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First Peter 5:2-3 addresses the elders, saying, “Shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing...according to God; not...as lording it over your allotments.” This means that the elders should shepherd and oversee the saints but not as lording it over the saints. The shepherding and the overseeing spoken of by Peter are very important in the church. According to John 21, shepherding includes feeding (vv. 15-17). A shepherd feeds as well as shepherds the flock.
The slow rate of increase in the churches may be due to our lack in shepherding and overseeing. First, our shepherding is insufficient, and the flock lacks spiritual food and spiritual guidance. Food is for feeding, and guidance is for shepherding. Second, although there is a shortage of overseeing, there is an abundance of managing. Managing is quite different from overseeing. Managing is related to handling church affairs. A person who manages is one who handles church affairs and is responsible for them. A person who oversees is one who lets others handle and be responsible for church affairs while he takes the oversight. There is much management in the churches. The elders, the responsible ones in the districts, and the responsible ones in the groups handle every matter instead of committing matters to the saints. We should have the attitude of an overseer and let the saints handle things while we oversee the saints. If the saints do not know how to do a certain task, we can direct and guide them. If they make a mistake, we can help and correct them. If they do an inappropriate job, we can further advise and instruct them. The saints should do everything.
There was a locality in which the co-workers and elders were very busy before and after every meeting, because the saints asked the co-workers and elders everything, including how to arrange chairs and how to open the windows. Instead of committing these matters to the saints, the saints were only directed to do them. It is one thing to direct people to do things, and it is quite another to delegate things to people. A brother may have ten or even a hundred tasks, but he delegates all the tasks to others. Then he does not need to continually direct the saints to do the tasks. He merely entrusts them with the tasks and lets them do the tasks. This is in contrast to the brother being responsible for all the tasks, which requires the saints to check with him about every task that they do. As a result, he has to direct someone to do each task that he wants done. He must ask someone to pick up the mail, clean the meeting hall, and open the windows. The saints will not or cannot do anything without his command. This was the situation in a locality.
The co-workers and elders must commit all matters to the saints. The cleaning of the meeting hall should be handed over to a group of saints. Things related to the mail should be assigned to another group of saints. Once you hand tasks over to the saints, let them handle the tasks. Do not give them commands or orders anymore. Then the co-workers and elders will be relaxed and pleasant in the meetings, because the chores are not in their hands but in the hands of the saints.
Shepherding first involves feeding and then guiding, or leading. In the churches we need to feed the saints with the Lord’s word. We should encourage the saints to be strong, released, and fresh in their spirit when they meet so that everyone is living, and we should also watch to see that they are being properly supplied and fed. Being living and released is one matter, and receiving the life supply and feeding is another matter.
In Acts 20:32 Paul says, “I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.” This verse says that we must use the Lord’s word when we feed the saints. According to our Christian concept, believers can be fed only by listening to sermons. This concept must be dropped. It is often said in Christianity that believers need to be taught, cultivated, and edified through sermons. However, feeding is a better and more practical way. The general atmosphere in Christianity, of believers needing to be taught and nurtured through messages, has produced professional speakers, such as preachers and ministers. A congregation that does not have a pastor or a preacher has to hire someone. We have been affected by this atmosphere. Although we feel that it is not proper to hire preachers or pastors, we have so-called co-workers among us. The saints think that the co-workers are capable of and specialized in giving messages; hence, giving messages is the responsibility of the co-workers. This attitude is inappropriate; it is not the thought in the Bible. A full-time co-worker who is specialized in giving messages is, in principle, the same as a pastor or preacher in Christianity. The only difference is in name.
The Bible says that the elders should shepherd the flock of God. First Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders who take the lead well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching.” This verse says that the elders who lead well are those who labor in word and teaching. Hence, to shepherd with feeding is to teach with the Lord’s word. The elders in a local church should bear the responsibility of shepherding and feeding. This can be compared to parents bearing responsibility in a family. The elders should not excuse themselves and say that they do not have the gift of preaching the word. Such a thought is the influence of traditional Christianity. When we first began meeting as the Lord’s testimony, we were greatly helped by the Brethren. They were the first group of believers to recover the church life, but they paid too much attention to the gift of preaching the word. In their consideration a person could not give a message unless he had the gift of preaching. However, we have clearly seen 1 Corinthians 14:31, which says, “You can all prophesy one by one.” Hence, we should uproot the concept of not having the gift of preaching the word. We need to learn how to use God’s word to feed others.
