see “how” the workplace exists as a sphere for spiritual formation and knowing God. The last point, understanding and recognizing the relationship between “God’s Kingdom” and the workplace, is especially important!
Venue：ZOOM
Date：18 Aug 2022
Participants：~600
【Pre-event Informal Survey: The Status Quo of Christian Working Professionals Aged 18-40】
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L017vUPcglY
【God, I Don’t Want to Work Hard Anymore! Live Stream Review】
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skVJGq5t_uA
The online livestream event “A Conversation about Young People’s Work, Spirituality, and Mission” was held on YouTube on August 18, 2022, from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. The event featured Uncle Mao, the host of the podcast “Church Youth Thinking Gym,” and Theology Girl, the host of the podcast “Days Outside the Church,” as co-hosts, with Dr. Wing Fu Szeto serving as the respondent. The two hosts shared their personal experiences and discussed the challenges and current situations faced by young people in the workplace. They also analyzed young people’s “Give up the grind” mentality from macro-level societal and micro-level individual psychological perspectives. The peak concurrent viewership during the livestream reached 602 people, and the cumulative views after the video’s release reached 3360.
地點：ZOOM
日期：2022年11月3日
人數：~217
聚會錄影回放：
華語版：https://youtu.be/Kpn8yG-KUSw
粵語版：https://youtu.be/zgKOk8k6jGE
主持人：黃志靖
嘉 賓：楊錫儒、陳傳華
回應人：董家驊
由世界華福中心發起的「主啊！我們所傳的有誰信呢？──離散時代下，以福音為中心的門徒培育」聚會，已於2022年11月3日舉辦完成。本次會議榮幸邀請到台灣的楊錫儒牧師（高雄福氣教會主任牧師）、香港的陳傳華牧師（播道會雅斤堂主任牧師），與我們分享如何在離散時代進行門徒培育。
我們所傳的有誰信呢？
傳福音策略的反思
楊錫儒牧師分享到，許多教會發現傳福音很難看到果效、教會成長很緩慢，若從行銷的角度來看，福音是這麼好的產品，銷不出去的原因可能就是行銷方法有問題！因此首先我們需要進行策略上的反思。傳福音是一個「對話」，我們不能只考慮說的內容，也要考慮聽者的狀態。傳福音的策略，就是一門如何與慕道者有效對話的學問。要研究策略，首先要瞭解傳福音的對象「人」。如今這是一個離散流動的時代，人在不同的地區、不同的世代，發展出不同的特性。教會有沒有針對每種不同的人深入地做分析？例如移民其實都有接觸福音的黃金期，想傳福音給移民時，教會有沒有把握這個黃金期？此外，教會也需要反思傳的「內容」─我們是否太過追求知識，卻沒有追求有效的福音對話？另一個現象，就是教會沒有一個整合起來的佈道平台。過往我們依賴個人佈道，然而這種方式難以傳承、容易放棄。若教會鼓勵會眾透過小組佈道，有固定時間與週期，許多人一起推動，甚至使用統一的教材，這樣才容易傳承與延續佈道行動，並且果效可以量化與分析。
門徒訓練就是在面對人性
最後楊牧師談到，推動門徒訓練的困難之處，其實就是要面對人性裡的罪性。教會今日訓練出來的門徒，是不是願意為福音付代價的門徒？一個願意付代價的門徒，自然就能傳福音。而門徒訓練最終就是「生命改變」的經驗傳承，具體來說是從理性主義到信心之路、利己主義到利他主義、屬地邏輯到屬天邏輯。期待有更多的教會，藉由理解人性、對付罪性，帶出更多真實的門徒。
回到基本步
離散時代成為轉機
陳傳華牧師首先聚焦探討「離散時代」之下的特殊教會處境。今日世界面對疫情、國與國的關係、經濟的問題……等等，彷彿世界已經失去了一個常態。在此之前過往安穩的日子中，根據數據，各地基督徒數量都在下降。在被認為「基督教國家」的美國，自稱信主的人數急遽下跌，而即便是自認為是基督徒的人，許多人連基本的教義都無法持肯定的態度，例如不相信有復活。而以陳牧師自己所在的香港為例，許多人沒有在教會中成長。這顯示出今日基督徒的質與量都令人擔憂。因而，離散的時代會不會不是危機，反而成為一個機遇、一個契機，讓教會回歸大使命？
初代教會福音大爆發的三個關鍵
聖經中離散的處境並不少見。無論舊約或新約，都有許多屬神的百姓在各地四散，但卻正是在這樣的時刻促使了福音的大爆發。陳牧師舉出已退休的中國神學研究院的前副院長張略教授的一篇文章，分析到第一世紀到第三世紀福音大爆發的原因：第一是使徒性（Apostolicity），教會中的門徒面對福音是否都有感受到「不得不傳」的迫切？第二個是大公性（Catholicity），建立超越民族、性別、社會階層的一個新群體，凸顯出和世界的不同。第三則是與世界不同的道德（Ethicality），在當時的社會當中，基督徒獨特的生活方式和價值觀。
今日教會門訓的成長方向
綜合以上三點，我們可以反思：今日的教會是否能夠不只是牧師傳道人在做神的工，而是人人都參與在傳福音的行動中？門徒們有無積極參與文化接觸、去到人群之中、關心社區，讓非基督徒具體的「體驗」到 神的同在？若教會有這樣的門徒，只要兩三個人一起行動就能產生福音的爆炸性。第二，教會不只是要追求人數成長，更要追求真實的、與世人不同的門徒生命，而這要求門徒們要捨己、付出代價去經歷生命的改變。陳牧師舉出印度聖雄甘地與美國聯邦儲備局的領袖Arthur F. Burns的例子，他們尊敬聖經的內容，但最終都沒有成為基督徒，因為他們發現到基督徒並沒有活出基督的樣式。第三點陳牧師鼓勵教會要跨越堂會觀，以普世教會觀看待門徒訓練。不再追求以堂會增長為目標，而是在每個地方都能使人做門徒。
福音的大能，使命的門徒
董家驊牧師回應，福音是關乎神創造的大能，是關乎神同在、帶來轉化的大能，是上帝國度的大能。每一個門徒都是帶著使命的門徒，我們不能再期待只有1%的人回應傳福音的使命，願所有人都一起來回應把福音傳到地極的使命。
地點：ZOOM
日期：2022年9月29日
人數：~342
會議錄影回放：https://youtu.be/q6MEJw9CP6s
【主持人】
董家驊
【講員】
劉幸枝
後疫時代的昨日世界—以摩拉維亞宣教為例
馮浩鎏
國際視野下的後疫宣教趨勢
王欽慈
普世華人教會後疫情的宣教挑戰與模式探討
一場疫情，為這時代帶來猛烈的劇變。生活形態之改變、商業轉型，教會生態與也不得不緊隨而變。 回溯教會歷史，深刻的疫情曾經為宣教運動留下過怎樣的痕跡與轉捩點？以古鑑今，同樣在疫情時代下的莫拉維亞宣教運動，對於今天後疫宣教有何話要說？ 而從國際視野之下，宣教運動的前景是否浮現了不一樣的脈動？不同地區華人教會所面對的挑戰是何樣的？不管是華人還是西方教會與機構，各地都紛紛討論新的宣教策略，兩年多的疫情過後，新的模式是否已漸露眉目了？而鮮被了解的拉美教會和非洲的教會又有何對策？福音大能總是在人類軟弱中被顯明。在這場空前的疫情後，我們該如何迅速與上帝宣教的計劃對齊？三位嘉賓將站在不同的時間軸，帶領我們探討「後疫情宣教」這命題！
Location: ZOOM Online Meeting
Date: 4 Nov 2021
Participants: ~298
[Panel Guests]
Dr. Daisy Tsai, Rev. Hwei Yee Koh, Rev. Ka Fai Cheng, Rev. Mu Jiang Song
Organized by: Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (CCCOWE)
Research: Regent Ministry (維真事工)
Research Report Initial Release:
Session Highlights Replay:
CCCOWE hosted a research report reflection and special panel discussion in November titled ” Youth Ministry Myths in the Internet Age: Does a Pastor Have to be an Online Influencer?!” The event invited pastors and leaders from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan to share insights and engage in dialogue.
Key discussion points included:
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 15-16 Sep 2021
Participants: ~500 people
Theme Session One: Practicing BAM Actions in Pandemic/Adversity, Seizing Opportunities, and Achieving Victory in the Lord
Guests: Benjamin Nan, Hilton Chan, Susanna Ma
Theme Session Two: Living Out BAM’s Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, Continuously Achieving Victory in Christ!
Guests: Ricky Szeto, Joseph Pai, Natalie Chan
The International Entrepreneurs Missional Disciples Training Conference (hereinafter referred to as: IEMDTC) is an international conference initiated by the Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (CCCOWE) in 2018. Its purpose is to foster connection among Chinese Christian business leaders globally, together practicing Christ’s Great Commission through Business as Mission (BAM). Currently, two conferences have been held in 2019 and 2020, along with regular exchanges through alumni gatherings.
The 2021 IEMDTC was held online on the evenings of September 15th and 16th, with “Victory, and Victory Again!” as its theme, once again gathering global Christian business leaders to rise up and journey together! Over 500 people gathered online over the two days. This year’s two major goals were: Sustaining Victory, and Mission-Minded Business. Hoping that through sharing and exchanging life experiences, participants would learn to seize opportunities in adversity, live out a higher calling, continuously achieve victory in Christ, and lead business leader believers with a broader perspective to understand the trajectory of the Business as Mission (BAM) movement, preparing themselves to participate and fulfill Christ’s Great Commission.
On September 15th, Benjamin Nan, former CEO of World Vision Taiwan and current President of CBMC Taiwan, shared that the pandemic often causes panic, but Scripture states very clearly, “We do not belong to this world!” In the life of a Christian, if they have God’s Word, they can possess a different kind of strength. He displayed the small cards distributed by CBMC to its members, on which scriptures for facing challenges, walking through low points, overcoming anxiety, and bringing forth hope could be written. He encouraged carrying these cards, so that not only could one receive help oneself, but also bring light to others when they encounter difficulties.
Dr. Susanna Ma, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Church Network For The Poor, shared that they connect social service agencies and the business sector to bring help to disadvantaged groups, enabling Christians not just to focus on their own businesses, but also to learn from Jesus’ example and help the poor.
Pastor Chan Kwok-Kuen, Professor Emeritus at Lutheran Theological Seminary Hong Kong, shared that the end of human ability is the beginning of God’s work; crisis can be our curse, but even more so, it can become our blessing, just as in James 1:2-3, 12. After trials, we can produce perseverance and gain the crown of life. Therefore, only returning to God and dwelling in Christ is the key for Christians to receive the “Way of Victory.” Jesus once said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Pastor Chan said, “When we encounter storms, as long as we persist in navigating in the Lord, we can see the lighthouse; this does not mean the storm disappears, but that we can no longer be afraid!”
On September 16th, the theme for the conference’s second session was “Business as Mission, Unexpected Blessings in the Pandemic.” The conference invited Dr. Ricky Szeto (CEO and Executive Director of Hung Fook Tong Group, Hong Kong), Dr. David Chen (Former Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather, Taiwan), and Professor Natalie Chan (Director of the Bethel Ray Bakke Centre for Urban Transformation), to bring forth hope regarding Business as Mission through sharing their testimonies of experiencing victory again in Christ.
Regarding Business as Mission, Dr. Bai believes we always hope to integrate “Business” and “Mission” and attempt to complete them together, but historically there have been very few successful examples. This is because Business as Mission must be profitable to support the Mission aspect of the work, and for a missionary genuinely dedicated to Mission, it is difficult for them to become a good businessman. Therefore, he mentioned that at the current stage, Business as Mission still need to mutually cross over their inherent mindsets and work models, draw closer to each other, and jointly explore methods of cooperation. The implied meaning of “Business as Mission” is to do Mission through business, meaning Mission is the objective, and business is the means. On this point, he supplemented by quoting the argument of Paul Stevens, Professor Emeritus of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College, stating that it is not just “Business as Mission,” but actually “Business is Mission.” Doing the role of business well according to God’s will and living out the life of Christ through it is Mission.
Regarding the definition of Business as Mission, Professor Natalie Chan first quoted a question from Paul Stevens: “Is the workplace a mission field or a mission?” She attempted to deconstruct “Mission” in “Business as Mission,” explaining it can refer to both “evangelism/missionary work” and “calling/purpose.” She stated that while it is often necessary to enter a mission field with a business identity, this does not necessarily equate to fulfilling one’s ultimate mission/calling. And while it is often mentioned that the gospel should be taken to Muslim or other challenging regions, Professor Chan frankly admitted that the places where the gospel is least discussed are often multinational corporations, and even mainstream venues like some schools and companies in Europe, where it is impossible to freely speak about or pray the gospel. She quoted Paul Stevens’ emphasis: “Our workplace is both a mission field and a mission.” When we view the workplace as a mission field, we are building communities of faith. But when we view the workplace as a mission, we are building human communities. Therefore, both business and Mission are equally important. She also briefly shared from the Hong Kong experience, pointing out that the Alpha Course has been quite effective in recent years, but even though it has led many people to faith, it has been difficult to bring them back to church buildings. Therefore, she believes establishing churches in the workplace is very important, from practices like mutually supportive small groups to Mission-focused small groups. She noted that many micro-churches and small churches that have emerged in Hong Kong in recent years are very flexible in this regard; they do not need to bring people back to church buildings; they build the church right there.
Dr. Ricky Szeto mentioned that the first relatively formal discussion on Business as Mission (BAM) was at the Lausanne Movement in 2004, and BAM fundamentally comprises four actions: First, business itself is business; every aspect requires management, and conducting sustainable and profitable business activities is a testimony. Second, in the process of operation, bring forth Kingdom purposes and influence, also bringing good impact to stakeholders. Third, bring about social transformation and positive meaning, such as incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions. Fourth, is bringing the gospel to the communities encountered along the way.
Dr. Szeto then supplemented this with an experience from his own company in 2014. At that time, their factory in mainland China had to relocate, and over 200 employees from various parts of the country were returning home. On Christmas of that year, coinciding with the holiday season, he attempted to bring them the good news of Jesus’ coming and preach the gospel of Christ. Ultimately, some made decisions for faith before returning to their hometowns. Dr. Szeto also mentioned that ten years prior, a missionary hoped to bring his company’s products to Muslim regions and act as a distributor, but years later discovered that the person was only using business as a disguise, and the mission work hadn’t materialized. This experience made Dr. Szeto deeply feel that Business as Mission, and doing Mission using business, are two different concepts. If a “pastor-boss” uses business as a means or tool for Mission, they still need to have good products and services to be a credible witness to employees.
