Faced with a new outbreak of COVID-19, some of China’s churches, whether suspended or still meeting, are bracing themselves to continue to provide pastoral leadership to their believers.
Gospel Times, a Beijing-based Chinese Christian news website, recently interviewed three pastors in Beihai (Guangxi Province), Dalian (Liaoning Province), and Qitaihe (Heilongjiang Province), via the Internet to talk about their work in the face of the pandemic.
I. Beihai Church in Guangxi
Beihai Church has repeatedly stressed that all believers should pay attention to their health and safety. The church was holding on-site meetings in accordance with the pandemic prevention procedures, but on January 16, 2021, Beihai Municipal CCC&TSPM notified all churches in the city to suspend their in-person meetings. Before this, the church combined offline and online meetings, ready to suspend on-site meetings at any time.
The church has been preparing for the suspension of meetings since last week when it launched a new WeChat group. In these three groups, every day the chief pastor and all the preachers lead the Bible reading, prayer, praise, and sharing. The church has a plan for the suspension of its meetings. There are also preliminary plans and measures for things like how to receive Holy Communion, how to preach and praise God, online meeting procedures, carrying out pastoral services, and these tasks are specific to each of the pastoral workers. Premarital counseling, for example, must be offered online. The church’s plan is to create custom-made tutorials that teach biblical perspectives on love, the importance of marriage, family relationships and responsibilities, and how to establish a Christian family.
As soon as church staff heard of the new outbreak, they kept an eye on how the pandemic was trending. When they saw the news that churches in Hebei, Beijing, Shanxi, and other places were suspending their meetings, they began to prepare to stop their meetings. Their work then turned to counsel, elimination of fear, and correct pandemic prevention. The chief pastor told “small stories and great truths” in the WeChat group every day to guide the believers.
January 17, 2021 was the first online Sunday service of Beihai Church after the suspension of gatherings. Through video, they added pre-prepared singing by the choir and the sermon was webcast. Four sermons were arranged for that day.
“In short, we are trying our best to make sure that believers have peace during this crisis, remain unshaken in the face of the pandemic, and that everyone can live a normal life of faith in Christ and in the church.”
II. The church in Jinsha New Area of Qitaihe, Heilongjiang Province
Although the church has not met for more than a year, online pastoral activities, including sermons, praise, and testimony services are taking place. It has mainly adopted eight measures and methods.
First, a number of cell groups and prayer groups were established online for training, and most of the believers in the church were organized online in the groups.
Second, sermons continue to be published on two online platforms, led by the senior pastor of the church and associates. Pastors and fellow workers greet and bless believers through the Internet.
Third, the church promotes the program of “the Bible accompanies you every day”, and organizes believers online to read the Bible every day, review and share daily according to the plan. They have been doing this for more than 270 days.
Fourth, church staff continue to run the WeChat public account of “Qitaihe Jinsha Church”, transmit the church’s information, and lead the believers in spiritual practice. The current columns include “Love in Action”, “Patriotism and Loving Christian, Honoring God and Benefiting People”, “Remembering the Original Intention and Remembering the Mission”, “Church Trends”, “Scripture Reading Plan”, “Review Yesterday”, etc.
Fifth, before the second pandemic and before the “ban” issued by the relevant municipal authorities, they began to visit and express sympathy to the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the needy.
Sixth, during Christmas and New Year’s Day, the chief pastor, together with pastoral workers, sent praise for God, prayers, and blessings online from the church in accordance with epidemic prevention procedures.
Seventh, the church has been closed in accordance with the requirements. The chief pastor and the pastoral staff take turns on duty.
Eighth, the leaders of the church’s pastoral staff, groups, and fellowships contact, communicate and study through network meetings, convey the instructions of the leading departments at all levels and keep the information unimpeded.
“All public meetings of the church have been suspended. Online learning, prayer, and preaching are all going on. The church will continue to be obedient to the government and to God. We will continue to love our country, love our religion, and honor God and benefit people.”
III. Lvshun Shuishiying Church, Dalian, Liaoning
Dalian Shuishiying (“Marine Camp”) was given this name because naval troops of the Qing Dynasty were stationed there in 1715. Now it has become the center of political, economic, and cultural activities in Lvshun.