Whether you have the gift of prophesying does not matter, because 1 Corinthians 14:31 says, “You can all prophesy one by one.” This can be compared to a married sister who must cook even though she says that she does not know how to cook. In 1962 I went to the United States, and after being there for ten months, I was able to cook even though I had never cooked previously. I had to cook because I had to feed myself. Initially, I ate meals that others prepared, but as a result, I suffered from an ulcer. That was the result of my inability to cook. But when I began to eat my cooking, my ulcer was cured. I give this example to say that we have depended too long on others. The elders in the local churches depend on the co-workers and exalt them. The co-workers are like famous chefs whom we invite to our homes to cook for us. Actually, in terms of the skills in giving a message, some co-workers may be far inferior to the elders. I hope that we will be enlightened to see our mistakes. The concept that whoever serves full time is able to preach the word and whoever does not serve full time is not able to preach the word is erroneous.
It is correct to say that we can all prophesy one by one. However, the ability to give messages is not the result of a change in status; it does not come when a person begins to serve full time. A brother does not gain an ability to preach the word simply because he begins to serve full time. There are several elders who are very capable of giving good messages. As soon as they begin to speak, they hit the mark. If the elders are willing to endeavor, their speaking will be effective. We do not give messages in order to receive people’s praise. The movements of a boxer are not to gain people’s applause; rather, his sole aim is to deliver a blow to his opponent. We do not want to give lengthy and eloquent messages that are ineffective. We want to give messages that are effective because they touch people’s heart.
Our speaking needs to be effective. We do not care whether the message is appealing or grammatical. We care about touching people’s heart. Once after D. L. Moody, a prevailing American evangelist, preached the gospel, he was approached by a learned person who was in the congregation. This person told Moody that he had used mistaken grammar in his message. Moody was not an educated person; in his youth he was an apprentice in his uncle’s shoe store. But after the Lord gained him, he was fervent to work for the Lord by preaching the gospel. Moody then suggested that this person preach the gospel with his correct grammar to see how many would be saved. Moody was very clear that he preached the word not to teach English grammar but to lead people to salvation. He cared only for people to be saved.
Some brothers speak with an accent. This is difficult to change. Nevertheless, as long as they are willing to practice, they will be able to give a message that is effective. Some brothers use beautiful words, but their speaking does not touch people. Some brothers articulate their words and are eloquent and logical, but their speaking produces no fruit. They may remain in a place for two years, but the place remains the same. There are others whose messages are ordinary but effective. Our goal is to give effective messages.
On the one hand, the elders should not expect the co-workers to bear the responsibility of ministering the word. They should not expect the co-workers to meet the need of the church. On the other hand, the co-workers must have a heart for the church and give messages that are effective. Otherwise, their speaking is not useful. The elders must learn to speak the word. I do not say this to depreciate the co-workers. I say this because the localities rely too much on the co-workers. We need to be delivered and to change our concept. We do not attend meetings in order to listen to beautiful messages, and the full-time workers are not the only ones who should give messages.
An elder may say that he cannot speak the word because he has not received much training and does not know the Bible. Suppose there is a co-worker in a nearby church who knows the Bible. It may not be beneficial for the elder to invite him to speak the word, because the co-worker may not have a burden for that locality. Speaking the word must come out of a burden. In order to be effective, a person must be burdened to work until a fire in the saints is kindled. Our speaking is to enliven the saints and cause them to be burning for the Lord. If we do not have a burden, we should not speak. The elders are obligated to feed the flock; they are like parents with children. If the elders have such a heart, the situation in the church will change.
Some brothers may ask how to “prepare a meal.” Our publications are very rich. We should study the publications and select portions that will meet the need. We cannot rely on others to do this for us. We must learn. This is the responsibility of the elders. This responsibility will also make the elders more useful.
Our weakness has been that we have the concept that it is the full-time co-workers who are specialized in giving messages. Our concept is that the co-workers, not the elders, are responsible for speaking the word. We must change this concept. If the elders are willing to endeavor, they will be very effective when they speak the word, because they know the needs of the saints. They may not be eloquent, but they will be very useful.
