COME FOLLOW ME

What is Come Follow Me?

NETCA’s annual Come Follow Me or CFM trip is an international outreach and discipleship program that originated in Taiwan for children and youth. Every year about 20 Taiwanese youth and kids apply for a six month training course on how to do Asian Bible Camps mostly in American churches with American children in grades 1-6. However they have also carried out these camps in other countries such as Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

How the Taiwanese Youth are Trained for CFM

In most everyone’s Christian walk we often, unconsciously, ask Jesus to keep coming into our lives to bless and repair our brokenness. However Jesus said, “Come follow me…” to his first few disciples. This is why after the Taiwanese youth are accepted into the CFM program our trainers begin to focus on them following Christ as opposed to leading him. Continuously trying to lead Christ into our secular dreams and plans is a naive or possibly misunderstood response to to what the apostle John writes in his gospel

“ Jesus answered [Peter], I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except throught me. “ John 14:6 NIV

Also Solomon wrote many years earlier:

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 NIV

The next step in training our Taiwanese young ones deals with biblical morality still being a better option than a worldly version of morality. Then comes plain ole discipleship. We tell our team that discipleship is what one leader tries to teach a student from God’s Word. However, we must pray to Jesus alone for purification of our sins and sanctification of our souls.

Alongside the training the Taiwanese youth and kids are also engaging in team building exercises along with practical training on how to run a bible school or summer camp. They are also securing their passports, purchasing their accident insurance policies and raising funds towards their three-week journey to the States in late-July and early-August. All kids and Youth are screened for this program based on their desire to follow Jesus.

What does CFM Hope to Accomplish in the US or Other Countries

Before our CFM team arrives at any church or location in the States or any other country our director, Richard Roberts, who can be reached at northeasttaiwan@gmail.com, will have already pre-met the leadership and made all the arrangements needed months in advance.

Then when our CFM team arrives in the States we rent vans and begin our journey to the three, four or five locations our director has pre-planned. During the three weeks the CFM team will do one or two Asian Bible Camps (ABC) at one or two different churches. (See more about ABC below.)

Additionally, we are often invited to be involved with activities that an American church is doing as well. While our presence for a few days at one location can be a bit much to take on, we find that many of the church’s members see it as an opportunity for them to serve the Lord. They host us, sometimes feed us, and help us with small tasks. We are so often blessed by Christian brothers and sisters at many different churches.

While many American churches have hosted our past eight teams going all the way back to 2009, some of our travels have also taken us to Canada, Alaska, Mexico and Costa Rica where we work together with other nations’ churches in joint ventures to bring the gospel to those who haven’t heard and / or to further disciple our team as well as the local people we visit.

If you would like more information on how your church can host a CFM team from Taiwan please contact our director, Richard Roberts at northeasttaiwan@gmail.com

What is an Asian Bible Camp

An Asian Bible Camp or ABC is a specialized Christian camp that aims to inspire Taiwanese, American and other nations’ children and youth to consider pursuing a life-long calling to become pastors, evangelists, bible teachers and missionaries should God call them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “ Mark 10:14b

An ABC works much like a summer Bible school or church summer camp. Our location is usually inside of a church. We meet for 3 to 4 days usually from 8 or 9am until 3 to 4 pm. The optimum days are Wed through Sat with a grand finale on Sunday morning during the church service. Each camp day starts out with a general assembly with worship and devotion. Then we break into small groups for Q&A while incorporating games, bible and language quizzes, etc. After the Q&A the kids break into four one hour classes and rotate every hour to another class. The classes taught are:

1. Asian Bible & Missions

2. Asian Art & Calligraphy

3. Asian Praise & Worship

4. Asian Games

All kids are given a Chinese name, and each class teaches the Chinese language. There is also games, competitions, and awards. However the underlying theme of everything we do is “following Jesus.” When the American and other nations’ kids finish ABC they will be able to speak a few bible verses in Chinese and sing some worship songs in Chinese. They will also know how to use a calligraphy brush to write their Chinese name, to write Jesus loves you, and God bless you and more.

ABC is one of the greatest opportunities for young children to prepare for local and / or world missions. If you would like more information how your church could host a Come Follow Me team from to do an Asian Bible Camp in your church please contact our director, Richard Roberts at northeasttaiwan@gmail.com