I) A Recollection of the Tyndale Research on GSCCC Ministry
In early year 2022, the now late Rev. Dr. Tim Tang, on behalf of Tyndale Seminary in Toronto invited our church to participate in their joint research project with other recognized Canadian seminaries included Ambrose University and Trinity Western University, on the focus of “Flourishing Congregations in Canada”.
Our pastoral staff and laity were widely interviewed. Their research staff visited and observed in person all our church regular services, major functions, and special events. They carried out research enquires, surveys, as well as individual and group interactive studies over the course of almost a whole year.
The research encompassed three main dimensions to look into the ministries and life of the GSCCC. They were: a) organizational ethos — self identity, leadership, innovation, structure, and process; b) internal factors – discipleship, hospitable community, engaged laity, and diversity; and c) outward variables – evangelism, neighborhood involvement, and partnership”.
Three videos were made in year 2024 by the Tyndale research team of our congregants of different generations, genders, and subcultures. They were interviewed to recollect about the spiritual formations and disciplines in their individual spiritual journeys with our church. (Refer to the following Section III)
In Summer of year 2025, we were notified by Dr. Mark Chapman of Tyndale research team, that the final report of their research, had been published in final under the name of “The Stories Congregations Tell, Flourishing in the Face of Transition and Change” edited by Joel Thiessen, Arch Chee Keen Wong and Mark Chapman (Eugene, Oregon: Wipe and Stock, 2024). (Refer the following Section III)
Their research findings of our church ministry and community life are concluded in final, and put under Chapter 6: Resonant Relationship: Spiritual Formation as a Congregational Focus, of the book. In the chapter, our church is given a pseudonymous name, “Still Waters”. “Still Waters” is a.k.a. the Good Shepherd’s Chinese Christian Church
(基督善牧堂), North York, Toronto.
II) Our Responses to the Tyndale Research Findings
From the very start, it was truly a humbling experience to us as individuals and as a church to be interviewed and investigated in-depth by the Tyndale Seminary, a recognized outsider of the church. The pastoral staff, lay leaders, church board members, and church members were intensively interviewed. Their research staff in-person visited and observed in details most of our church ministries and faith community life.
At completion of their on-site field research with us, Andrea Chang on behalf of the Tyndale research team concluded that our church has been found consistently committing to the biblical “contemplative practices of spirituality” in our ministry and teaching. We gratefully accepted their concluding description on our church. In fact, it echoes with what the church has always been envisioned and been journeying throughout since her inauguration for the past 26 years as documented officially in our “Church Faith Journey”.
In this summer, it was more humbling to read the publication of the research findings on our church ministry focus, in the book namely, The Stories Congregations Tell, Flourishing in the Face of Transition and Change. Through the lens of the Tyndale research team, GSCCC’s ministries and community life are articulated in terms of “Resonant Relationship with God and with Others” and so forth. And our church is led to foster “Moved, Response, Transformed and Uncontrollability” of our church life and growth in the presence of God.
The whole research process participated and the research findings become fresh spiritual inspirations that prompt and renew our reflections and rediscoveries on the faith journey of the church. We are amazed how deep the grace and how real the providence of our Lord Jesus are present with us in all these years.
Shall we truthfully continue to be: abidingly enabled by our Lord Jesus (John 15:5); willingly controlled by His redeeming love on the Cross (2 Corinthian 5: 13-14); and faithfully following to glorify Jesus Christ (Mark 8:34, I Peter 2:21) in the days to come. Shall our church be with other Christian churches altogether “at His back” (Exodus 33:23), be evermore inspired, fixing our eyes on the uncharted Divine glory, and following the Lord Jesus in “the face of transition and change”. Amen in the name of Christ Jesus.
III) Related Tyndale Research Videos and Publications
1) Resonant Relationships and Contemplative Spiritual Disciplines as a Congregational Focus (Dr. Mark Chapman, May 2023) 
Dr. Mark Chapman shares his findings about Good Shepherd’s Chinese Christian Church (GSCCC). This was recorded at the “The Stories We Tell” event held at TWU on May 9, 2023.
2) Contemplative Spiritual Disciplines (Rev. Andrea Chang, June 2023) 
3) Spiritual Growth through Spiritual Exercises with God 
(Kelvin Lo, church member, March 2024)
4) Transformation through Spiritual Exercises with God
(Jenny Leung-Lu, church member, March 2024)
5) Contemplative Spiritual Disciplines at GSCCC 
(Sophia Chan-Szeto, church member, April 2024)
6) Thiessen, Joe, Wong, Arch Chee Keen, and Chapman, Mark D. edited, The Stories Congregations Tell, Flourishing in the Face of Transition and Change. Oregon: WIFF and Stock, 2024.
(Written in Summer 2025)