There was a brother in northern China who was a good speaker. However, after giving good messages for four years, he did not reap much result. There was also a brother who did not know how to give messages and was not eloquent, but he established the church in Tsingtao. When he went to Tsingtao in 1934, there were no brothers there. Fourteen years later more than seven hundred people had been baptized. Although this brother was not a good speaker, his messages were practical. He administrated and led the church, and he knew the needs of the saints. In order to meet the need of the saints, he studied and prepared his messages. If the saints needed a word on redemption, he studied and prepared a message on redemption. In this way the saints received the benefit. As a result, the church was built up in a very solid way.
Messages that are lofty and nice do not bear fruit. As long as we are willing to make an effort, there will be results. The elders indeed need to devote more time to their service. Some elders should even serve full time. First Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders who take the lead well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and teaching.” This means that elders who serve full time should be honored and should receive material support. Some elders should devote all their time to administrating the church, and some brothers who serve full time should get a job. If the function of a full-time brother is not manifested, he should not waste his time. He should do something else. However, some elders should give all their time to care for and administrate the church.
The principle is that the elders are like parents or older siblings in a family. They ensure that everyone in the family is fed. The elders should do the work of shepherding and feeding; they must not rely solely on the co-workers. The co-workers who are useful should set aside some time for the spreading of the work. A co-worker who stays in one locality is tied down by that local church. In principle, this may not be profitable.
The elders in the church should first shepherd the saints and then oversee them. This means that after shepherding the saints, the elders should entrust them with some services. This is not merely to teach the saints but to put things into their hands. After entrusting the saints with a service, the elders should then oversee. This means that the elders should take their hands off and let the saints be responsible for giving suggestions and making decisions. The elders should not make decisions. Suppose a brother is assigned to the young people’s work. The elders no longer need to take care of the young people’s work. They should let the brother bear the work. The elders should only oversee. If every matter in the church is handed over to the saints, the function of the saints will be developed.
When the saints are assigned to a service, they should be in charge of everything, and the elders no longer need to manage that service. We should train the saints to be responsible for their service. Then the elders and co-workers will only be overseers. It is not proper for the co-workers and elders to keep everything in their pocket. A proper elder is an overseer. The more responsibilities he has, the more he should delegate and oversee. In this way he will bring the saints into the service.
Some brothers are concerned that the saints will make mistakes when we let them serve. We should not be so concerned. The churches in Taiwan are established; consequently, even if the saints make a mistake, it will not be serious. When the saints make a mistake, we should assist them. This is more effective and will help the saints to participate in the service.
Elders should shepherd and oversee the saints. The elders should entrust the services to the saints and give them the authority to make decisions. However, this does not mean that the saints are independent. Suppose there are eight districts in a church, and the elders delegate the church affairs to the eight districts. This does not mean that the districts are independent. In the same way, the saints are in different districts and in small groups, but they are still the one church. The function of the elders is to oversee the church, not to lord it over their allotments (1 Pet. 5:3). The elders should shepherd the saints, delegating services to the saints. Then they should oversee the saints, letting the saints have authority for their service and allowing them to develop.
In the church in Taipei some halls have very capable saints. However, the saints are not developed, because there is not much shepherding and overseeing. Directing the saints is not the same as overseeing. When we direct others, we have not handed things over to them. To hand things over means to entrust. For example, if a brother is given the responsibility to purchase a tape recorder, he will need to pray earnestly even concerning the money to make the purchase. He must also consider the size and type of tape recorder. Concerning the finances, the size, and the type, he and those who coordinate with him must go before the Lord in prayer.
The service for recording the meetings is a good example. The key to the recording room should not be in the pocket of the elders; it should be given to a serving one who manages everything related to the recording room. If he is careless and leaves the tape recorder in the elders’ room, they can remind him to put it away. If he is careless in other matters, the elders should pray for him. If he loses the tape recorder, he will surely learn a lesson. This is not a joke. In this way many saints will be raised up.
