Elisa Wan, Editor and Communications Officer
yungyan@fes.org.hk
With the increasing challenges of youth pastoral ministry, FES organized a “Youth Ministry Forum” on June 10 to engage pastors in reflection on and commitment to pastoral care, bringing together about 100 participants.
The event began with a contextual discussion, exploring the biblical, theological and practical perspectives of ecclesiology and pastoral contexts. Dr. Johnson YIP, Assistant Professor (Biblical Studies) of the China Graduate School of Theology, illustrated the rupture between the captive and the left behind communities of Israel through the narrative of identity construction in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. He reminded us that in facing division, the Bible allows and expects continuous debate and dialogue. However, both sides of the conversation should recognize that we are all sinners and keep examining ourselves in it.
Dr. Barry Cheung, General Secretary of FES, shared the essence and form of pastoral care from the basis of Christology. He stated that Christology reminds us of whether our own lives have encountered Christ and turned to Him. “The ultimate pastoral goal is for young people to enter into an authentic I-thou relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Yu Pui Ying, Senior Pastor of Tsing Lam Alliance Church, shared her church experience. She pointed out that Tsing Lam Church always focuses on moments of connection in its activities, and strives to bring brothers and sisters of different ages together to live out inclusion and to see each other. “I hope that the church will become a third space in their lives, apart from their parents’ home, a place where they have stable relationships and where they can be themselves.”
A quantitative study on the “Survey on the Faith Conditions of College Believers in Hong Kong” indicated that believers’ intention to leave the church was related to their perception of the church. Our staff William Lam shared the qualitative research conducted afterward, interviewing three types of believers: those who attend church regularly, those who have sought or are in the process of seeking and changing churches, and those who have left the church. Findings revealed that the pastoral teaching and community life of the congregation are crucial to the faith life of young believers.
6 workshops on “Exchange of Practical Experience” were also organized in the afternoon, inviting Ms. Wong Ying Wa, Assistant Minister of Kowloon Pentecostal Church Fanling Chapel to share her experience in youth church; Mr. Fung Ting Kwan, Religious Officer of CCC Heep Woh College, and Missionary Ms. Lo Mei Li, and Missionary Mr. Man Ho Fung, of CCC Heep Woh Church, to share their experience of cooperation between churches and schools. For the media ministry, “Galut” shared their experience in trying to said pastor the diaspora, and “Walk With Faith” introduced the purpose of its establishment. There was also a sharing on the “Bible Engagement” ministry by our Inter-college Department, and a sharing on the “Alternative Evangelistic Camp” by Mr. Fung Man Kit, a representative of Breakthrough.
The forum concluded with communion and a sending blessing, reminding pastors and fellow workers to share the bread and cup with one another as one body, and to jointly carry forth our pastoral duties in the Lord.
Participants’ Feedback
＞＞Pastor Ah Fung remarked that he was most inspired by the sharing in the morning session, which encouraged him to put the focus on God when facing the feeling of powerlessness. The afternoon workshop on church-school cooperation reminded him that he is not alone, and that the situation faced by his own church is also a challenge for many churches in Hong Kong, prompting him to focus on youth discipleship in the future.
＞＞Participant LW expressed her desire to come and learn about how other churches pastor young people. She was inspired by the workshop held at the Kowloon Pentecostal Church Fanling Chapel to see their experience of relational pastoral care, which not only inspires young people, but also enables them to practice peer pastoral care.
＞＞Pastor Shek, who is the School Chaplain, pointed out that she had gained from different speakers; in the morning, she reflected on the current pastoral situation from Dr. Yip’s sharing, learnt from Dr. Barry Chung to let go of oneself in pastoral care, and from Rev. Yu’s sharing of her experience of Ching Lin Church in intergenerational peers. In the afternoon, she attended a workshop with the Walk With Faith, where she observed and appreciated the way they use their spare time to stimulate and engage young people in thinking about their faith. She shared that the workshop inspired her to learn to be more relevant and to pastor young people by using their language, concerns and media.
Full text is available in Chinese version.
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