Scripture Response
In his sharing on September 15th, Rev. Daniel Chuang, Executive Manager of Spring of Water International Ministries, Taiwan, reminded us from the life of Moses, “God is the true sovereign of our dreams!” And the true key to Moses’ “victory” was God’s promise in Exodus 3:12, “I will be with you! …you will worship God on this mountain.” He further pointed out that the definition of victory is to “serve God,” shifting from being self-centered to a “God-centered” Mission calling.
On September 16th, Rev. Chuang used Jacob as an example. When facing famine and seeing grain in Egypt, it’s like in the business world, not everyone may forge a path to success, but one must still try to walk it. When facing a second, greater famine, they also had to bring Benjamin to Egypt. From a business perspective, this is like needing to cut losses and rebuild from scratch. When a CEO must propose suggestions to the board that doesn’t want to abandon certain corporate principles, it’s like Jacob, who after Joseph, could no longer bear to give up Benjamin. He had to make the decision prepared for a potentially negative outcome. Facing the pandemic, the new normal is also challenging some of our past decisions in Mission and ministry. Rev. Chuang pointed out that regardless of living out one’s testimony in the workplace or engaging in Business as Mission, one can be limited by the restrictive mindset of “must possess,” which is related to the definition of success in the business world. But looking at the life stories shared by the three speakers today, the concept of success doesn’t actually fit, nor does it need to be applied.
Rev. Chuang encouraged us not to deny ourselves, like young Jacob who felt he had to deceive to gain blessing, but instead to understand ourselves as we are in God’s eyes. Jacob was able to bless Pharaoh, not because he could do it himself, but because this was no longer just Jacob’s story, but a story carrying the gospel of God. We are already successful in Jesus Christ. Even if, before the end of our lives, our company is bankrupt or profitable, it is already a script of success, a script in which God allows us to participate in the victory in Jesus Christ. In times of favor or adversity, we can become a blessing to those around us.
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 27 Jul 2021
Participants: ~52 people
The Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (CCCOWE) successfully hosted the 2021 “International Entrepreneurs Missional Disciples Training Conference (IEMDTC) Online Alumni Gathering 2.0” on the evening of July 27th, 2021. Held under the theme “From Spiritual Darkness to First Light,” the gathering invited two distinguished guests from Malaysia and Taiwan to share their experiences. They were Dato’ CC Ngei, Founder and CEO of Feruni Ceramiche Sdn Bhd, and Dr. Wei-Wang Chen, General Manager of Everlight Chemical. They shared how, amidst the pandemic, they experienced a transformation through the renewing of their minds and welcomed the hope of “First Light.” The gathering saw participation from attendees across ten regions and various industries.
Dato’ CC Ngei
Dato’ CC Ngei noted that Malaysia was still under lockdown at the time, with around 17,000 daily infections and 80% to 90% of businesses unable to operate – a truly severe pandemic situation. However, he firmly believed that the vaccine rollout would bring significant relief. He recalled the devastating impact of the government-imposed lockdown in March last year, describing the prolonged waiting and widespread halt as a heavy blow to his business. His financial controller even predicted an 8-figure negative cash flow for the company due to the pandemic. He admitted that in the initial phase of the lockdown, he was overwhelmed by worry and fear, unable to sleep. Fortunately, the companionship of spiritual mentors helped him turn his focus back to God. As he learned to surrender and seek God’s guidance, the Lord reminded him of the “warehouse” and gave him a clear strategy. He spent six months reorganizing the company’s warehouse and inventory, and miraculously, this resulted in an 8-figure revenue. “It was the pandemic that truly taught me how to surrender to God,” he reflected with emotion. God reminded him that he must become a better steward, to find joy in suffering, and to build stronger character.
He humbly confessed that in the past, he relied solely on his own abilities. But when faced with the pandemic, he realized his powerlessness. This led him step by step back to God, who enabled his business to navigate the crisis. He also shared how the change in his relationship with God positively impacted his relationships with his wife, children, and employees. He fundamentally readjusted the purpose and positioning of his business, realizing that beyond just making money, a company must be a platform for blessing others, including its employees, suppliers, and business partners. The pandemic prompted Dato’ CC Ngei to truly re-evaluate his relationship with God, helping him understand that he should not only call out to God in times of crisis, but rather base everything on faith, relying and waiting on God, and eventually, the dawn will appear.
Dr. Wei-Wang Chen
For Dr. Wei-Wang Chen, General Manager of Everlight Chemical, the pandemic’s impact was as overwhelming as the 2008 financial crisis. He shared how COVID-19 paralyzed global trade. With only 20% of its business rooted in Taiwan, Everlight Chemical—like many Taiwanese companies—felt the weight of the global trade shutdown all the more. Before March last year, supplies from mainland China were severely affected by the outbreak there. Conversely, the pandemic hadn’t yet erupted in Taiwan, leading to a significant increase in the company’s orders. However, after March, the situation reversed. Severe outbreaks in Europe and the Americas, coupled with transportation restrictions, greatly impacted both supply and sales. The volatility from quarter to quarter was so immense, Dr. Chen described every day as difficult, and it wasn’t until the final month of last year that they nearly returned to the previous year’s level. Beyond business challenges, Dr. Chen also faced personal blows within his family. A cousin-in-law in the U.S., who had been living a happy retirement, saw family members successively infected with COVID-19. His very spiritual elderly grandmother, who could recite many Bible verses, passed away and went to heaven just two days after being infected. Later, his cousin-in-law himself was also infected. To minimize transmission, everyone in the household chose to isolate in their own rooms, tragically leading to family members passing away in their rooms unnoticed.
Despite being attacked on two fronts, Dr. Chen shared that his heart remained steadfast throughout the process. Reflecting on the period of the financial crisis and comparing the financial situation, he saw improvements in their adaptability this time, filling his heart with gratitude. By learning to view matters from God’s perspective, Dr. Chen felt that these challenges transformed into experiences of growth, and his spiritual “heart muscle” grew stronger and stronger.
Finally, Dr. Wei-Wang Chen shared how the book Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity brought him inspiration. He pondered that perhaps the pandemic was not an act of the evil one destroying the world, but rather the Holy Spirit accelerating the process of the Great Commission. While physical gatherings have been replaced by the online new normal, the encouragingly large number of participants in online meetings has been a source of joy. Furthermore, in the fourth quarter of last year, an elderly American pastor came to Taiwan during the most severe period of the pandemic and initiated the RPG (Revival Prayer Group), which not only attracted the support of many believers but also drew in numerous non-believers. In this new normal, Dr. Chen saw that the rhythm disrupted by the pandemic had instead given rise to many new directions. He felt that God wants us to learn to let go of our old selves, to deeply experience His miraculous leading in gospel ministry, and thus keep pace with God’s steps.
At the conclusion of the gathering, the conference was honored to invite Dr. Pan Yijung, Associate Professor at China Graduate School of Theology, to lead a time of spiritual guidance, titled “Quiet Reflection and Encountering the Lord.” This segment aimed to help participants process and absorb the sharings in Christ, and experience rest. This has always been an important component of the IEMDTC gatherings, emphasizing resting in the Lord and finding renewed strength.
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 27 May 2021
Paticipants: ~50 people
The emergence of new variants has brought many nations and regions to the brink, with successive waves of the pandemic dealing fresh blows to struggling economies. Yet, the world hasn’t simply ground to a halt because of this virus crisis. Paradoxically, while certain economic activities have flourished, the phenomenon of social wealth inequality has been sharply exacerbated.
In the clouded uncertainty of today, how should we prepare our body, mind, spirit, and inner state to face what lies “Beyond Today”? And what path should we walk, in order to respond to the Lord’s present entrustment to us?
地點：世界華福中心Facebook直播
日期：2021年3月9日
內容回看：
https://fb.watch/vxo06N0WFX
主持人：陳世欽
嘉賓：萬力豪、蔡玉玲、司徒永富、沈立德
2021年2月份，基督教界收到一個震驚且沉痛的消息── 知名護教學大師拉維．撒迦利亞（Ravi Zacharias）牧師遭控性失德證據確鑿。這個事件不僅讓受害者和其家人蒙受極大的傷害， 同時讓整個基督教界深感哀痛，也引起一片譁然和議論。基督教領袖的信仰和生活內涵的真實面再一次受到質疑。同時，在新媒體當道的時代，領袖仿佛紛紛被打造成知名「網紅」。講台上下、鏡頭前後，領袖該如何操練在上帝與人前持守一致真我？
世界華福中心於3月9日舉行的網路直播論壇《前車可鑑：探討領袖的「雙面」生活》中，邀請了台灣The Hope教會主任牧師萬力豪牧師、美國正道福音神學院舊約研究副教授蔡玉玲博士、香港鴻福堂集團行政總裁兼執行董事司徒永富博士，以及新加坡神學院榮譽院長沈立德牧師。從生命故事、個人真實經驗和體會出發，一起探討領袖「雙面」生活的背後和持守真我的秘訣。
蔡玉玲博士表示，基督徒會有「雙面」生活，通常代表想要隱藏、羞恥的另一面，以致生活開始變調，甚至還會合理化另一面的需求，深陷不光彩的行為中，特別是牧者作為屬靈領袖，羞恥感可能會更強烈。
講者的分享中，提出「合理化自己的行為」、「罪行」、「成功的考驗」，以及「文化因素」是可能讓人深陷雙面生活掙扎的因素。聖經中強調，「不可給魔鬼留地步」（以弗所書4:27），只要跟惡者有關聯都不要留餘地，這給雙面生活重要的提醒，嘉賓在分享中提出幾個實際行動可以幫助我們勝過：
1.充滿愛的環境
萬力豪牧師表示，要創造出一個充滿愛與恩典的環境，讓弟兄姊妹明白自己被愛，不會被抨擊、評斷，都可以敞開心胸分享，同時，他也鼓勵我們可以讓一個信任的基督徒，成為問責夥伴。他也鼓勵弟兄姊妹，「我寧可看到你進步，也不要假裝自己是完美的人，如果你跟我們分享遇到的狀況，我不會論斷你。」
「在我自己的經驗裡，要真實面對罪，一定要讓信任自己的人參與在裡面 ，因為在我裡面有一個非常會推銷謊言的自我，甚至自己都不會發現，但當我跟我信任的人分享時，他們就會指正錯誤的想法。」萬力豪牧師說。
2.真實經歷神的愛
司徒永富博士也分享自己的生命見證。他曾經投資失敗時，因不希望家人擔心，故一切行事完全隱瞞，原以為雙面生活偽裝良好，後來才發現妻子已知情，透過妻子完全接納，仍願意用愛跟隨，讓他深刻體會到神無條件的愛。因這樣的經歷，司徒永富博士發現有一種領導方式每一個人都可以做，就是「真誠管理」，有時開會遇到難題，他都會向員工坦承，「我也沒有答案，跟你們一樣困擾，我們一起來解決。」
3. 活在神的面前
沈立德牧師分享詩篇139篇「我往哪裡去，躲避你的靈」，說道我們無法逃避神，看到經文一開始心中有一種威脅感，因為神公義、又不能逃離祂的面，之後才明白神不只是公義，也充滿愛，我們是在神的愛中被鑒察。
「神教導我活在祂的面前，不用活在人的面前，內心有自由，不用討好人，享受在愛裡的生活。」沈立德牧師說。
主持人陳世欽牧師提到，我們每一天都需要活在上帝的恩典與愛之中，每一天都是屬靈的爭戰， 特別是領袖時常會面對『雙面生活』的誘惑，求天父恩待、聖靈感動，讓我們勇敢面對，認罪悔改和好重新出發。
Venue: ZOOM
Date: 10, 17, 24 Sep 2020
Participants: ~199 people
Recordings:
The 2020 International Entrepreneurs Missional Disciples Training Conference (online) gathered Christian missional entrepreneurs from 17 different regions, with a total of 199 participants registered. The conference consisted of three online sessions held weekly. Physical gatherings were also specially arranged in Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan, and mainland China so that participants could watch the conference together. The themes of the three sessions were: “Experiencing God in Suffering and Failure,” “Encountering God in Mutual Support with Companions,” and “Facing God amidst the Impact of the New Normal.” The aim was to reconnect with last year’s participants and link them with their companions to support each other in adversity and turn to God.
Session 1: Experiencing God in Suffering and Failure
Mr. Andy Tan (President & Executive Director, Century Interfoods Group of Companies, Malaysia) and Mr. Larry Law (Owner & CEO, Living Water Resorts, Canada) were invited to share their testimonies of relying on God during difficult times.
Mr. Tan shared how the pandemic brought significant challenges to his business, affecting the supply chain and delivery, and how the impact on the food and beverage industry directly affected the company’s operations. However, he witnessed God’s grace throughout the process and expressed gratitude for clients who were willing to adjust their cooperation. The company also started developing its online store market. Through online meetings, he built closer relationships with his employees. Mr. Tan said that not having the Lord in one’s heart is more terrifying than the pandemic. Throughout the crisis, he consistently felt an unexpected peace, had more time to spend with his family, participated in small church groups, and was still with God, which strengthened his relationships with those around him and with God.
Mr. Law candidly shared that the pandemic severely impacted his resort, forcing him to lay off hundreds of employees. However, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to provide unconditional wage subsidies to his employees, collaborate with churches, hospitals, and the government to distribute food baskets and medical supplies to employees and the poor during the pandemic, and personally call past guests to encourage everyone to walk with God in the darkness.
Session 2: Encountering God in Mutual Support with Companions
Dr. Ricky Szeto (CEO and Executive Director of Hung Fook Tong Group, Hong Kong), Dr. Wei-Wang Chen (General Manager of Everlight Chemical, Taiwan), and Mr. Zest Hsu (CEO of Bless Group, Taiwan) shared their experiences online.
Dr. Szeto emphasized the importance of “walking together wholeheartedly — for without unity, there can be no true partnership.” He shared vulnerably about how his company was deeply impacted by the social unrest and the pandemic in Hong Kong. During these difficult times, he personally went to the front lines to care for his employees. While his business suffered severe setbacks, he was fortunate to have the support of his beloved wife and a group of long-time business partners. God also granted him wisdom to develop new business opportunities through a “sharing economy” model, turning the crisis around. He was moved to tears during his sharing.
Dr. Chen and Mr. Hsu have been walking together for two years through the “One-on-One Timothy Action” program of CBMC Taiwan. Mr. Hsu shared how they regularly meet, have in-depth exchanges, pray for each other, find guidance and direction for life, and work in the scriptures. This deep companionship provided him with great support when he experienced company crises and personnel changes. He now carries on this beautiful practice by walking alongside other business leaders. Dr. Chen shared his experience of mentoring a newly converted couple with his wife. During that time, he was asked many questions about his beliefs, which led him to reflect on how the values and way of life he had taken for granted since childhood were actually deeply valuable—and could ultimately become a model for others. He also sincerely shared about another person he mentored who later experienced marital difficulties. Dr. Chen initially felt like a failure, but later realized that we don’t need to be fully responsible for someone else’s life, but rather bring them to God, learn to accompany them unconditionally, and interact with them without judgment. He concluded by saying that no business success can compare to the priceless value of walking with someone and witnessing their spiritual growth.