The pandemic in Dalian has now reached a major turning point. No new patients have been confirmed for more than 10 days, and key areas such as Jinpu New District have been initially “unsealed”. Even so, in accordance with the city’s notice, the Shuishiying Church, except for the duty of the fellow workers, continued to suspend in-person meetings. Each believer in the church is required to register including name, telephone number, and ID card, and report to the relevant departments.
But the meetings didn’t stop. They continued online. Dalian has experienced three attacks of COVID-19, and the Shuishiying Church has also been tested and gradually accumulated the experience of online pastoral care. The original two network WeChat groups have been operating normally. Most of the believers in the church receive pastoral care in the group, including Bible reading, prayer, preaching, sharing, and times of praise. There is a sermon group that has a group regulation: no one is allowed to post or forward links in the group except for sermons.
The senior pastor of the church sends out Bible words, blessings, and exhortations to believers online every day. The pastors preach on Sunday. At the same time, the WeChat groups also forward the audio and video messages of the pastors’ testimonies of the Dalian CCC&TSPM.
As for the situation that some elderly brothers and sisters cannot listen to or watch the online gathering information because they cannot access the Internet, the church will mobilize family members to help solve the problem and do a good job of online pastoral coverage as far as possible.
As the Spring Festival is approaching, the church has planned to visit the believers in need of help according to the requirements of pandemic prevention and send support to the brothers and sisters who are sick and disabled.
The church said, “There is a problem: There is a very small number of old brothers and sisters who either don’t have a smartphone or don’t have access to the Internet. They don’t have access to the Internet, and that is something we need to address.”
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Karen Luo
面对新一轮新冠肺炎疫情袭来，国内的一些教会，无论是暂停聚会的还是仍在聚会的，都严阵以待，在上帝的看顾下继续牧养会众。
近日，《福音时报》通过网络采访了广西北海、辽宁大连、黑龙江七台河教会的三位主任牧师和传道人，请他们谈了面对疫情教会所做的事工。
一、广西北海堂
北海堂一再强调会众注意安全防护。之前还在实地按照防疫程序聚会，但是在2021年1月16日，北海市两会已经通知全市的教堂暂停聚会了。在这之前，教会并线下、线上“双线”并举，做好了随时暂停实地聚会的准备。
暂停聚会的事儿，教堂已经在上周就做好充分准备，在原有的微信群基础上又筹建了新群。在这三个群里，每天都有主任牧师和所有的传道人带领大家读经、祷告、赞美、分享。教堂对暂停聚会有预案，包括如何领圣餐、如何证道、赞美，网上聚会的程序安排，开展牧养等事工，也有初步计划和措施，而且分别具体落实到教牧同工每个人。比如信徒婚前辅导，现在已经被迫改成线上的辅导了，教堂的计划是定制教程，从圣经的角度教导如何谈恋爱、婚约的重要性、如何看待家庭关系与责任，以及家庭的基督化。
教堂听到新的疫情一出来，就密切注意疫情动向，当看到河北、北京、山西等地教会暂停聚会的消息后，就开始准备停止聚会的事情了。底下的工作就更多地转为心理疏导，排除恐惧之心，和正确的防疫，主任牧师每天都在微信群讲“小故事、大道理”，牧养信徒。
2021年1月17日是北海堂在暂停聚会后的第一个网络主日崇拜。他们通过视频，加入原来事先预备的诗班唱诗，传道人网络直播，一天四场讲道聚会。
“总之，尽我们最大努力让信徒在危机里有平安，在疫情下不动摇，人人都在基督里、在教会里，能够过正常的信仰生活。”
二、黑龙江七台河金沙新区教会
虽然是一年多没有实地聚会，但是网络的牧养包括证道、赞美、见证、各种栽培等都在进行。主要是采取了八条措施和方法。
一是在线上组建了若干个细胞小组、祷告小组进行培训，把教堂大部分的信徒都组织在线上群里。
二是继续开展两个网络平台的证道，有计划的由教堂的主任牧师和其他教牧同工讲道。牧师和同工通过网络向信徒问候、祝福。
三是继续办好“圣经伴你每一天”栏目，在线上组织信徒按照计划坚持每天读经、昨日回顾、每天分享，现在已经开展了第270多天了。
