A New Song for the Mandarin Church / 在敬拜里遇见神 - 为中文教会群体写新歌
The Day I Met God in Worship
Many years ago when I was still a non-believer, I went back to Malaysia to visit my mentor and followed him to attend a youth service. Even though the band wasn’t especially skillful, I was incredibly moved during the worship set and felt deeply comforted. No matter how I tried to hold back my tears, I just couldn’t stop crying. It was so memorable that I hungered to experience it again, and did so a few weeks later at another church service. The atmosphere was so immersive that I raised my hands naturally to respond, finally feeling that I had found a place where I belonged.
Since then I have accepted Christ and gotten baptised, but I’ve never forgotten those two services. As a worship leader, I’m always asking the question: “How can I create an environment where everyone feels safe to worship and get closer to God?”
That’s where songwriting comes in. I’ve always thought that it was a gift to be able to express my thoughts and feelings through songs and started to write my own in secondary school. When I gave my life to Christ, I prayed to God and asked Him to give me words and melodies, to anoint me to be His vessel and convey His message for the generations. That was when my first Mandarin worship song was birthed out. When I shared it with my worship team and church members, they were blessed by it and felt able to express their love towards God through this song.
By God’s grace, this song has even brought salvation to many non-believers at different outreach events! I knew then that songwriting was what I meant to do so that God can be heard and move people’s hearts through my songs.
Why It’s Important to Write Mandarin Worship Songs
Throughout my songwriting journey, I've observed that there is a lack of Mandarin worship songs written by and sung in local churches as compared to English original songs. My heart aches that there is such a lack, because I believe that there is such power when we write worship songs in our mother tongue, songs that can strike at the heart and reveal the beauty of God.
One day as I was chatting with Pastor Alex Foo (Mandarin Worship Leading Stream Mentor) about this, we came to the conclusion that although local churches may be more receptive to mandarin worship songs if they were a) more congregational, b) contemporary and representing the sound of this generation and lastly, c) if local Christian songwriters were given the opportunity to grow their skills as well as the platform to share their work. Furthermore, songwriters tend to carry a lot of insecurities - we’re worried about how people will perceive or label us.
Despite all these barriers, how can the mandarin-speaking church provide a safe space for songwriters and musicians to flourish? How do we keep up with the times and create a worship environment where everyone can encounter God’s presence, like I did so many years ago?
A New Song for the Mandarin Church
Although I don’t have a complete answer, I believe that change will happen when we have the courage to try out new things. Change doesn’t mean a complete revamp overnight, but how can we find a balance between passing down traditions while at the same time being more relevant to the needs of the current generation?
As the Mandarin streams mentors at Awaken Generation, Pastor Alex Foo and I are committed to build a community with Kingdom culture and values, where worship creatives and leaders are transformed, equipped, and empowered to unleash their full potential. We hope to encourage and inspire one another, to impact lives and experience breakthroughs in our worship.
"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD." (Psalm 40:3)
Worship should not just exist as a program. I believe that God is bringing revival to the Mandarin churches and communities, and that this is just the beginning of us encountering God through original songs. When we arise and respond to His calling, He will renew our spirits and anoint our giftings!
Join us to raise up a generation of worship creatives and leaders to live out the Great Commission, imparting the nations for His glory.
Faith Pang is an Awaken Generation staff and resident mentor of the Mandarin Songwriting Stream. Follow her on Instagram at @faithnvhai and listen to her music on Spotify.
