The Fourth Lausanne Congress recently held in Seoul, South Korea, had concluded. Some Hong Kong delegates found that quite a number of topics discussed at the congress have in fact been explored by the churches and the theological education sector in Hong Kong before. We can see that Hong Kong’s theological education resources are abundant and are able to help churches more comprehensively understand what the gospel means to individual lives, the needs of communities and the creation as a whole. We are indeed grateful to the LORD for His blessings for believers’ lives and church mission through theological education.

There is a brother who gave his life to Christ in his university days. When he first believed, his church life was unstable. While doing his postgraduate studies, he was enlightened by the Holy Spirit through some spiritual books that his roommate placed on the desk. He came to realize that only if we entrust our lives to Jesus could we live out love and an abundant life. And when he returned to his local church, the LORD let him hear His calling through a sermon, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). So, in the same year that he received his baptism, he started to take an evening course in a seminary. In the course of studies, he came to know some brothers and sisters of roughly the same age. Some of them had years of experience working in education, medical and other sectors. They also had rich experience in serving the Lord. They learned Bible study methodology and how to consolidate and reflect on their faith through Biblical theology, doctrinal theology and church history. He benefited profusely from the course. Course members also often frankly shared their stories of growth in life and faced the struggles of spiritual life and serving together. All of this deepened his yearning to become a pastor who would walk with believers as they grow and serve God. On completion of the two-year diploma course, the brother, with pastoral recommendation and the support of the church, started full-time training to become a pastor. Now, this brother has served as a church pastor for more than 20 years. He has experienced abundant grace in the Lord. (Brothers and sisters, can you guess who this brother is?)

What theological education offers to believers is not just knowledge and skills to work for God, but also help the believer to grow from desiring God to knowing Him. He will learn to accept the works of the LORD in his life so that his life can be dedicated to the LORD for His work. In Hong Kong, theological education is greatly diversified and readily accessible. In addition to training up believers called by the LORD to become pastors and missionaries, seminaries also offer courses on Christian counseling, spiritual direction, workplace missions and much more. The courses help believers integrate their spiritual and daily lives, seek deeper spiritual growth, and testify to the Kingdom of God in everyday life. Local churches, on the other hand, help believers by teaching the truth, nurturing spiritual lives and mobilizing believers to serve God. All this helps believers discern the LORD’s calling and build the foundation for them to respond to His calling. Not all believers become pastors or overseas missionaries. However, all of us have the calling from the LORD to seek and experience God in our doing and our being on the path of sanctification and ministry.