Session 3: Facing God amidst the Impact of the New Normal
Mr. Yu-kai Chou (Founder of Octalysis Group, USA) and Ms. Pamela Lim (Founder of All Gifted, Singapore) were invited to share.
Ms. Lim shared how she has repeatedly created success in times of crisis and pointed out through two other stories that crises are like catalysts, bringing opportunities to change society and the world. She proposed four strategies for thriving in the “new normal.” First, shifting from a purely Commercial Value mindset to a PEC value model—which includes Public value, Environmental value, and Commercial value. Second, leveraging online, social, or omnichannel strategies. Third, hiring consultants. And fourth, applying for business or government funding. She emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities in the new normal to create redemptive business opportunities. Though her early years were filled with challenges, she overcame many crises through her trust in God and has since become a blessing to many fellow entrepreneurs.
Mr. Chou shared his journey from business failure to success, leading participants to reflect on the meaning of “blessing.” When he was young, his business failed, and he returned to his parents’ home but unexpectedly mended his family relationships. He worked 100 hours a week for an entire year without raising any funds—until he turned to God in fasting and prayer, and the provision began to pour in. Just as he thought his business was poised for takeoff, he experienced another failure, losing millions. Yet, at his lowest point, God inspired him to develop the “Octalysis” method. The method cemented his position as a pioneer in the industry, while also paving the way for significant opportunities in business and networking. He shared how the ethos of the old world was always one of self-mastery, emphasizing, “I can control my world and my success.” However, the advent of the pandemic ushered in a new reality, marked by a sense of, “I cannot control my world; I cannot rely on myself.” Nevertheless, his personal journey revealed that difficult trials are often blessings in disguise. Addressing the audience in this crisis-laden new era, he offered this charge: “We must now, more than ever, depend on the Lord. This,” he affirmed, “is the ultimate blessing.”
Response from Biblical Insights
Rev. Daniel Chuang (Executive Manager, Spring of Water International Ministries, Taiwan) and Rev. David Doong (Pastor of Shi Pai Friendship Presbyterian Church, Taiwan) responded to the themes of each session using the Book of Job.
In the first session, Rev. Chuang used the story of Job and the book When God Interrupts to rethink the definition of failure. He posited that failure and suffering serve as conduits for genuinely experiencing the Lord. He noted that saints throughout history have found solidarity in their accounts of failure, collectively bearing witness to God. The pastor emphasized that the life of a saint is not about how to escape the consequences of failure but about grasping the relationship of walking with God in failure and living a beautiful life. This is the purpose of our calling, so we have no real “failures.”
In the second session, Rev. Chuang used the story of Job and his three friends to point out that seemingly immature companionship can also reveal God’s blessings. He also used the stories of Paul, Barnabas, Mark, and Timothy accompanying each other to show that companionship and mutual support are a comfort to those who have failed, and walking together is a long-term process. Finally, the pastor reminded us that in addition to accompanying others, we should also be willing to be accompanied. He specifically used the stories of Lazarus and Elisha to emphasize that companionship is not about human experience but begins with the Lord’s command and is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit.
In the third session, Rev. Doong used the story of Job to illustrate how suffering dismantles our understanding of life and allows us to truly discover God’s sovereignty. He articulated that with the gift of new life, God simultaneously imparts a new mission as a means of responding to His love. He described three missions: creating a Christian culture to manage the world, loving God and loving our neighbors, and making disciples. The pastor stressed that faith radically redefines our understanding of blessing, revealing that it is not merely the abundance of material wealth that is deficient in portraying true blessing, but rather finding and testifying to God’s grace in failure and suffering, and being a blessing to others through a life into which God has intervened.
Quiet Contemplation and Commitment
Finally, to internalize the messages and sharing of the conference in the hearts of the participants, Dr. Yi-Jung Pan, Assistant Professor at the China Graduate School of Theology, was specially invited to lead 15 minutes of silent meditation in each session, allowing every weary and worried heart to come before God and be comforted, encouraged, moved, and called. In the final session, Rev. Joshua Ting, General Secretary of CCCOWE, led a commitment ceremony, encouraging each participant to dedicate themselves to praying for and taking practical action to bless their business partners, impact their communities, and spread the gospel to unreached people.
Concluding the conference, and to facilitate the internalization of its messages and insights by attendees, the organizers invited Dr. Pan Yi Jung, Assistant Professor at China Graduate School of Theology, to lead 15-minute segments of silent reflection for each session. This offered a space for weary and anxious hearts to come before God, receiving comfort, encouragement, profound touch, and a sense of calling. The final assembly featured a call to commitment led by Rev. Joshua Ting, General Secretary of the Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism. He exhorted participants to dedicate themselves going forward to blessing their business partners, impacting their communities, and advancing the gospel among unreached peoples, through prayer and tangible action, among other endeavors.
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年4月16日
人數：~977
主辦：世界華福中心
協辦：救世傳播協會、基督教論壇報
主持：董家驊、謝光哲
嘉賓：劉彤、洪立民、李明安、蔡元雲、韓敬歆、吳子平、陳逸年
聚會直播重溫：
https://www.facebook.com/cccowe/videos/223759248720261
世界華福中心主辦、救世傳播協會（ORTV）與基督教論壇報協辦，舉行了第三次網絡研討會：「疫情中蛻變的華人教會」。跟前兩次一樣，持續關心各地華人教會在新冠疫情下的需要，邀請了美國（U.S.A.）矽谷生命河靈糧堂的劉彤牧師、德國（Germany）萊比錫華人教會的洪立民牧師和馬來西亞（Malaysia）聖經神學院的李明安院長分享當地華人教會在疫情下的應對之法。
接著由蔡元雲醫生（香港突破滙動青年會長）、韓敬歆牧師（美國恩典基督教會助理牧師）、吳子平牧師（新加坡基石教會主任牧師）及陳逸年弟兄（臺灣新生命小組教會創業總監）分享疫情中蛻變的華人教會。
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年3月19日
人數：~760
主辦：世界華福中心
協辦：救世傳播協會、基督教論壇報
主持：董家驊、謝光哲
分享：柳永俊、黃愛敏、黃瑋珥
嘉賓：曾劭愷、莊信德、松慕強、陳韋安
新冠狀病毒持續影響全球社區，各地華人教會都紛紛被波及影響，甚至需要停止恆常會面的聚會！在崇拜、牧養及社會參與都遭受疫情衝擊的考驗下，世界華福中心連同夥伴機構，繼續發揮「信仰就是生活，生活就是使命」的精神，同心舉辦「疫情中前行的華人教會」線上研討會。盼望透過各地具代表性同工的精闢分享去彼此激勵，為全球華人教會及弟兄姊妹提供具實踐價值的重要參考，同心在疫境中並肩前行！
關鍵探討：
一、疫情中不止息的關愛
二、疫情中不停止的崇拜
三、疫情中不間斷的牧養
四、疫情中不缺席的社關（社會參與）
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年2月27日
人數：~397
主辦：世界華福中心
協辦：救世傳播協會、基督教論壇報
主持：董家驊、謝光哲
分享：柏有成、黃磊、趙秀娟
回應：胡志偉、莊信德
新冠狀病毒COVID-19肆虐全球，感染人數屢創新高，各地受疫症衝撃，從個人、社會到教會均無法逃避疫情帶來的巨大衝撃。世界華福運動在這刻不容緩的時刻，發揮「信仰就是生活，生活就是使命」的精神，連同各地具代表性的同工，同心舉辦「疫情中屹立的華人教會」線上講座。盼望藉此能鼓勵、祝福各地華人敎會和弟兄姊妹，在無情疫症下能化為天父祝福普世的流通管道！
討重點範疇：
1）你已知或不知的COVID-19
2）疫情衝撃下的社會與敎會
3）疫症蔓延中的福音使命
4）契機中我們能作什麼？
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年10月3日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：夏昊霝
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/EBVP1Lwbnbc
大學讀哲學，當兵參與軍樂隊，退伍後再研究機構工作，接觸現在所謂的 AI 技術。後來又去美國讀神學，回台灣後又參與有情天和 1919 救助協會的服事，現與父親一起推動微教會。一路走來，小夏牧師接觸了不同文化圈（學術、音樂、教牧、科技……），但他認為上帝從不浪費我們每個階段的人生經驗和學習歷程，往往回首時，豁然發現每一步都是有意義的。
小夏認為，現代人的生活，無時無刻都在跨文化，只是在許多時刻，當我們是匿名時，我們可以很敞開，嘗試新事物，大膽講出心中想法，把自己內心世界赤裸揭露，然而一但真實身份被揭露時，就會退縮。這是一個很有趣的觀察，現代多元生活讓我們都習慣「跨越文化」，比過往世代更懂得如何當「變色龍」，在不同文化圈中做不同的人。現代人也很看重「真實」，但這種「真實」需要一種「匿名性」作保護，一但真實身份被揭露，對於要「真實」還是有所保留的。
而這或許就是今天教會在傳福音的困境。我們常從聖經的記載，學習耶穌的「福音策略」，轉譯保羅的「福音論述」（這些都很好，也很重要），但常常忽略「耶穌就是福音」，道成肉身住在我們當中，讓我們透過他的生命，背上帝國的好消息所吸引。簡單一句話，基督徒周圍的人，有因為看到基督徒的生命，而渴望認識和接受福音？！
廣義來說，跨文化宣教每天都在發生，因為每個基督徒都被呼召，成為福音的見證人，都是廣義的宣教士，學習為了愛我們的鄰舍，跨越文化差異的邊界。跨文化宣教要成為基督徒生活的常態，重點是我們自己的生命是否「見證了福音」？我們每個人都應要在所在之地傳福音/宣教，都應該是宣教士。
小夏認為，疫情提醒我們一件事，基督徒的使命不是要把人帶進教會，而是讓教會滲透進入每個社群和日常生活的場景，每件事都可以是福音的切入點！
最後，對於華福運動，小夏牧師認為需要在 push 和 pull 之間找到定位。他認為華福不應強調 push，推動大家去做什麼，而應強調 pull，指出美好的願景， 吸引大家一起往前，並讓彼此的故事成為往前的動力、鼓勵和學習切磋的夥伴！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年9月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：彭書穎
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/mxppRk1ZlfI
最深的感觸，是我們是否真心去愛福音的對象。基督徒若只希望得到穆斯林皈依這結果，這是非常功利的，而沒有真正把他們當人看待，當作按上帝形象所造的人看待。基督徒是否能真切地與穆斯林同在，認識他們，與他們當朋友，並打從心裡去愛他們。
當我們真心去認識他們，與他們交朋友時，我們過去對他們的刻板印象被打破，而他們對基督徒的刻板印象也被打破。當兩邊的刻板印象被打破時，反倒是見證真理的考驗。若是基督徒所信靠的是真的，我們不用害怕認識真實的穆斯林而被吸引皈依，反倒有充足的信心基督的福音在我們身上的真實彰顯，會吸引他人來認識和信靠基督。
對書穎來說，跨文化指的是跨越文化、種族和語言的隔閡，進入到一個全然不同的世界觀，需要學習以不同的角度來看待每件事。這種跨越是辛苦的，但愛我們的主自己正是這樣跨越，道成肉身住在我們當中，以捨己的愛來與我們同在。
華人文化和穆斯林文化有許多相似之處，像是看重家庭、群體、和他人對自己的觀感。這樣的文化看重群體，但也可能因為同儕和群體的壓力而感到不自由。因此華人在穆斯林的福音工作上，有獨特的優勢和切入點?
