In the contemporary era, pastors may be labeled, exalted, and forced into specific roles. That is indeed a negative social phenomenon because labels are conveniently used to put people into boxes. Pastors may be praised more than they deserve and assigned roles simply because it is easy for others to lock them into these specific roles. While many believers respect their pastors, the most easily overlooked issue is the care for the pastors’ lives and families.
A common phenomenon is when believers share their problems with a pastor and hope that the pastor can pray with them and help to solve the difficulty. However, the pressure, difficulties and pain faced by pastors are often ignored by believers.
On the other hand, the lack of financial support for rural pastors has gradually put additional pressure on them. Because some churches have limited resources and cannot provide adequate support, compensating their pastors has become a serious issue.
I once heard a brother’s testimony that it was hard for him when he went out to teach because the people he taught were poor and he could not force them to give him much pay. Life was so difficult for him that during his wife’s pregnancy he had to pick up rotten vegetable leaves in a vegetable market very early every day. He was unable to put into words how he felt because he was unable to earn enough money to support his wife and children. Later on, when he returned to his local church and shared his experiences and frustrations, the brothers and sisters were in tears. They showed a particular understanding of the hardship in a pastor's ministry. That also inspired each other to show concern for the quality of life of the pastor.
At present, the rural churches ignore the care for pastors because sometimes they don’t understand the hardships and costs that the pastor has to bear. Too often the congregations are rather powerless - although they see the needs of pastors, they can do nothing about it.
This is especially true of rural pastors. If rural pastors have more farmland on which to grow crops, their economic situation will be better; if they have less land, then there will be less income. For ordinary farmers, one acre of land will probably give them an income of about 1000 yuan for a harvest season and ten acres of land will earn them 10,000 yuan. As far as the pastor is concerned, his own environment and conditions also determine the path of his future life. Although it is true that the pastor should live by faith and rely on God, the pastor, on the other hand, also does need the care and help from his congregations according to the needs faced in real life.
In this era, the loss of many rural pastors has gradually become a common phenomenon for various reasons such as the need to support the family, the need for children to go to school, the need to take care of their parents and the elderly and so on. They are forced to leave their service positions. Conditions in some rural churches are poor and the believers are elderly. The elderly rely on state subsidies to support their monthly expenses and there is no extra money to give. Therefore, missionaries have to find another way, or gradually choose to serve part-time, or leave their churches to work in other places. They will then attend churches in the areas where they live.
Sometimes the internal pressure for pastors comes from their family, parents, children, social environment and peers. It's common to neglect the family because of a busy schedule. I heard testimonies of some church co-workers that some pastors did not harvest their farmland first, but went to help believers who had no one to help them at home. After helping them harvest their crops they then returned to their own land to harvest their crops. This helps us see that the pastors have much more to do - not only do they need to prepare sermons and teach in the church, they also care for the life of their believers. However, pastors place pressure on themselves and their strong feelings can pastor's they keep to themselves or only tell to God.
As a rural pastor myself I also have great internal pressure and difficulties. When I see some colleagues around me looking for jobs and gradually leaving their positions, I sometimes also want to find a job suitable for me. I want to find a paying job and serve in my church at the same time. In fact, some of my co-workers have given birth to several sons and they will have a heavy burden in the future, so they have left to find employment elsewhere. Some have aged parents at home and their families have financial difficulties due to illness. Some don’t get sufficient income from their churches. They need to buy houses so they go out to work. Some go to work in factories, some perform wedding ceremonies, and some work as salesmen.
Who will care for pastors? Who will listen to the voices of pastors? Who will understand a pastor's life? When the pastor’s life and family face difficulties, who will take care of them? But we know that God will never forget, as it is written, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah - 49:15)
Nowadays, the times are gradually changing and life is full of various challenges. Although the pastor's position sounds very nice, he has to bear the cost, suffer hardships and sacrifice more. While serving, they let go of their own affairs, give up their own plans, and sacrifice quality time with spouses, parents, and children. They put their hearts and souls into their service, although they sometimes encounter a lack of comprehension, ridicule and criticism. Even so, they still learn to be patient and grateful. This is the life of a pastor.
There are many paths in life, both narrow and wide. We are convinced that the path taken by the pastor must be narrow because the narrow path leads to God and is full of hope. However, this narrow path will also be full of many difficulties, stumbling blocks, misunderstanding and being despised. Fortunately, God is there for the journey.