在敬拜里与神相遇
我还记得多年前未信主的我回到马来西亚探访恩师，跟着他到当地一间教会参加青少年聚会。敬拜团非常年轻，虽然技巧方面很生疏，在音乐造诣上也有很大的进步空间，但在整个敬拜的过程中我却深深感受到一种无法形容的触动，像是被大大的安慰了。当时自尊心强的我想要忍住不哭却按耐不住眼泪，泪如泉滴。回来新加坡后还久久无法忘怀那一次的感受，默默期待可以再经历一次。
几周后我跟随友人去参加另一个主日聚会，一踏进场内我就感觉被一种无形的爱包围。听着台上的敬拜如此动容，我也不经意的举起双手回应。我开始回忆往事，涕泪交零。那是一种前所未有的悲痛释放，我也终于明白原来找到一个能归属的地方是这种感觉。之后我就决志信主，领受洗礼，获得重生。
开始在敬拜团服事后，我才了解那种难以言说的感受是经历了神的同在。身为敬拜主领的我常常在想，要如何去创造令人安心的氛围，让大家能在敬拜里亲近并领受神？
从中学开始写歌创作的我，总觉得能将我的真实想法和感受透过歌曲来传达是一件非常美好的事。于是我向神祷告，求祂给我话语和旋律，并且使用我来传达祂要给世世代代的信息。我人生中第一首敬拜诗歌就因此从祷告而生。后来在主日聚会中这首诗歌引起了很大的回响，敬拜团和会友们都纷纷前来告诉我这首歌打进了他们心底，产生了共鸣，也让他们能够将对神的渴慕、感谢和爱藉由这诗歌来表达。随后在不同的布道活动中，非信徒也受到这诗歌的感动，回应神并信靠神。从此我便下定决心要创作歌曲传讲神的福音，让神被听见，让更多人得到救恩。
中文原创诗歌的重要性
在创作的过程中我也观察到一些现象。与英文原创诗歌相比，我似乎没什么机会听到其他本地教会所创作的中文诗歌。为此感叹的同时，我深信当我们用自己的母语来创作诗歌，这些歌曲会触动人心，也让我们更认识神的各种面貌。
有天和符基明传道（中文敬拜带领课程导师）聊到这话题，发现大多教会对于本地创作的接受度似乎不高，比较能适应大众化和广为人知的敬拜赞美歌曲和圣诗。或许是因为每间教会的创作独树一格，自我风格强烈但不一定能迎合其他教会的喜好，也因此减低了本地创作的传唱度。创作人缺乏平台来发表和推广自创诗歌，更缺乏能磨练和提升创作能力的机会。
此外，敬拜者和创作人似乎也背负着不少传统和刻板的包袱，担心因着先入为主的想法而被贴上标签，因而有许多隐忧和顾虑，不想浪费时间去改革现有的敬拜模式。大多时候敬拜事奉和诗歌创作也变得疲乏、沉闷，久而久之就失去了热忱。但随着时代变迁，大众对于敬拜诗歌的向往是否还停留在我们认知里的类型？我们要如何抛开成见才能打破格局，与时并进，进而创造出能让大家经历神同在的敬拜环境，更藉由中文原创诗歌带领更多人来到神的面前？
为中文教会群体写新歌
虽然没有百分百正确的答案，但我相信勇于尝试就是改变的开始。改变并不代表我们要完全舍弃既有的传统美德，毕竟每间教会都有需要被传承的文化。那我们要如何取得平衡呢？身为“甦醒世代”中文课程的导师，我和基明传道致力建立一个以天国文化为根基的社群，藉由我们的督导和分享去帮助弟兄姐妹们改变心态，转化生命，找到新的能量，将自身潜能发挥到最大的极致。不只在敬拜或创作的能力上得到提升，在属灵品格上也经历更新。在这个富有创意的群体中，我们互相激励，带来正能量，一起突破并推动敬拜至另一层次。
“他使我口唱新歌，赞美我们的 神；许多人看见了，就必惧怕，并且要倚靠耶和华。”－诗篇 40:3
每间教会都有各自的异象和使命，每位敬拜创作者也都有属于各自的声音。在词曲创作的课程中，我期许每位创作人能学习聆听神的话语并且用诗歌来回应和传递神的信息。我相信当我们不畏惧注入本地创作的特色，这份真挚能让人感同身受。听众能透过我们的歌曲取得共鸣，也能找到抒发情绪的出口，与神更靠近。每片土地都有适合的肥料，愿我们都能不忘初心、勇于拥抱神的恩赐，撒种、耕种、并生长出属于我们的花朵，为神绽放。
毋庸置疑，讲台信息的重要性是无可取代的。虽然如此，敬拜也不该只是一个根据崇拜章程和礼仪来进行的仪式。我相信神要大大兴起中文教会，让大家能在敬拜里遇见神、经历神、转向神、领受神。当我们一起交托摆上，神会更新我们的心怀意念。加入我们一起培养新一代的敬拜创作者和领袖，合一领受大能、接受装备，活出大使命，为着神的荣耀影响世界。
Faith Pang 陈婉琪是“甦醒世代”的全职同工，也是我们中文词曲创作班的导师。关注她的 Instagram 号 @faithnvhai 和在 Spotify 上听她的原创诗歌。