對於如何跨越文化把福音帶給未認識福音的群體，書穎給教會群體的建議是，從生活中我們會遇到的人開始，其實我們身邊就有很多穆斯林。不用想動輒做什麼大型事工，而是在生活中學習與不同文化信仰的人同在，從學習去認識和愛他們開始。
書穎認為，穆斯林對上帝的「敬畏」是基督徒可以學習的，也提醒我們三一上帝是真實，配得我們敬拜愛戴，但也與我們全然不同，因此是應該被敬畏的。而真實的基督信仰吸引穆斯林之處，是基督徒所擁有的自由，可以自由地禱告而不拘於時間地點和型式。當我把上述兩點放在一起時，意識到基督徒所擁有的自由不是放縱的自由，而是在恩典中擁有真自由後，有智慧的決定如何使用這自由，自由地選擇降服、敬拜和愛上帝，也去效法上帝對我們的愛去愛身旁的鄰舍。
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年9月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：邱廉欽
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/mxppRk1ZlfI
成大職能治療系畢業的邱連欽（阿欽），人生意外踏入音樂創作，也因緣際會踏進教會，如今他結合自己的職能治療專業、音樂創作才能和客家文化的研究，嘗試以音樂把福音帶到台灣的客家族群。
在台灣教會，談到客家人，大家的印象通常是「福音硬土」，客家人很難信耶穌。阿欽認為，客家的伯公文化（土地公）很強，可能因為早期漂流開荒的經歷，也很願意吃苦，與常常被認為頸項很硬（較正面的說法是擇善固執），這些因素往往使得向客家人傳福音很困難。然而阿欽在幾年前參加了全球客家福音會議中，他看到東馬客家族群的高歸主比例，開始讓他重新思考這問題～是客家文化本身對福音特別抗拒，還是因為教會沒有找到適切的傳福音方式？
在摸索的過程中，阿欽嘗試從音樂（熟習的客家曲調）和語言（客語）切入；她發現當用客家鄉親所熟悉的客語曲風，帶入福音信息的歌詞時，許多客家長輩就能聽得津津有味，歌詞中的信息也無形中進入他們心中。然而不同世代對不同音樂風格的偏好也曾讓他困擾，到底是用長輩喜歡的傳統客家風，還是當代人喜歡的樂風來創作客家音樂？！最後他決定，何不都嘗試！
談著談著，也讓我想到客家人吃苦耐勞的特質，或許讓「苦」成為另一個潛在的福音切入點，作為連結客家文化的福音信息。對基督徒而言，吃苦不只是消極地忍耐，更是與主同受苦，還要同復活，是會開花結果的！
其實作為基督徒音樂人的阿欽，不只跨在華語文化和客語文化中，也跨在教會文化和音樂人文化中。阿欽談到許多人對音樂人有刻板印象，像是：玩音樂就是愛喝酒吸毒、縱情聲色…等。當我問他，會建議牧者如何牧養音樂人時？阿欽提醒到：不要消費他們，他們也是人，作為群體仍有高度的個體差異！
最後當我問他投身跨文化福音工作最重要的關鍵是什麼時，他答到：「尋找上帝的心意！從感動到行動！」
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年9月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：王小梅、鍾信榮、林純心
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/mxppRk1ZlfI
走進亞東劇團的劇場，看到牆上的海報，想到二十幾年前我還是學生時，也曾看過亞東的戲劇《猴子》；原來，戲劇的後勁和留在我們心中的印記，可以留那麼久！
戲劇不只是娛樂觀眾，更是吸引觀眾進入一個嶄新的世界和故事中，進而塑造我們的想像力和視角，改變我們的生活方式。亞東劇團的同工分享到，基督教劇團所演出的戲，不只要好看和吸引人，更要有養分在其中，讓觀眾能從中經歷更新和盼望！
回顧二十多年亞東所演出的戲劇，有用華語、台語、英語、粵語和客語演出，而團員大多不具備多重語言的能力，所以在台上演出時，都是硬背，並在抵達演出當地後，讓當地人在調整他們的口音和腔調。我問他們，既然如此為何要用這麼多不同的語言演出？他們回答：「為了觀眾！」學習語言是一種願意進入觀眾的文化和生活世界的姿態，藉著認識觀眾的文化和語言，透過文化中的不同元素，加深觀眾對福音的認識！
當亞東決定以客語來演出《金花》時，他們原本所動的目標是客家長輩，卻意外發現出現的觀眾涵蓋各個年齡層，因為許多家庭是全家一起出動來陪老人家看戲。這讓我有很深的啟發，在講求群體的文化中，傳福音不單是針對個人的服事，若是針對整個家庭/群體或許會更有果效！
我又問到，不同文化差異很大，為何戲劇能夠跨越文化的差異與觀眾互動溝通？小梅團長立刻回答：戲劇能同時跨越語言和文化，因為演譯出來的是人性！是啊，不論在哪個文化，人類的情緒卻是相通的，或許表達形式不同，但底層的感受卻能彼此共鳴。
最後我問他們，從事戲劇福音事工對跨文化宣教有何啟發？純心牧師認為在跨文化宣教中，我們的心要柔軟，學習去理解不同的文化，隨時預備好做出調整，以致能更好用文化適切的方式來傳遞信息！信榮導演則提到，在某間學校演出後，校長和他們說，亞東的戲劇和許多其他戲劇不同的是，這些劇中不只在發洩展現情緒，而是進入這些情緒中，然後再帶領觀眾走出這些情緒，帶給人盼望！信榮導演認為，基督徒的文化使命是在創造文化產物中，展現救贖（redemption）的力量！最後，小梅團長認為在今天這資訊爆炸的時代，教會更需要以深入淺出的方式演譯和展示出「好的故事」，在聽和看之間拿捏適中，持續做好創新和更新的準備，把福音這帶給人生命和盼望的故事演繹給世人看！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年8月5日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：松慕強
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/WEDI4BzwjjY
「探索世界、擴張神國、沒有極限」簡單十二個字，帶出松慕強牧師在建立 iM 行動教會背後的願景和異象。在許多人眼中，松牧是個「非典牧師」，做了許多破框的事工，但背後驅動他不斷挑戰嘗新的，是渴望更多認識人，也渴望人認識上帝和祂國度的榮美。
當我問松牧，別人對他最常有的誤解是什麼時？「愛罵人！」他接著解釋，其實不是他愛罵人，而是因為剪輯的同工把他指出現況荒謬的片段剪出來放在網路上，而這些影片都很紅，因為說出了很多人想說但不好意思說的話。他的真，或許這世代渴望被對待的方式！
為何不斷探索？因為教會不應該成為單一的同溫層，而應是多元的群體。二十世紀八十年代教會增長運動提出「同質性原則」，認為教會中成員的同值性愈高，愈容易增長，松牧的作法豈不是反其道而行，難道不會面對教會增長的壓力？對這提問，松牧簡單地達到：「多元，因為這是上帝的心意；看看耶穌所呼召的門徒背景何其多元吧！」
回顧過去這五年，松牧所參與的事工包括：基督教研究智庫、單車環島幫助弱勢群體、MOVE 差會、武林茶坊（跨領域和跨教會傳統的對談）、賽吧（訪談不同專業人士）、松一下（脫口秀 Standup Comedy）。在松牧參與這麼多行事工的背後，有什麼共同點？松牧認為是：單純回應上帝的心意，回到最基本的事—明白上帝的心意（神學）、照顧孤兒寡母（環島）、跨文化宣教（MOVE）。
松牧認為十九世紀 Abraham Kuyper 同時作為牧師、報社責任、大學創辦人、政黨創立人、最後當上荷蘭首相這般跨界，是我們當效法的對象？他認為 Kuyper 是曠世奇才，他的成就不是人人都能效法的，但他為真理而戰的精神和決心值得我們效法！有五千兩的做五千兩的事，兩千兩的做兩千兩的事，一千兩的做一千兩的事！
當我問他，華人教會為何不太懂得創新？松牧首先想到的是「強大聖潔樣式的傳統」，用我的話來說，就是對於「好基督徒」該長什麼樣子有固定的刻板印象，以至於很難想像「非典」和「另類」的忠心門徒樣貌。松牧另外提到，不允許犯錯也攔阻了華人教會的創新能量！
私下對談：松牧對宣教的想法也很值得被聽到，如何不是殖民式插旗幟的植堂宣教（打著宣教的大旗），而是真正在本地建立屬於當地人，能自立自傳自養的本地教會，這讓我受益良多！或許關鍵不是差會來做，還是教會自己來做宣教，而是背後的心態到底是什麼？！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年8月5日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：黃國倫
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/WEDI4BzwjjY
面對快速變遷的變局，許多教會都在掙扎生存的問題，但 Gordon 認為，教會需要看到這世界正在快速變遷；當商界都明白需要緊密關切局勢，不斷更新創新改變，愈來愈強調 R & D（研發）時，Gordon 擔心教會界普遍沒有對時局變化的敏銳度，也沒有創新改變的動力。
從建立台北市郊區的淡江教會，到進入蛋黃區開拓 101 教會、iM行動教會和欣心城市教會，一路走來 Gordon 不是以堂會組織為中心在思考，而是以上帝要得著的子民為中心，學習認識上帝要得著之人的需要、文化和世界觀，看到他人真實的需要，以他們能理解和感到切身相關（relevant）的方式傳講福音。Gordon 認為其實身為人就那幾個基本需要：生病、關係、財富…基本問題是一樣的，展現出來的形式可能有很多種。教會需要回到福音來回應人們的需要：為何要財富？為何要權力？真正的問題鮮少是財富和權力本身。
福音是什麼？上帝透過祂兒子成就了什麼，不是我們要為上帝做什麼。以福音為中心的生活則是，上帝既然已經透過祂兒子成就了這些，這對我們的生活、工作、關係…有何意義？！華人文化強調「無功不受祿」，《成功的反思》作者桑德斯也反省美國的菁英主義強調「自己的努力」，這些種種似乎都讓人難以接受福音。Gordon 認為，真正的菁英，其實明白自己的成就，不完全是努力，而是恩典，因為比他們聰明有才的人大有人在。真正的菁英，反倒更渴望思考人生終極意義的問題，因為什麼都有了，活著還有何意義？這些都是福音的切入點！
Gordon 分享到，自己大學主修生物科技（身）、後來學諮商（心）、最後讀神學（靈），深深體會上帝要救贖的，不只是人的靈魂，而是整全的受造萬物。約 3:16 提到神愛世人，其實中文翻譯的「世人」，原文的意思是「世界」。上帝愛世界，基督徒被呼召在世界中見證轉化世界的福音！基督徒跨界，不是為了跨而跨，而是因為上帝在所有領域都掌權，也呼召他的百姓以福音為中心，在不同領域創作文化見證上帝的榮耀和掌權！
關於教會的未來，Gordon 憂心教會仍在看自己的組織，只想著自己單一堂會的生存。Gordon 認為，教會領袖需要看清，我們不能單靠自己單打獨鬥，也不是要證明自己的能耐，而是連結起來，不是建立各自的堂會，而是有機的福音生態 ecology！
最後談到城市宣教的異象，Gordon 認為城市帶動影響文化，而影響文化的菁英往往居住在城市中很相鄰的空間中；因此要轉化文化，Gordon 認為大城市的福音事工具有非常策略性的位置。世界上所有大城市與城市之間的距離其實很近，COVID 前東亞和東南亞的重鎮都是一班飛機就到，而 COVID 後更是加速這趨勢，透過網際網路，大城市之間的交流更加密集！
對我而言，這次最大的收穫在訪談後，Gordon 指出華福運動的焦點，不應該是「策略」，而是「神學的異象」！我們不要花太多力氣在協調不同意彼此的地方，而是能同意我們共同能同意的地方：福音。華福運動作為「華人福音運動」，本當以福音為中心的，把這福音的神學異象植入全球華人教會，扮演催化劑的角色！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年8月5日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：胡維華
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/WEDI4BzwjjY
跨界，要有所本！胡老師分享到，自己起初不知道自己會跨入學術，以為自己領受的只是牧養的呼召，在讀神學時意外跨入終末論和舊約研究，接受學術訓練成為舊約學者，之後不同領域的人再來找他，他是「被動地跨界」。
談到「先專再廣 vs. 先廣在專」的張力時，胡老師以自己的兒子大學雙主修和雙副修為例，發現當代教育強調先廣再專，與上一代的確不同。這讓我想到世代差異是否和大環境的改變有關；嬰兒潮世代生長在相對穩定的時代，不同領域的邊界較清楚，但 Gen Y and Gen Z 成長在社會快速變遷的時代，不同領域之間相互碰撞激盪，過去的邊界愈來愈模糊，而在過去固定領域已難以創新時，跨領域的激盪成為創新的來源。胡老師認為，當代創新的來源主要來自：換位思考，跨界刺激！
關於跨界，胡老師從舊約學者的角度談到，上帝透過舊約聖經對祂百姓的指導，是關乎生活每個層面：食、衣、住、行、育、樂。新約是在舊約的基礎上，因此上帝對祂百姓的心意不是到了新約只關心「靈性」，而仍關心我們的「全人」和「社群」。
當我問到，舊約律法這麼多，哪些仍要遵行，哪些不需要？胡（可以吃豬血糕？）老師用憲法、民法、刑法、條例…來說明，憲法是根本，其他的法律是要根據憲法和時代的變遷而做調整。當文士來問耶穌，誡命中哪是第一要緊的是什麼時，耶穌用兩句話總結律法的根本精神：「以色列啊，你要聽，主─我們 神是獨一的主。 你要盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力愛主─你的 神。其次就是說：要愛人如己。再沒有比這兩條誡命更大的了。」（可 12:29-31）每當我們在讀舊約律法時，可以問這條律法，是憲法層級（根本精神），還是條例層級（隨時代會做調整）？
今天的教會只要專注傳福音辦聚會，還是跨界關懷不同領域的事務？胡老師認為教會作為組織，牧者的首要工作是「裝備聖徒各盡其職」，使弟兄姊妹可以按這他們的恩賜才幹來服事榮耀上帝。胡老師也認為才幹的比喻不只是針對個人領受的才幹，也可適用於群體，不同教會領受不同的才幹；領受五千兩的，就要做五千兩的事，兩千兩的做兩千兩的事…。
最後老師提到，跨界很多時候只是改變角色和服事的平台；但真正的重點不是角色和平台，而是背後驅動我們的使命與異象！胡老師作為學者、牧者、要廣泛參與在不同領域的交流中，以一貫之的是希望人們看到，上帝的律法和心意今天仍是值得我們愛慕、俯伏和順服的！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年7月1日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：陳信生
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/qtoceny7dhE
談到 VC（Venture Capitalist，創投人），許多人的印象是，這些人不就是一群仗著自己有錢，在玩資本遊戲，用錢賺取更多錢的人？身為牧師和創投人的陳信生談到，今天大多數的有錢人，都是把錢存起來，或是投資在相對「穩賺」的項目上；真正願意把錢拿出來放在「創投」市場的人不多，因為創投的「失敗率」太高了。華人可能是世界上最喜歡「存錢」的民族，但卻很少願意為了「創造有意義的價值」去冒險去。
這讓我想到聖經中「才幹的比喻」，那些領受才幹的僕人，頭兩個把錢拿去投資，最後翻倍；最後一個人則是把錢埋在土壤中，最後連有的也被拿走。我想耶穌這比喻的重點不是要我們有業績翻倍的壓力，而是要改變我們的眼光，把祂所賜給我們的每一個才幹都獻上，回應祂的呼召，在上帝創造的基礎上，效法上帝自己，冒險去創造美好的事物！為何要冒險去創造？因為擁有上帝形象的人渴望「創造」，也被呼召與上帝同工一起創造！
成功未必能複製，失敗中的學習卻能貢獻整個群體，讓大家不需重複不成功的實驗。陳信生談到創新來自失敗。每次的失敗，都是一個實驗，若能分享各種失敗的經驗，則可以幫助群體少走許多冤枉路。成功的經驗，有很多運氣的成分，很難完全複製，但失敗的經驗往往可以教我們的，比成功的經驗更多。當華人教會面對變化快速的國際局勢、國內政治的不穩定和世代潮流變遷時，若要創新，我們不止要去尋找「成功」的案例，也應該分享彼此失敗的案例，並分析這個實驗為何失敗。
創新不只關乎「個人特質」，也關乎「群體文化」。群體是否願意相信成員，投資在成員的創新創業上，並共同承擔可能的失敗風險？陳信生用以色列這個國家為例，談到國家會認證「創投者」，當創投者決定要投資一分錢在他們國民的創業項目上時，國家會投六倍的錢進去，但不要求佔股份。如果創業失敗，不會要求創業者還錢；如果創業成功，也不會要求掌控新創公司的未來方向。換句話說，以色列這個國家投資的是他們的國民，相信他們的國民，在「被認證的創投者」評估看好的情況下，把錢花在「失敗機會不小」的創投項目，然而一但成了，則成為整個群體的祝福。今天在教會中，有資源的是否也願意相信上帝把不同的恩賜才幹賜給不同的弟兄姊妹，願意「投資」在人身上，在負責任的培養和評估後，大膽慷慨地把資源給沒有資源，但有好想法的人去嘗試？
