As More Churches are Closed Again, Pastor Underlines Importance of Online Ministries and Cell Groups

春节日益临近，国内多地陆续出现疫情再度来袭的现象，包括河北石家庄藁城、黑龙江绥化市望奎县惠七镇等地成为高风险地区，除此之外还有中风险地区约70个。

年关前疫情再度爆发，让不少渴望回家的人不得不谨慎面对。

多地教会也根据实地情况做出应对，有的取消实地改为线上，也有的将大聚会改为小组等方式。

华东一位L牧师介绍说，因为现在的疫情形势，他们教会已经决定取消实地改为线上了。

谈及去年一年疫情对教会的影响，他说到的确有的教会因为疫情面对人数减少等现实情况，但他也接触到一些教会反而在疫情中经历了兴旺，他观察到这些教会比较强调小组牧养，强调信仰和生活结合，强调内在生活等。

面对当下疫情造成的实地聚会不得不取消的困境，他再度强调了网络和小组牧养的重要性。

As Spring Festival approaches, which is the largest annual human migration in the world, China is seeing a resurgence of coronavirus in several places, including Gaocheng District in Hebei and Wangkui County in Heilongjiang. Both have been upgraded to high-risk areas. Besides these, there have been about 70 areas designated as medium-risk.

Churches in many places have adjusted to specific health conditions. Some move in-person services onto the “iCloud,” while some divide large gatherings into smaller groups. 

Pastor L from eastern China said that his church canceled on-site services and started virtual gatherings due to the situation. 

Talking about the impact of the pandemic upon the church throughout last year, he said that revival took place in some churches despite suffering the loss of church members. He observed that those churches focused on cell group pastoring, giving priority to the combination of faith and life as well as inner life. 

Faced with the cancellation of in-persons religious gatherings, the church should pay attention to online ministries and cell group care, L added. 

- Translated by Karen Luo