初谈宋尚节
草湖基督教堂之行
3. 圣经植物园项目
草湖基督教堂的另一个特色是，他们正在建设的圣经植物园项目。走进教堂，可以看到这间教会于2025年春天刚刚启动的工程——“草湖基督教堂圣经植物园项目介绍”：
“主内平安！2025年，一场意义非凡的建造工程即将在我们的教堂周边拉开帷幕，这是神赐予我们的神圣使命，也是我们共同荣耀主名的宝贵契机，让我们齐心协力，投入其中，投身其中。
本教会计划在教堂旁边兴建一个充满圣经意境的植物园。这里将栽种许多圣经中富含深刻属灵意义的植物：橄榄树，象征生命与和平；葡萄树，象征主耶稣基督与门徒之间紧密的联系；无花果树，象征复兴与繁荣；还有生命树——预表主十字架上的牺牲。一片片郁郁葱葱的绿植，将讲述圣经的故事，彰显信徒生命如金银宝石般多结果子，彰显主的荣光与国度的荣耀。在绿意盎然之中，我们的信仰将得到更深的见证与传扬。园区已不仅仅是植物的天地，更是信仰的圣殿。
除了植物景观，园内还将设计精美的圣经故事雕塑与主题小品，激励信徒追寻圣经真理，默想神话语的深邃内涵；圣殿模型则能让我们重温仰慕神圣启示的庄严，激发内心对神的敬畏与向往。
该项目不仅具有深远意义，还将展示属灵激荡带来的灵感，让更多人感受到基督信仰的品质。未来，这里有望成为一处别具特色的旅游打卡点，吸引游客前来感受基督教文化与自然景观完美融合之美。这不仅能为乡村带来更多人气与活力，还能促进地方商贸、民宿、餐饮的发展，为改善农村社会做出积极贡献。我们的努力，将成为乡村发展的新动力，也会令人看到基督信仰的光辉与见证。
在此，我们诚挚邀请每一位弟兄姐妹踊跃参与，无论是奉献支持，还是投入时间精力，您的一份付出都将为这个项目注入强大的属灵力量。我们坚信，在神的带领和弟兄姐妹的共同守望下，这项工程必将顺利完成，神的荣耀必然显明！让我们携手共建，以爱为基石，以信为梁，在2025年，为我们的家园添砖加瓦，共同见证神的奇妙作为，也为我们的家园创造更美好的明天！”
教堂的墙上张贴着许多圣经植物的图片和解释，包括：
- 圣经中的树木：无花果树、橄榄树、皂荚树
- 圣经中的花卉：百合花
- 圣经中的草本：牛膝草、玫瑰花、薄荷
- 圣经中的水果：石榴、葡萄、芦苇
- 圣经中的香料：肉桂
- 圣经中的蔬菜：芫荽、苦菜、乳香
- 圣经中的农作物：红豆、稗子
这间教会筹款的方式很独特。教堂里设有一块白板，写着“草湖基督教堂植物园专款奉献公布栏”：上面列着人名和奉献金额。这种公布奉献款项的做法有圣经依据（比如民7:12-17；代上29:3-5；可12:41-44）。今日中国南方及港台的许多教会奉献弟兄姐妹的名字（或无名氏）公示出来，鼓励弟兄姐妹在财务上甘心奉献、积极参与神家事工。
我好奇地问王洪福牧师：“你们怎么会有要建圣经植物园这么美好的异象？”
王牧师很谦卑，只是面带微笑，没有正面回答我。退休的陈国恩老牧师则马上回答说：“是神给王牧师的灵感”。他还说：“主赐予王牧师的异象，我们一定要大力支持。”
现任牧师走在前、前任牧师走在后，两代牧者仍能同工同心合意地的这副场景非常美！尽管前任牧师已经退休，但仍紧随年轻牧师之后，全力支持神家事工。
草湖基督教会灵活拓展事工的理念值得学习。他们希望教会通过建立植物园可以为耶稣传福音，另一方面人们也能从这些植物中明白整本圣经中的福音真理。此外，在今日国家倡导美学享受的氛围下，人们也能得到美的滋养。
当被问到他们为何有如此大的信心和勇气去承担如此庞大的工程时，黄媛传道回答：“答案总比问题多，上帝总比困难大！”中国大陆的基督徒真有信心，他们信心的榜样值得在美国的华人教会效法！
真是感恩！草湖基督教会继承林振珍、宋尚节等属灵前辈的遗产：信心、勇敢、积极为主传福音等，并在新的时代将其发扬光大。 这次草湖教会之行受益匪浅，不仅有主里美好的团契，也获得许多新知识，学习了教会历史，品尝了宋尚节复兴的寻根盛筵，更从草湖基督教会靠主砥砺前行的广大心胸怀与国度视野中得到深深的激励。（未完待续）
10/12/25 Pastor’s Word
An Initiative Reflection on John Sung
(continued from the above)
Journey to Caohu Christian Church
3. The Biblical Botanical Garden Project
Another distinctive feature of Caohu Christian Church is their ongoing Biblical Botanical Garden project. Upon entering the church, one can see this project, which was just launched in the spring of 2025 — “Introduction to the Caohu Christian Church Biblical Botanical Garden Project”:
*“Peace in the Lord! In 2025, a highly significant construction project is about to unfold around our church. This is a divine mission granted by God, and a precious opportunity for us to glorify His name together. Let us unite in effort and dedication, fully investing ourselves in this undertaking.
