4. Manna issue 62 - How to Maintain Youth Fellowships 如何維繫青年團契
Fellowship is an important element of one’s spiritual growth and maturity.
Just as the newly baptized members in Acts often gathered to study the word of the Lord,
pray in the Spirit, and bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ,
a youth fellowship provides opportunities for members to gather in His name
and mutually edify and encourage one another in faith,
strengthening each other in the Spirit and the Word.
團契是一個人靈性成長成熟的重要元素。
正如使徒行傳新受洗的信徒，常常一起聚集研讀主的話語一樣，
靠著聖靈禱告，見證耶穌基督的慈愛，
青年團契給契員，以祂的名義提供聚集的機會，
在信仰上互相得造就和鼓勵，
在聖靈和神的話語中，彼此加添力量。
For as we have many members in one body,
but all the members do not have the same function,
so we, being many, are one body in Christ,
and individually members of one another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
let us use them.
(Rom 12:4-6)
4正如我們一個身子上有好些肢體，
肢體也不都是一樣的用處。
5我們這許多人，在基督裡成為一身，
互相聯絡作肢體，也是如此。
6按我們所得的恩賜，各有不同。
（羅 12：4-6）
The youth play a critical role in the holy work of the church.
Along with fostering spiritual growth,
a youth fellowship helps to retain the youth membership
and encourages participation in serving the local church.
青年在教會的神聖工作上，扮演著至關重要的角色。
在伴隨著靈性成長的同時，
青年團契有助於保留青年信徒人數，
並且鼓勵參與服事當地的教會。
The youth fellowship’s foundation is the power of the Holy Spirit and of God’s word,
so its members should be rooted in a life of prayer and Bible study.
In this way, a youth fellowship can edify and nurture its members
as they strive toward completing a successful journey of faith.
青年團契的根基，就是聖靈和神話語的能力，
因此，契員應該札根於禱告和查經的生活。
以此方式，一位青年契員就可以造就且培養其成員，
如同他們努力實行成功的信仰之旅。
OBJECTIVES OF A YOUTH FELLOWSHIP 青年團契的目標
1. Provide spiritual edification for youth fellowship members.
1、為青年團契成員提供屬靈的造就。
2. Foster spiritual growth.
2. 促進靈性成長。
3. Testify to the love and joy found in Jesus Christ.
3. 見證在耶穌基督裡的愛和喜樂。
To help fulfill these objectives,
it is important for youth fellowships to implement events and programs in different areas.
Below is an outline of the different areas a fellowship should cover,
as well as suggested events.
為了幫助實現這些目標，
很重要的是，青年契員必須在不同領域，進行活動和課程。
以下是團契應該包括的不同領域大綱，
以及建議的活動。
BIBLE STUDY 查經
Bible study is the most effective way to understand the Scriptures
because group study and discussion can bring mutual understanding
—members of the fellowship can encourage one another
and equip one another to serve the Lord.
查經是了解聖經最有效的方式，
因為小組學習討論可以帶來相互了解，
—團契成員可以互相鼓勵，
並彼此裝備來事奉主。
In determining the Bible study curriculum for the fellowship,
the main considerations are the fellowship’s objectives.
在決定團契的查經課程時，
主要考慮因素是團契的目標。
For example: 案例
·If a youth fellowship seeks to improve its evangelical outreach,
it can study the Acts of the Apostles.
·如果青年團契想要改善福音開拓，
它可以查考使徒行傳。
·If a given fellowship has a small percentage participating in holy work,
topics about serving the Lord may be useful in encouraging more participation.
·如果某個團契有一小部分人參與聖工，
有關事奉主的主題會有助於鼓勵更多人的參與。
·If there are members undergoing trials,
character studies may encourage all the members of the fellowship.
·如果有契員正在經歷試煉，
人物品行的研究可以鼓勵團契的所有成員。
In addition to Bible study,
special topics or workshops may provide youth fellowship members
with other perspectives on how the word can be applied to one’s life.
Ministers, church council members,
or other experienced church members can share their insights on specific issues
that youth fellowship members face in their spiritual, family, work, or school life.
