Wasteland of Weeds Transformed into Good Land Market: The Church in Kaohsiung Promotes the Youth Blending Center in One Accord Across Generations
Christian Tribune, Special Correspondent Pan Yixin
[Special Correspondent Pan Yixin / Kaohsiung Report]
From a vacant lot with knee-high weeds and covered in potholes to a bustling market gathering nearly 2,000 people, the designated site for the Youth Blending Center of the church in Kaohsiung recently held the “May 16 Good Land Market,” attracting all the saints to participate together across generations.
Brother Lu Jiada, the general coordinator in charge, stated that this market was not merely an event, but a process for everyone to “see, step on, and practice consecration,” turning the vision that originally remained on blueprints and in fellowship into a starting point for everyone’s joint devotion and practical building.
Brother Lu explained that the origin of the Good Land Market traces back to February of this year, after acquiring the designated site for the Youth Blending Center.
During multiple fellowships, the brothers gradually developed a mutual feeling: Since the Lord had given this land, it should not remain just in planning and imagination; rather, there was a need to let all the saints personally come to this land and actually step on it.
Therefore, a brother proposed the idea of hosting a fair, hoping to invite everyone to personally see the boundaries of the land and have a deeper connection with the future building.
“When people truly stand on that land and see the site of the future building, they will naturally have a feeling within that ‘this concerns me’.”
As the fellowship went deeper, this burden gradually formed the “May 16 Good Land Market,” the serving team shared.
Rectifying the Wasteland Faced Many Difficulties; the Youth Took the Lead to Bear the Burden
However, the condition of the site during the initial preparation stage was not ideal. The serving team recalled that when they first won the bid, the weeds on the site were almost knee-high, and some were even taller. The ground was uneven, filled with potholes and elevation differences. Broken glass, iron wires, and trash were also scattered in the weeds, posing safety concerns.
“Actually, everyone was under pressure, not knowing whether such a place could truly host an event,” the serving team shared.
But under such circumstances, the young people took the lead to bear the burden. From the initial weeding and clearing of trash to leveling the ground twice and laying down black nets, everyone step by step organized the wasteland, which was originally difficult to step into, into a site suitable for gathering and walking.
The serving team stated that this was not only a change in the outward environment but also allowed many to practically experience the power of being “in one accord.”
“Many things that initially seemed difficult could be perfected little by little when everyone was willing to offer themselves together.”
Booths Borne by the Saints; Cross-District Coordinating Testifies the Body Life
Regarding the planning of the booths, it was originally expected to set up 22 booths, with some planned to invite external vendors. However, after the call was issued at the youth gathering on April 18, the saints responded enthusiastically and actively signed up to participate. Ultimately, a total of 36 booths were entirely borne by the saints of various caring districts themselves, eliminating the need for external vendors.
The serving team pointed out that this result was not just an increase in quantity, but it manifested that the burden for the building within everyone was stirred up. “Everyone was not cooperating passively, but offering actively.”
What was even more touching was that there was almost no competitive atmosphere on site; instead, mutual help and cross-district coordinating could be seen everywhere. Some booths were completed jointly by different caring districts. From brainstorming names, designing products, making posters, to operating on site, creativity and meticulous care were displayed everywhere.
The items sold on-site were rich and diverse, including handmade ice cream, cakes and desserts, freshly made popcorn, watercolor paintings, sunglasses, and various interactive games. The sound of hawking rose and fell in front of the booths, and both adults and children participated passionately.
The serving team stated that everyone’s hard work in running the booths was not for personal gain but out of a hope to fully consecrate all proceeds for the needs of the building.
The Scene of a 95-Year-Old Saint Singing a Hymn on Stage Was Moving
This Good Land Market also specially planned contents for all ages to participate. From children, young people, college students, the Young Working, middle-aged, to the elderly saints, everyone had a part in it.
One of the most moving scenes was an elderly saint of 95 years old joyfully going on stage with everyone to sing a hymn and do the motions.
The serving team stated that this was not merely an event performance, but a testimony of the continuation and transmission of life. “On the same piece of land, seeing different generations coordinate together and rejoice together made people deeply feel the hope and cohesion in the church life.”
The Kaohsiung Youth Blending Center to Become an Important Future Stronghold
The brothers of the church in Kaohsiung further pointed out that the promotion of the Youth Blending Center is actually closely related to the urban development of Kaohsiung.
In recent years, with the promotion of policies such as the Kaohsiung New Town Project and the Southern Semiconductor S-Corridor, areas including Nanzih, Ciaotou, and Renwu have gradually formed technology industry clusters, attracting a large number of young populations and families to move in, and the center of urban development is gradually shifting northward.
The designated site for the Youth Blending Center is right within the living circle of the New Town, close to the Cingpu MRT station. In the future, it will also become an important development stronghold for the church.
It is understood that the future planned Youth Blending Center will adopt a two-story design. The first floor will feature the Young Working brothers’ and sisters’ houses and spaces for small group meetings, accommodating the needs for district and small group meetings as well as youth residence. The second floor will have a large venue, which can be used for large gatherings of the whole church, island-wide blending, and gatherings of a thousand people.
The brothers of the church in Kaohsiung stated that the Youth Blending Center is not just a building; rather, they hope it will become an important place for young people to be perfected and built up, causing more young people to be willing to offer their time, bodies, and material possessions in consecration to the Lord, becoming witnesses of the gospel on campuses, in workplaces, and in families.
“Seeing, Stepping On, and Consecration” — Offering Together
Speaking of the spiritual significance of this market, the serving team summarized that the Good Land Market is like a spiritual picture: Everyone brought their gained “produce of the good land,” offered them together, and shared with one another, all ultimately going to the needs of the building.