陳信生一再強調，我們常常「說」很多，「想」很多，「分析」很多，但卻不捲起袖子去做，去嘗試。要驗證一個想法到底能不能成，不是靠空想和空談，而是去實驗。陳信生用基督徒的「信心」來類比創業，一個創業家如果真的相信他自己口中所說的「願景」，他會願意付上重大代價去「創業」，甚至不惜傾家蕩產。這讓我想到希伯來書 11 的信心榜單，「因著信，亞伯拉罕蒙召的時候就遵命出去，往將來要承受為基業的地方去；他出去的時候還不知住哪裡去。…因著信，他（摩西）離開埃及，不怕王的憤怒，因為他恆心忍耐，如同看見那不看見的上帝…」聖經中這些雲彩般的見證人，他們因為相信上帝的應許，勇敢跨出去，冒著承擔失敗的風險，放棄確定已知的穩定生活，踏入相對未知的旅程。
以太坊同創始人 Vitalik Buterin 和被稱為虛擬實境之父的 Jaron Lanier 兩人在為《激進市場》所寫的導讀中寫到：「數位理想主義者堅持不懈。他們、也就是我們，必須堅持下去。世界現在面臨系統性的全球挑戰，例如氣候變遷，要安然度過我們的時代，就必須找到更好的方法，以連結全球，並進行全球合作，不要屈服於懷抱天真的蜂巢思維意識形態，或是一些鬼祟方法，再次把控制權集中到在制度裡最吃得開的人手中。」細讀這段話，會發現他們努力不懈推動技術變革和創新的背後，也是一種信念。Buterin 和 Lanier 也提到，我們需要尋找好的機制，但不能光憑機制，而需要把機制放在一個更大的模式和價值下，才有意義和溫度，不會變成冰冷無情。
福音，就是基督教會所領受和分享的故事/模式，是一個真實的故事！我們需要有好的機制，但不要妄想創建新的機制就能解決一切問題，而是要活在真實的故事（福音）中，並把真實的故事講得精彩，活出這真實、美善又精彩的故事。在消費主義當道的社會，我們看到各種大型企業和國家把品牌和民族的故事講得非常精彩，但這些故事卻未必是全然「真實」。反觀教會，我們是不是把那「真實的故事」講得了無生氣了呢？！舊約中上帝的百姓，是一個述說上帝故事的群體，在一年不同季節，用獻祭敬拜和遵守節期一在述說上帝帶領他們先祖出埃及的故事。教會則是「基督死而復活」故事的見證者和傳講者。我們需要學習或重拾說故事的藝術！
關於團隊合作，陳信生觀察到，華人（甚至包括韓國和日本）在單打獨鬥的運動中比較能發揮，而歐美往往在團隊合作的運動上更懂得如何發揮團隊戰力。為何強調群體的華人，反而較不擅長團隊合作？或許因為我們太在意彼此是怎麼想，而在開會時不願不敢也不想說出心中真正的想法（frank speech）。但若要創新，則需要誠實面對現況和過程，若不能把所看到的很坦白和團隊成員分享，則資訊無法充分分享和交流，激盪想法時也受到限制。我們不禁要問，在華人教會和基督教機構中，是什麼攔阻我們和彼此說真話？我覺得是信任不夠和愛不夠。我們不信任彼此能接受我真正的想法，也不夠愛對方以致願意為他/群體的益處說實話。我們又該如何塑造為了達成使命，願意敞開暢所欲言的文化？
結束訪談後，我想到過去和 Phil 一起在讀神學院的時候，他分享過一本盧雲寫關於禱告的小書《親愛主，牽我手》（英文書名：With Open Hands），對我引響很深。我想，一個創新群體，是一個能夠鼓勵和承擔失敗的群體，也是一個不在緊握雙手努力掌控，反而願意張開雙手讓上帝引導去冒險的群體，更是一個活在基督復活故事中的群體。
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年7月1日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：馮君藍
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/qtoceny7dhE
訪談前，我很緊張，因為我自認藝術細胞不發達，不知道該和藝術家/牧師馮君藍聊什麼。見面後發現，他和我一樣緊張，頓時感到一種被同理的輕省。在開錄前，我問阿藍牧師，有一次到美國紐約的當代博物館，看到展覽中心所放置的創作，在我眼中就是一個巨大的黑色畫布，這樣的作品只要有錢買畫布，我也可以做，實在不知道該怎麼欣賞。阿藍牧師並沒有用嫌棄或輕視的眼神看我，而是和我聊起當代藝術所追求的，未必是某種「美」，而是一種「對觀」的體驗。我頓時著迷了，後面的訪談，完全沒有照稿進行，而比較像上了一堂私人指導的藝術課～
什麼是美？阿藍牧師認為，美指向上帝。今天教會不夠美，在空間的規劃和展現上，對阿藍牧師來說，是虧缺了上帝的榮耀，沒有盡心盡性盡力盡意來愛上帝。美不一定要花大錢，而是透過素材來指向上帝！
創作，就包含設限！在欣賞作品時，與所呈現在眼前的「真實」對話。基督徒面對聖經文本，是否失去了這種與真實相遇的開闊性和對話性，僅用自己的框架來解釋掉聖經文本？！阿藍牧師透過攝影，捕捉當下，事後再去詮釋所捕捉的畫面。
問到阿藍牧師是怎麼走上攝影藝術家和牧師的斜槓人生？阿藍牧師原本是要封筆的，但為了生活需要和對朋友的義氣相挺，偶然一次機會幫朋友頂開了個展覽，意外地開始了攝影展之路，並發現竟然能以導覽作品的方式，把福音的故事分享給教會外的人。
今天所謂的跨界，或多或少是因為在工業時代後，人類分工愈來愈精細，生命被切割成不同領域，而我們似乎也習慣畫地自限，覺得我就是某某領域的。其實，兩百年前的宣教士馬偕不也跨界？既是牧師、宣教師，又是醫師？！今天的跨界，正面來說是恢復整全，但也要小心，不要為了跨界而跨界，而是把全人降服在上帝的主權和呼召下，不自我設限。當我說「我不是藝術人，不懂審美」時，我是否也在自我設限，而沒有把我對美的渴望和創作慾降服在上帝的主權下？！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年7月1日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：鄭忠信
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/qtoceny7dhE
鄭社長出生在牧師家庭，從小立志不要當牧者，大學畢業後進入廣告界，後來到美國打拼，成為生態旅遊業的先驅，返台後在教育機構工作，先後在東森幼幼台和康軒等知名教育平台擔任副總，並進入政大 EMBA 進修科技管理碩士，在 45 歲時被上帝帶領進入福音機構，先後在 GoodTV 和論壇報服事。
回顧半生跨越不同的領域，鄭社長認為焦點是「上帝的揀選」。人心籌算自己的道路，因此會依自己的想望努力，但漸漸他發現上帝介入打破後，人生每個階段的學習都不會浪費，而能為上帝所用。不要抱怨生不逢時，而要為生在其中而感恩，把握機會回應上帝的帶領和呼召。
跨界，不是為了跨而跨，而應有目的性的，為了生存，為了福音使命，需要有核心價值，跨界是在做整合的工作，而不是從一個領域跳到另一個領域，然後否認或忘記過去。跨界，是要滿足真實的需要，解決真實的問題，而不是因為「跨界」很潮很流行！
關於科技，鄭社長認為科技始於人性，也幫助人性。面對科技社會，我們更需要認識「人是什麼」，才能不被科技牽著走，而是掌握主動權，決定要如何使用科技來發揮人性，活得更像人，也使用科技來傳揚福音。
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年6月3日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：周巽正
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/Yi4Km4sDo2Q
「急什麼？」這是昨天訪談巽正牧師，對我最大的幫助和提醒。對上帝的百姓來說，時間站在我們這一邊，不是因為年輕、有資源、卡對位，或是我們的眼光獨到精準，而是因為上帝要成就的事，祂必不誤事。許多時候我的急躁，凸顯出的是自己生命的問題，太在意某個事工、想達到某種成效、認為什麼事非在此刻做不可…。
今早靈修讀到撒母耳記上 4-6，當約櫃被擄，以利聽到後立刻摔倒暴斃，因為作為祭司的他，畢生的志業和呼召在那一刻似乎是徹底的失敗和崩盤。然而，當上帝的百姓為約櫃被擄而沮喪之時，上帝自己顯出祂的大能作為，讓把約櫃擄去的非利士人意識到，上帝是上帝，最後乖乖地把約櫃送回以色列，還獻上許多賠罪的禮物。急什麼？！
大船轉彎較困難？團隊大時，難免求穩，這會是創新的障礙？巽正牧師認為，創新首先不是關於方法，而是回到基督，因為上帝是創意的源頭。
被問到世代之間的張力如何處理時？巽正牧師提到，不論是面對上一個世代，或是下一個世代，一個健康的心態是「I could be wrong.」當我們有這種自我認知時，承認自己很可能會判斷錯誤，做錯決策，就會更願意聆聽他人，接受建言，也不會把別人的挑戰和否定當作是對自己的挑戰，而是上帝給予我們團隊來保護我們。華人對領袖的期待往往是「決策者」，而不是「聆聽者」；然而聆聽在決策之前，領袖最終是透過聆聽上帝放在我們身邊的人事物，最終是要聆聽上帝的心意和帶領。
巽正牧師在談不同世代時，比較不想用接力賽世代交替的角度來看，而是雁行模式世代同行的角度來理解。長輩不是交棒脫隊，而是換個位置。年輕人不是接棒專斷，而是在團隊中換個角色勇敢承擔。當領袖願意聆聽，團隊中的世代差異不再是張力的來源，而可以是祝福，因為彼此看事情的角度不同，都可以看到全貌的一個面向，因此當彼此聆聽時，則能互補彼此的視野死角，激盪出新的想法。當同工之間真的有意見爭持不下時，巽正牧師認為，上帝看重我們合一的關係，勝過某個事工是否完成。關係在事工之前！
在面對權柄被挑戰時，巽正牧師提到摩西的榜樣。每當摩西的領導權柄被挑戰時，他不是緊抓著所擁有的權柄，而是在上帝面前俯伏，交出權柄。這背後凸顯出是生命的問題，如果我們把自己的身份與職位權力綁在一起，則會難以交出，但如真正明白一切權柄都是出於上帝，也真正明白我們作為天父兒女身份的這恩典，就不會緊抓權力和位子。當我們交出權柄時，如果上帝還要交還給我們，這是上帝的工作，不是因為我們有何能耐，而是因為上帝自己的工作！
最後，談到培育下一代的領袖，巽正牧師自我提醒，不要像掃羅，因為自己的不安全感而去限制下一代。敢衝敢闖的年輕領袖，若是被我們限制住，他們還是會找出路出去開創，這會變成最後留在團隊中的都是乖乖牌；與其如此，為何不在團隊內部，讓這些有想法，敢衝敢闖的年輕領袖在團隊內有空間開創，甚至當他們選擇要出去時，能主動成全和祝福！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年6月3日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：蔡牧群、陳筱蒨
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/Yi4Km4sDo2Q
蔡牧群和筱倩是實踐大學同學，大學畢業後便投入家族工作。在過程中有掙扎過，但在父親分享了對事業的想法和願景後，決定回家與父親一起打拼。
從漁場跨足蜆精，在跨到有機蔬菜（苦瓜），我問牧群，怎麼會在一個產品那麼成功時，跨足到一個新的商品，從頭開始？牧群分享到，這是因為外在環境的變遷而被迫做出改變。牧群的父親是立川老闆，原本圈地（奇萊美地）要繼續擴大漁場，但後發現地目不合，只能種植有機，是不得不為之，開始做有機蔬菜的種植，而走上開發苦瓜食品的新路。這段路程讓我看到，創新有時是被迫的，但在邁向未知的過程中，反而激發出新意，走出新路。
牧群最後提到他對土地的感情。基督信仰使他以嶄新的眼光看待土地，在開發產品和經營漁場、養殖場和農場時，他不只是在做生意，同時也是一種信仰實踐，管理看守上帝的創造，關懷土地和居住在其上的鄰舍！
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年5月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：蔡志堅
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/Yi4Km4sDo2Q
想到創新，一般人聯想到的，通常是穿著很潮，形式灑脫捉摸不定的人格特質。花蓮美崙浸信會的蔡志堅牧師八年前接棒，帶領一個將近千人的教會在過去八年不只穩健發展，同時發展了多個外人看起來極有新意的事工（青少年高峰會、城市行銷花蓮耶誕城、青年共創空間…），然而他本人溫和的行格和非常有邏輯性地冷靜表達，顛覆了我對新創者的形象！
蔡志堅牧師強調，不論是談創新、團隊、組織變革、或是領導模式調整，首先要先釐清，「我們要解決什麼問題？」用 Simon Sinek 的話來說，就是 “start with WHY”。定義清楚「要解決什麼問題」，再著手去計劃該如何一步一步變革，而非為了改變而改變。或許這樣的背景和蔡牧師是讀數學/統計有關，也讓我一窺「有紀律的創新者」的內在思維。
若再往前推，如「何發覺自己要解決什麼問題？」蔡牧師提到自己從小在花蓮長大，從青少年時期在美崙浸信會受洗信主，常問自己一個問題：「如果有一天美浸停止在這社區存在，對這社區會有何影響？」對蔡牧師來說，找到要解決什麼問題，來自對社區鄰舍和土地的關懷。
最後，不論是公共議題（讓教會成為教會 vs. 參與社會轉化文化），或是教會的宣教策略（跨文化宣教 vs. 每個基督徒都應該是宣教士），不同人/群體往往會有不同的想法和理解，在光譜上的不同端；他不喜歡花太多的力氣和時間去捍衛自己所位在的光譜，或是說服別人挪移到自己所在的光譜，而認為我們應該從彼此身上學習，不論在光譜的哪一端，都竭力回應「上帝的使命」。對我來說，這極有啟發性，合一既是我們「在基督裡」的事實，在回應「同個使命」時會與彼此愈來愈近而經歷的！教會無法合一，常常是因為我們忘記自己和彼此的身份，或是沒有在回應上帝的使命！
談到跨代，蔡牧師認為上一代牧者篳路藍縷地開拓教會，因此較少把精力放在「傳承」上，許多跨代的傳承都是辛苦地摸著石頭過河，這是有歷史脈絡的，不能太苛責上一代牧者（他認為自己很幸運，遇到一位很願意成全的主任牧師）。在走過一次辛苦路之後，蔡牧師期許未來的跨代同行和傳承需要從過去的經驗中學習，有計劃和有預備地進行。
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年5月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：萬力豪
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/eiCHjJX2BoQ
當彼得在風暴中，看到在水面上行走的耶穌時，他對主說：「主啊，如果是你，請叫我（command me）從水面上走到你那裏去。」（太 14:28）重點不是行在水面上，而是對主說：呼召我，命令我，使我與你同在。It’s never about walking on the water, but being called to be with Jesus. 我不知道其他在船上的十一個門徒的心態是什麼，或是太害怕風浪，或是看熱鬧，或是等著看彼得笑話，總之，他們決定「不作為」。
很多時候，我們害怕改變，因此選擇「不作為」，因為改變總是帶來風險，要付上代價。然而我們常常忽略的是，其實「不作為」也是要付上代價的。面對快速改變的世界，教會不論事努力回應潮流，或是不動如山抓緊過去的習慣和傳統，都是要付出代價的。問題不是要不要付代價，而是意識到每個決定的背後，我們到底付上出了什麼代價，並且值不值得！
“God is worthy, people are worth it”（上帝配得，每個人都值得）萬力豪 Peter 用這一句話來描述 The Hope 教會的核心文化。每個人是按著上帝的形象被造的，所以值得被尊重，也蘊含上帝放在裡面的寶藏。作為耶穌的門徒和教會的牧者，當我們有這「眼光」時，就會願意把生命投資在人身上，看到一個個被世人或世界被貶低的生命被恢復。牧者不是要成為明星和鎂光燈的焦點（Luke the Skywalker），而是要成為教練和成全他人的人（Master Yoda），訓練出一個個 skywalkers。我發現在 The Hope 教會現代美感的展現下背後，真正的核心是誠懇待人，對這個時代的人有興趣，把生命投資在人身上的堂會文化。
Peter 從 Nicky 的行銷策略談到，世界的公司看到真正重要的不是「商品」，而是「人」，教會豈不也該如此？！我們信仰的核心不正是每個人都是按照上帝的形象被創造的？！Nicky 透過講這世界的故事，吸引人選擇他們的品牌；基督徒其實有最美最精彩最好的故事，但我們是否失去了講故事的藝術，把那麼棒的故事講得無聊或讓人窒息？！當我們在爭相模仿世界時，教會不應忽視世界潮流，但也不是要一味跟上、複製，或是被同化，而是要學習看到潮流背後的人、人心深處的掙扎、上帝對人的心意，和蘊含在每個人生命中的潛力，把福音那精彩豐富的故事好好講出來讓全世界聽到和看到。
許多時候我們追求效法別人的事工模式，但或許我們更應該要關注的是，是什麼樣的團隊文化和決策執行流程產生了哪些人們爭相效法的事工？！我們所追求的不應該是做出什麼樣的事工（product），也不是人們對我們事工的稱讚，而是團隊的文化和運作的流程（process）。不要只學表面的皮毛，要看到背後的文化和團隊合作流程！
