BARNABAS’ MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT:
BARNABAS’ MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT:
A New Testament Model for PRC Ministry Development
Samuel Ling
Since mainland Chinese scholars (PRC) showed an increased receptivity to the gospel after 1989, Chinese churches in North America have joined our American brothers and sisters (who had been cultivating the field for 10 years) in reaching out to our ‘kinspeople’ from the mainland. Result: the overwhelming majority of Mandarin-speaking converts and baptism candidates are PRC. The current situation is: there are significant numbers of PRC Christians in the Mandarin congregations in Chinese churches. Some of them are becoming involved in leadership; many others do not feel they belong.
1. Where do we go from here?
Our American co-workers doing PRC ministry know that this is a cross-cultural mission field. Mandarin-speaking churches seldom accept this fact. We evangelize PRC in the same way we evangelize people from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. And in many cases, the PRC respond – at least outwardly – when the gospel is preached. In many cases, they raise their hand, they sign decision cards, and they get baptized. Then we wonder why, when the ront door” of the Chinese church is open so wide, the ack door” is also open wide? Why don the PRC stay? Why (in the opinion of many non-PRC Chinese Christians) do they come, receive our help, and even receive the gospel, then disappear?
Many PRC Christians do not feel they belong. Many PRC Christians do not feel a sense of ownership in the Chinese church.
On the other hand, Chinese churches are weary of ministries of mercy and outreach which, in their view, drain their time and resources.
Let us go back to the Book of Acts and learn from Barnabas, the on of Encouragement.” I am sure many western missionaries, who gave up family and loved ones, crossed oceans to go to China in the past 200 years, have learned from, and exemplified Barnabas’ life and ministry. We, the Chinese, have imbibed a secular notion of evangelism – easy methods, quick results, an emphasis on numbers of decisions for Christ. But we forget that …
People come first. God has His people in each city (Acts 18:9-10). God has His people to harvest, and to bring into the church. People are not machines. Each soul comes with a story unique to him/her. And in the case of PRC, each soul comes with memories (often painful memories). Dare we run ahead of the Holy Spirit and call for quick decisions? (and then wonder why they don stay in the church?)
2. What can we learn from Barnabas?
Barnabas was generous (Acts 4:36ff). He sold his property and gave it to the church. Unlike others who gave in deception, Barnabas gave unconditionally, with an open heart. Chinese Christians need to learn this: for new immigrants, money can often be a symbol of security. Thus, tithing and sacrificial giving becomes a challenge. It is so difficult to part with our hard-earned dollars! Yet Jesus says, where our money is, there our heart is also.
Let us learn to give generously – to the church, to PRC ministry, to the cause of Christ. There is great joy and reward in giving – to see souls saved and grow in Christ.
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24). He was open to what God wants to do in his life, and there is nothing to hide in his heart. We need to learn from Barnabas. Often our ministry has so many pragmatic concerns – image, reputation, concern for growth, buildings, staff, finance – that we cannot serve Christ with a free, joyful heart.
There is a wide-spread heart-cry among Chinese Christians (and other Christians) in North America: the heart is crying out to serve God with freedom and joy. Many are tired in the ministry, discouraged. Yet, the world is dying to see free, joyful souls – a rare commodity. good man, full of the Holy Spirit” – let this be our model.
Barnabas recognized the work of God among new Christians. He brought the newly converted Saul to the apostles (the leaders of the church) in Jerusalem (Acts 9:27; Galatians 1:18). He trusted God, and he risked his relationship with the church in order to bring the church attention to God work in Saul life. Barnabas was an dvocate” for Paul.
Who will be “advocates” for new PRC Christians in the Chinese church? In the Chinese Bible study group? Let us look back – hasn’t God sent Barnabas into our lives? Where would we be, if not for the silent work of our Barnabas? Let us be advocates – for Christ sake, for the gospel sake, and for our PRC brothers and sisters’ sake.
Barnabas rejoiced when he saw a new work of God among a new people group (the Gentiles). He was sent by the church in Jerusalem to look into this new phenomenon in Antioch (Acts 11:19ff). The Bible says, he SAW. And he REJOICED.
Let us pray that God will open our eyes that we will SEE. Let us pray that God will open our hearts that we may REJOICE. God is doing a new thing today. He is harvesting many souls for the kingdom. May we not miss what God is doing, by being pre-occupied with our own churches and ministries (all worthwhile causes).
Barnabas developed leadership in Saul. He gave an opportunity to develop Paul teaching gifts. He saw a window of opportunity in this new church of Antioch.
Dozens, if not hundreds of PRC, want to study theology and go into ministry today. Don’t we have another window of opportunity – the Antioch hour, as if were, today? Will we give our friends a chance to grow, to study, to mature, to serve?
Barnabas gave up his place of prominence, ultimately, to Paul. God has chosen to exalt Paul of the Bible records Paul and Barnabas” (Acts 13:43, 35, 40; 15:2; twice, 22, 35). We the Chinese say that one generation will outgrow the former generation in their achievements Green comes out of the blue, and surpasses the blue.” Will we be secure in Christ, like Barnabas, and not be jealous when our Paul surpass us?
Many PRC are extremely studious; they will pour over Scripture and Christian books. God is going to use them. God is going to plant and grow churches among them, by them, for them. God is going to send out missionaries from among them, whether we are ready or not.
The difference is: there is great joy – and great service to the Lord – if we do not just stand by, but get involved, like Barnabas… and then lose our place in the final analysis. Like John the Baptist, we must prepare the way for the Lord … then get out of the way.
Thousands of missionaries have done this. They have spent years of silent, sacrifice service before they see fruit. Will we, Chinese Christians in North America, follow in their footsteps?
When we serve with Barnabas’ heart, we will withstand discouraging moments. We know that as Christian grows in service, they will fall. They will fail. And God is not finished with them (God is not finished with us, thank the Lord!). Why get impatient when our PRC Christian friends learn the road of Calvary?
Barnabas was the Son of Encouragement. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit. His heart was free, and his eyes saw what God was doing.
What about your heart? What about your eyes?
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