Pastor A Yue (later refers as Yue), in her 40s, has served in a northern city far from her hometown for over a decade. From theological training, and youth fellowship, to a “pioneering church”, her ministry follows the needs of young believers she cares about and reflects areas where churches in China need to grow.
From Theological Training to Youth Fellowship
When Yue first arrived in the city, she established a small theological training class, primarily attended by the children of local pastors. Recognizing the need for a space where these students could practice their faith and gather besides taking the training session, Yue also started a youth fellowship.
As they practice their learning, these students share the gospel with others, gradually reaching some young people. Some of whom were then recommended to nearby churches. However, over time, these churches struggled to provide adequate pastoral care for young people, prompting them to return.
Lacking a suitable place to send the young believers, Yue decided to establish another youth fellowship for them. However, its establishment brought about a series of challenges.
Yue explained that although the group was small, the young people were so enthusiastic, praying and praising loudly. While they agreed to lower their voices when asked, the volume would rise again within minutes. At that time, the fellowship was in a residential building. Their loud voice led to frequent complaints from neighbors. As a result, the youth fellowship had to relocate multiple times over the years.
From Youth Fellowship to Church
Later on, the Youth fellowship developed into a church as a result that other churches, while welcoming the young in their twenties, struggled to nurture them.
"There are quite a few churches around the fellowship, but none of them meet my expectations for providing pastoral care for young people," Yue said.
At the time, most churches only held Sunday worship services without additional initiatives or a dedicated pastoral care system. This left numerous newcomers, particularly young people with no foundation in faith, struggling to adapt.
Around 2013, Yue discontinued her theological training class to fully concentrate on building a church that could nurture and retain young people.
China Needs More "Pioneering Churches"
Yue’s experience may not be unique. Her case highlights a common challenge faced by quite a few churches in China—a lack of pastoral care, particularly for young people. These churches might have become accustomed to traditional gathering routines, existing primarily to serve the needs of existing believers. However, they often struggle to help individuals transition from having no faith to developing a committed belief. This type of church could be called a "conservative church."
We do not deny that "conservative churches" play an important role. Still, in addition to these, China also needs a significant number of "pioneering churches" that focus on attracting, engaging, and nurturing young people.
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Poppy Chan