Our church plans to establish a botanical garden adjacent to the church, imbued with the spiritual imagery of the Bible. The garden will feature many plants with profound biblical significance: olive trees, symbolizing life and peace; grapevines, symbolizing the close relationship between Jesus Christ and His disciples; fig trees, representing revival and prosperity; and the tree of life, prefiguring the sacrifice on the cross. Lush greenery will narrate biblical stories, demonstrating how the lives of believers can bear fruit like gold and silver, reflecting the glory of the Lord and His kingdom. Amidst this verdant splendor, our faith will gain deeper witness and promotion. The garden will not merely be a collection of plants, but a sanctuary of faith.
In addition to the plant displays, the garden will feature finely crafted biblical story sculptures and themed installations to inspire believers to seek biblical truth and meditate on the depth of God’s Word. A model of the temple will allow visitors to relive the awe of divine revelation, fostering reverence and longing for God.
This project is not only of profound spiritual significance, but also aims to showcase the inspiration arising from spiritual awakening, allowing more people to experience the essence of the Christian faith. In the future, it is expected to become a unique tourist destination, attracting visitors to appreciate the harmony of Christian culture and natural beauty. This will not only bring vitality to the local village but also promote local commerce, homestays, and dining, contributing positively to rural society. Our efforts will become a new driving force for village development and demonstrate the radiance and testimony of the Christian faith.
Here, we sincerely invite every brother and sister to participate enthusiastically. Whether through financial contributions or by offering time and effort, your involvement will infuse this project with powerful spiritual energy. We firmly believe that under God’s guidance and the joint watchfulness of our church family, this project will be successfully completed, and God’s glory will be revealed! Let us work hand in hand, building with love as our foundation and faith as our framework, adding bricks and tiles to our home in 2025, witnessing God’s wondrous deeds, and creating a brighter future for our community!” *
On the church walls, many pictures and explanations of biblical plants are displayed, including:
- Trees in the Bible: fig tree, olive tree, carob tree
- Flowers in the Bible: lily
- Herbs in the Bible: achyranthes, rose, mint
- Fruits in the Bible: pomegranate, grape, reed
- Spices in the Bible: cinnamon
- Vegetables in the Bible: coriander, bitter herbs, frankincense
- Crops in the Bible: red beans, millet
The church has a unique fundraising approach. Inside the church is a whiteboard labeled “Caohu Christian Church Botanical Garden Donation Board”, listing the names of donors and their contributions. This public display of donations is biblically based (see Num. 7:12–17; 1 Chron. 29:3–5; Mark 12:41–44). Today, many churches in southern China and Hong Kong/Taiwan display the names (or anonymity) of contributing brothers and sisters to encourage willing and generous participation in God’s work.
With curiosity, I asked Pastor Wang Hongfu, “How did your church come up with such a beautiful vision of building a Biblical Botanical Garden?”
Pastor Wang humbly smiled and did not respond at once. Retired Pastor Chen Guoen immediately answered, “It is God who inspired Pastor Wang.” He also added, “We must wholeheartedly support the vision God has given Pastor Wang.”
It was beautiful to witness the current pastor leading the way while the retired pastor followed, two generations of pastors working together in unity. Even though the former pastor had retired, he still followed closely behind, fully supporting the work of God’s house.
The flexible approach to ministry at Caohu Christian Church is commendable. They hope that through the botanical garden, the church can both proclaim the gospel of Jesus and allow people to understand the gospel truths throughout the Bible via these plants. Moreover, in today’s cultural emphasis on aesthetic enjoyment, people can also be nourished by beauty.
When asked why they had such great faith and courage to undertake such a massive project, Minister Huang Yuan replied, “Answers are always more than questions; God is always greater than the difficulties!” Chinese Christians indeed have remarkable faith, and their example is worthy of imitation in Chinese churches in the United States.
Truly, we are grateful! Caohu Christian Church carries forward the heritage of spiritual predecessors such as Lin Zhenzhen and John Sung — faith, courage, and active evangelistic work — and continues to promote these virtues in a new era. This visit to Caohu Church was extremely enriching, not only offering wonderful fellowship in the Lord, but also providing abundant knowledge, church history learning, a taste of the revivalist roots of John Sung, and deep inspiration from the church’s broad vision and steadfast reliance on the Lord.
(To be continued…)