Living and Learning in a Disciple Community

Learning to Live in a Disciple Community

　　During these three years while studying in the Seminary, I have often heard President Cho and our teachers say that HKBTS is a disciple community, and so we must learn to live our lives in a disciple community. To me, living in such a community is a process of integration because students have different backgrounds and different personalities, making it not at all easy. Yet, God enables us to discover our true selves through such a community so that our lives can be changed. Not only can such a process bring about spiritual renewal, but it can also help us build a disciple community where we begin our ministry.

　　HKBTS’s community life is diverse. I especially cherish the morning chapel service held three times a week. It enables teachers and students to worship together, to learn to be in silence, to listen to God’s word and to pray for the needs of society and the world. Moreover, the morning chapel enables me to learn to listen attentively to the word of God and to be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit. During these three years, I have come to deeply understand the importance of molding a disciple community. The molding process is long and its effects cannot be easily seen, but I hope that as I shall begin my ministry in a local church, I can contribute to others’ lives by living in a disciple community with my fellow brothers and sisters.

Different Facets of Campus Life

　　Both the Seminary and the Student Union organize different activities and the holistic nature of our evangelical faith can be reflected from the diverse elements of the communal life on campus. They include students’ mutual support (for example, class meetings, a sharing meeting for married couples, Parents’ Day, a revision group for biblical Greek or Hebrew), concern for the needs of society and missions (for example, lunchtime lectures, special topics during the morning chapel service), formation of our spiritual lives (for example, the Spiritual Formation Group, guidance from spiritual mentors), and of course, a time of fun and games (a basketball game among teachers and students on every Thursday). In the morning chapel or lunchtime sharing, we have talked about the needs of local disadvantaged groups and overseas missions. We have also touched on social issues, such as the Movement against the National Education, 2013 Hong Kong Dock Strike. These issues have reassured me that a minister should adopt the view of God’s kingdom as we address the needs of society (especially the needs of disadvantaged groups) and overseas missions. Even though I cannot get involved in each of these issues, I can have a vision and passion. This reminds me that a minister needs to care about both the needs of his flock and also lead his flock to see needs beyond their own.

　　The Student Union once organized a Sharing Meeting for Married Couples to enable the spouses of our students to have a greater understanding of seminary study and full-time ministry so that both the student and his spouse can walk shoulder to shoulder and share the student’s struggles experienced on the road of consecration. This was not only beneficial to me and my wife, but it also led me to have a greater understanding and empathy for the needs of the families of the pastors and ministers as well as those of the deacons and those brothers and sisters who take up a number of ministry positions. Furthermore, when I took up some voluntary work in the Student Union to publish a Student Union newsletter, The Spiritual Wind, with some fellow students, I came to have a deeper understanding of the life experiences of the Seminary’s teachers and my fellow students. In the articles they contributed to the newsletter, there were testimonies from new and graduating students, President Cho’s sharing about how his reading experience helped shape his theological thinking, how a fellow student stricken by serious illness still persisted in his studies …. These life experiences helped me realize how God calls, shapes, tears down and builds the lives of different people. On the ministry path ahead, I remind myself to learn to listen and to see the life experiences of brothers and sisters so as to guide them to see how God works in their lives.

Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Mentors

　　I like the Seminary’s learning atmosphere. In class, teachers and students have ample space for discussion to exchange views with one another. Moreover, the Seminary also arranges the chaplain or a teacher to be each student’s spiritual mentor. I must admit that the individual concern from a life mentor is most helpful to me. Formerly I had been a mentor of young Christians and, in my seminary studies, I needed someone to be my mentor. Without someone’s co-walking and guidance to direct me how to be a disciple of Christ, I would find it hard to learn to be other people’s mentor and to guide them to be the Lord’s disciple.

　　In my first year in seminary, I joined the spiritual formation group for new students. In my second and third year, I switched to make an appointment with one of the teachers once a month. The contents of our conversation are multifaceted and included our views on systematic theology, spirituality, biblical studies, as well as sharing the joy and challenges in our ministry. I find that the personalities, life stories, and viewpoints of my teachers have broadened my vision. From one teacher, I learned a heart of humor and openness; from the other, gentleness in temperament and rigorous scholarship. I am truly grateful for our teachers who are eager to be students’ mentors amidst their busy daily schedule of teaching and church ministry. Indeed, this demands great perseverance on the part of the faculty team.

Theological Learning and Reflection

　　In the past three years, there are two aspects of learning and reflection that have been most profound to me. One aspect is learning in the area of theology. I have studied all the elective subjects on theology and Christian ethics. Every time I listen in class or read the writings from theologians, like Jüergen Mottmann, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Howard Yoder, Colin Gunton, I find myself feeling too small and yet excited. From theologians’ mastery of doctrines, church traditions, and social situations, I can see a broad spectrum of theology and learn to distinguish the historical and social backgrounds of these theologians, and how they are affected by their own theological tradition. To me, theological education is not just about ministry, skill training, and assimilation of textbook material, but about training me to learn, in such disciplines as theology, biblical studies, and the tradition of spirituality, to discern the significance of faith and the role of the church now and in the near future.

　　On the other hand, learning biblical Hebrew and Greek were also impressive. Everyone in class was wholeheartedly devoted to our studies, especially before handing in class assignments, tests and examinations, we would help one another by sharing what we had learned. Several times some classmates stayed up late trying to figure out the difficult problems we faced in the homework assignments. These assignments could teach us a lot and were helpful for our mastery of doing exegesis in Hebrew or Greek. It was difficult to study these two subjects. I am well aware that my language ability is weak but the learning of biblical Hebrew and Greek demands that we should take a serious attitude in reading the Bible, preparing for a sermon or preparing a Sunday School lesson. I highly regard sharing God’s word with the congregation. That is why I hope to learn more biblical Hebrew and Greek so that I can carefully study and listen to God’s word.

　　Finally, I must thank our devoted teachers and also the staff workers who prepare for us such a beautiful environment for study. I am also grateful to two practicum churches through which I have had the opportunity to make contact with different groups of people and to understand how a church functions in a social community. Praise the Lord for His care and guidance. Pray that He will lead the group of graduating students and help us to be faithful servants and disciples following His leading as we continue to learn and grow in our ministry positions.