The Harvest Is Plentiful, But The Workers Are Few

The words of Jesus rings so true as we consider English ministry in our Chinese Churches, "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" (Matt.9:37). The opportunity to reach a new generation of Australian Born Chinese within the Chinese church abounds, but the workers are indeed few. As I speak to and meet leaders both in NSW and inter-state the constant refrain I hear is, 'we need someone to come and serve in our church'. When I was at university in the early 1990’s, I could count the number of English pastors in our Chinese Churches in Sydney on one hand. Today I count them on just over two hands, even though our Chinese Churches in Sydney number over 70! This does not even take into account the fact that there are limited positions available for paid women's workers in our Chinese churches, even though half of our congregations are made up of women.

There are many reasons for the shortage of workers in English ministry in our Chinese churches. Apart from the lure of materialism and self-centered careerism, the other would be inter-generational conflict between OBC (Overseas Born Chinese) and ABC/ARC (Australian Born/Raised Chinese) leadership. Many who have undertaken theological training have chosen not to return to serve because of their experience of inter-generational conflict growing up in Chinese churches. Others in lay leadership have served for years and left the Chinese church altogether, disillusioned and bitter, again because of inter-generational conflict brought about by the cultural differences. While it is easy to dwell on the inter-generational differences between OBC and ABC/ARC leadership, what many fail to realize is that serving in English ministry within the Chinese is really a mission in itself. Those who serve in English ministry within the Chinese church need to see themselves as missionaries working inter-generationally in a foreign cultural context (OBC), reaching and growing a specific people group (ABC/ARC’s). We need to approach English ministry in the Chinese church missionally. Our failure as leaders in English ministry within the Chinese church is that though we are well equipped to do English ministry, we have not bothered to learn and neither have we seen the need to be all things to all people (especially towards OBC’s in leadership), to win them (1 Cor.9:22).

Another reason for the shortage of workers also stems from the lack of ongoing leadership training and development in our churches. It's a vicious circle, as many English ministries and congregations in our Chinese churches do not have pastors to lead them, and those holding the fort in the interim feel inadequately prepared. The solution is a long-term one as pastors are not produced overnight. We must raise up leaders from among our English congregations today if we are to have men and women who will serve our congregations tomorrow. And it starts with young emerging leaders: identifying them, discipling them, training them and giving them opportunities to serve and lead. It's been my privilege to have different leaders mentor me since year 7, who took the time to disciple me, who gave me opportunities to serve with them, to lead and who eventually challenged me to go into full-time paid Christian ministry. And not all of them were pastors!

The Chinese church and her leaders must be prepared to give her young men and women opportunities to serve, and to call them to full time Christian ministry, if we are to meet the needs of our many English congregations in the Chinese church nation wide. For too long the church has left the calling of men and women to pastoral ministry to the individual. The setting apart of men and women for the work of ministry is the responsibility of the local church: identifying, discipling, training and calling them to ministry (Titus 1:5; 2 Tim.2:2).

We are fortunate in Sydney to have training events such as the yearly Katoomba Youth Leadership Conference, Sydney Chinese Christian Churches Association (SCCCA) Pilot Day and more recently the launch of SCCCA’s monthly regional Ministry Training Centres (you can find out more about this at www.ace-network.org). These however does not substitute for the personal ongoing discipleship of young emerging leaders by their Sunday School teachers, Bible Study group leaders, Youth Fellowship leaders and elders or deacons. You can send your leaders to a training day, but you'll see a much greater impact when you personally draw alongside them, involve them in your ministry, pray with and for them, read the bible with them and share your life with them. For in doing so you're not only teaching them, but modeling it for them in the way you're living the Christian life. What made the most impact for me as a youth, was having a Youth Fellowship leader who spent time teaching me guitar, who was always encouraging me to move forward in my Christian life each time we met. At university the person who made the most impact for me was a pastor who would regularly take me fishing with his wife, who was always using the opportunity to encourage me in my relationship with God and with my family. I not only learnt from them, I saw it in the way they lived their lives.

As leaders whether OBC or ABC/ARC, old or young, can you make a difference in the life of a young emerging leader? You certainly can as a Sunday School teacher, Youth Fellowship leader, small group leader, church elder or deacon. Look around, identify them, encourage them, get alongside them, involve them in your life and ministry, share your vision for ministry with them, mentor them, teach them, model for them. It’ll be an investment that will not only benefit your church, but in the long-term the kingdom.

The needs of English ministry in our Chinese church are great, as the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. I do take heart however, as Jesus also said, "ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matt.9:38). Ultimately English ministry in our Chinese Churches is God's ministry. More than anything else as we consider the need for more leaders, workers and pastors in our English congregations, we must pray to him and work with him to do this. We must ask God and work with him to continue raising up, and sending out men and women who are prepared to serve him.

Euge