In response to Mission to the Cities, a Global Mission initiative, in 2014, the Taiwan Conference (TWC) organized the Taipei City Evangelism to initiate the City Evangelism Project. This has been one of the biggest challenges for the TWC, since the progression of Taiwan’s missionary work has been strong in the villages but weak in the cities. In other words, with urban churches lacking manpower, coupled with the struggling financial situation of TWC, it has been a challenge to advance such city evangelism projects.
However, praise God for granting faith to TWC president Steven Wu and his team. By faith, this great responsibility, this seemingly impossible mission, was initiated in 2014. In 2015, although TWC was facing financial challenges, lacking the budget for furthering such a project, with faith that God would provide for the funds, TWC chose Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, to continue the City Evangelism Project initiated in Taipei. I was chosen as the director-general for the project.
To be successful in completing the City Evangelism Project, our executive team suggested changing the organizational structure of the 2015 City Evangelism Project to a bottom-up approach, a suggestion that was accepted. This is not TWC’s conventional approach. However, the TWC had great confidence in our executive team and entrusted us with much authority. Such confidence caused us to put every effort into organizing the event.
We praise God for His blessings. We have experienced Him like never before.We have seen God’s glory manifested upon His work. The impossible was made possible. We have tasted the joys of being one with God, walking with Him and serving Him. Whata wonderful experience!
Our goal for the 2015 City Evangelism Project was that 3,000 would attend and 100 would be baptized. More than 30 decisions for baptism were to come from churches within the project district. We also expected to see Fongshan Church become the first “evangelistic church” in the TWC as an evangelism model for the rest of the churches. The goal was to fully utilize this precious opportunity to make Fongshan Church the greatest success of the 2015 City Evangelism Project.
From Small Groups to Big City Evangelism
We praise God that the 2015 City Evangelism Project was a great success. From November 21 to 22, 2015, the average attendance was 25,000 people. Seventy-eight souls were baptized. The event was held at the spacious Fongshan Sports Arena. The stage was carefully set up, professionally done with a video wall. The high quality sound system, lighting, and cameras helped people on the stage to freely deliver their message or share their songs.
The programs were wonderful and their timing well managed. The day was filled with testimonies, and hearts were filled by the Spirit. Many expressed their praises and approval. God’s glory was present, and the spiritual lives of the people were renewed.
The 2015 City Evangelism Project was categorized into two aspects. The first was an ongoing process as a foundation, and the second was a harvest as a celebration. The ongoing aspect included sowing, nurturing, managing, and various other ministries (basically, local church ministries throughout the year). Without foundational ministries, the celebration gathering would have been meaningless. Therefore, our local church, Fongshan Church, continued to grow our established small group ministry from 2014. Plans were made to expand the original three districts (Daliao District, Nanzih District, Siaogang District) into six to eight small group ministry territories.
The Fongshan Church and the Kaohsiung Church met together and decided to start by forming the Cianjhen and Gushan District. God blessed our collaborative efforts. As everyone worked together in unity, the small group ministries flourished rapidly. For example, Cianjhen District started with one family, and now ten other families have joined.
Each group leader and member did his/her part, caring for others day after day, week after week, and seeking those who were ready to receive Bible studies and accept Jesus through baptism by the time of harvest.
I believe small group ministries is the foundation for an ongoing, developing city evangelism project. For example, Fongshan Church experienced rapid growth because they promoted small group ministries. Three years ago it was only a company church with 30 members. Today it is a church with hundreds of members and close to a hundred regular attending guests. With more than 200 people attending this city evangelism event, the church had the highest attendance rate. It also had the highest number of decisions for baptism, a total of 24. Many more people are receiving Bible studies, which means that more will be ready for baptism by the time the city evangelism event takes places in 2016.
The core concept of the 2015 City Evangelism Project was that local churches must successfully promote small group ministries in order for the harvest celebration to be meaningful. Throughout this time I often said to my team, “If we cannot be successful with our small group ministries, let’s not waste three million on organizing a big event. We ought to put that money into building churches instead.” Praise God for setting the members’ hearts on fire for Him, which allowed us to have some success to show as a testimony of His power. Of the 78 decisions for baptism, half were from Kaohsiung and Fongshan Church.