- Translated by Charlie Li
传道人在当下这个时代逐渐被标签化、抬高化、角色化等，这实则是一种不好的现象，因为标签容易辖制人，抬高容易吹捧人，角色容易牢笼人。很多信徒在尊敬传道人的同时，最容易忽略的就是对于传道人生活上以及家庭的关心。
我们最常看到的现象就是：信徒有什么困难都会和传道人/牧者分享，希望传道人帮忙去祷告，去解决；但传道人面对的压力、困难和痛苦，却往往会被信徒忽略。
还有一方面就是农村传道人在经济上的缺乏得不到供应，这逐渐成为传道人面对现实生活的压力，因为一些教会能力有限、经济有限、资源有限，所以在给传道人经济的补助上成为一个焦点问题。
笔者曾听一个弟兄分享，他谈到以前外出宣教时日子是比较苦的，因为那里的人并不富有，也不能强迫别人给与奉献，所以他妻子怀孕期间，自己要早早地去菜市场捡烂菜叶子，经济条件有限导致他对妻子和孩子的亏欠是无以言表的。后来回到本地教会，他分享自己的经历和坎坷，教会的弟兄姊妹都以泪洗面，特别理解一个传道人的宣教艰难，也激发了教会弟兄姐妹对传道人的生活有了关怀。
当下的农村教会对于传道人的关怀是有所忽略的，因为有时候不明白传道人的艰难，不理解传道人要付的代价，也有太多时候是有心无力，虽然看到传道人的需要，但自己没有能力帮补。
这些现象其实都很现实，如果农村的传道人家里田地多一点，那么自己的经济情况会好一些；如果家里的田地比较少，经济就会相对紧张一些。当然在这里也要说一下，田地多意味着收入会多，田地少意味着收入会少（普通种植户：一个收获季节一亩地大概收入1000元左右，那么十亩地就是收入10000元）。对于传道人而言，自身的环境和条件也决定以后的生活道路，当然话说回来，传道人要凭信心生活，依靠神，神会大大赐福，这话是不错的，但传道人要根据现实生活，也更需要弟兄姊妹的关怀和帮助。
在这个时代很多农村传道人的流失逐渐成为了一种教会现象，因为各方面的原因，例如需要养家糊口、需要供儿女上学、需要照顾家庭父母老人等等，多少时候是迫于无奈不得不离开服事的岗位。有些农村教会本来条件差，信徒都是些老年人，而这些老年人都是靠国家的补助来支持每个月的开销，根本没有多余的钱来奉献，所以说传道人另谋它路成为了一种选择，或者逐渐选择半职服侍，或者离开所属教会去到外地打工，在外地有时间再参加礼拜。
传道人有时候内心的压力是随着家庭、父母、儿女、自身环境、社会大环境、同辈光景形成的。因着忙于服侍对家里忽略也是常有的事，笔者听到教会同工分享，一些传道人在农忙的时候，没有先收成自己地里的庄稼，而是去帮助一些家里没有劳动力的信徒，先帮他们收成庄稼，后来才回自己的地收庄稼。这就让我们看到传道人要做的更多，不仅仅去到讲台上讲道，而且还需要切实地关怀信徒的生活。但传道人自己的压力和辛酸，只有放在心里，告诉神。
笔者作为农村传道人，心里也有万分的压力和艰难，当看到身边的一些同工参与工作，逐渐离开侍奉岗位的时候，心里有时也会想去找一个适合自己的工作，一边工作，一边服侍。其实身边的一些同工，有的家里生了几个儿子，将来负担大，所以出去打工了；也有的是家里有年迈的父母，因患病导致家庭经经济困难；还有一些是教会的供应不够，自己需要买房子购置产业，所以出去工作了。有的去工厂上班，有的去当婚礼司仪，也有的去干推销员了。
试问，谁来关怀教会的传道人？谁来听一听传道人的心声？谁来问候一下传道人的生活？当传道人生活、家庭、人生、面对艰难时，谁来关怀一下？但我们深知神总不会忘记，如经上所记：“妇人焉能忘记她吃奶的婴孩，不怜恤她所生的儿子？即或有忘记的，我却不忘记你。”
如今的时代逐渐发生变化，生活充满各式各样的挑战。虽然传道人的称呼很好听，但要付的代价、要吃得苦、要牺牲的是更多的。他们在服侍的同时放下了自己的事情，放弃了自己的计划，牺牲了家庭团聚的时间，或者说陪伴父母、教导以及陪伴儿女的时间。把全身心都投入到侍奉岗位上，虽然有时会遭遇不理解、嘲笑、批评，但仍然去学习忍耐、感恩。这是传道人的生活，这也是传道人的人生。
结语：
人生中有很多条道路，有窄的、有宽的，我们深信传道人所走的路必然是窄路，因为窄路是通往神那里，是充满盼望的。但是，这条窄路也会充满了很多艰难、绊脚石，不被理解、被轻视等，但还好这一路有神的同行。
一位基层传道人的心声：传道人心灵和经济上的缺乏，谁来关怀？
In the contemporary era, pastors may be labeled, exalted, and forced into specific roles. That is indeed a negative social phenomenon because labels are conveniently used to put people into boxes. Pastors may be praised more than they deserve and assigned roles simply because it is easy for others to lock them into these specific roles. While many believers respect their pastors, the most easily overlooked issue is the care for the pastors’ lives and families.
