Since 2010, CCC&TSPM of Guangdong Province joined efforts with Hong Kong and Macao to host the "Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Pastoral Exchange" each year. It has become a platform for pastoral staff of the three places to communicate and share with each other. The 2016 exchange took place in Guangzhou on Nov 21-22 with the theme "Urban Evangelism."
The special content of this exchange included friendly evangelism, self-knowledge, experience sharing of the evangelizing model in Macao and Shenzhen, according to CCC&TSPM of Shenzhen's WeChat. Hong Kong Pastor Zhong Jiankai shared "Friendly Evangelism," and Guangdong Pastor Liang Ming preached "Knowing Oneself." Macao Pastor Liang Yunwu shared "Evangelizing Model and Experience Sharing" concerning the theme that churches with young people multiply. Shenzhen Pastor Ye Dongsheng shared "Some Thoughts on Urban Evangelism."
While talking about the urban evangelism in Shenzhen churches, Pastor Ye Dongsheng analyzed the difference between evangelism and mission. Evangelism focuses on bringing people to God and submitting to the church; while mission lays special emphasis on intercultural dialogues and service of action. The definition of evangelism is to go, to baptize, and to teach (Mat 28:18-20). Then he introduced the situation facing Shenzhen Churches, including languages, population structure, cultural differences, and other aspects, so that the pastoral workers in Shenzhen would understand the challenges and opportunities they were facing. He also summarized the multiform and diversified preaching pattern carried out in urban pastoring. These include visitation, terminal care, charity, volunteering in the city, serving in one's career, square dancing, cultural exchange, foreign language learning, medical social work, love hotline, gas station, Gospel drug rehabilitation, Christmas celebration, individual preaching, and so on.
On Dec 6-8, 2010, Guangdong Provincial Christianity jointly organized the "Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau Pastoral Exchange" with Hong Kong and Macao in Guangzhou Christian Dongshan Church. More than 100 pastoral workers from Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen carried out the exchange on church pastoring experiences.
On Nov 14-16, 2011, the "Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau Pastoral Exchange" was hosted in Shenzhen Christian Church. With the subject of "Pastoral Challenge of Churches during Urbanization," over 150 pastoral personnel from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao attended the meeting.
At the 2015 Pastoral Exchange, distinguished Hong Kong Pastor Wu Zongwen was specially invited to be the keynote speaker. Pastor Wu shared on four special topics. The Principle of Guiding: from Spiritual Studies, Principle of the Servant: Servant Leadership, Principles of the Shepherd: Develop the less advanced, and Principles of everyone: Team Spirit.
Translated by: Grace Hubl