當我們聊到音樂，我很驚訝 Peter 自己不太會樂器，因為 The Hope 的音樂水準真的很有水準。Peter 談到正因為自己不懂音樂，所以看重音樂，讓那些真正懂的來發揮。承認無知，是一大優勢；而願意讓他人發揮來補足自己的不足，是團隊發揮力量超越個人的恩賜才幹！Peter 的團隊分工也很妙，他把團隊分為 Campus 組和 Creative 組。前者負責牧養架構、門徒培育和實體事工/場地的管理，後者則負責發揮想像力不斷嘗試，而他自己則是成為兩個團隊的橋樑，就像連結左腦和右腦的中樞神經。
談到團隊，Peter 強調 3 C（character, chemistry, competency），這沒什麼新鮮的，因為業界也這樣強調，但他對 3 C 的詮釋讓我感動。講到品格，他以大衛為例，當他被先知膏立為王，擊殺巨人歌利亞，被召進王宮後，竟是當一個替王「拿兵器的人」，但他甘心學習，上帝透過這些事塑造大衛的品格。講到 competency，Peter 強調得是謙卑、願意學習、具備可塑性，而非只是專業上的能力。
面對世代差異的關鍵，或許不是我們這一代如何，他們那一代如何…，而是不同世代是否都願意「心意更新而變化」。我們不是被呼召去固守過去的傳統，而是在我們的處境中不斷更新，實踐那些美好傳統在過往時代中所致力要達到的目的！要改變更新，則一定要付上代價，然而常被我們忽略得是，選擇不改變也是要付上代價的。因為問題不是改變要付代價，而是我們要付上哪一種代價？！
面對有如教會界「潮牌」的 The Hope 教會，訪談後我最深的印象不是他們外在的「潮」，而是回到「對上帝的真實敬拜」和「對人的真誠關懷」，以及「願意不斷被上帝更新的心態」，其他的都只是表達出來的形式。訪談後有機會和 Peter 坐下喝杯咖啡，Peter 這個人讓我最印象深刻，是他的謙卑、好學和對人有興趣。
當大家在談論 The Hope 是怎麼在這幾年突然冒起的時候，我想說：It’s never about walking on the water, but being called to be with Jesus.
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年5月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：柳子駿
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/eiCHjJX2BoQ
想到跨代，想到的往往是「變」和「差異」。然而子駿牧師在被問到台北復興堂的文化在他的帶領下，和父親老柳牧師有何不同時，他的回答竟然是「沒什麼不同」，都是強調：牧養、宣教、喜樂和心靈強健！或許在不同的處境中，表達形式會隨著時代文化和科技載具的更新而「看起來有所不同」，但所領受的核心異象卻是一脈相傳，只是不斷被更新。事實上，真正的異象，是永不過時的，就像兩千年來教會所傳講的福音；只是在不同的時代，教會在傳遞和表達福音信息的方式會不斷創新更新。
子駿分享到，我們可以從不同人身上學習到不同事物，因為上帝是寬闊豐富的！「尊榮」學習的對象很重要，但也不是「照單全收」。尊榮學習的對象，使我們避免只學「表面功夫」，而是貼近學習的對象，看到背後真正的精神和精髓，但之後也需要深思熟慮，在沈澱過濾後，把所學到的融合進自己的團隊文化中，而非依樣畫葫蘆地照單全收。
面對不同世代，子駿談到上帝是「世世代代」的上帝，不只是某一代的上帝。想到世代，我們都會聚焦在「差異」，然而不同世代之間相像之處，可能比差異更大。如果在溝通和對話時，能學習同理彼此，並看到我們所「共同關心」的，打從心裡不把對方當對手，而是回應上帝使命的夥伴，領受不同的恩賜和人生經歷，那麼不同世代攜手同行，絕不是漂亮的口號，而是能在這世代成福音的見證。
身為牧師的孩子，從小在教會長大的子駿看盡教會大小事，他因此不斷強調「真實」的重要。或許在許多人眼中，子駿牧師就是個網紅牧師，不斷現身在各種社交媒體平台上，還擁有眾多的粉絲，但當和他深談時，聽到他也對成為社交平台上的 KOL 有所警覺，然而他的初衷從來不是為了紅，而是為了牧養，與他的弟兄姊妹在一起，社交媒體的平台不過是他學習與弟兄姐妹在一起的方式而已。潮，不是為了潮而潮，而是為了潮流背後的鄰舍，貼近牧養他們，與他們同在。其實，以當時宗教人士的眼光來看，耶穌也很潮，貼近農夫、漁夫、稅吏、社會邊緣人、宗教人士…耶穌的 range 真的很廣，這一點從門徒的組成也可看得出來！
最後，談到挑選同工團隊的條件與標準時，子駿直接指出：好相處、高適應力、抗壓性強！在不斷強調「專業」的時代，子駿卻強調「肯學」的態度。一位同工加入團隊時，未必具有專業能力，但中樣得是要願意在團隊中不斷學習成長，懂得如何與人相處，不自我設限。
地點：TIP TALK 線上平台
日期：2021年5月6日
主持人：董家驊
受訪者：丁懷箴
視頻回看：
https://youtu.be/eiCHjJX2BoQ
出版業不是黃昏產業？基督教的出版社，不更是黃昏中的邊緣產業？過去在台積電上班的丁懷箴社長，為何捨棄大好「錢」途，一腳踏入這個傳統產業？在訪談中，丁社長讓我大開眼界，他重新定義什麼是「出版業」，並談到他所渴望看到的未來。
任何人在一個領域待久了，若不刻意提醒自己，都會愈來愈看不見圈內人的盲點，缺乏挑戰既有作法的動力和眼光，忽視了更新和創新的契機。在剛接下社長位置時，丁社長親自走訪所有的印刷流程，去工廠了解出版一本書的每個製成細節，從而在與人溝通時，能夠知己知彼，為的不是百戰百勝，而是資訊對稱，進而能共同創新優化流程。他過去對出版業的無知，可能是他人眼中的弱點；但當他正視自己的無知時，承認無知，成為他最大的優勢！
對小丁社長來說，他所面對的挑戰不只是跨代（年齡的不同），也是跨界（領域的不同）。然而這種差異，反而帶來新的思維和刺激。在訪談中，丁社長重新定位出版業，不把出版業局限於印書和賣書，而是聚焦於「把好的內容分享出去」。出版業的焦點轉變為「選擇、創造和分享」好的內容；至於形式，則不拘於書本，也包含接收內容者的接收體驗，而最終的目的是要祝福接收內容的人，甚至進一步轉化接收內容者，成為好內容的創作者和分享者。
談到團隊的選擇時，小丁社長提到，正直和敏捷是他在選同工時的兩大指標。正直是品格，非常重要，使團隊之間能彼此信任。而敏捷，不是只動作快，而是指在面對變局時能快速反應，不坐以待斃！
跨代和跨界的過程當然不容易，而其中的關鍵則是「同理心」，能夠換位思考，去理解不同年齡和背景的同工和服務對象，進而去栽種「改變思維模式」的種子，促成團隊的更新。
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年5月21日
人數：~364
主持人：黃志靖
嘉賓：邱慕天、朱佳敏、李志剛
直播重溫：
https://www.facebook.com/cccowe/videos/343141489982376
會議由世界華福中心主辦、救世傳播協會及基督教論壇報協辦，已於今天（5月21日）晚上八時圓滿舉行。此次會議為「上帝有話說？！」系列第一講，題目為：「趨勢、新常態，上帝有話說？！」
主持人為臺灣創集團共同創辦人黃志靖長老。嘉賓為臺灣《醒報》副總編輯邱慕天傳道分享「現今的趨勢」、新加坡世界福音動員會宣教統籌朱佳敏姊妹分享「趨勢下差傳的新常態」及馬鞍峰香港教會堂主任李志剛牧師分享「趨勢下教會的新常態」。嘉賓分享後有互動討論，最後由現任臺灣石牌信友堂牧師、亦為世界華福中心候任總幹事董家驊牧師回應。
現今的趨勢
邱慕天傳道分享新型冠狀病毒（COVID-19）下看公共神學，透過疫情反思兩方面：
一．看見墮落世界的脆弱：流行病有社會精神層面，如欺騙、無知、混亂、自私、免疫力弱、群聚的酵等；病毒有精神層面和基因層面。理察．道金斯（Richard Dawkins）在《自私的基因》（The Selfish Gene）中談到人生來就自私，情願犧牲別人也要保住自己，形成墮落的普遍狀態。戰勝流行病的功課也是戰勝罪惡的功課，甚至是鑑別神國精兵的時刻，如因欺騙學會檢討欺上瞞下的官場陋習、無知讓我們學習停止謠言、混亂教我們學懂資源分配有序、免疫力弱使我們留意身體是聖靈的殿，要好好保護等。
二．看見耶穌是時代的創變者：病毒感染少數人的身體，但疫情大範圍的社會性影響感染我們的思想與行為。一直以來都將潔淨概念宗教化，以分離保持聖潔；但耶穌在祂的時代是前線的醫治者，醫治不潔的人。疫情讓我們看見耶穌在祂所處時代事工的革命性，亦戰勝自義與社會疏離的功課。
趨勢下的差傳新常態
朱佳敏姊妹分享近月疫情對其差會事工的影響。差會的福音船因疫情而停在牙買加（Jamaica），登船的人大幅減少，許多同工留在船上不能離開，但感恩他們都平安。另外，差會事工全部停止運作，原本計劃的新工作也要暫停。但這非壞事，反而有來到神面前，再次尋找祂的機會。
疫情期間，同工於清晨舉行祈禱會，同心禱告，藉此回到基本，來到神面前謙卑自己。這段時期，差會的奉獻也減少，但有些事工仍然繼續。例如仍有同工到訪南非偏遠地區，送上食物等物資；新加坡同工也走上街頭與人談道，又因當地店舖關門，他們便籌集超市禮券送贈有需要者，甚至到訪紅燈區。
差會也停止短宣，並影響全球外展。但朱姊妹相信神會開路，透過網絡接觸對信仰有興趣的人，同工也透過網絡跟進，與他們交通。事工停止，但神沒有停止作工。
朱姊妹認為，現時的禱告跟之前不同。以前的焦點較事工性，現在變得較為內在，求主使她學習謙卑。以前較難聽到主的微聲，現在更顯得祂的真實。雖然現在大部份工作轉到網上進行，但他們也知道許多地方沒有網絡，他們仍倚賴實體接觸，需要同工在當地作工。這段時候最重要的是彈性和受教，找出新方法。合作非常重要，大家需要彼此，需要對話，互相支持鼓勵。
趨勢下的教會新常態
李志剛牧師認為在疫情下我們如何看待自己至為重要，並要認清自己的使命，學習耶穌得人靈魂如得魚的策略。李牧師亦提到二○○九至二○一四年香港教會增長緩慢。但在疫情下，教會推動網上聚會，同時亦衍生不同組合的聚會形式，包括單向性和互動性的聚會。
李牧師認為在趨勢下教會有四個新常態：一．科技化，增加擴展性和有效性；二．年輕化，年輕人能帶動創意與動力；三．實踐化，願意犯錯和學習；四．數據化，收集不同的數據，提供客觀的依據。
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年6月18日
人數：~286
主持人：黃志靖
嘉賓：周巽正、蕭加欣、譚峻斌
直播重溫：https://www.facebook.com/cccowe/videos/541530660086808
時代變遷下孕育的不同世代，都擁有自己的價值觀、理念、願景等。華人教會的不同世代如何溝通和合作？如何按不同世代的需要牧養、教導與關懷？兩代之間又如何傳承和同行？這些都是華人教會的重大挑戰。今天（6月18日）晚上八時，世界華福中心主辦、救世傳播協會及基督教論壇報協辦的TIP Talk網絡研討會──「上帝有話說？！」系列第二講探討的主題為：「跨代的挑戰，上帝有話說？！」會議由臺灣創集團共同創辦人黃志靖長老主持，並邀請了臺灣臺北靈糧堂的周巽正執行牧師、香港啟勵扶青會行政總監蕭加欣姊妹及加拿大（Canada）Azurean Coaching & Consulting執行長譚峻斌博士，就上述主題交流經驗和心得，一起面對跨代的挑戰。
周巽正牧師認為教會中兩代之間有不少差異。上一代牧者很多是白手建堂，做教會復興的工作。他們的生活就是服侍，服侍就是生活。年輕一代則是生活就是生活，服侍就是服侍。此外，兩代在溝通和表達文化上也大不相同。在兩代接棒傳承上，交棒的牧者要面對身分的轉變，本是主角，現退下來成為旁觀者，在身分適應上也不容易。
所謂長江後浪推前浪。第一代牧者以教會為家，犧牲了在家庭的時間，服侍敎會。周牧師認為兩代應以家的概念出發，有為父為母的心，為兒女的心，才是出路。就是能有三代、四代同行。大家彼此包容、接納和欣賞。下一代學習尊榮上一代，而上一代欣喜年輕一代興起，期待看見下一代更多的可能性。
蕭加欣姊妹在香港出生，然後跟隨當宣教士的父母到非洲加納（Ghana），並在當地成長，近年才回到香港服侍。她認為自己與父母對香港的印象很不同，她與父母各自生活的世代同樣艱難。
蕭姊妹指出現今世代尋求公義，談種族主義、墮胎、政治等議題，也期望信任和忠誠。活在這世代的年輕基督徒面對很複雜的狀況，以香港為例，去年開始面對政治動盪，世代之間不願彼此聆聽，只在不同社交平臺表達自己的意見。
她在香港主要服侍年輕人。自去年起，年輕人承受學業和社會動盪的壓力，他們會與朋友分享感受；而他們的父母認為只要讀好書和找到好工作便可，不用為現時的事情煩惱。兩代不願聆聽對方。蕭姊妹覺得上一代也經歷許多艱難，但現時的年輕人不明白；他們的父母則認為年輕人常花時間在社交平臺等地方。故雙方需要坐下來對話，而非彼此質疑。蕭姊妹以自己為例，她曾與父親談及婚姻的話題，父親對她的婚姻有一定期望，大家的看法不同。但彼此分享內心的想法，她覺得過程非常美好。
香港近年許多年輕人離開教會，他們覺得不獲支持和受傷。主持人追問香港許多年輕人離開教會，究竟他們最渴望得到甚麼？蕭姊妹認為，年輕人相信耶穌有恩典，但他們聽到的是雙重標準，從教會中聽到的話，連未信者也不會說出來。這是最令年輕人失望的地方。
譚峻斌博士從心理學的角度談跨代。社會學家用不同的角度與不同的工具了解一個人的性格特質。譚博士嘗試提供工具幫助教會領袖了解會眾。當談到教會領導時，他認為把跨代會眾召聚在一起，彼此建立良好的關係十分重要。
神創造每個人都是獨特的。性格是其中一個塑造我們的重要部份。談到性格時，有百份之六十是先天，百份之四十是後天培育。每一代人都有其獨特性。譚博士指出教會領袖除以九型人格了解跨代會眾外，較常用的是五大性格特徴（big five personality traits）。一．經驗開放性（openness to experience）；二．盡責性（conscientiousness）;三．外向性（extraversion）；四．親和性（agreeableness）；五．情緒不穩定性（neuroticism）。
譚博士認為了解性格特質有助敎會領導和牧養跨代會眾。他認為每人的性格特質其實可以改變。如內向型的人，只要提升他們社交能力，其實也有機會改變為外向型的人。
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年7月23日
人數：~189
主辦：世界華福中心
協辦：救世傳播協會、基督教論壇報
主持人：黃志靖
嘉賓：安平、司徒永富、宋逸民
回應：董家驊
直播重溫：
https://www.facebook.com/cccowe/videos/296200521595339/?t=4728
現今的信徒按著神賜下的恩賜和負擔，不僅走遍各城各鄉與人分享信仰，更多的是跨越不同領域，以所屬專業榮神益人，以生命見證基督。身處跨越不同界別的場景，信徒面對著哪些屬靈和生活的挑戰？又如何靠主得勝？
7月23日晚上8時，世界華福中心主辦、臺灣救世傳播協會及基督教論壇報協辦的TIP Talk網絡研討會──「上帝有話說？！」系列第三講探討的主題為：「跨界的使命，上帝有話說？！」會議再次由臺灣創集團共同創辦人黃志靖長老主持，並邀得三位在不同地區跨界服侍的同工交流當中的體驗與得著。
臺灣藝起發光促進協會理事長宋逸民牧師以「藝起傳福音」為題，分享牧養藝人的經驗和甜酸苦辣；香港鴻福堂集團控股有限公司行政總裁兼執行董事司徒永富博士的題目為「4P人生：從永富到永富」，反思如何尋找和回應跨界的召命；美國（U.S.A.）普世佳音新媒體傳播機構執行主任安平牧師則以「跨界／重構」這題目談及科技在跨界服侍中擔當的角色。
地點：ZOOM
日期：2020年8月27日
人數：~210
主辦：世界華福中心
協辦：救世傳播協會、基督教論壇報
主持人：黃志靖
嘉賓：彭書睿、周郁凱、黃約瑟
回應：董家驊
直播重溫：
談到跨文化服侍，我們會先想到來自不同地區的宣教士。他們遠渡重洋，進到全新而獨特的文化群體中分享福音。然而，隨著科技和網絡的發展，我們足不出戶便能與不同文化、地域、種族、年齡等群體聯繫交流。另一邊廂，席捲全球的新型冠狀病毒（COVID-19）疫情打亂海外宣教士的事工計劃，但藉著網絡工具的幫助，他們可在原居地遙距參與跨文化服侍；當前的狀況亦締造了機會，讓我們轉移目光，嘗試以其他渠道關注所屬社區中不同民族與文化群體的各樣需要。
今天（8月27日）晚上八時，世界華福中心主辦、救世傳播協會及基督教論壇報協辦TIP Talk網絡研討會──「上帝有話說？！」系列第四講，探討的主題為：「跨文化實踐，上帝有話說？！」主持會議的臺灣創集團共同創辦人黃志靖長老與三位在不同領域推動和實踐跨文化服侍的同工交流心得。
臺灣聯合差傳事工促進會理事長彭書睿弟兄先按現今趨勢前瞻全球華人教會在未來普世差傳中可承擔的角色；接續由美國（U.S.A.）Octalysis Group創始人周郁凱弟兄暢談如何藉遊戲世界重新看待生活、工作與宣教；最後由馬來西亞（Malaysia）「兩個13億」穆宣事工推動者黃約瑟牧師分享其在非洲撒哈拉沙漠（Sahara Desert）投身黑人穆斯林宣教事工的經驗。
地點：台北IM行動教會．台灣
日期：2020年1月8日
人數：~154
松慕強
> 演講題目：說好的福音大能呢？
陳維恩
> 演講題目：我們其實沒有那麼特別
龔義欽
> 演講題目：新天新地的每日生活練習
更多精彩重溫：
http://tip.cccowe.org
