Recently, the Rev. Zeng and his team from a church in a southern city shared three important practices from their pastoral journey: developing the habit of early morning devotions, integrating resources, and nurturing talents.
The Habit of Early Morning Devotions
Zeng believes faith is life, and daily spiritual practices best nurture believers. His church has adopted early morning devotions as a spiritual habit to help believers draw closer to God and better understand His Word. The church conducts morning services, and believers gather online to read Scripture and pray, with pastors explaining Bible passages and spiritual insights.
Zeng recommends studying entire books of the Bible or consecutive passages to avoid taking verses out of context, ensuring a better grasp of the Scripture. Initially, few people participated in the morning service, but as members shared the content of the morning service in group chats, it sparked more engagement and interaction. Over time, the number of participants grew, and many developed a lasting habit of morning devotions. Some even brought the practice into their families and workplaces, influencing others’ lives.
Integrating Resources
Pastor Zeng’s pastoral team emphasizes resource integration as a guiding principle for church renewal and ministry development.
Adopting a "go out and bring in" approach, they learn new courses and methods and adapt them to the church's pastoral framework. For example, the "C3 Group" (C represents Core, three people reading the Bible together) and the "5G Group" (Gel, Glorify, Grow, Go, Gear-up) have been incorporated. These methods were tailored to suit the church’s characteristics and circumstances. Now, most small group leaders in the church are proficient in these methods, and several vibrant and stable youth fellowships established.
Zeng believes existing projects and newly introduced ones should revolve around the Great Commission, ensuring ministries advance in harmony. Regardless of the complexity of tasks or the number of ministries, believers should be equipped and encouraged to place their faith in the Great Commission, based on the preaching of the truth.
In the past, many churches treated the Great Commission as merely one part of "evangelistic outreach," alongside preaching and fellowship. However, Zeng asserts that the Great Commission is the shared mission of all believers and should underpin all ministries.
He advocates a mindset shift that places the Great Commission at the center of his ministry. Ministries such as preaching and fellowship should serve to fulfill the Great Commission. Since integrating diverse ministries with the "Great Commission" as the core concept, Zeng's church has been centered around this core no matter how many new projects it introduces, with the ministry carried out in an orderly manner.
Training Talents
On the subject of talent development, a common concern for churches, Zeng remarked, "We cannot always act like emergency responders running to put out fires. This method is exhausting and unsustainable. We need more people to rise and take responsibility."
He suggests following the "80/20 Rule," focusing on the 20 percent of believers who are active and willing. These individuals should first be encouraged and guided to grow into staff workers and then gradually entrusted with more responsibilities. Additionally, members with different gifts should be paired to complement one another, allowing each person’s strengths to shine.
Zeng shared a humorous experience. One of the church workers, known for being somewhat disorganized in communication, often frustrated others during discussions. However, when a heretical individual came to the church, the pastor asked him to engage with them. The heretic was left completely bewildered, and the problem was resolved.
The key to nurturing talents, according to Zeng, lies in valuing believers' willingness to serve Christ. There is nothing more precious than a heart willing to obey Christ. With a joyful Southern accent, he exclaimed, "The more I pastor, the happier I feel because I have coworkers! Serving together in unity is such a delight!"
In closing, Zeng encouraged with these three guiding principles, "Mission inspires life, willingness brings forth ability, and responsibility fosters growth."
- Edited by Katherine Guo, translated by Abigail Wu
