18-Jun-2007
Do English Ministry congregations in Chinese churches make an impact on their community? Do you know examples of mature english ministries that are still attached to Chinese speaking congregations that are actively impacting their communities? Do you admire any english ministry congregations and are there any churches that we as a Chinese church should look to as a model?
Yesterday at church, there were two guys who were smoking outside our church. I think they were hispanic, though I cannot be sure. They drove up in a Civic SI. I noticed them, but didn’t think much of them. They were workers in a neighboring business since our church is in a commercial complex. Joe asked me the question, “Who are those guys? Do they go to the church?” I knew the implication of the question. Our church should be impacting their lives for Christ.
Do you know any english ministries in Chinese churches that as a whole impact people other than middle class/upper middle class educated Chinese on a regular basis?
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6 Comments, Comment or Ping
yftoad
More often than not, no. That’s the question that I’ve been struggling with lately regarding whether or not to stay with our current church. Most Asian-American churches predominantly attract middle-upper class individuals, and instead of being involved in society, they insulate themselves from society and end up working hard to preserve the middle-upper class lifestyle. The shouts of scripture telling us to interact and care for the homeless and underprivileged become mere whispers in the form of a monthly or bi-monthly “service project” where a handful of volunteers help out at the local soup kitchen and thus fulfill the unwritten quota for community involvement.
Jun 18th, 2007
kuangkai
i’d say that Lord’s Grace is doing an ok to fair job. ask gary. we’re doing weekly bread donations to salvation army downtown, we do monthly food distribution across the 15, we help to take care of continuation HS students at abraxas, and we’ve held numerous events in the canyon rim apartments where we’re really gotten to know some families well, just to list a couple off the top of my head. the journey has been a total blessing.
Jun 18th, 2007
eCsuPA
no i dont.
Jun 19th, 2007
kanfood
my dad’s church doesn’t minister to the middle class Chinese American. His church ministers to the poor Chinese immigrants…but then they don’t have a English speaking ministry.
Jun 19th, 2007
KingdomSheepDog
Good question, may we answer that honestly. Glory (the English side) is not currently doing that. May God has mercy and enable us to do that. May we rise up to meet that challenge. Let us pray for that to happen at Glory. I, as a pastor, will fully support that.
However, that is also a fair question for the Chinese side. We are beginning to do that in the Chinese side: EE, Restaurant Workers Ministry, Campus ministry. These are not just projects. We are doing these things every week.
Jun 21st, 2007
justwatching
problem is, the Chinese American/Asian American church has no idea of what really goes on in their own city. And they have no reason or desire to know what really goes on. They have not been impacted and so what does “helping” out mean anyway? They have no idea what the “poverty mindset” is. Until they are really impacted by it, it will only be a “ministry” to them, and not a passion.
Jun 25th, 2007
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