四是继续办好《七台河金沙教会》的微信公众号，图文并茂地传送教会的信息、带领会众灵修。目前的栏目有“爱在行动”、“爱国爱教、荣神益人”、“不忘初心、牢记使命”、“教会动态”、“读经计划”、“昨日回顾”等。
五是在第二次疫情和市里有关部门没有下达“禁令”之前就开始了对老弱病残、特困信徒的探访和慰问。
六是在圣诞节和元旦期间，由主任牧师和教牧同工一起按照防疫程序在教堂通过网络送去赞美、祷告和祝福。
七是教堂已经按照要求封闭，留下同工值守，主任牧师和教牧同工轮流值班。
八是教堂的教牧同工和班组、团契的负责人通过网络会议进行联络、沟通，研究工作，传达各级领导部门的指示，保持信息畅通。
“教会所有的线上聚会全部暂停。网上的学习、祷告、讲道都在进行。教会继续顺服政府、顺服神，一如既往的爱国爱教、荣神益人。”
三、辽宁大连旅顺水师营教会
大连水师营因着主后1715年，清朝水师驻扎在此，故而得名“水师营”。现已成为旅顺政治、经济、文化活动的中心，水师营教会因此得名。
大连的疫情目前已见重大转折点，截至目前已经10多天无新确诊患者，重点区域金普新区等已经初步“解封”。即使这样，水师营教会按照市里的通知，教堂除了值守的同工外，继续暂停实地聚会。教会的信徒每个人都按要求逐人登记，包括姓名、电话、身份证等，报给有关部门。
但是聚会没有停止，还在网络继续进行。大连曾历经三次新冠肺炎的侵袭，水师营教会也从中历经考验炼，逐步地积累了网络牧会的经验。原有的两个网络微信群一直在正常运作。教会大多数的信徒都在群里接受牧养，包括读经、祷告、证道、分享、赞美等。其中有一个讲道群，群里有群规，除了讲道以外任何人不得在群里随便发言或者转发链接。
教堂主任牧师每天发圣经金句、祝福和劝勉给线上的信徒。牧师在礼拜日为主证道。微信群同时也转发大连两会所属的牧师证道音视频等信息。
对于有的老年弟兄姊妹因为不能上网而无法收听、收看线上聚会信息的情况，教会发动家人帮助解决，尽可能的做好网络牧养覆盖。
春节将至，教会已计划按照防疫的要求对需要帮助的肢体进行探访，送温暖给包括有病的、残疾的弟兄姊妹。
“现在就是有一个问题：还有极少数的老年弟兄姊妹或因为没有智能手机、或没有网络、或不会使用，不能参加网络聚会，这是一个我们需要研究解决的问题。”
面对疫情，这三个教会如此应对
Faced with a new outbreak of COVID-19, some of China’s churches, whether suspended or still meeting, are bracing themselves to continue to provide pastoral leadership to their believers.
Gospel Times, a Beijing-based Chinese Christian news website, recently interviewed three pastors in Beihai (Guangxi Province), Dalian (Liaoning Province), and Qitaihe (Heilongjiang Province), via the Internet to talk about their work in the face of the pandemic.
I. Beihai Church in Guangxi
Beihai Church has repeatedly stressed that all believers should pay attention to their health and safety. The church was holding on-site meetings in accordance with the pandemic prevention procedures, but on January 16, 2021, Beihai Municipal CCC&TSPM notified all churches in the city to suspend their in-person meetings. Before this, the church combined offline and online meetings, ready to suspend on-site meetings at any time.
The church has been preparing for the suspension of meetings since last week when it launched a new WeChat group. In these three groups, every day the chief pastor and all the preachers lead the Bible reading, prayer, praise, and sharing. The church has a plan for the suspension of its meetings. There are also preliminary plans and measures for things like how to receive Holy Communion, how to preach and praise God, online meeting procedures, carrying out pastoral services, and these tasks are specific to each of the pastoral workers. Premarital counseling, for example, must be offered online. The church’s plan is to create custom-made tutorials that teach biblical perspectives on love, the importance of marriage, family relationships and responsibilities, and how to establish a Christian family.
As soon as church staff heard of the new outbreak, they kept an eye on how the pandemic was trending. When they saw the news that churches in Hebei, Beijing, Shanxi, and other places were suspending their meetings, they began to prepare to stop their meetings. Their work then turned to counsel, elimination of fear, and correct pandemic prevention. The chief pastor told “small stories and great truths” in the WeChat group every day to guide the believers.