Some elders have argued that the co-workers are serving very faithfully. I know the co-workers are faithful and have a good intention. Nevertheless, their faithfulness and good intention annul the function of the saints. After working in a place for two years, the co-workers and elders should not be tied down, and the saints should be useful. We must change our concept and raise up the saints by handing things over to them. We must not be fearful of their mistakes. I handed over the responsibility of a conference to the young saints in Los Angeles and told them that making mistakes is the way to be perfected. The most precious thing in our work is to produce useful saints.
We must change our system. Once our concept is changed, it will be easy to change our system. The work of shepherding and feeding in the church desperately requires the time and energy of the elders. They should be like parents endeavoring to feed their children. The work has decided to move the co-workers out of the localities, but we are worried about the churches. The churches have relied too heavily on the co-workers. After working in a local church for three years, a co-worker should be able to leave, because he should have raised up useful saints. However, our practice has not been to develop the saints but to replace them. The more the co-workers have labored, the more responsibilities they have gained, but other saints were not brought in to function. When a co-worker arrives in a local church, he does not have much responsibility. But after three years all the responsibilities in the church are on his shoulders. He does everything, while the other saints do nothing; they merely listen to his instructions. As a result, no responsibilities are handed over to the saints, and the saints are not raised up to bear responsibility. In the end the co-worker cannot leave the church, because if he leaves, the church will lose its support. The co-worker has become the only pillar in the house, and when the pillar is removed, the house collapses. A laboring co-worker is a pillar, but he should gradually add other pillars to the building. When there are fifteen pillars in a local church, it is time for the co-worker to leave. This is the principle of our work.
In a training in 1953 I said that a co-worker should lead the saints, but under no circumstance should he replace them. However, in the churches that I have visited, the element of replacing the saints still remains among us. It is greater than the element of leading.
The co-workers have been serving in place of the saints. They keep things in their hands and direct others. If this situation continues, the saints in the localities will not know what to do when the co-workers leave. This is wrong. The more we work, the more the saints should be raised up to do the work.
In 1946 I was led by the Lord to go to Nanking. In my first fellowship with the brothers, I said, “You brothers are happy that I am here, and you think that I have come to help you. However, I want to warn you that while I am here, your responsibilities will not decrease. I am very burdened. Everyday a part of my burden will be transferred to you. After a year I will be free of my burden, and all the burden will be yours. Hence, I have not come to replace you; rather, I have come to burden you.” In less than two years all the responsibilities in the church in Nanking were borne fully by the brothers. They took care of everything.
However, today the co-workers are not laboring in this way. It seems that they pick up all the responsibilities of a local church; hence, they cannot leave that church. In some places the co-workers replace not only the saints but also the elders. The elders only sign documents; they leave everything else to the co-workers. It is no wonder that there is no increase in the churches and that the work cannot spread. A small number of co-workers are doing all the work, and the saints who should have been employed are idle. We must change our concept and then change our system. We must not replace others any longer; at most, we should only guide them. When the saints are able to take care of things, we should leave the services completely in their hands. Then we can oversee from a distance. In this way we will produce capable saints who function according to their ability, and every brother and sister will be useful. Then we can delegate a suitable service to every saint according to his function.
Some co-workers have worked for three to five years in a place, yet no elders have been raised up. The co-workers say that there are no qualified brothers in those localities. This is their concept. We must change our concept, and we must change our system. To change our system does not mean that the co-workers should no longer serve; rather, the co-workers should do more to raise up useful saints. Then we will have results in the work.
Some brothers have suggested that we take the co-workers out of all the localities, but this will not resolve our situation. We must change our concept. Without changing our concept and our system, we will always labor according to old concepts and old ways; we will replace others instead of leading them. Hence, it is of little avail to remove the co-workers from the local churches.
However, if our concept and our way of working are changed, even if the co-workers are not removed from the localities, we will have results. After one year of serving, the number of the saints will double. There will be no need to send a co-worker to propagate in the towns and villages. If a young co-worker is sent to the towns and villages for one year, at most he will gain fifty people. Even though every saint is valuable before God, there is a difference in our function. The work in the towns and villages will increase the number of local churches, but it will not necessarily increase the number of saints. It is best for us to labor in large cities and in schools. A co-worker serving in hall three may gain a thousand new ones. This is not an increase in the number of churches, but it is a large increase in the number of saints, and the capacity of these new saints may be greater than the capacity of new ones gained in the towns and villages. Taipei is a large city with a large population. To gain a hundred thousand saints, including twenty thousand students, would be quite substantial. This would be much more effective than gaining scattered believers.
