CG 6 February 2009

CG this week is slightly different.

Other than the usual praise and worship, in place of Zhifu's time of sharing the word, we viewed a video on Pastor's Kong visit of Taipei New Life Church, Taiwan.

Some facts of Taipei New Life Church (which I translate to the best of my ability from the official website ( http://www.newlife.org.tw/drupal/?q=node/456)

- ... This is a church focused on building a spiritual life, based on a balanced five-prong approach - preaching of the word, the bible, the Holy Spirit, unity and ministry.
(...這是一個以建造活潑的靈命為主軸，以宣教、聖經、聖靈、團契及服事等完整平衡的五大架構為建造策略的教會。 )

- Taipei New Life Church was founded by Rev.Abraham Ku in January 1996, with 11 people under his care. It grew to a centre for evangelism, and was officially established in 1996.
(台北新生命小組教會成立於1996年1月，至今已屆滿十二年。這個教會的前身是一個由顧牧師所帶領的11個人小組開始，之後逐漸發展成為福音中心，並於1996年正式建立。)

- In June 2008, attendance broke-through to 1750.
(台北新生命小組教會每年不斷持續成長，2008年6月份人數已突破1750人。)

- Taipei New Life Church is a cosmopolitan church, is situated in the heart of Taipei. Members are from all walks of life and ages - 6% children, 15% high school students, 20% university students, 40% youths, 20% adults, with diverse family background, schools and occupation, but one in Chirst.
(台北新生命小組教會是一個都會型的教會，位於大台北的黃金地段和交通樞紐，會友來自城市的四面八方，包括不同的年齡層：6%兒童、15%國高中生、20%大學生、40%社青及20％成人，來自不同的家庭、校園和職場，但彼此卻在基督裡合而為一。)

- From year 2000, Rev. Abraham Ku led the church to reach out to the campuses to win the youth in this new generation. In the recent years, Rev. Ku taught and built the members on "Church Without Walls", using strong and a wide variety of outreach program to touch 97% of unchurched members, being real, genuine care and concern as a way of lifestyle. As such, the members understood the importance of engaging the culture, leaning upon the grace and wisdom of God, shining as the salt and light in the marketplace with an attitude of excellence)
(從2000年開始，為了贏得新世代的年輕人，顧其芸牧師帶領全教會弟兄姊妹委身於青少年事工。近年來，顧牧師倡導以外展佈道為導向的「無牆教會」觀念來建 造教會，全教會以紮實和多元的佈道策略，更直接地接觸97％的未信者，對福音朋友真實的認領與關懷成為弟兄姊妹的生活方式。因此，全教會的弟兄姊妹開始瞭 解文化職任的重要性，靠著神的恩典和智慧，用卓越的態度和表現在職場作光作鹽。)

- On the other hand, celebrities and the creative team in church engage the pop culture with pop music, and released two music albums, organised concerts in campuses, and "Rainbow Project" - a platform to help young people in Taiwan fulfil their dreams. It encompasses 12 different areas involving the creative arts, including training in the Creative School, Youth Creative Competition, Celebrity Community, training for Future Leaders etc.. In 2008, the church worked with 70 campuses in Taiwan andmany youths turned to Christ, starting a revival in campus ministry. The church is looking forward to mould a generation of people whom have great visions and have a new DNA in them.
(另一方面，教會裡的藝人和創意團隊也開始用流行音樂進入流行文化，發行「遇見」和「希望」專輯，舉辦校園演唱會，特別開闢了彩虹天堂的平台，這是一個全國 性幫助年輕人實現夢想的國度，涵蓋了12個創意性事工，包括新創藝學校的訓練課程、青年新創藝大賽、新藝人家族、未來領袖塑造課程及國內外服務學習…等。 感謝主！2008年我們開展了七十個校園禾場，贏得了許多年輕人信主，點燃了校園福音的復興之火！我們期待藉此塑造出懷有遠大願景及嶄新DNA的台灣新世 代!)

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What really impacted me the most is the fact that although New Life Church is a church of limited resources. But with a unlimited God and with willingness to try new things, creativity, tapping into every individual's potential, gifts and talents, and getting every persons involved, they are making a big difference in the lives of many.

The lives that are changed are trained, involved in the creative arts and they in turn touch the lives of others as well.

The use of promotional videos, MTVs, music, celebrity influences on the youth, not just reaching the youths, but reaching what the youths are influenced by in this age and time.

Everyone has a need within them, they may be our superiors at work, colleague, or a celebrity. Everyone has something within them that can't be shared freely at times, we need to establish a common ground, building the bridge, accept them for who they are, be a friend, be relevant, be genuinely concerned and care about them.

Everyone has a role to play, anyone can be an inspiration to someone around them, as long as we can stand in the gap for each other.

We hear so much about the "Cultural Mandate", the "Caring System", "Find a need, meet a need, Find a hurt, heal a hurt", "Church Without Walls". New Life Church has taken the slogans and applied them, and is the example of the sermons being lived out.

Creativity is a flow, it will only flow when it's continually used.

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Seed MV


SeedMV from swchao on Vimeo.

and many more available at http://www.newlife.org.tw/drupal/?q=node/383
.::Nanny Joy ::.