The First Day: Worship Service
Pastor Jairyong Lee, president of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), shared a very touching message. Wonderful music was presented by the Golden Angels, a large choir, and various other groups. The baptism of 78 souls followed. When each baptismal candidate was introduced on stage, the assembly responded with heart-warming praises. After the baptismal vows and photos, the candidates, ministers, and helpers proceeded to the swimming pool outside for the baptism. Most of the assembly remained in the arena where live streaming of the baptism was broadcasted on the video wall. Such an arrangement was purposely planned for everyone’s convenience and comfort.
In the afternoon there were exciting mission spotlight presentations. Video presentations combined with testimonies were a great encouragement to everyone. Each district also prepared wonderful programs and music, even better than the previous year. Each aspect of the program deeply touched the hearts of all who attended.
The Second Day: To Build a Healthy City
The second day was filled with programs that were in collaboration with Kaohsiung City’s government organizations. Based on the common theme of health, we worked together with the public sector in organizing something innovative. After much discussion, the Indigenous Affairs Commission Kaohsiung City Government and the Department of Health agreed to share our theme: “Healthy City: HOPE Kaohsiung.”
Each organization shared resources and collaborated with mutual respect. For example, our church requested that there be no meat products made available at the event. Though the Department of Health deemed meat as part of a healthy diet, and ministers from other denominations said that it would be impossible for them to organize programs without making meat available, yet in the end they respected our church’s request.
Programs included a joint worship, musical praises, LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) and health promotion activities, a fair, etc. Considering that in the past 60 years, few have come to know our church, it was a great opportunity to reach out to the public and increase the public’s awareness of our church. Praise Godfor the success of the programsand glory to His name!
God Blessed Us inVarious Ways
First,Pingnan District leader Pastor Clark Ko was proactive in assisting the director-general in various important ministries. Also, the experience and counsel of our coordinator, Pastor Noah Lai,were invaluable to the direction and quality of our programs.
The Holy Spirit moved various church institutions in Taiwan to actively participate and support the cause, resulting in significant improvement in quality.Chinese Hope TV assisted with arranging for the video wall and managing the flow of programs. Their crew also helped film the small group ministries video, which touched each attendee and encouraged all to be involved insmall group ministries. Such an encouragement was exactly what the event organizers were aiming for.
The arrangements and decorations at the arena were sponsored by Signs of the Times, adding much value and professionalism to the venue. In addition, Taiwan Adventist Hospital not only provided financial support, but also provided a work force and contributed valuable health programs, which provided us with a platform to reach the public and become known by the public.
Furthermore, the Lord provided support through non-members. For example, Mr. Li, XiuYu Vegetarian Buffet’s owner, sponsored 6,000 lunch boxes.Lastly, the Lord arranged for the public sector (the Indigenous Affairs Commission Kaohsiung City Government and the Department of Health) to collaborate with us on the programs for the second day. As a result, we had a great opportunity to reach out. They also provided us with a lot of resources, such as funding, a great venue, etc.
Our Mission Is Not Over
The challenge with the continuation and development of city evangelism still exists within the TWC. We must greatly improve our method of city evangelism. We should no longer only focus on public evangelism. Instead, we should also focus more on personal evangelism.
As this year’s director-general, my belief is that small group ministries is the foundation of the harvest event. Without successful small group ministries, there would be no big heartwarming harvest event. If we want to experience a breakthrough, our urban churches must initiate small group ministries.
If each church would pattern after Kaohsiung and Fongshan Church in developing small group ministries, the church would experience at least a 10% growth each year. With such a change, we wouldsee greater results with the 2016 Taichung City Evangelism Project. A hundred decisions for baptism would be easy. Even two hundred decisions for baptism wouldn’t be a problem. Small group ministries is truly the foundation and core ministry of city evangelism. If small group ministries is the locomotive of ministry development, large-scale, celebration-type events are the inspection stations and refueling stations. They serve to provide small group ministries with the motivation to press on.
Pastor Ken Feng – Director-general for 2015 City Evangelism Project