談世界宣道中的宗教教育重要性(箴27章)

你要詳細知道你羊群的景況．留心料理你的牛群。因為資財不能永有．冠冕豈能存到萬代。乾草割去、嫩草發現、山上的菜蔬、也被收斂。羊羔之毛、是為你作衣服．山羊是為作田地的價值．並有母山羊奶夠你喫、也夠你的家眷喫、且夠養你的婢女。(箴 27：23-27)

這段經文提到當重視真正能永續的羊群、牛群，因為它們具有生產力，對於資財與冠冕的追求，箴言勸人不應當過分重視，因為他們不能永存。因此，若能好好經營能永續的羊群、牛群，即使環境不斷地在改變與更迭，就像乾草時候到了會被割去，然後又長出了嫩草，即使長在山上的菜蔬，也是會經歷長出與被收斂的更迭，後續的生產也不會斷絕。

2025年3月的真耶穌教會聯總世界代表大會(簡稱WDC)，我受邀擔任要在聖靈月刊中，做關於世界代表大會全程的記錄與報導工作。全程記錄之後，對於世界宣道有許多感觸。其中給我最大的感觸，就是宗教教育的重要性。

正如非洲有幾個國家，好比剛果共和國，當真耶穌教會傳入並有人接受這份信仰之後，卻因為傳道人無法久留，隔了幾年再回到現場，教會已經被上海歧出份子(從真耶穌教會出走的異端團體)所俗化，無論我們的工人如何勸勉他們，他們已經不再回頭。

然而柬埔寨因為在做宣道工作時，同時深化宗教教育，這些宗教教育的學員，十年、二十年後，成了本地的專職工人。本地的專職工人因為語言可以自然講道，更能常駐在當地，這些年感謝主加速發展，迅速建立好幾個教會，並且正穩定發展中。

當時，心中暗暗地跟神禱告，因祂給我有機會在宗教教育上協助過許多事工，祈求我主若願意，讓我有機會走向國際協助世界宣道下，鞏固宣道基礎的當地宗教教育工作。因為宗教教育的工作，就是此處的「詳細知道羊群景況、留意料理牛群的工作」，是世界宣道可長可久的基礎。

感謝主，2025年8月，因為沙巴總會在網路上看到疫情期間我所做的家庭祭壇相關專題的講道，所以跟聯總指定要我前往沙巴總會協助這方面的專題分享。但是離開沙巴返台時，有聽到回饋說：「台灣總會來的高執事，講的都是我們本來就聽過的舊東西。」心想：感謝主！我已盡力，可能不會再來了吧？

沒想到，今年2026年，竟然再次收到沙巴總會的邀請，將於八月再講一次宗教教育方面，全方位地做問題探討與對策。感謝主！神聽到我的禱告，因為自己只是在心裡暗暗地跟神說，神竟然主動安排。接下來，今年五月要在菲律賓馬尼拉教會、上個月的三月則已經在新加坡各教會作分享。

求神帶領，也期盼閱讀到此文章的同工，能為全球宣道所相應的宗教教育事工禱告，因為一旦當地的宗教教育建立了，擴展全球的宣道工作才能真正紮根、茁壯。

教養孩童、使他走當行的道、就是到老他也不偏離。(箴 22：6)

聯總簡訊275期：起來！縱橫走遍這地——第十四屆聯總各國代表大會迴響撰文／Isaiah Kao｜聖靈月刊572期-2025.05｜主題／絕境中的翻轉（下）

By Isaiah Kao

On the Importance of Religious Education in World Evangelism (Proverbs 27)

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field, and there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens.” (Proverbs 27:23–27, NASB 2020)

This passage reminds us to value what is truly sustainable—the flocks and herds—because they are productive and enduring. In contrast, the pursuit of wealth and crowns should not be overemphasized, for they do not last forever. If we carefully manage what is sustainable, even as circumstances continually change, just as grass is cut and then grows again, and vegetation on the mountains is gathered and renewed, production will not cease.

In March 2025, at the True Jesus Church World Delegates Conference (WDC), I was invited to serve in recording and reporting the entire event for the Holy Spirit Monthly. After completing the full documentation, I was deeply moved by many aspects of world mission. Among them, what impressed me the most was the importance of religious education.

For example, in some African countries such as the Republic of the Congo, after the True Jesus Church was introduced and people accepted the faith, the church later became secularized by Shanghai schismatic groups (heretical groups that had departed from the True Jesus Church). No matter how much our workers exhorted them, they were no longer willing to turn back.

In contrast, in Cambodia, while carrying out missionary work, religious education was also strengthened. Over time, those who received this education became local full-time workers after ten or twenty years. These local workers, being able to preach naturally in their own language and remain in the area long-term, have contributed to rapid development in recent years. By the grace of the Lord, several churches have been established and are now growing steadily.

At that time, I quietly prayed in my heart to God. Since He had given me opportunities to assist in many aspects of religious education work, I asked that, if it be His will, He would allow me to serve internationally, supporting world mission by strengthening the foundation of local religious education. For the work of religious education is precisely like “knowing well the condition of the flocks and attending to the herds”; it is the enduring foundation of world mission.

Thanks be to the Lord, In August 2025, because the Sabah General Assembly saw online the messages I had given during the pandemic on the topic of family altars, they requested through the International Assembly that I come to Sabah to share on this subject. However, when I left Sabah and returned to Taiwan, I heard feedback saying, “What the Deacon Kao from Taiwan shared were things we have already heard before.” I thought to myself: Thank the Lord, I have done my best; perhaps I will not come again.

Unexpectedly, in 2026, I received another invitation from the Sabah General Assembly. This August, I will once again share on religious education, addressing issues comprehensively and proposing solutions. Thanks be to the Lord! God heard my prayer. Even though I had only spoken to Him quietly in my heart, He took the initiative to arrange everything. In addition, this May I will be serving at the Manila Church in the Philippines, and just last month in March, I already shared in churches across Singapore.

May the Lord continue to lead. I also hope that all co-workers who read this article will pray for the religious education work that corresponds with global evangelism. For once local religious education is established, the expansion of worldwide evangelism can truly take root and flourish.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he grows older he will not abandon it.” (Proverbs 22:6, NASB 2020)