A common phenomenon is when believers share their problems with a pastor and hope that the pastor can pray with them and help to solve the difficulty. However, the pressure, difficulties and pain faced by pastors are often ignored by believers.
On the other hand, the lack of financial support for rural pastors has gradually put additional pressure on them. Because some churches have limited resources and cannot provide adequate support, compensating their pastors has become a serious issue.
I once heard a brother’s testimony that it was hard for him when he went out to teach because the people he taught were poor and he could not force them to give him much pay. Life was so difficult for him that during his wife’s pregnancy he had to pick up rotten vegetable leaves in a vegetable market very early every day. He was unable to put into words how he felt because he was unable to earn enough money to support his wife and children. Later on, when he returned to his local church and shared his experiences and frustrations, the brothers and sisters were in tears. They showed a particular understanding of the hardship in a pastor's ministry. That also inspired each other to show concern for the quality of life of the pastor.
At present, the rural churches ignore the care for pastors because sometimes they don’t understand the hardships and costs that the pastor has to bear. Too often the congregations are rather powerless - although they see the needs of pastors, they can do nothing about it.
This is especially true of rural pastors. If rural pastors have more farmland on which to grow crops, their economic situation will be better; if they have less land, then there will be less income. For ordinary farmers, one acre of land will probably give them an income of about 1000 yuan for a harvest season and ten acres of land will earn them 10,000 yuan. As far as the pastor is concerned, his own environment and conditions also determine the path of his future life. Although it is true that the pastor should live by faith and rely on God, the pastor, on the other hand, also does need the care and help from his congregations according to the needs faced in real life.
In this era, the loss of many rural pastors has gradually become a common phenomenon for various reasons such as the need to support the family, the need for children to go to school, the need to take care of their parents and the elderly and so on. They are forced to leave their service positions. Conditions in some rural churches are poor and the believers are elderly. The elderly rely on state subsidies to support their monthly expenses and there is no extra money to give. Therefore, missionaries have to find another way, or gradually choose to serve part-time, or leave their churches to work in other places. They will then attend churches in the areas where they live.
Sometimes the internal pressure for pastors comes from their family, parents, children, social environment and peers. It's common to neglect the family because of a busy schedule. I heard testimonies of some church co-workers that some pastors did not harvest their farmland first, but went to help believers who had no one to help them at home. After helping them harvest their crops they then returned to their own land to harvest their crops. This helps us see that the pastors have much more to do - not only do they need to prepare sermons and teach in the church, they also care for the life of their believers. However, pastors place pressure on themselves and their strong feelings can pastor's they keep to themselves or only tell to God.
As a rural pastor myself I also have great internal pressure and difficulties. When I see some colleagues around me looking for jobs and gradually leaving their positions, I sometimes also want to find a job suitable for me. I want to find a paying job and serve in my church at the same time. In fact, some of my co-workers have given birth to several sons and they will have a heavy burden in the future, so they have left to find employment elsewhere. Some have aged parents at home and their families have financial difficulties due to illness. Some don’t get sufficient income from their churches. They need to buy houses so they go out to work. Some go to work in factories, some perform wedding ceremonies, and some work as salesmen.
Who will care for pastors? Who will listen to the voices of pastors? Who will understand a pastor's life? When the pastor’s life and family face difficulties, who will take care of them? But we know that God will never forget, as it is written, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah - 49:15)
Nowadays, the times are gradually changing and life is full of various challenges. Although the pastor's position sounds very nice, he has to bear the cost, suffer hardships and sacrifice more. While serving, they let go of their own affairs, give up their own plans, and sacrifice quality time with spouses, parents, and children. They put their hearts and souls into their service, although they sometimes encounter a lack of comprehension, ridicule and criticism. Even so, they still learn to be patient and grateful. This is the life of a pastor.
There are many paths in life, both narrow and wide. We are convinced that the path taken by the pastor must be narrow because the narrow path leads to God and is full of hope. However, this narrow path will also be full of many difficulties, stumbling blocks, misunderstanding and being despised. Fortunately, God is there for the journey.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Voice of Grass-Roots Pastor: Who Cares for Spiritual, Financial Needs of Pastors?
