Starting in February, Beijing's Chongwenmen Church has served its congregation through a pastoral helpline.
A large number of calls have been answered by the pastor on duty for intercessory prayers and pouring out of hearts.
Although the church launched online video services and devotional messages after the Covid-19 outbreak in late January, it opened a helpline for believers as the flock was accustomed to talking with pastors during ordinary times.
Because there are many prayer requests stemming from negative emotions stemming from long periods of isolation at home, the new line aims at helping Christians face daily life.
"We hope to accompany brothers and sisters so they know with certainty that pastors are present all of the time," said Rev. Liu Cuimin, the church's senior pastor.
After consoling and encouraging believers through the helpline, the pastor on call also informs other co-workers so they can pray together.
The callers ask for prayers for the safety of their family members who have returned to work, where they can find a fellowship to pray with one another, or they ask questions about how to donate funds for affected areas, or what time onsite services will resume, or about baptism.
Hearing the familiar voices of their pastors, many believers feel warmth and happiness.
Apart from responding to these calls, the on-call pastor also reaches a hand out to other members who have lost jobs during the coronavirus crisis, looking for job opportunities for them.
A call from an elderly Christian in poor health was living in the epicenter of Wuhan indicated that he was quite anxious as he was alone without any child nearby. The pastor prayed for him and answered his faith questions. He was relieved.
One Sunday, Rev. Liu preached about how to get rid of anxiety in all aspects of people's life. Afterward, a few members shared their anxieties by calling the help line, including one who indicated that he was suffering from depression. The pastor prayed for them and recommended books on anxiety and depression to them.
- Translated by Karen Luo
北京一教堂设教牧热线接听信徒来电 疫期代祷及倾诉需求凸显
自2月份开始，北京基督教会崇文门堂开启了教牧热线，由值班牧者接听。
自开通以来，该堂接到了来自全国各地信徒的来电，代祷及倾诉需求凸显。
在疫情期间，崇文门堂做了一些网络牧养安排，通过录播的方式进行主日崇拜、周间各小组在微信群里分享神的话语、微信公众号每日发布各样灵修信息。
虽则如此，考虑到弟兄姊妹们平时习惯去找传道人面对面交流，请求代祷，而疫情期间无法出门，于是开通了教牧热线，方便信徒随时与牧者联系。
长时间居家，信徒可能会焦虑、担心、害怕，或者有什么事项需要祷告帮助，该堂希望通过教牧热线为信徒祷告，与他们一起面对疫情期间每一天的生活。
“主要是希望用这种方式陪伴弟兄姊妹，让他们知道牧者随时都在，让他们心里有底。
当然神一直与每个信徒同在，神也借着牧者陪伴他们，”柳牧师说。
该堂在每次主日证道之后都会报告这个教牧热线，报告之后一般会有比较多人打来电话。
接到代祷请求，给予安慰、劝勉之后，值班牧者也会告知同工一起代祷。
拨打热线的信徒中，有的是请求为家人复工出行安全祷告；有的是想找团契，参与一起祷告；有的是咨询如何为疫区奉献、何时恢复实地聚会，以及受洗相关事宜等。
很多弟兄姊妹听到牧者熟悉的声音，感到很亲切，很高兴。
有的信徒工作受到影响，在代祷之余，值班牧者也要来他们的简历，帮助他们留意工作机会。
自从该堂教牧热线开通之后，收到来自各地的基督徒的来电。
有一位武汉疫区的老人打来电话，分享了自己身体不太好，子女也不在身边，心里特别紧张。
值班牧者在电话里为他祷告，并解答了他提出的信仰问题。
这位老人听后很释放。
一次主日证道中，柳牧师讲到了人们生活中被各种忧虑所困扰，以及如何靠着主卸掉忧虑。
之后有弟兄姊妹来电说到自己的忧虑，也有人来电说到自己有忧郁症。
值班牧者为他们祷告，并给他们推荐了书籍《应对焦虑》与《我战胜了抑郁症》，希望能以此方式帮助到有需要的人们。
Starting in February, Beijing's Chongwenmen Church has served its congregation through a pastoral helpline.
A large number of calls have been answered by the pastor on duty for intercessory prayers and pouring out of hearts.
Although the church launched online video services and devotional messages after the Covid-19 outbreak in late January, it opened a helpline for believers as the flock was accustomed to talking with pastors during ordinary times.
Because there are many prayer requests stemming from negative emotions stemming from long periods of isolation at home, the new line aims at helping Christians face daily life.
"We hope to accompany brothers and sisters so they know with certainty that pastors are present all of the time," said Rev. Liu Cuimin, the church's senior pastor.
After consoling and encouraging believers through the helpline, the pastor on call also informs other co-workers so they can pray together.
The callers ask for prayers for the safety of their family members who have returned to work, where they can find a fellowship to pray with one another, or they ask questions about how to donate funds for affected areas, or what time onsite services will resume, or about baptism.
Hearing the familiar voices of their pastors, many believers feel warmth and happiness.
Apart from responding to these calls, the on-call pastor also reaches a hand out to other members who have lost jobs during the coronavirus crisis, looking for job opportunities for them.
A call from an elderly Christian in poor health was living in the epicenter of Wuhan indicated that he was quite anxious as he was alone without any child nearby. The pastor prayed for him and answered his faith questions. He was relieved.
One Sunday, Rev. Liu preached about how to get rid of anxiety in all aspects of people's life. Afterward, a few members shared their anxieties by calling the help line, including one who indicated that he was suffering from depression. The pastor prayed for them and recommended books on anxiety and depression to them.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Beijing Church Opens Helpline for Members: An Upsurge for Prayers, Talks
