張仁濟教授

宣教士、作家、教育學博士

採訪：樓鎧博士

張博士，我認識您已經有廿餘年了，我喜歡把您介紹給O.K.的讀者們，您可以照您的意思把自己講來聽聽？

我是生長在中國農村。在村內唸完小學四年級，就轉到縣城就讀。在六年級時轉到一教會設立的學校，在那裏看到全校以基督救主為中心，我因感動，接受耶穌為我救主，受洗做祂的門徒。一直追隨祂。

您如何跟隨祂呢？

在我的生平中，總覺得有祂的引領。祂很奇妙，一步一步地帶領我。在美國研究的五年中，經過一些不同的情況，但是靠著祂，安然渡過。有一次，和一研究院院長會談，希望到那裏讀書。在談話快完時，他便說：「假使我們收你做研究生，你怎樣擔負你的費用呢？」「我靠信心。」

「你真要有個大的信心。」

「是的，我是全靠信心。」

我知道您一度曾在美國做宣道士，那可是真的？

是的，在美國讀書告一段落後，第一次的工作是在美國印第安土人的一個教會，擔任宣教士。那時相幫打破種族的歧視不少。後來，大部份的年歲，是在大學教書。我認為這都是為主作工。遇到有機會證道時，都不放棄。

您在讀研究院的時間，作了不少國民外交呢？

是的，有一年，各教會的國外佈道期的題目是「中國」。那時，我是一中國學生，各教會紛紛約我去講述中國教會的情況，在一個月裏有十多次。有一同學看到這種情形，他便說：「要是我的話，我就預先寫好二、三篇講稿，到時唸唸好了，」我答道：「謝謝你的建議。這樣，我覺得沒有生氣，我要說的大致相同。但看聽眾是全體會眾，或婦女會，或男仕…。我就多少提出幾點。特別對他（她）們有興趣的。我儘量用簡單的英語。」

有一次，我乘一灰狗巴士到達目的地，當地的牧師已經在那兒等候我。他接了我，並沒有坐汽車去他的教會聚會的地方。在路上，我們一邊走，一邊談，到開會時，才知道，他是利用這個機會認識我，向會眾做介紹。

會後，他又要和我步行到汽車站，我請辭不得，他要藉此告訴我，他在會上聽我講得清楚，比早上接我在路上互談時好得多。

我回答他，「我們見面，談話時，我一面要回答我的意義，一面要照顧我的英語，有時雙方不能銜接了。在我對會眾講時，我是有預備好的。講時，注意聽眾的表情，一有疑難時，我就改用話詞說出。這樣，比較達意了。」

有一次週末，有一初中校長約我到他家，他安排讓我在附近鄉村教堂領禮拜天的晚禮拜，

我在另一次領了早禮拜後，我的主人告訴我，教會的晚禮拜，請了一位外國學生來講，我們一同去參加吧。到時，那位講員遲遲不來，他們就叫我臨時客串，我就擔任全時的講員。

回家後，主人問我：「你臨時被邀，怎麼講得有條有理呢？」我說：「我出門之先，預備幾篇不同的講詞，萬一被叫到，應用起來，有備而無患。」

好主意，隨時要心有成竹，此外在您作宣教士的日子，您還有什麼經驗？

當我擔任宣教士時，有一位幾次受傷退役的空軍，與我很談得來，他有時覺得奇怪：「你這宣教士，怎樣知道我們軍人的情形呢？」我告訴他：「我在學校裏，也讀過一些社會工作的課珵，所以知道一些有關傷兵的事。」我還把書架上大學的教科書指給他看。