January 17, 2021 was the first online Sunday service of Beihai Church after the suspension of gatherings. Through video, they added pre-prepared singing by the choir and the sermon was webcast. Four sermons were arranged for that day.
“In short, we are trying our best to make sure that believers have peace during this crisis, remain unshaken in the face of the pandemic, and that everyone can live a normal life of faith in Christ and in the church.”
II. The church in Jinsha New Area of Qitaihe, Heilongjiang Province
Although the church has not met for more than a year, online pastoral activities, including sermons, praise, and testimony services are taking place. It has mainly adopted eight measures and methods.
First, a number of cell groups and prayer groups were established online for training, and most of the believers in the church were organized online in the groups.
Second, sermons continue to be published on two online platforms, led by the senior pastor of the church and associates. Pastors and fellow workers greet and bless believers through the Internet.
Third, the church promotes the program of “the Bible accompanies you every day”, and organizes believers online to read the Bible every day, review and share daily according to the plan. They have been doing this for more than 270 days.
Fourth, church staff continue to run the WeChat public account of “Qitaihe Jinsha Church”, transmit the church’s information, and lead the believers in spiritual practice. The current columns include “Love in Action”, “Patriotism and Loving Christian, Honoring God and Benefiting People”, “Remembering the Original Intention and Remembering the Mission”, “Church Trends”, “Scripture Reading Plan”, “Review Yesterday”, etc.
Fifth, before the second pandemic and before the “ban” issued by the relevant municipal authorities, they began to visit and express sympathy to the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the needy.
Sixth, during Christmas and New Year’s Day, the chief pastor, together with pastoral workers, sent praise for God, prayers, and blessings online from the church in accordance with epidemic prevention procedures.
Seventh, the church has been closed in accordance with the requirements. The chief pastor and the pastoral staff take turns on duty.
Eighth, the leaders of the church’s pastoral staff, groups, and fellowships contact, communicate and study through network meetings, convey the instructions of the leading departments at all levels and keep the information unimpeded.
“All public meetings of the church have been suspended. Online learning, prayer, and preaching are all going on. The church will continue to be obedient to the government and to God. We will continue to love our country, love our religion, and honor God and benefit people.”
III. Lvshun Shuishiying Church, Dalian, Liaoning
Dalian Shuishiying (“Marine Camp”) was given this name because naval troops of the Qing Dynasty were stationed there in 1715. Now it has become the center of political, economic, and cultural activities in Lvshun.
The pandemic in Dalian has now reached a major turning point. No new patients have been confirmed for more than 10 days, and key areas such as Jinpu New District have been initially “unsealed”. Even so, in accordance with the city’s notice, the Shuishiying Church, except for the duty of the fellow workers, continued to suspend in-person meetings. Each believer in the church is required to register including name, telephone number, and ID card, and report to the relevant departments.
But the meetings didn’t stop. They continued online. Dalian has experienced three attacks of COVID-19, and the Shuishiying Church has also been tested and gradually accumulated the experience of online pastoral care. The original two network WeChat groups have been operating normally. Most of the believers in the church receive pastoral care in the group, including Bible reading, prayer, preaching, sharing, and times of praise. There is a sermon group that has a group regulation: no one is allowed to post or forward links in the group except for sermons.
The senior pastor of the church sends out Bible words, blessings, and exhortations to believers online every day. The pastors preach on Sunday. At the same time, the WeChat groups also forward the audio and video messages of the pastors’ testimonies of the Dalian CCC&TSPM.
As for the situation that some elderly brothers and sisters cannot listen to or watch the online gathering information because they cannot access the Internet, the church will mobilize family members to help solve the problem and do a good job of online pastoral coverage as far as possible.
As the Spring Festival is approaching, the church has planned to visit the believers in need of help according to the requirements of pandemic prevention and send support to the brothers and sisters who are sick and disabled.
The church said, “There is a problem: There is a very small number of old brothers and sisters who either don’t have a smartphone or don’t have access to the Internet. They don’t have access to the Internet, and that is something we need to address.”
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Karen Luo
How Three Churches Have Responded to Pandemic