世界華福2020年在全球推展「煽風點火」計畫（The Set-A-Fire Campaign），將透過「世界華人福音運動TIP Talk」將在世界各地不同城市舉辦12次的TIP Talk小型聚會，TIP Talk的「TIP」代表「煽風點火」概念由三大元素組成：科技（Technology）、創新（Innovation）、先知性（Prophetic），簡稱為「TIP」。TIP Talk 每場聚會邀請當地三位具有代表性的講員，以2021年「第十屆世界華人福音會議」的主題：「跨代、跨界、跨文化」作為主軸進行演講和座談會。 所有講者必須代表以下三個「跨」的其中之一： 跨代代表 (Cross Generation) 、跨界代表(Cross Discipline) 、跨文化代表 (Cross Culture) 。
首場聚會1月8日於台北登場，邀請到Radius Asia宣教訓練中心總幹事陳維恩牧師、IM行動教會主任牧師松慕強牧師、LabQ共同創辦人龔義欽弟兄主講，期望透過生命故事，及彼此交叉對話，讓大家發現上帝國度在各地的奇妙作為和可能性。
世界華福中心候任總幹事董家驊牧師指出，年輕族群是一直在變化的時代，我們需要不斷地去關心時代的處境，並知道如何在其中宣教、回應上帝的使命。整個華福運動是跨代同行，長輩及年輕人的聲音在當中相互激盪，讓我們更能認識福音的本質。而TIP Talk提供了一個對話平台，當不同世代互相聆聽、彼此激盪、溝通的時候，其實也是一個容許自己被福音更新的機會。藉著由下往上、草根性的聚集，集體的聆聽，激發我們新的想像力和創意往前走。
地點：高雄福氣教會．台灣
日期：2020年1月10日
人數：~106
馮佩
> 演講題目：幸福小組的威力
姜森
> 演講題目：建立神的國
楊右任
> 演講題目：跨文化的三個常見錯誤
更多精彩重溫：
http://tip.cccowe.org
第二場於1月10日移師高雄福氣教會，邀請外交部歐洲司姜森司長、福氣教會青年牧區馮珮牧師、「舊鞋救命」發起人（十大傑出青年）楊右任弟兄主講。
Venue: Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Date: 12-15 Mar 2019
Participants: ~178 people
The 2019 International Entrepreneurs Missional Disciples Training Conference was held at the UCSI Hotel in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, from March 12 to 15, 2019, with the theme “Trends, Opportunities, and Successions.” The conference invited 17 trainers from different countries and regions, with practical business experience and a passion for promoting Business as Mission, to share their insights. The aim was to raise up more Christian business leaders who, in the rapidly changing global business environment, can establish a sound work ethic and life priorities, truly live out the life of a missional disciple, and call on global business leaders to become disciples of Christ and fulfill the Mission in the 21st century.
地點：青協西貢戶外訓練營．香港
日期：2018年01月19 – 22日
人數：~381
世界華人福音事工聯絡中心於一月十九至廿二日在香港青年協會賽馬會西貢戶外訓練營舉辦「新酒．新皮袋」國際青年「使命門徒」培訓營會，來自約廿二個地區近四百人參與，當中39歲以下參加者佔半數。
營會聚焦討論三個群體的福音需要，包括散居的華人、印度人及穆斯林群體。透過講員信息、短片介紹、個案分析、座談會及小組討論，從不同角度來探討，幫助大家更多認識普世宣教中三大福音未得散居群體。此外，會議中更實踐「體驗式學習」模式，設有十二個互動訓練坊（Labs）及多個小組討論時段，多個主題的工作坊包括「堂會為本門訓與差傳」、「教育與差傳」、「商業與差傳」、「社區關懷與差傳」、「新媒體與差傳」。晚上時段，大會亦安排不同地方的宣教士作前線生命故事分享。
Location： Top Church．Taiwan
Dates： 22－26 Aug 2016
Participants： ~1,500
Joshua Ting
While I was in Boston, Massachusetts leading a summer retreat at the end of May, I had the opportunity to visit several important historical sites afterward. I gained better understanding of the history of the American independence movement from the visit. I was especially impressed by the midnight ride of the patriot Paul Revere, how he alerted people on the British army’s advance. It prompted me to reflect deeply on my own spiritual life.
On April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren, a leader of the American Patriot organizations in Boston, became aware of the upcoming advancement by the British army, how they planned to move from Boston to Lexington and Concord by water, aiming not only to raid the military supplies of the Sons of Liberty, but more importantly, to capture the two principle leaders, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Warren enlisted Paul Revere to spread the alarm on the imminent arrival of the British army. Revere first reached Charlestown by boat, then rode to Lexington and Concord in the midnight hour successfully accomplished the mission. The Battles of Lexington and Concord on the following day are often considered to be the opening engagements of the American Revolutionary War.
When confronted with the daunting reality that 3 billion people, or, 40% of the 7.3 billion world population today, belong to the Unreached People Groups (UPGs), how should the Lord’s Church and believers properly respond to such tremendous needs? Paul Revere’s unwavering focus on his assigned mission and his sense of urgency came to mind. His action and attitude serves as an excellent example reminding us whenever facing difficulty, peril, limited opportunity, adverse environment, we must first and foremost humble ourselves to rely on and hold fast to the Lord of the Harvest, arm ourselves with the power of the Holy Spirit and the never changed truth, only then, with love, we venture toward the UPGs through various professional platforms and channels.
Preparation for the 9th Chinese Congress of World Evangelization (the 9th Congress) is near completion. Invitation to the Congress participants began urgently over ten months ago, and we are in the final sprint. The Congress, held every five-year, will have over thirteen hundred pastoral leaders and professionals from all walks of lives all over the world in attendance. With the “Action Research and Model Development” (ARMD) report out, the participants will to share and learn about the seven mission categories on “Discipleship-driven Cross Cultural Mission”.
We do recognize, however, that the Great Commission work does not stop with this upcoming Congress, or, for that matter, any conference. CCCOWE prayerfully envisions the Chinese World Evangelization Movement will continue and expand its mission on spreading the Gospel through the follow up and follow through activities among the Chinese churches worldwide post the 9th Congress. In fact, CCCOWE has already planned the following five forward-looking activities:
May the Lord bless the CCCOWE Movement, as it was originated in Him and supports by the Chinese churches worldwide. We pray fervently that the Chinese Church may vigorously live out the essence of “Chinese Church in unity, spreading the Gospel far and wide, till the Lord’s coming” in the next five years, so that through the testimony we live out as we spread the Gospel in one accord, the Lord may be greatly glorified among all nations.
Location： Bali．Indonesia
Dates：12-16 Sep 2011
Participants： ~2,100
When I was asked to attend the 8th Chinese Congress on World Evangelization (CCOWE), I wasn’t sure what to think. Admittedly, traveling to Bali, Indonesia sounded great, but attending yet another conference on yet another topic did not. Ultimately, with the blessing of my incredibly organized and tough wife, I embarked on September 11th at 1:40 am after officiating my first wedding and serving as a groomsman for another wedding in the span of 36 hours. I’ve been asked to share about my thoughts for my denomination’s monthly publication, so here we go:
I arrived in beautiful Bali, Indonesia on September 12th after 24 hours on the road, along with 2132 other pastors and church leaders from 37 countries. About 65% are international visitors like myself while the rest are from Indonesia itself.
Each day we had two plenary sessions, one workshop, one panel discussion, one joint revival meeting, one lunch, one dinner, 2 hours of free time, and corporate worship and prayer. It was exhausting, & sometimes overwhelming, but I was glad to be there to absorb as much as possible. Here are three important lessons I’ve learned:
Gratefully in Jesus,
Rev. Dr. Ho-Ming J. Tsui
Pastor, Richmond Hill Christian Community Church
Toronto, Canada
(Reprinted with permission)
Original article: http://homingle.blogspot.com/2011/09/ccowe-reflection.html
Location： Special Administrative Region of China．Macau
Dates： 17-21 Jul 2006
Participants：~2,600
Participants were led to rethink the evangelistic mandate of the Lord, whose holistic gospel has been bringing about renewal of individual life, church, society, culture, and all nations.
