Why?
This site was born as a result of a search we conducted when seeking a Senior Pastor position. We determined that some of the resources we used in our search would benefit others if they could be consolidated into one site. The number of hits we’ve experienced from such searches has increased weekly, and we’re continuing to develop our collection of resources to help those who are looking for pastor positions. As the site develops we plan to also provide for churches that are searching for a pastor.
About the Logo
The symbol you see in the header is indeed Chinese. During my first trip to China I worked with a translator to determine the Chinese characters for “Teaching the Words of Life”. There were several choices for translating “life”, and we had to determine the Chinese concept closest to my Christian definition of Life (Zoe). Once we had settled on the correct translation he took me to an engraver’s shop, where the chop was engraved by hand. The result is depicted in this image.
The Chinese use chops as signatures on documents, contracts, artwork, etc. A sentence frequently heard in the everyday life of a Chinese is, “Please sign your name and put your chop on it.” You need your name chop to withdraw money from the bank, to pick up a registered letter from the post office, to legalize a contract, and to acknowledge receipt of official documents. In China, from ancient times to the present, from official government business to private affairs, no matter how important or trivial, your chop affixes your credit and your promise. After signing your name, your chop is still required for a document to be legally binding. Name chops are also the constant companions of Chinese calligraphers and painters. Artists follow the custom of stamping their works with their name chops to “sign” them and as proof of authenticity. Despite its small size, the chop plays an extremely important role in the life of a Chinese.
Through the technique of carving, name chops combine the beauty of written Chinese characters and line drawing. A name chop produces virtually the same image of the same characters or figures no matter how many times it is used, and so can be considered a forerunner of one of the great inventions of the Chinese–printing.