Lecture Notes on Pastor Kong's Interview

Introduction

• Pastor Kong sits down for an interview with Peter.
• The conversation includes personal reflections, ministry experiences, and lessons learned.

Pastor Kong's Transformation

Early Ministry and Challenges

• Initially described as intense, goal-oriented, impatient, and unforgiving.
• Led a mega-church, City Harvest Church, which was the 9th largest in the world with 30,000 members, and 60,000 when counting satellite churches.
• Experienced significant stress and a lack of personal happiness.

Personal Struggles and Reflections

• Described past anger issues, snapping at people, perfectionism, and lack of self-control.
• Learned about the importance of self-awareness, slowing down, and the dangers of momentum without self-control.
• Encountered a pivotal moment where Jesus's teaching on gentleness and humility reshaped his approach.

Crisis and Legal Battles

Legal and Personal Struggle

• Experienced legal challenges that led to imprisonment for a period.
• Described the experience as a period of soul searching and wrestling with God.

Lessons from Imprisonment

• Emphasized understanding theology, maximizing time, and personal transformation.
• Learned about humility through humiliation.
• Experienced a deeper relationship with Jesus and learned to value union with God over ministry success.

Life After Imprisonment

Changes in Lifestyle and Ministry Approach

• Adopted silence, solitude, and a life free from anger, constant forgiveness, and patience.
• Stresses less, prays more, and embraces moments over momentum.
• Practices detachment from worldly attachments, including ministry success and personal possessions.

Personal Experiment

• Working towards reviving the church with minimal personal involvement and focusing more on God.
• Seeks to achieve church growth and revival without being overly busy or intense.

Impact and Reflections on Taiwan

Ministry in Taiwan

• Started by a divine call to usher in revival among Taiwanese youth.
• Played a significant role in Taiwan's spiritual movement and the crossover project.

Challenges of the Crossover Project

• Faced criticisms from both the church and the entertainment industry.
• Would have approached the project with more reflection and less momentum-driven decisions.

Final Thoughts and Prayer

Personal Reflections

• Stresses the importance of living in the present, letting go of attachments, and allowing God to lead.
• Finds happiness in serving without an overwhelming attachment to ministry success.

Prayer for the Conference

• Prays for the hope conference and the participants.
• Emphasizes marinating in God's love and becoming more like Jesus.
• Encourages those weary and burnt out to learn from Jesus about gentleness and rest.

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These notes summarize key points and reflections from Pastor Kong's interview, capturing his personal journey, lessons learned, and spiritual insights.