The financial dilemma of pastors has been an issue worthy of debate as many churches fail to supply their full-time pastors with enough money. When there is a financial problem, a pastor may continue to serve the church with stress, choose to work part-time, or leave his or her ministry. Little do full-time church workers talk about personal incomes as the topic seems ungodly.
Familiar examples from the Bible urge pastors to live by faith solely, such as Elijah fed by ravens that brought him bread and meat, the miracle of the widow at Zarephath who lived on a handful of flour and a little oil, and the miracle of five loaves and two fish. Those stories are often used to encourage pastors to have faith in their life difficulties.
However, what I would like to point out is that we are in a different world from Elijah, that is to say, our environment determines how we live. We must learn from Elijah’s faith, but our love grows cold when we conceal pastors’ poverty using those spiritual slogans.
There are still pastors who are financially lacking and even those who are not allowed to suggest to their churches to “cover their living expenses every month.” Some church administrative teams decide the payment details, thus pastors just need to obey those decisions with gratitude.
I know some pastors who are committed and talented in pastoral care. Obeying their churches, they served for three years despite little salaries, but they eventually left their ministries. Never saying that the payment was not sufficient, they claimed that they worked outside the church to be the light in society and serving in the workplace was also loving God.
After giving birth to a daughter and purchasing an apartment, a couple of full-time pastors were having a mortgage. While the wife continued her pastoral ministry, the husband left to earn money. He plans to return to the church in 2022.
Full-time pastors face many challenges in this era. As persons, they desire to create a more comfortable life for their families and enroll their children in better kindergartens.
Although we have spiritual experiences, we have human comparison and desires. For example, if a worker is paid 5,000 yuan a month and a full-time pastor gets a monthly salary of 500 to 1000, the wide gap is unacceptable to some people.
Church leaders should pay attention to the needs of workers and distribute funds to them so that there is little financial pressure.
I also exhort myself and those workers who move ahead in ministries: good preparations should be made for full-time ministries and be ready to pay a price because it is not easy to serve God.
- Translated by Karen Luo
传道人的经济问题一直是值得讨论的一个问题，因为许多教会在全职传道人的供应上依然存在着很多的不足，许是教会的经济资源有限，许是传道人的牧养没有跟上，也或许是其它方面的原因，导致教会中奉献上存在着缺乏。但我们之所探讨这个话题，是想要引起基督徒对全职传道人的关注，无论是在他们牧养上，还是家庭上都应该有爱的关怀和支持。虽然说服事神并不是为了金钱，但是全职传道人依然面对着生活的压力，经济的支出与收入。其实当传道人的经济出现危机的时候，或许会影响他们的服事，可能使他们带着沉重的压力和负担进行服事，或是选择半职服侍，也可能离开服事的岗位。
教会中全职服事的人员很少去谈论个人金钱、收入、多少的问题，因为去谈这个话题时，会让人觉得你不属灵，没有信心。或者一些耳熟能详的例证促使传道人只管凭信心生活，比如以利亚靠着乌鸦叼饼与肉，还有一把面一滴油的神迹，彼得下网打鱼的神迹，五饼二鱼的神迹等，这些例证有时候我们常拿来鼓励人，特别是对传道人也需要拿出那样的信心来面对现实环境。
但笔者想说的是，如今的时代和以利亚那时候的环境不一样，也就是说你所处的环境决定着你如何生活。以利亚的信心我们必须要学习，但如果我们以属灵的口号来掩盖传道人实际的缺乏，不去给与和帮补，这实则是冠冕堂皇，是爱的冷淡，这和法利赛人没有什么两样。
反观整个禾场教会，仍然存在着在经济上缺乏的传道人，有时候传道人甚至不能建议“给传道人每个月发放生活费”，乃是教会的牧者团队进行商议决策的，这也涉及到了教会的一些纪律和章程，作为传道人只需要顺服教会安排，感恩领受就可以了。笔者认识几位服事心志特别好、在牧养上比较有恩赐的人，他们很顺服教会，纵然教会给与的比较少，他们依然坚持了下来，大概坚持了三年之久，最终他们和我告别离开了服事的岗位。他们从没有提教会给予的生活费不够用，他们乃是说自己想进入社会发光，离开原来的环境去经历神，选择别的方式也未尝不是爱神。
其实全职传道人的经济出现危机的时候，会影响他们的服事，比如说笔者认识的一对夫妻他们是全职的服事人员，后来结了婚之后生了一个女儿，再后来又买了房子，因为每个月需要还房贷，供应女儿的花销，所以这位弟兄选择离开了服事岗位。他自己去到外面打工，留下妻子带着孩子继续参与全职服事。后来笔者了解到这个弟兄打算2022年重回服事的岗位，2021年要工作一年。
