牧者心聲
年輕人是教會的未來！？
陳小宛牧師
2025 年 6 月 28 日／29 日
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我很喜歡遠足，我也很高興能夠在過去幾個月裡帶弟兄姊妹去遠足，尤其因為他們來自不同的年齡群體從少年人到成年人。
他們令我想起 2000 年 10 月英語少年崇拜剛成立的時候。儘管這群體有這樣的名稱，但會眾中也有職青和成年人，有些人甚至是全家一起來的。25 年後的今天，這群體又如何呢？情況並沒有兩樣，只是我們中間也多了嬰孩和長者。
跨代敬拜已成了英語群體一個重要的特徵。除了特定年齡的主日學和團契之外，我們所有人都會聚在一起敬拜神，在詩歌敬拜和集體祈禱之後孩子們便會離去，參加兒童課程。
我感謝神，因為在英語群體中，不同年齡、不同人生階段的弟兄姊妹可以彼此認識，並一起事奉神。在崇拜中，他們在同一個接待團隊或敬拜隊中服事；他們也會一起參與海外短宣，並在香港一起投入外展服事。我記得有一次是由一名少年人帶領敬拜，而司琴就是她的主日學老師，我每次想起這事，心裡都會很感動！那是多麼美麗的畫面啊！
對於「年輕人是教會的未來」這句話，我們並不陌生。誠然，他們是教會的未來，然而他們也是教會的現在呢！耶穌應許要差遣聖靈（約十四），對於那些相信祂是生命之主、是救主的孩子和少年人，祂所預備的，並不是個縮小版的聖靈。我們所有人領受的都是同一位聖靈！因此，年輕的弟兄姊妹也是基督身體教會的肢體（林前十二）。的確，他們在許多方面仍有待發展，他們在與神同行的道路上也需要教導和指引（有誰不需要呢？），但他們也可以有分參與基督身體的成長。在我們研究聖經或其他課題的時候，我經常會因著少年人的見解而得著亮光、甚或啟發。誠然，年輕人在教會中並不純粹是接受較年長弟兄姊妹的服事。他們會按著神的預備，用自己的方式去服事和造就他人。
年輕人是教會的現在。他們已經在我們中間，可以成為信仰群體的積極參與者和貢獻者。年輕人也是教會的未來。他們當下在教會的經歷以及信仰參與會塑造教會的方向，並會影響未來的幾代人。
願神幫助北宣家成為祂所喜悅的教會！
I love hiking, and I love being able to bring brothers and sisters to hikes the past few months, especially when they are from different age groups – from teenagers to adults.
It reminds me of when the English-Speaking Youth Worship Service first started in October 2000. Despite what it was called, there were also young adults and adults in the congregation, and some came as a family. What about after almost 25 years? It is the same, except that we also have babies and seniors among us.
Intergenerational worship service has been a significant characteristic of the English Ministry. Apart from age-specific Sunday School classes and fellowships, all people gather to worship God, with children leaving for Children’s Program after praise and corporate prayer.
I give thanks to God that in the English congregation, people of different ages and life stages can get to know each other and be partners in serving God. They serve on the same Welcome Team or Praise Team in worship service, go on overseas mission trips and do outreach in Hong Kong together. It still moves my heart when I recall the time when a teenager was leading praise and the pianist was her Sunday School teacher! What a beautiful picture!
We are no strangers to the saying, “Young people are the future of the church!” While it is true that they are the future of the church, they are also the present of the church. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit (John 14), but He has not prepared a miniature version of the Holy Spirit for those children and teenagers who have believed in Him as Lord and Savior. It is the same Holy Spirit that we have all received! So, the younger ones are parts of the body of Christ – the church (1 Corinthians 12). While it is true that they are still developing in various ways and need to be taught and guided in their walk with God (who doesn’t need it?), they can also contribute to the growth of Christ’s body. I am often inspired and even enlightened by the teenagers’ insights into the Bible passages or topics we are studying. Indeed, the younger ones are not merely recipients of the older ones’ service at church. They have their ways, as prepared by God, to serve and build up others.
Young people are the present of the church. They are already among us and can be active participants and contributors in the faith community. Young people are also the future of the church. Their experiences in church and engagement with the faith in the present shape the direction of the church and affect the future generations to come.
May God help the NPAC family to become the church that He wants us to be!
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