The Journey of the Three-Year Rotational Shepherding Model in Braunschweig, Germany

Preface: From Short-Term Missions to a Call for Long-Term Shepherding
In 2001, at the missions conference of Enyou Church, Dr. Long Weinei delivered a message titled “A New Era, New Challenges,” issuing a call to missions: “One person, one year of their life.” That year, I responded to God’s prompting and embarked on a missionary journey, participating in at least one short-term mission trip each year thereafter.

In the winter of 2010, I joined Enyou Church’s first short-term mission team to Germany. We visited university campuses across eastern Germany and, under the leadership of Pastor Hong Limin, engaged in two weeks of music evangelism, gospel tract distribution, and personal witnessing. This ministry continued for many years, gradually opening my eyes to the spiritual needs in that region.

In 2018, on the return trip from one such mission, Matthew 9:36 deeply moved my heart:
“When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.”
This phrase—“like sheep without a shepherd”—kept echoing in my mind.

I began to reflect: What lasting help can our brief annual visits truly offer to the local believers? While short-term missions are important, can a pattern of “sporadic engagement” truly build and shepherd lives?

Through this, God illuminated my heart and led me to consider whether a more long-term, stable, and in-depth shepherding approach could be established to care for these sheep whom the Lord has compassion on.

1. Reflection on the Limitations of Short-Term Missions

After years of involvement, I gradually recognized the limitations of short-term missions:
They often resemble a fleeting touch, making it difficult to build deep relationships; the duration is short, with little follow-up; significant resources are invested, yet lasting spiritual fruit is not always evident.

This is not to deny the value of short-term missions, but to highlight that without long-term shepherding and accompaniment, spiritual growth is difficult to sustain.

2. The Formation of a Vision: The Birth of Rotational Shepherding

In seeking a breakthrough, I considered practical constraints—U.S. passport holders can only stay in Europe for 90 days. Yet this limitation became an inspiration from God: if one individual cannot remain long-term, could a “team rotation” model provide continuous shepherding?

Thus, the concept of a “rotational shepherding model” began to take shape.

At its core, this model involves multiple churches sending co-workers in three-month rotations to reside locally, ensuring continuous shepherding, sustained relationships, and ongoing spiritual growth.

3. The Beginning of the Ministry: Choosing Braunschweig

After evaluating several university cities in eastern Germany—such as Leipzig, Berlin, Jena, Halle, Weimar, Magdeburg, and Braunschweig—we chose the Braunschweig fellowship as the starting point for mid- to long-term shepherding.

In the summer of 2022, Collin County Enyou Church organized a small vision team to visit and share this vision and a three-year plan with local co-workers. Upon returning to the U.S., we also shared the mission with Dallas Chinese Fellowship Church (DCFC) and Plano Fellowship Church (PFC). By God’s grace, these churches responded in unity and committed to partnering in this ministry.

4. Practical Implementation of Rotational Shepherding

This model operates in three key areas:

Personnel:
We carefully recruit and train co-workers, prioritizing those with a burden for missions, basic theological training, and stable commitment. Each team typically consists of two to three people, preferably a couple capable of preaching, or a team of two brothers and one sister, serving for one to three months.

Living and Meeting Space:
We rent a fixed residence that serves both as housing for rotating workers and as a gathering place for small meetings and fellowship. Expenses are supported by mission funds, with a planned gradual reduction over three years to encourage local self-sufficiency.

Shepherding Structure:
Weekly Sunday preaching is arranged (online or in person) to ensure continuous spiritual nourishment. Monthly online meetings are held with local co-workers to discuss direction, provide training, establish core values, and develop a structured ministry framework.

5. From Fellowship to Church: The Vision

The goal of this ministry is not merely to sustain a fellowship, but to help it grow into a mature church.

To this end, we established the “Braunschweig Chinese Christian Church Preparatory Committee,” composed of local core members, North American church representatives, and missionaries.

We hope that within three to five years, through discipleship training, pastoral care, co-worker development, and the calling of a suitable pastor, the fellowship will become a self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating local church.

6. Challenges Along the Way

We have faced many practical and spiritual challenges:

• How to build deep relationships within limited time?

• How to align vision and strategy among different churches?

• How to ensure smooth transitions between rotating teams?

• How to sustain manpower and resources without interruption?

These challenges continually test our faith and cooperation.

7. Strategic Adjustments (2025–2026)

As the ministry developed, we realized that the key to long-term sustainability lies in raising up local co-workers.

Thus, beginning in 2025, we shifted our focus to training local leaders, especially in expository preaching. We encourage brothers and sisters to learn sermon preparation and participate in Sunday message sharing.

At the same time, a pastoral search committee was formed to seek a long-term shepherd for the local flock.

8. Challenges and Principles in Training Preachers

In the training process, several challenges emerged:

• The limitations of remote learning

• Some co-workers feeling their initial training is sufficient

• Strong enthusiasm for learning, but limited practice and application

In response, we hold to several principles:

• Do not rush the process

• Do not turn the pulpit into merely a training platform

• Above all, spiritual growth is more important than preaching skills

As it is often said:
“Life is the message; living is the pulpit.”

9. Spiritual Encouragement and Outlook

As we look to the future, we return to God’s Word for strength and direction:

In faith:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6)

In faithfulness:
“Entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1–2)

In unity:
(Ephesians 4:1–6)

We also remind ourselves:

• To faithfully carry our responsibility in the relay

• To maintain a holistic shepherding vision

• To steward resources well and use our God-given gifts

Conclusion

The three-year rotational shepherding model in Braunschweig represents our first bold step of faith (2022–2025) in missions and church planting. Though many challenges remain, we rely on God and follow Him step by step, trusting that His promises never fail.

1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us:
“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also.”

The path of missions has never been easy, yet we firmly believe:
The power of the Holy Spirit surpasses human eloquence;
The testimony of life surpasses outward forms.

Even today, God continues to reveal His will through the Holy Spirit—through Scripture, prayer, circumstances, and the church.

Perhaps, as the book of Esther says:
“Who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

May we seize the opportunity God has given us and faithfully respond to His calling in this generation.

By Elder James Lin