我们常谈到服事神不能有贪心，不能贪恋钱财，但一些传道人他们并不是因为贪心，也不是因为不想爱主，乃是因为需要维持生计，或者说他们需要养家糊口。人总不能一辈子都靠着父母，一辈子都让父母来供应自己的生活。全职传道人在当下的时代充满了很多的挑战，他们也是人，也想要给家人过上好的生活，也想让自己的孩子上好一点的幼儿园，学习一些兴趣班等。他们更想要让自己的服事走的更长远。很多传道人从来没有提及自己的缺乏，更多的是跪在神的面前流泪祷告，在夜深人静的时候思考着自己的服事道路如何走，且在服事生活与家庭经济的危机中挣扎了无数次。
当下的光景，全职传道人逐渐在流失，一些人只是暂时的离开服事岗位，或者他还会重返服事岗位，而另外一些人就选择永远离开全职服事的岗位。笔者认识的两位全职服事工人，他们参与服事时我还在读高中，后来当我刚踏入服事时，就听到了他们告别的声音（想要外出打工挣钱）。他们没有提什么原因离开服事的岗位，但对我说了一句话：“好好参与服事”。其实我心里对他们的离去深感惋惜，他们在讲道上有特别的恩赐，在牧养上也有丰富的经验，但依然离开了服事的岗位。
思考良久，我终于明白全职传道人的经济问题是很现实的事情，在这个消费的时代，想要留住一个人，必须要留住他的心。虽然我们都有属灵的经验，但我们内心也都有从人性而来得比较及欲望。举个例子来讲，如果一个工人参与工作一个月拿5000左右的工资，而参与全职服事的人员一个月拿500-1000之间的工资，这种比较和悬殊差距（心理落差）是一些人接受不了的。
当然我们要清楚的是，教会不是公司，不是做商业贸易的，也不是以资财来运行的，乃是借着神的话语和基督的十字架来运行的。虽然教会有教会的职责与作用，但教会的领袖或者治理应该切合实际地关注工人的需要，根据教会的经济实力以及工人的服事与家庭境况，尽力的帮补，使他们可以在服事上没有太大的经济压力。
最后笔者也勉励自己以及在磨练中前行的工人：当下的全职传道人想要参与服事就必须要做好预备，准备付代价，因为服事的道路不是那么容易。
作为基督徒当我们看到全职传道人的需要时，也竭力为他们的需要祷告，尽自己的能力给与奉献，不单单关注他们在牧养上的职责，也去关注他们家庭的切实需要，使他们可以没有顾虑和压力地参与服事，使他们专一服事。
全职传道人的经济出现挑战时 会影响服事吗？
The financial dilemma of pastors has been an issue worthy of debate as many churches fail to supply their full-time pastors with enough money. When there is a financial problem, a pastor may continue to serve the church with stress, choose to work part-time, or leave his or her ministry. Little do full-time church workers talk about personal incomes as the topic seems ungodly.
Familiar examples from the Bible urge pastors to live by faith solely, such as Elijah fed by ravens that brought him bread and meat, the miracle of the widow at Zarephath who lived on a handful of flour and a little oil, and the miracle of five loaves and two fish. Those stories are often used to encourage pastors to have faith in their life difficulties.
However, what I would like to point out is that we are in a different world from Elijah, that is to say, our environment determines how we live. We must learn from Elijah’s faith, but our love grows cold when we conceal pastors’ poverty using those spiritual slogans.
There are still pastors who are financially lacking and even those who are not allowed to suggest to their churches to “cover their living expenses every month.” Some church administrative teams decide the payment details, thus pastors just need to obey those decisions with gratitude.
I know some pastors who are committed and talented in pastoral care. Obeying their churches, they served for three years despite little salaries, but they eventually left their ministries. Never saying that the payment was not sufficient, they claimed that they worked outside the church to be the light in society and serving in the workplace was also loving God.
After giving birth to a daughter and purchasing an apartment, a couple of full-time pastors were having a mortgage. While the wife continued her pastoral ministry, the husband left to earn money. He plans to return to the church in 2022.
Full-time pastors face many challenges in this era. As persons, they desire to create a more comfortable life for their families and enroll their children in better kindergartens.
Although we have spiritual experiences, we have human comparison and desires. For example, if a worker is paid 5,000 yuan a month and a full-time pastor gets a monthly salary of 500 to 1000, the wide gap is unacceptable to some people.
Church leaders should pay attention to the needs of workers and distribute funds to them so that there is little financial pressure.
I also exhort myself and those workers who move ahead in ministries: good preparations should be made for full-time ministries and be ready to pay a price because it is not easy to serve God.
- Translated by Karen Luo
When Full-Time Pastors Encounter Financial Dilemma, Will It Affect Their Ministries?