The daily sub-themes -“Renewal of Life,” “Renewal of Society,” “Renewal of Culture,” and “Renewal of All Nations”- were examined from the perspectives of theology, missiology, church history, as well as other professional points of view.
Every morning, there were Bible Study, plenary session as well as response session to explore the daily sub-theme. In the afternoon, other than regional conferences, the congress featured more than 30 daily workshops and seminars led by ministry leaders, missionaries, as well as professionals of diverse sectors.
At the evening Mission Celebration, message was delivered through sermon and video presentation of testimony pertaining to the respective daily sub-theme.
For the first time in CCOWE’s history, there was a parallel English Track. While the morning Bible Study and evening Mission Celebration remained joint sessions, plenary and response sessions as well as workshops were separate meetings designed to meet the specific needs of ethnic Chinese of different continents.
Location： Kuala Lumpur．Malaysia
Dates： 10-14 Jul 2001
Participants： ~1,600
Every day congress participants were blessed with a fresh start by hymns, testimony and prayer; followed by morning sermons on the following topics: “Spirituality & Missions” (by Rev. John Kao), “Urbanization & Missions” (by Dr. Raymond J. Bakke), “Ethnicity & Missions” (by Rev. Cyrus Lam), and “Globalization & Missions” (by Rev. Andrew Shen).
In each afternoon, while participants were attending ten workshops of different themes, experts were gathering together for action plan tracks ranged over various issues, such as theological education, information technology, etc., aiming to bring about reflections on formulating strategies and ministry plans.
In addition to sermons, the evening sessions brought forth the message of the day by various means, such as drama and audio-visual presentation. At the closing ceremony held in the Stadium Putra, Rev. Stephen Tong delivered a sermon on “Why Preach the Gospel?”, and the number of attendance was estimated as exceeded 10,000.
Location： Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre．Hong Kong
Dates：10-26 Jul 1996
Participants：~1,600
Seminar was held every morning. Some important issues in Chinese churches were discussed, like hardship, politics, environmental protection, problems faced by pastors, 21st-century spirituality, Christianity and Chinese culture, the atmosphere and model for preaching, the age of information, family, model of theological education, economic ethics and finance, Holy music and Gospel, the model of missions, the model of church, and others. Besides, some sessions were devoted for participants of all districts to discuss the action plans that were going to be adopted in their districts after the Congress.
The evening sessions were aimed at helping the participants to know Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The topics included “Christianity and Chinese Culture” (by Prof. Peter Lin), “Spirituality in the 21st Century” (by Dr. Philemon Choi), “Preaching Situation and Model” (by Rev. Stephen Tong) and “Chinese, Ethic-Chinese and World Evangelism” (by Rev. Morley Lee and Rev. Samuel Ling).
On Sunday, the CCOWE Missions Rally, titled “Wholly for Gospel．Always for Gospel”, focusing on “The Belief and Commitment on Gospel”, was held in the Hong Kong Stadium. The number of participants was anticipated to have reached 16,000.
Location： Manila, Philippines
Dates： 10-17 Jul 1991
Participants： ~1,500
Following Christ: There were different kinds of worship and prayer meetings in the morning session of the Congress.
Reaching All Peoples: This is a session of Thematic Case Study. Well-informed and brilliant Chinese and non-Chinese speakers addressed on Local Chinese (by Rev. Lo Kenneth), overseas Chinese (by Dr. Gail Law), the unreached in the first and second worlds (by Dr. Samuel Kamaleson and Mr. John D. Robb) and the world’s two-thirds unreached people (by Rev. Luis Bush) so that participants would get a brief picture of the peoples’ situation and could even come up with appropriate actions responding to their needs.
Marching towards AD 2000: Topics of this evening session included “A World of Diversity” (by Dr. Philemon Choi), “A World of Secularity” (by Rev. Stephen Tong), “A World of Hardship” (by Dr. John Chang), “A World of Information” (by Prof. Peter Lin), “A World of Spirituality” (by Rev. Chow Shen-chu) and “A World of the Unreached” (by Rev. Thomas Wang). All were aimed at showing the participants the complexity and challenge of gospel ministry in 1990s.
Location：Chung Yuan Christian University．Taiwan
Dates：6-13 Aug 1986
Participants：~1,800
The theme of the Congress (Renewal, Breakthrough and Growth) constituted the topics of the three evening Revival Meetings.
There was a Bible Exposition session in the morning. The discussion on the concept renovations much needed among Chinese churches was centered on topics of “Kingdom”, “Revival” and “Secularization and Purification”.
Besides, there was a Theme Exposition session. The main topic was “Worldwide Strategy for Chinese Churches” while “50 Million Souls”, “1 Billion Souls” and “50 Billion Souls” were the sub-topics. As what the sub-topics suggested, attention was drawn on discussing missions strategies and worker training targeted for 50 million overseas Chinese, 1 billion local Chinese and 50 billion people in the world. What followed theme exposition was District Discussion where participants could go on the discussion focusing on the needs of their districts.
Location： Singapore
Dates： 17-25 Jun 1981
Participants： ~1,600
There was Seminar in this CCOWE. The main topic of the Seminar was “Disciple Reaping and Training”, with “The Calling and Cost of Being a Disciple”, “The Basis of Reaping Disciple”, “The Mission and Strategy of Reaping Disciple”, “Training of Disciple Reapers” and “The New Horizon of Reaping Disciple” as the sub-topics. Besides, there were four topics for Group Discussion: “Disciples in 1980s”, “Chinese Churches in 1980s”, “Strategies for World Evangelization” and “Workers and Training”.
One of the distinctive features of this CCOWE was the Revival Rally. This was an open meeting with following topics: “Holiness and Power” (by Elder Wu Yong), “Discipline and Growth” (by Dr. Timothy Lin), “Mobilization and Missions” (by Dr. James H. Taylor III), “Youth and Dedication” (by Rev. Stephen Tong) and “Cooperation and Worldwide Evangelization” (by Rev. Gottfried Osei-Mansah).
Location： Kowloon City Baptist Church．Hong Kong
Dates： 18-25 Aug 1976
Participants： ~1,600
The themes of Bible Exposition in the morning were “Heavenly Vision” (by Rev. Stephen Chan) and “Heavenly Mission” (by Rev. John Pao).
Seminar was held in the afternoon and the seminar topics included: “Revelation and Authority”, “Holy Spirit and Expansion”, “Gospel and Witness”, “Missions and Mission: Missions from Biblical Perspective”, “Mission and Missions: Practical Issues among Churches” and “Church and Unity”.
Venue: Port Dickson, Malaysia
Date: October 1-4, 2012
Participants：~240人
Website: http://www.cccowe.org/4thgrassroots/ (Chinese only)
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Venue: Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Hong Kong
Date: September 29-October 3, 2008
Paticipants：~684
Organizer: Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Organizer: Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism
Program Coordinator: CCCOWE–West Malaysia
Co-Organizer: Asia Theological Association for the Grassroots
Theme:
Date: August 10-14, 2004
Venue: The Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
More than 300 grassroots ministry co-workers have gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a time of fruitful interaction and open sharing. Other than local participants, this conference have drawn numerous co-workers from the four corners of the world, namely Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.
There were various sessions at the conference, such as plenary sessions, regional reports, forums, and workshops, to address a broad range of issues. For examples, there were workshops covering ministries to sex workers, alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers, and the general grassroots community respectively. Moreover, we had invited representatives from almost all the present countries to share with us their local situation and ministries. Whether at the plenary sessions or group discussions, participants were drawn by the messages, which they found highly relevant and extremely helpful to their ministries. Although some participants said that the conference schedule was quite “packed” and they felt rather exhausted, they were still grateful to God for this golden opportunity to have a meet-up with other co-workers in similar ministries.
After careful consideration and discussion, the 3rd International Conference on Chinese Grassroots Evangelism will be held in Hong Kong in July 2008. Until then, pray that all co-workers serving the grassroots will continue to witness Jesus’ love among this most neglected group of our society.
Venue: Singapore
Date: June 25-29, 1990
Paticipants: 110
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location： Tagaytay, Philippines
Dates： 26－30 Oct 2009
Participants： ~750
Rosa Ching Shao, PhD
Where do I begin to count the many blessings God bestowed on our English track during the recently concluded CCCOWE 3rd Worldwide Chinese Women Mission Conference, held in Tagaytay, Rizal, from October 26 to 30, 2009? The very first words or phrases that come to mind are: Truly a weary, worry and wary yet worthy, worthwhile and wonderful experience! As I ponder more indepth deeply, here are some more thoughts to share:
Especial Touch of God
When the ball started rolling for the planning and organizing by the two logistic working committees, namely, the local Chinese-Filipino team and the HongKong team about two years ago, CCCOWE already specified the set-up of simultaneous English track. I was asked to head up the English track committee. When the global economic crisis erupted unexpectedly toward the last quarter of 2008, the target number of participants given to the English track was 100 participants. At the same time, we also received news that people from abroad would not likely be able to attend due to conflicts of work schedule, etc., and that it is up to us the local group to enlist participants to join. Knowing that in the home front, many local churches have also lined up their annual youth camps and conferences, I feared that a pile of hindrances was placed before me. You see, even our CCOWE young professionals have had their annual meetings this September! Thus, my small working team of 5 to 6 people kept praying during our monthly meeting, that God himself would move the hearts of our young women and those English speaking sisters to come. Everytime I would follow-up the CCOWE office for updates on registration. When I was told the number registered was 49…then, 59… later, 89… My heart leaped with praise and joy! Then closer to 99… I asked, “Where is our 100th sheep? Who wants to be our 100th registrant?!” God is good all the time! We had 151 names officially enlisted as the conference began. However, two sisters were in the waiting list, and they finally joined us as two original Chinese track participants were not able to come due to visa’s problem. That makes us a total of 153 participants, just like the abundant catch of Jesus’ disciples when he showed himself to them by the shore, and the net did not break!
Essential Task Force of People
All the while, the local English track committee maintained close correspondence with one or two personnel from the HongKong group that acted as our co-worker/s. We are more familiar with Sister Dora as opposed to the other members in the working team that finally came on the spot to collaborate and coordinate the detailed scheduling with us. Different culture bring different ways of doing thing; different folks, different strokes. We may be quite accommodating in certain areas such as time management, but the very efficient, effective and ever ready HongKong team kept watch, even to the minutes and seconds of delay or overtime! We really learned to appreciate each other movements and manners. The schedule was kept well and sound, with the cooperation of all concerned, and even the weather did not create any natural disturbances as over 150 of us spent four fruitful mornings in the set-up tents. Speaking of the tent, its overtop ceiling would sway and echo above us, in unison with the turbulent wind outside, that seemed so eager to join us, but we strongly resisted with padlock and hinge.
Exciting Trace of Events
Now came the very main course of our English track program: For three mornings, everyone was so alive, awake and kicking under the singsinspiration of worship and exercise under the four leading ladies of the musical band. They came well prepared and equipped to keep us praising around inside the tent. Aunt Ada Lum, as she has been fondly adored, led the three mornings’ exposition of God’s Word on the Book of Esther. She proved to us that life can still be exciting at 83! We all fell like we had been really to the Persian palace, seeing how Esther’s life unfolded, from a likeable teenage orphan, to a maturing young queen and later, as a woman with full authority, being used by God, for such a time like this! Each morning,one lady missionary was assigned to open the window on the respective mission field for us to see how God reigns even in the gloomiest places. Each day we also stepped into the wonders of praying for each other. Indeed, we have smelled the aromatic Christian service, not just from the open forum session, but also from our participation in the combined evening meetings.
In conclusion, all glory be to God, the Lord of harvest, for as Jesus reminds us: ” So you also, when you have done eveything you were told to do, should say,’we are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’ “(Luke 17: 10). Looking back, I can attest to God’s mighty Spirit moving along us, giving us all the wind under our wings! Hurray to God who deserves all glory, honor and praise! Let us face life ahead, more than conquerors, enhanced and empowered by the many messages of those Christian women who have gone before us.
Venue: Malaysia
Date: 20-24 Nov 1998
Participants：~500
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page for the detailed report.
Venue: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Date: 1-4 Jun 2005
Participants：~840
Location： Accra, Ghana
Dates： 13－16 Apr 2009
Participants： ~80
please visit the Chinese page for the detailed report.
Location： Nairobi, Kenya
Dates： 3－8 Apr 2009
Participants： ~88
Praise the Lord that the conference as well as various discovery trips have been held successfully.
Let’s read what participants say about that…
Pre-Conference Missionaries’ Retreat
Thank God for giving us a special opportunity to meet with old friends and to get to know many new friends. The sharing from Rev. Cyrus Lam and Rev. Morley Lee were remarkably sweet and to the point! It was a very precious reminder, especially that of Rev. Lee’s talk about the family issues. A million thanks to HIM!
Conference
Venue: South Africa
Date: 25-30 Jul 1998
Participants：~180
Please visit the Chinese page for the detailed report.
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Date: 9-13 Sep 2008
Participants: ~1000
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Date: 9-13 Sep 2008
Participants: ~1000
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 14-18 Sep 2004
Participants: ~600
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location： Taiwan
Dates： 14－17 Jan 2013
Participants： ~110
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location： Hong Kong
Dates： 11－13 Nov 2009
Participants： ~100
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location： San Francisco, U.S.A.
Dates： 4－6 Dec 2007
Participants： ~50
This event was conducted in Chinese, for details, please visit the Chinese page of CCCOWE.
Location： Singapore
Dates： 21－24 Nov 2005
Participants： ~100
Venue：Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church · Singapore
Date： 23－25 June 2026
Participants： ~45
From June 23 to 25, 2025, CCCOWE hosted a strategic gathering focused on Missional Discipleship @ Workplace (MDW) at Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church in Singapore. The meeting brought together 45 local church pastors and believers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia who share a burden for workplace evangelism. Through small-group workshops, participants explored practical pathways for living out missional discipleship in the marketplace.
The meeting centered on the unique contexts and struggles faced by various groups—including entrepreneurs, white-collar professionals, blue-collar workers, young professionals, and local pastors. As we engaged in dialogue, we came to realize that the obstacles to missional living are not merely external pressures, but often deeply ingrained cultural narratives we unknowingly believe—narratives that tell us we must prove our worth through performance, earn approval through success, or sustain our value through our roles.
Over the course of these three days, we began to see the real-life challenges others face and had opportunities to respond to misconceptions between groups. This was more than just an exchange of ideas—it became a time of relational renewal and spiritual reawakening.
We hope this marks the beginning of a journey—one of walking together across generational and vocational boundaries, growing in mutual understanding and intercession. We believe that when the Church and its people respond to God’s call in the workplace, when faith is no longer confined to church activities but takes root in daily work and life, the Kingdom of God is powerfully revealed in our midst.