除了學習聖經之外，
專題或講習會，可為青年契員提供，
有關於如何將神的話，應用到個人生活的其他觀點。
許多神職人員、教會職務會成員，
以及其他有經驗的教會信徒，可以分享他們對特定問題的深刻理解，
青年團契成員在靈性、家庭、工作或學校生活中，所面臨的問題。
Possible special topics: 可能特殊的主是
·spiritual issues:
developing a steadfast faith, overcoming trials and tribulations, finding one’s calling
·屬靈問題：
培養堅定的信心，克服考驗和磨難，找到自己的使命
·school/career issues: choosing a major, graduate school, or job
·學校/職業問題：選擇專業、研究所或工作
·church issues: balancing service to God with school/career/family responsibilities,
outreach to visitors and inactive members
·教會問題：平衡服事神與學校/職業/家庭的責任，
向外接觸訪客和不活躍信徒
·family issues: dealing with non-believing parents, quarrelling parents,
difficult siblings, baptized parents who do not come to church
·家庭問題：應對不信的父母、爭吵的雙親、
難相處的兄弟姊妹，受洗卻不來教會的父母
·life issues: dealing with serious illness, interpersonal relationships,
dating/marriage, stress and time management
·生活問題：處理重病、人際關係、
約會/婚姻、壓力和時間管理
Periodic workshop sessions equip the members with the tools, skills, and direction
to participate in serving the Lord.
Possible workshop sessions include personal evangelism,
survey of local church ministries, and holy work training.
定期舉辦的講習會，給成員裝備工具、技能和指導，
可以參與事奉主。
各種可能的講習會課程，包括個人佈道、
當地教會事工的調查和聖工訓練。
FELLOWSHIP 青年團契
In addition to Bible study, fellowship meetings provide a good avenue for spiritual cultivation.
Examples of these meetings are as follows:
除了查經之外，團契聚會也是靈修的一個很好的途徑。
這些會議的例子如下：
Hymnal/Praise Sessions 詩頌課程
Hymn singing is a time to meditate upon God’s love, grace, and mercy
through hymns or praise songs.
Fellowship leaders can choose hymns focusing on a particular theme or topic
and share their reflections between hymns.
Asking other members of the fellowship
to share their favorite hymns or praise songs
is also an effective way to foster spiritual growth in the group.
唱讚美詩是一段時間，可以默想神的慈愛、恩典、憐憫
透過吟唱讚美詩或讚美歌曲。
契長可以選擇專注特定重心或主題的讚美詩，
並且在各首讚美詩之間，分享他們自已反應的想法。
詢問團契的其他成員，
分享他們最喜歡的讚美詩或讚美歌曲，
也是促進團體靈性成長的有效方法。
Personal Sharing 個人分享
Time should be set aside during each fellowship meeting
to give members the opportunity to share recent events in their lives and to make prayer requests.
Personal sharing may also include testimonies of grace or blessings received from God.
每次團契聚會時，應預留時間，
讓成員有機會分享他們生活中，最近發生的事件，並提出代禱的請求。
個人分享也可能包括，從神那裡得到恩典或祝福的見證。
Discussion 討論
Discussion provides an excellent opportunity for fellowship members
to share their views and experiences on a particular topic
so that they will apply these concepts to their own lives.
討論給契員提供了絕佳的機會，
分享他們對於特定主題的看法和經驗，
以便他們將這些概念運用到自己的生活中。
An effective method for holding these sessions
is to have the facilitator prepare questions beforehand
and initiate discussion by sharing devotionals, personal testimonies, or reflections.
舉辦這些課程的有效方法，
就是讓主持人提前準備好問題，
並透過分享靈修、個人見證或反省，來發起討論。
Mutual Caring 互相照顧
As the members of the fellowship are one body in Christ,
it is critical that members continually care for one another’s needs.
An individual member’s problem is also the problem of the fellowship.
由於契員在基督裡是一體的，
成員持續關心彼此的需求，是很重要的。
個別成員的問題，也是團契的問題。
Spiritual accountability allows each member in the fellowship
to feel the love that compels them to care for and pray for each other.
The following are some ways to demonstrate mutual caring:
屬靈的責任讓團契中的每個成員，
感受到關愛，並使他們因而互相關心和代禱。
以下是展現相互關懷的一些方法：
·Forming care groups in which two to three active members focus their care
on particular “lost sheep” or friends.
·組成關懷小組，其中由兩到三名活躍成員集中照護，
特定的“迷失的小羊”或朋友。
·Visiting all members.
Visitation does not need to be limited to inactive members or friends;
coordinators can arrange for local ministers and church council members
to visit all youth fellowship members.
·探訪全體成員。
訪問不僅限於不活躍的會員或朋友；
輔導員可以安排當地長執，和教會職務會成員，
去探訪所有的青年團契成員。
·Having meals with members. 與信徒吃飯
Plan functions that help strengthen the bonds among members.
Some activities that promote teamwork, friendship, and Christian bonding
are camping, team sports, cooking, and games.
規劃的作用，有助於加強成員之間聯繫。
一些活動會促進團隊合作、友誼和基督徒的聯繫，
包括露營、團隊運動、烹飪和遊戲。
A youth fellowship should bear in mind that
the activities and functions in which it participates should glorify the name of God
and promote the development of a bond in Christ.
青年團契應該牢記在心中，
團契所參與的活動和職責，應該要榮耀神的名，
並且促進基督裡連繫的發展。
PRAYER 禱告
Prayer is crucial to the spiritual growth of the fellowship and each member.