在我們工作時，由當地政府指定時間到各公立學校教授宗教，我有許多機會傳揚耶穌基督的福音。

張博士，美國鄉村的印第安人是否讓您聯想到中國鄉村的同胞？您提到您在中國一個農村出生，那兒是您的出生地？

我出生地是中國江蘇省泰縣。

您是在那兒受的高等教育？

我在杭州浙江大學二年（中有兩年就業）；後在上海滬江大學主修社會學得文學士；又在北平燕京大學研究一年；後在美國北卡羅來納州州立大學研究獲有哥倫比亞神學院文碩士；密西西比南方大學文碩士；杜標克大學神學院道碩士及神碩士；及北塔科達州立大學教育學博士。

您真是學廣聞的讀書人，又有七個學位來證明，那麼您的教學經驗一定也很豐富了？

我曾為海南書院教師；克萊芬學院教授；特是開大學副教授；佛州紀念學院教授，在我教書的經驗中，我最寶貴在南塔科達州松脊印第安特區長老會作宣教士，分別在各公立學校教授宗教教育課程。

喔！對了，您還是一個作家，您寫了幾本書？

我的著作有：（1）中國抗戰前的農村學校與社會（英文版）；（2）彷彿是新歌；（3）古城集；（4）主僕在中國；（5）還與陳天予合譯「學習作王」。

張博士，您的成就實在可觀！我知道您曾獲美國社會學會的院士。

是的，我於一九六三年接受美國社會學學會院士。

取得院士的資格須具博士學位，並在社會學有特殊貢獻者，張博士，真是恭喜您了！您是一個聖經學者，且告訴我們，那些經句是您所喜愛的？

好！讓我把我喜歡的聖經經文與大家一同分享如下：

「只讓信祂所說的必成，就給祂成了。所以我告訴你們，凡你們禱告祈求的，無論是什麼，只要信是得著的，就必得著。」（馬可福音 11:23-24）

「同有一個心志，站立得穩，為所信的福音齊心努力。凡事不怕敵人的驚嚇。你們得救，都是出於上帝。」（腓立比書 1：27-28）

「凡等候耶和華，心裏尋求祂的，耶和華必施恩給他。」（耶利米哀歌 3：25）

「忘記背後努力前面的，向著標竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶穌裏面從上面召我來得的獎賞。」（腓立比書 3：13-14）

Jen Chi Chang, Ed. D.

Professor of Education,

Missionary and Author

Interview by Dr. Micah Leo

Dr. Chang, I’ve known you for more than twenty years. I would like to introduce you to our O.K. readers. Would you tell us about yourself?

I was born and reared in a village in rural China. The local school had only one room and four grades. I attend fifth grade in a county school as a boarder. In the sixth grade, I was transferred to a mission school. There, I noticed a different atmosphere; Christ was the center of the whole school. I was converted. I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was baptized. I became His follower and have followed Him ever since then.

How do you follow Him?

I always sense His leading and guidance. It’s wonderful that He is with me all the time.

In America, I had five years of graduate study. During that period, there were various situations in which I had to depend on Him.

One time, for example, I had an interview with the dean of a graduate school. At its conclusion, just before I got up to leave, the dean asked, “If we accept you as a student, how would you finance your studies?”

“I depend upon my faith.” I answered.

“You must have a big faith.”

“Yes, Sir, I am wholly dependent upon my faith in God.”

I understand that you were once a missionary here in the States. Is that true?

Yes, I was a missionary on an Indian reservation. That was my first full-time job. I followed Jesus’ footsteps to reach soul for His kingdom. As a result, I had lots of opportunities to break down racial prejudices. After that, I spent many years teaching college. Everywhere I went, I took opportunities to witness for the Lord.

You did some diplomatic work when you were in graduate school, right?

Yes. One year the theme of Foreign Missions was “China”. I was the only Chinese there, so I was asked to speak to different churches nearly twenty times a month. This was in addition to my regular graduate study. One of my fellow students, noticing my heavy schedule, took pity on me and said, “If I were you, I would write a few speeches in advance and read them to the audience.” I thanked him for his suggestion, but I felt that if I used the same speech all the time. It would be rather lifeless. Of course, my main points were always more or less the same; however, I did try to include special topics which I thought would be of interest to each particular group of men, women, or children, or to a mixed audience.