Taipei is a large metropolis with many businesses and numerous universities. We should diligently work here. For this reason, the co-workers do not necessarily have to be taken out of the churches, but they must change their concept and the way they work. Then instead of replacing others, they will lead the saints and will be willing to be led by others. How good this would be! It is very easy to replace others, but it is not so easy to lead others to do things. We all have the tendency of doing things by ourselves. Most cooks do not like other people in the kitchen. We all have this tendency: once we have a task, we prefer to do it by ourselves. This is the natural way of doing things.
It requires skill to be a chief with apprentices. Eventually, the apprentices should also become chiefs, such that their teacher may even learn from them. The saints whom we perfect to function should surpass us. This requires skill. This is the way that we have conducted the work in the States. Initially, I took the lead, and a few others did the work with me. I was the “chief,” and they were “apprentices.” Gradually, many have become “chiefs,” and I have become an “apprentice.” I have learned many things by observing them so that when I lead, the function of the saints can be developed even more.
In 1958 I went to the United States and lived there for an extended period of time. Initially, I hoped that some co-workers would go there to labor. However, I eventually felt that it was better for none to go there, because they would not perfect the saints, and as a result, the work would not spread. Even the Taiwanese students have had little effect on the campuses there because they were not brought into function here in Taiwan. It is regrettable that the co-workers replaced the saints when they should have been leading them into service. The co-workers must learn to bring other saints with them. When you observe a particular skill in a saint, you must let him serve, and you must be willing to be led by him. If he makes a mistake, you can provide further guidance. Only when we let others serve do we bring them into their function. The slow development of our work has been mainly due to these reasons: we are inadequate in shepherding the saints, in entrusting the saints with the work, and in leading the saints. We always have only a small number of saints serving.
It is wrong for the co-workers to expect the elders to listen to them. Some have made this a requirement for their labor. When a co-worker goes to a place, he should not only lead but also be led. In this way all the saints can function. Our concept and our system must change, or else our situation will not improve. The most important thing is to change our concept and our system. The co-workers can continue to labor in the localities, but they should not keep everything in their hand; neither should they replace the saints. They should lead the saints into serving. Eventually, all things will be in the hands of the saints for the producing of the talents. This is the proper way to serve.
A brother said that the Lord prepared many useful saints in Los Angeles, but this is not the case. The saints in Los Angeles have at most a “junior high school education,” but the saints in Taipei are mostly “graduate students.” However, the saints in Taipei have not developed their talents. I am not joking, and neither am I being sarcastic. There are many useful saints here, but they are not functioning, because they are not perfected, and most matters are kept in the hands of a small number of co-workers. The co-workers must hand things over to the saints. Then the co-workers can instruct and oversee the saints and let the saints do the work. In this way, many useful saints will be produced, and they will all participate in the service.
The saints in Los Angeles do not practice the so-called baptismal interview. In most cases we baptize the new ones immediately, and at least eighty percent of those who are baptized remain. In contrast, we have baptized at least two thousand people here, but not even a hundred have remained in the church. Hence, we must thoroughly reconsider our concept and the way we do things. It is not sufficient to merely change our ways. If we pull the co-workers out of the local churches, the churches will still be weak; moreover, the co-workers will have no place to work. In large localities, such as Taipei, we still need the co-workers to assist the elders and the responsible ones in the districts for the spreading. If the co-workers are willing to assist the elders in one accord, two to three thousand new ones will be added in a year or two. But if the co-workers go to labor in a small town, they may not gain two thousand new ones, even after laboring for ten years.
We should also put our energy into the schools. The universities in Taiwan are clustered in three centers: Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan. We must labor on the campuses in these three places. If we do not labor on the campuses, we are shortsighted. We must concentrate our energy on the schools in these three centers because this work will have double the results with half the effort. This work will bring in many young people. The churches in these three places are our provision. As long as the saints are willing to go, there will be results. This is much easier than going to labor in a small town of fifty to sixty thousand people where there are no saints.