Just like the apostles,
members of the fellowship must also rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and power.
The Holy Spirit can unify the fellowship
so that all members will work together in one Spirit and one mind
to edify one another, spread the gospel, and serve the Lord.
禱告對於團契和每個成員的靈性成長，至關重要。
就像使徒一樣，
團契的成員也必須依靠聖靈的引導和能力。
聖靈可以聯合團契，
使所有成員同一心志作工，
彼此造就，傳福音，事奉主。
For the sake of personal spiritual growth,
each member should pray on a daily basis.
Fellowship members should pray together in the Spirit at every opportunity
and should establish a prayer time/location
(or, if more convenient, at their own respective locations).
為了個人靈性的成長，
每個成員都應該每天禱告。
團契成員應該利用一切機會，一起在聖靈裡禱告，
並應該設定禱告的時間和地點，
（或者，如果更方便的話，可以在各自的地方）。
Prayer requests provide a focus for a prayer session.
Such sharing further promotes mutual caring between the fellowship members.
代禱請求給禱告會有焦點。
這樣的分享，進一步促進團契成員之間的相互關懷。
EVANGELISM 傳福音
The youth fellowship group should emphasize evangelical outreach
as one of its primary objectives
and work with the church to carry out this precious and important task.
Jesus entrusted all believers with the task to preach the gospel to the end of the earth,
and this commission should be reinforced in the fellowship.
青年團契群組應該強調福音開拓，
作為其主要目標之一，
並與教會合作來完成這項寶貴且重要的任務。
耶穌交託所有信徒，要將福音傳到地極，
這個委託會應該在團契中加以強調。
Here are some methods of evangelism to consider:
以下有一些可以考慮用來傳福音的方法：
·Personal evangelism.
The most effective form of evangelism is for members
to share their faith directly with people they encounter.
·個人佈道。
傳福音最有效的形式就是信徒，
直接與他們遇到的人分享自已的信仰。
·Flyer distribution.
Flyers can be distributed in residential or public areas,
such as shopping centers and public transportation areas.
·分發傳單。
可以在住宅區或公共地區分發傳單，
例如，購物中心和公共交通地區。
·Community service/outreach.
Community service is a unique opportunity
for fellowship members to work as a team
and, at the same time, introduce the church to the people they meet.
Some examples include participating in community clean-ups, soup kitchens,
homeless ministry, and nursing home visits.
·社區聚會/開拓。
社區聚會是一個獨特的機會，
給團契成員作為一個團隊去工作，
並且同時，向他們遇到的人介紹教會。
有一些例子包括了參與社區清潔、流動餐廚、
流民事工和療養院探訪。
·Evangelical service.
Members can invite friends to attend an informal or formal evangelical service
organized by the fellowship.
Regardless of format, its focus should be on biblical truth and life application.
·佈道會。
契員可以邀請朋友來參加非正式，或是正式的佈道會，
由團契舉辨。
無論形式如何，其重點應該是聖經的真理和生活的應用。
ADMINISTRATION 監督管理
Throughout the book of Acts,
it is evident that the apostles constantly met to pray, sing hymns, and encourage one another.
It is integral for a youth fellowship to meet regularly.
The coordinators of the fellowship and the church council
can work together to establish a consistent time and frequency for youth fellowship meetings.
The locale of the fellowship can vary.
Determine which locale is more conducive
to carrying out the goals and objectives of the fellowship.
縱觀使徒行傳，
很明顯的是，許多使徒經常聚會禱告、唱聖詩，且互相鼓勵。
對青年團契來說，定期聚會是必需的。
團契的輔導員和教會職務會，
可以共同付出給青年團契聚會，設定持續的時間和次數。
而團契的聚會地點則可以有所變化。
要決定在哪個地點是更有幫助，
實現團契的目的和目標。
It is also important to maintain open lines of communication with the church council.
In doing so, the council can support the fellowship members,
who are usually between ages 18 to 40,
as well as provide additional direction or insight.
Continue to work with the church council to train members to serve the Lord.
與教會職務會保持開放的溝通管道也很重要。
透過這樣做，職務會可以幫助團契成員，
他們通常年齡介於 18 至 40 歲之間，
同時提供特殊的指引或洞察力。
繼續與教會的職務會合作，訓練契員去事奉主。
A website or blog can be created to provide the most up-to-date information
such as the fellowship schedule;
member contact information; edifying testimonies, sharing, or devotionals;
fellowship photographs;
and links to the local church website.
可以創建一個網站或部落格，來提供最新消息，
例如團契聚會時間表；
契員聯絡資訊； 造就性的見證、分享或靈性小品；
與團契聯誼的照片；
以及當地的教會網站連結。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)