ZHEJIANG, China – A graduate of Zhejiang Theological Seminary, Preacher Shi* has been serving in a local church for about eight years.
Over time, Shi felt the inadequacy of his seminary training to meet current ministry challenges. “The seminary’s curriculum for pastoral theology was limited. That insufficiency became evident when I started working in the church. In our area, there are many preaching points, but most pastors and church workers are elderly. Pastoral care is often inadequate.
“There is also a serious lack of younger Christian workers and I have moments of feeling like giving up. However, 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says that God will not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear and will always provide a way out, is a continual reminder for me to persevere.”
Shi was therefore very appreciative of the two-day intensive course on Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible by Dr Yu Suee Yan, which was held at Zhejiang Seminary on 30-31 October 2025. Such training was an important supplement to enhance the spiritual and theological knowledge of full-time preachers like Shi.
He admitted, “Previously, I didn’t use Scripture much in my ministry. Through this training, I came to recognise the importance of applying Scripture more intentionally and I now see the need for more thoughtful engagement with the Bible.”
Shi shared a statement that Dr Yu made, which impressed him deeply: “Genesis is not primarily about history, but about theology.” This helped him understand that Scripture points to Christ and helps believers build their faith upon Him.
Shi came away from the training with a clearer understanding of biblical languages (Hebrew and Aramaic), and a greater appreciation of the Bible’s history and how biblical texts evolved. Although it was short, the training provided a valuable opportunity to rest, recharge, and reflect, especially amid the demands of daily ministry. It also allowed participants to share resources and learn from one another.
Shi has plans to use his newfound knowledge to benefit his community. “I currently conduct volunteer training in my church, though most participants are elderly. I plan to share what I learnt with them. Even if they do not fully understand at first, repeated teaching over time will still be beneficial.”
Besides biblical studies and theology, Shi sees the need for training in other areas like worship. “Worship should be at the core of the church’s life. While we place great emphasis on evangelism, simply bringing people into the church does not complete the church’s mission. Believers must be taught how to worship with the right posture too. There should also be training in spiritual formation. Personally, I want to understand the sacraments in greater depth, and I hope there will be more teaching in this area in the future.”
Church workers, like Shi, are yearning to deepen their theological knowledge and understanding of the Bible, to be better equipped to serve the church and its congregation. By supporting similar training conferences, Christian workers in China can be more equipped to meet the manifold challenges that the Church faces today.
*name changed
Story: Angela Teo
Edited by: UBSCP Communications Team
Photo: UBSCP
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