In Taiwan we should focus on large cities and schools. Every year the co-workers who have been manifested in their function should go abroad because there is a great need overseas. In other words, every co-worker whose function has been manifested should spend at most nine months a year in Taiwan and at least three to four months overseas. The co-workers should go to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Indonesia is in urgent need of help. Even three co-workers, staying there long-term, would not be enough to meet the need. Since we do not have a sufficient number of co-workers, one person can go there for three months, and then another person can go for another three months. Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia all have urgent needs, but the door for the work is not as wide open as in Indonesia. The Philippines also has a need. However, a foundation has been laid there, and the brothers are able to accomplish a certain amount of things themselves. The situation in Indonesia is different. If the co-workers do not go there, the brothers will not be able to go forward. A firm foundation has not yet been laid there. During the past five years there has been some progress there, but this was due to the help rendered by the co-workers. If the churches follow the way that they have practiced for the last thirty years, they will not be able to catch up with the flow in the work. The population in Indonesia is close to a hundred million people. It is the fifth largest nation in the world. There is a need for co-workers to go and labor there. The doors to the countries around us are open. Therefore, the co-workers whose functions have been manifested can go abroad for three to four months to labor and spend eight or nine months in their respective localities. In this way, the co-workers will be more useful. If we will practice this, the work will reap many benefits.
We must grasp these three crucial points for the work. First, we must labor in large cities. Second, we must labor in the schools. Third, we should labor abroad. The door overseas is open; the co-workers need only to go and work. Of course, this does not mean that all the co-workers should go; we need some to stay and meet the need here. Those who go must be useful. In other words, they should be able to produce results. We must not send anyone carelessly. Sending someone carelessly is the same as sending no one, and it will cause damage. At least ten to fifteen co-workers can go abroad every year. If the co-workers in the local churches lead the saints to serve, their leaving will not affect the churches when the need arises.
We need to develop strategic locations, that is, large cities; we need to promote the work in schools; and we need to let the useful co-workers go abroad every year. If they cannot go to faraway places, they should at least go to Southeast Asia and to Japan and South Korea. There are many benefits to carrying out these three crucial points for the work. The students who are saved will return to their hometowns. In this way, the gospel will gradually spread to the smaller towns, and we will not need to send the co-workers to small towns for the propagation. The co-workers should remain in the large local churches to labor in the strategic places, push forward the work in schools, and then go abroad. To labor in this way will be more profitable. I hope that the co-workers and elders will have a clear view concerning this matter. The elders should not think that the co-workers must stay in their locality. There should not be any problems if they go abroad for three to four months every year.
The greatest need of a church is to utilize every saint according to his function. This is also the most difficult thing for a church to achieve. Every saint can be useful. Never think that the saints in a certain hall are more talented than the saints in your hall. In every hall there are useful saints. Whether or not they are useful depends on the way we work. The co-workers must make the saints useful, perfect them, and lead them. We must have a thorough change of concept and work hard, because it is not easy to train apprentices, all of whom have opinions. Nonetheless, we need to lead the saints forward.
It is rather difficult to know how a young person will turn out in the future. Brother Nee is an example. Both he and his mother were saved by a woman preacher, Sister Dora Yu. On the night of his salvation, at the age of seventeen, Brother Nee was also called by the Lord. He was willing to give up his schooling and learn to serve the Lord. His mother, who also loved the Lord, agreed with his consecration and sent him to a Bible school run by Sister Dora Yu in Shanghai so that he would learn to serve the Lord. One day Sister Dora Yu asked Brother Nee to deliver mail to the post office. It took Brother Nee longer than usual to finish the errand because of the poor condition of the road. Sister Dora Yu thought that Brother Nee, being young, had been delayed by some amusement, so she asked him to withdraw from her school. Even though Brother Nee had spent the time running the errand, he willingly returned to Foochow and continued his schooling in Trinity College.