“The building is no longer just a slogan, but a reality that everyone can see, touch, and is willing to participate in together,” he said.
The brothers of the church in Kaohsiung stated that the current estimated total building cost of the Youth Blending Center is about 135 million NTD. They hope all the saints can offer together in love to continue promoting the subsequent building project. They hope that in the future, more young people can be gathered and built up because of this land, and that it will also cause the church to continuously be a shining testimony in this generation.
杂草荒地化为美地市集 高雄市召会跨世代同心推动青年相调中心
基督教论坛报 特约记者潘怡心
【特约记者潘怡心/高雄报道】
从一块杂草及膝、遍布坑洞的空地，到聚集近2000人的热闹市集，高雄市召会青年相调中心预定地，近日举办“516美地市集”，吸引众圣徒跨世代一同参与。
负责统筹的总管卢加达弟兄表示，这场市集不仅是一场活动，更是一个让众人“看见、踏上、奉献”的过程，使原本停留在图纸与交通中的异象，成为众人共同投入、实际建造的起点。
卢加达弟兄说明，美地市集的缘起，可追溯至今年二月取得青年相调中心预定地之后。
弟兄们在多次交通中逐渐产生共同感觉：既然主已将这块地赐下，就不应只是停留在规划与想象，而需要让众圣徒亲自来到这地、实际踏上土地。
因此，有弟兄提出举办园游会的想法，希望藉此邀请众人亲自看见地界，对未来建造有更深连结。
“当人真正站在那块地上，看见将来建造的所在，里面自然会有一种‘这与我有关’的感觉。”
随着交通深入，这样的负担逐渐形成“516美地市集”，服事团队分享。
荒地整建困难重重 青年率先起来承担
然而，筹备初期面对的场地状况并不理想。服事团队回忆，刚得标时，现场杂草高度几乎及膝，部分甚至更高，地面凹凸不平，到处是坑洞与高低落差；草丛中还散落破碎玻璃、铁丝及垃圾，存在安全疑虑。
“大家其实都有压力，不知道这样的地方，是否真的能举办活动”，服事团队分享道。
但就在这样的情况下，青年人率先起来承担。从最初锄草、清除垃圾，到两次整地与铺设黑网，众人一步一步将原本难以踏入的荒地，整理成适合聚集与行走的场地。
服事团队表示，这不只是外面环境的改变，更让许多人实际经历“同心合意”的力量。
“许多原本看似困难的事，当大家愿意一起摆上时，就能一点一点被成全。”
摊位由圣徒承担 跨区配搭见证身体生活
在摊位规划方面，原先预计设置22个摊位，其中部分规划对外招商。然而，在4月18日青年大会发出呼召后，圣徒们反应热烈，主动报名参与，最终共有36个摊位全数由各照顾区圣徒自行承担，无须对外招商。
服事团队指出，这样的结果不只是数量增加，更显出众人里面对建造的负担被激发出来，“大家不是被动配合，而是主动摆上。”
更令人感动的是，现场几乎没有竞争氛围，反而处处可见彼此帮忙与跨区配搭。有些摊位由不同照顾区共同完成，从名称发想、商品设计、海报制作到现场经营，处处展现创意与细致用心。
现场贩售内容丰富多元，包括手作冰淇淋、蛋糕甜点、现做爆米花、水彩画、太阳眼镜与各式互动游戏，摊位前叫卖声此起彼落，大人与孩子都热情投入。
服事团队表示，众人努力经营摊位，并非为着个人利益，而是盼望将所有收益全然奉献于建造需要。
95岁圣徒同台唱诗画面令人动容
此次美地市集也特别规划全龄参与内容，从儿童、青少年、大专、青职、中壮年到年长者，人人都有分于其中。
其中最令人动容的画面之一，是高龄95岁的年长圣徒，也喜乐地与众人一同上台唱诗歌、作动作。
服事团队表示，这不只是活动表演，而是一种生命延续与传承的见证。“在同一块地上，看见不同世代一起配搭、一起喜乐，让人很深感受到召会生活中的盼望与凝聚力。”
高雄青年相调中心成未来重要据点
高雄市召会弟兄们进一步指出，青年相调中心的推动，其实也与高雄城市发展息息相关。
近年随着高雄新市镇计划、南部半导体S廊带等政策推动，包括楠梓、桥头、仁武等地逐渐形成科技产业聚落，吸引大量青年人口与家庭移入，城市发展重心也逐渐北移。
而青年相调中心预定地，正位于新市镇生活圈内，邻近捷运青埔站，未来也将成为召会重要发展据点。
据了解，未来规划中的青年相调中心将采二层楼设计，一楼规划青职弟兄姊妹之家及小型聚会空间，因应区、排聚集与青年入住需求；二楼则设置大型会场，可供全召会大型聚会、全台相调与千人聚集使用。
高雄市召会弟兄们表示，青年相调中心不只是建筑物，更盼望成为青年人被成全、被建造的重要场所，使更多青年愿意将时间、身体与财物奉献给主，在校园、职场与家庭中成为福音的见证人。
“看见、踏上、奉献” 一同摆上
谈到此次市集的属灵意义，服事团队总结，美地市集像是一幅属灵图画：众人把各自所得的“美地出产”带来，一同摆上、彼此分享，最终都归给建造的需要。
“建造不再只是口号，而是人人看得见、摸得着，也愿意一同投入的实际”，他说。
高雄市召会弟兄们表示，目前青年相调中心预估总建造经费约1.35亿元，盼望众圣徒能在爱里一同摆上，继续推动后续建造工程。盼望未来能有更多青年人因着这块地被聚集、被建造，也使召会在这世代中，持续成为明亮的见证。
