CHINA: Long Term Ministry Partnership Enables Open Doors to reach Many Church Leaders
Thursday 3 December 2009
An official Three Self Church in China, with weekly attendance of about 3,000 believers.
MNL Ministries [name changed for security reasons] has been a ministry partner of Open Doors since 1998. Its objective is to assist the church in China by training her church leaders and equipping them to train others. It began its work in 1996 in east-central China with a group of about 30 pastors and 50 laity. Today their training teams teach in 16 different locations, with more than 15,000 pastors systematically working their way through MNL's 25 courses.
These 25 courses begin with basic discipleship and progress systematically through a Bible curriculum that is contextualized for China's rural churches. Topics include New Life, New Living, Discipleship, Shepherding, Old & New Testament Surveys, Resolving Spiritual Conflicts, Basic Doctrines, Training Principles, Guard Against and Refute Heresy, Church Dynamics, Bible Study Methods, Homiletics, Missions and Pastoral Care.
Open Doors extends our ministry to the church in China through MNL by making it possible for MNL to put their pastoral training textbooks into the waiting hands of church co-workers who are undergoing their systematic training. How has God worked in the lives of these dedicated workers who do not have the option of attending seminary like many of us have in the 'free' world?
Transferability
Pastor Shui* began using MNL's training curriculum in 1997. "Before I began studying MNL's materials, I faced lots of limitations in equipping others," he said. "Typically, my teaching was based on my personal experience or an illumination of the truth. Now we go through MNL's courses by means of a test following the "New Life" course for three to four days of intensive study. Then those of us who have been trained split into four teams with each team teaching another group of trainees one lesson per week. Using this training methodology, we have been able to equip our church members systematically and comprehensively. The materials have not only helped us to stand firm in the truth, the number of trainees has also grown from a few hundred to a few thousand. We thank God for providing us with these materials."
Transformation
Trainer Wang* remembered one brother-in-Christ who was struggling with low self-esteem and depression. "He had no confidence in himself and in his abilities. For some reason, he also faced difficulties in being free from anxiety," he recalled. "But when he was reminded about his identity in Christ and learned how to overcome anxiety through the "Steps to Freedom," things began to change. After the bondage in his life was broken, the joy that returned to his heart was very obvious to all of us." He added, "This kind of teaching is very new to us and it isn't something that we are taught in school.
"The material on 'Resolving Spiritual Conflicts' reminds us that the truth will set us free and we must always be aware of Satan's attack, such as by misleading our thoughts, "said Trainer Hong*. "When I began teaching this course in our village, our church was encountering a series of Satan's attacks. We faced disunity in addition to vigorous cult activities in our region.
"After we finished going through this material, some key leaders were immediately released from their bondages and experienced freedom in Christ, "Trainer Hong recounted, "They shared with the church brothers and sisters that they had been misled by Satan and openly confessed their sin with tears in their eyes. God brought about reconciliation and we were once again bound together by His love, power and unity."
Truth Impartation
Brothers Mu* and Cai* were bursting with excitement as they met with MNL's staff. "You will be pleased to hear about the impact of MNL's training materials. We began teaching your courses on Basic Doctrines and Church Dynamics. The courses were so well received that they asked us to teach them in their training centres to new and younger village church pastors. As a result, these young pastors are now teaching biblical truths from MNL's materials to 50,000 church members. The training has been so successful that local Three-Self pastors want us to introduce it in more registered churches. "
In another area, the local Three-Self pastor of the largest church there with 2,000 members but only four pastoral staff, operates a training centre independently of the official seminary which only recruits 60 new students every three years. He too, was introduced to MNL's training curriculum and is now using it in his training centre to prepare young workers to reach hundreds of churches both in the city and countryside within his region.
Thanksgiving
Katherine from MNL expressed their thanks: "Open Doors, support for our printing needs enables us to put pastoral training textbooks into the hands of over 15,000 pastors’ who are poorly equipped in their Bible knowledge and pastoral skills. Your partnership in ministry allows us to bring tools for ministry that have a proven track record for effectiveness to such pastors scattered all across China."
In late 2008, one of our senior trainers brought two young trainees aged 19 and 21 years to co-teach our initial Old Testament Survey course, called 'OT 100 Steps'. "About 70 rural evangelists were attending the three-day training. The young trainees taught very well and our senior trainer was pleased with their confidence, delivery and familiarity with the teaching content.
At the close of the training, the local host was so encouraged with what he had learned that he remarked, "We have learned more from God's Word in these three days from your teaching than from all the training we have received over the past three years! Your young assistants are excellent teachers!
Thank you for your partnership in serving the church in China.
Thank you for helping us to make a difference – to God's glory!
Prayer Points
Good partnerships in God's Kingdom – working together can bring about greater fruitfulness than when we toil alone.
Pray for our ministry partners in China and that God will multiply our effectiveness for His greater glory.
Pray that MNL's training courses will equip and raise up many more pastors and teachers who will be able to impart God’s truth faithfully and accurately to others.
Thank God too, for the opportunity to impact the registered church through our Bible-based resources and be instrumental in unifying the Church in China.