Later Brother Nee met Sister M. E. Barber and was taught under her. Sister Barber was very strict. At the time more than sixty young brothers and sisters went to Sister Barber to receive spiritual edification. Miss Barber rebuked every one of them severely, such that eventually they all left; only Brother Nee remained. Brother Nee often went to Miss Barber even though he knew that he would be rebuked. Sometimes he would argue with her. At one time he was contending with Brother Wang. When Sister Barber heard of this, she dealt with Brother Nee. Sister Barber asked Brother Wang to do many things. When Brother Nee challenged Sister Barber, she would reply, “He is older than you by a few years.” One time a number of people were going to be baptized, and Sister Barber asked Brother Wang to perform the baptism even though another brother, who was older than Brother Wang, was present. When Brother Nee pointed this out to Sister Barber, she only repeated that Brother Wang should do it. Because Sister Barber realized that Brother Nee was good material, she continually dealt with him and at the same time also supplied him. Brother Nee later testified that he received genuine perfecting from Sister Barber. He was constantly rebuked, but he was not disheartened, because Sister Barber not only rebuked him but also supplied him. As a result, Brother Nee was the only one under the hand of Sister Barber who was truly useful.
We all must learn this lesson. We should not blame the young people or give up on them. Of course, we need to deal with their opinions, but at the same time we should supply them and let them function. We absolutely must not give up on them; rather, we must lead them gradually. If we do not lead the young people now, we will have no one to continue after us.
We need to fellowship further concerning taking the co-workers from the local churches. We need to study this matter. In hall one there are three or four responsible brothers. On the one hand, the elders do not have the way to carry everything out, but on the other hand, it is a mistake for the co-workers to keep everything in their hand. There are even levels of administration. There are the co-workers and the elders, under whom are the responsible ones in the districts and in the small groups. This is not the proper administration. The elders should consider how to perfect all the saints. In terms of administration, it would be best if we would follow the Bible and have only elders and deacons. When taking care of the church affairs, we should include other saints. If the saints do not know how to serve, we should guide them. If they make a mistake, we can adjust them. We should not ask them to quit as soon as they make a mistake. The more mistakes they make, the more we should bear them. We should always lead the saints into the service.
This kind of working and serving is what we lack. The purpose of all our work of administration is to utilize all the saints by letting them serve. In the beginning, it may require more effort for us to teach, lead, and correct the saints, since we must be patient with them and bear their weakness and mistakes. However, after a period of time they will be able to serve. We are like orchard keepers, who do not bear fruit themselves but who cultivate the fruit trees that bear fruit. We simply take care of watering, pruning, and spraying of insecticide. However, it is not sufficient for us to be the only persons doing the work of watering, pruning, and spraying for the bearing of fruit. We must work until every saint is enlivened and is brought into this service. We must train the saints until they become useful. This is the kind of work that all the co-workers and elders should endeavor to learn.
These basic principles were fellowshipped in the book The Elders’ Management of the Church and also in the book The Normal Christian Church Life. Elders should not do things by themselves; instead, they should let others do the work while they oversee. Only in this way will all the saints be brought into the service. Not only so, elders should teach, lead, and even correct the saints so that the saints are able to bear responsibility. This way of working is urgently needed and effective. If we desire our work to spread, we must work in this way.
This does not mean that the co-workers should be removed from the churches and begin the work in other places. Rather, this means that we need to change our concept and our system. As long as we continue according to the old concept and old system, we will not see an increase in the total number of saints, even if the number of local churches increases. However, if our concept and our system are changed, we will concentrate on cities with large populations. When the co-workers and elders assist each other, it will be very effective. At the same time, we can work in the schools, which will double our results. We should not switch from large cities to smaller towns. We should focus on strategic locations and select the key places for our work. In this way the work will spread quickly. The church in Taipei is an example. It is a locality in a large city, and it has a regular attendance of about three thousand saints. If we can bring all three thousand saints into the service, in five years there will be at least fifty to sixty thousand saints. Furthermore, the local church will be very strong. If there are ten thousand students in Taipei, the testimony will be strong and the future will be bright.
If we take the co-workers out of the large localities and transfer them to towns and villages, the function of the co-workers will be reduced and weakened. At the same time, the churches will be weakened because there will be no help from the co-workers. Therefore, the co-workers and elders must change their concept and the system. They should not replace the saints but should lead and train the saints to serve until every saint is useful. Then we will have a promising future. Otherwise, only a few saints will be zealous and burning. We must learn to work in the way of perfecting the saints until everyone who meets regularly is useful. We must let the saints have the opportunity to serve. They must learn to be adjusted, trained, and led. Gradually, this will be a work that is carried out by the majority of the saints.