One time I traveled by greyhound bus to a speaking engagement at a church. The host pastor was waiting for me at the bus depot when I arrived. We walked, rather than drove, to the church. On the way, he tried to learn something of my background, since he was to introduce me at the meeting.

After it was over, he insisted on walking me back to the depot. He told me, as we walked, that he had had some difficulty understanding me in the morning, but he had understood me fairly well at the meeting.

I told him that we were strangers when we had first met. When I tried to explain my thoughts in English, sometimes I got mixed-up and was hard to understand. At the meeting, however, I had already prepared my speech and kept in mind to use simple English. When I noticed someone in the audience who did not understand me, I changed my wording to bring out my point.

On one weekend, I was invited by a junior high school principal to spend a few days at his home. He made arrangements for me to speak at a nearby church at their Sunday evening service.

Another Sunday, I was asked to preach at a morning service. My host invited me to go to the evening service with him and his family. A foreign student was to be the speaker, but when the service started, he had not yet shown up. The pastor asked to say a few words while we waited. I ended up speaking for the entire period, because the speaker did not appear at all. After we returned home, my host said, “you did so well this evening with only a moment’s notice.” Usually when I go out, I have a few notes prepared for an unexpected call. That was one of them, so I used them. Always be prepared.

A very good idea: be prepared at all times. What other experience did you have as a missionary?

There was a wounded veteran who was good to me. He visited me often when I was a missionary there. Once he was rather surprised that I knew something about veterans’ affairs. I told him that my studies in social work had included some veterans’ affairs. I pointed to some books on my bookshelf, which were still there for reference.

The federal government had an agent acting as the local government on the Indian reservation. There was a rule to assign periods of missionaries to go to public schools to conduct religious education classes. I had many opportunities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Chang, did the rural American Indians remind you of rural Chinese? You mentioned that you were born in a rural village. Where is your birthplace?

My native town is Taihsien in Kiangsu, China.

Where did you receive your higher education?

I studied at Hanchow Christian University from 1924 to 1928; the University of Shanghai from 1928 to 1930, where I received a B.A. in sociology; at Yenching University for two semesters in 1934; the University of North Carolina from 1946 to 1947;Columbia Theological Seminary from 1947 to 1948, where I received an M. A. in Biblical education; the University of southern Mississippi from 1948 to 1949, where I received an M.A. in school administration and supervision; the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary from 1949 to 1950, where I received B.Th. and M.Div. degrees and an M.Th. in rural church and life work; and the university of North Dakota from 1950 to 1951, where I received my D.Ed., after majoring in educational administration with a first minor in social work and a second minor in religious education.

You surely are well-educated with seven degrees! What were your teaching experiences?

I was an instructor at Highland Institution from 1953 to 1954, a professor of education at Claflin College from 1954 to 1959, an associated professor of education at Tuskegee Institute from 1959 to 1961, and a professor of education at Florida Memorial College from 1961 to 1971. Among my years teaching, I treasured my missionary work at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Mission in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, most of all.

Oh, yes, you are an author too. How many books have you written?

I authored the following books: Pre-Communists China’s rural School and Community, As It Were a New Song, The Ancient City, and Lord’s Servants in China. Also Daniel Chen and I translated the book Live Like a King.

Dr. Change, your achievements are fabulous indeed. I know that you were honored as a fellow in the American Sociological Association.

Yes, in January 1963, I became a fellow of the American Sociological Association.

To receive that honor, one must have a doctorate and make some notable contribution to the sociological field. Congratulations, Dr. Chang!

You’re a man of the Bible. Would you tell us what your favorite verses are?

Ok. I’d like to share the following Bible verses:

….but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:23-24

….that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved and that by God.

Philippians 1:27-28

The Lord is good to those hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

….Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14