This year Christians in China cannot gather in person as their churches have been closed down as the COVID-19 pandemic rebounds across the country from time to time, despite the fact that the pastoral ministry must be conducted. Each church actively explores ways of ministry in its own circumstance, and strives to take care of its followers. In addition, churches in some areas have also noticed the problems that believers may encounter in daily life and in mental health brought by the outbreaks, thus guidance and assistance are provided. Meanwhile, being a member of the society, churches nationwide participate in pandemic prevention in different ways.
Various forms of online pastoral ministries
Around the Easter season, many churches nurtured believers with different ways of sharing daily information and spiritual practices. Through the WeChat official account, daily scriptures and spiritual practices are sent to believers so that they can participate in learning.
From April 10 to 17, a large percentage of churches held meditations on the Seven Last Words from the Cross, Easter morning worship, Easter Sunday worship, etc., calling on believers to experience Christ’s Passion for us. Meanwhile, churches were praying for patients, medical staff, and social workers under the lockdown.
In addition, there are other forms of activities. Suzhou Xiangcheng Church in Jiangsu Province recorded the praise audio of the youth worship team; Linfen Yaodu District Church in Shanxi Province prepared dances and dramas; and Beijing Gangwashi Church held online worship.
Suzhou Dushu Lake Church in Jiangsu Province held a prayer meeting from 7 to 8 on Easter morning. The pastor led believers to worship and praise reflected on Jesus’ experience in the Holy Week and guided them to pray online for the country, the church and believers. The prayer meeting achieved good results as some believers took the initiative to give feedback, indicating that the whole process was very touching and their hearts were full of gratitude.
In addition to the pastoral work related to Easter, other church ministries are being carried out. For example, the seekers’ class and faith growth class. There are also daily readings of spiritual books, special sermons, special studies, etc., which guide believers to learn by means of reading, listening and watching.
Comprehensive care: living conditions and mental health
During the pandemic this year, many residents face a shortage of living materials. Faced with this situation, the church and its followers keep in close contact and learn each other’s situation. Taking Shanghai as an example, during the period of partial closure, believers who can still go out helped those who are confined at home to buy the needed materials and send them there. By the time of global static management, believers also actively communicate with each other and share the channels and methods of shopping.
While isolating at home, apart from the other difficulties in daily life, people’s mental health can not be ignored. Many residents have experienced anxiety and mental collapse after struggling to get food by means of their mobile phones for a whole day, but then have failed to buy anything. Young single believers may only worry about their own meals, and families with old people and children need to take care of the diet of a large family. Coupled with working at home, children’s noise is also a big problem for parents to overcome. In addition, there is constant negative news. Because of this, many people are in very low morale during the period of lockdown.
In view of this situation, the church has made many attempts. Some churches lead believers to pray regularly every day. Some church believers spontaneously organize themselves and set up reading clubs and sports groups.
Zion Church in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province made a detailed online pastoral plan at the early stage of "double suspension" (referring to “suspensions of the opening of places of worship and group religious activities”): recording and sharing audio scripture every week and posting it to various groups, and regularly organizing all team members to visit and care online. Pastoral staff keep on contacting believers by telephone calls and WeChat every day to know their current situation, difficulties, and expected help, and make detailed records. On April 12, the pastor found that a believer wrote in the Sunday dedication remarks: “Lord, I can't let it go. Am I dead?” Worried about this believer’s condition, the pastor immediately contacted the church staff to contact this believer. When he learned that this believer was well, everyone had a sigh of relief.
In order to help congregations cope with depression from the perspective of faith and mental health, and get out of the trouble of bad mentality, the church, together with psychologists, prepared an online lecture on how to cope with depression and maintain mental health and a prayer meeting for people who suffer from depression.
In addition, people also face the real threat of pandemic. Infected pastors share their experiences and record their daily physical condition. There are also Christians who share their experiences of transhipment and isolation in makeshift hospitals.
Anti-pandemic assistance: donations and personal participation
The following are measures of preventing the spread of the pandemic inside the church:
1. Implement the pandemic prevention policy of the church and carry out disinfection according to regulations;
2. Register the real names of believers who come to worship, check their health codes and travel cards, and take their temperature;
3. After the pandemic situation escalated, local churches were to implement the "double suspension" policy according to regulations.
Throughout the process of fighting the spread of the pandemic, some churches have provided venues for nucleic acid testing. Some churches actively contribute materials and many believers sign up to serve the community as volunteers.
Recently, Shanghai has seen the worst coronavirus outbreak. Pastor Geng Weizhong, chairman of Shanghai Christian Council, said, “For Christians in Shanghai, this Easter is different from the past. Because of the pandemic prevention and control, all churches have suspended all activities, and instead, they have taken part in anti-pandemic activities in different ways. This is a special mission given to us by God - to help each other in the same boat with the people of the city and strive for self-improvement.”
In the Pudong New Zone, where the pandemic situation is the most serious, some of the believers in various churches are medical staff, doing nucleic acid testing for residents at the front line. Some have joined the community volunteer team to maintain order for the community nucleic acid testing site. Some work as community couriers, sending daily necessities to residents. Some people distribute antigen test boxes door to door for residents. Others participated in special volunteer activities to visit depressed patients with suicidal tendencies.
Many believers in various districts of Shanghai have joined the ranks of volunteers to serve the community. Believers who do not volunteer also serve quietly. Some take the initiative to care about the needs of other blockaders when they are accused of being blocked, and send them daily necessities. Some believers share their possessions with the elderly in their neighborhoods, while others learn to soothe the negative emotions of people who encounter emotional fluctuations at home through the internet.
- Translated by Charlie Li
今年因疫情影响，不少教会实施双暂停，信徒无法在教会聚集。但相应的牧养工作又必须开展。各个教会在各自的环境中积极探索，努力牧养教会的信徒。此外，一些地区的教会也注意到因疫情影响，信徒在生活上、心理上可能遇到的问题，给予帮助和引导。同时，作为社会的一份子，各地教会以不同形式参与防疫行动。
多种形式展开线上牧养
从预苦期到复活节，不少教会为信徒提供了每日不同的分享信息和灵修方式，通过公众号将每日经文和灵修内容发送给信徒，以便他们参与学习。
4月10到17日，许多教会线上举行了十架七言默想、复活节晨曦礼拜、复活节主日崇拜等，呼吁信徒在体会基督为我们所受的苦难。同时也为疫情中的患者、医护人员、各界社会服务人员代求。
此外还有其他形式的活动，苏州相城堂录制了青年赞美团赞美音频，临汾尧都区城区教会准备了舞蹈节目和圣剧，北京缸瓦市堂举行了线上圣乐崇拜。
苏州独墅湖堂复活节早上7点到8点举办了晨更祷告会，牧者带领信徒敬拜赞美，回顾耶稣在受难周的经历，也引导众人为国家、教会、信徒线上代求。祷告会取得了良好效果，有部分信徒主动反馈，表示整个过程非常感动，心中充满感恩。
除了与节期相关的牧养工作，教会其他牧养工作也在有序进行。比如慕道班、成长班的学习。还有每日属灵书籍阅读、专卷讲道、专题学习等等，以文字、语音、视频等方式带领信徒学习。
全面关怀：生活情况、心理健康
今年疫情当中，许多居民面临生活物资短缺的情况。面对这种情况，教会和信徒保持密切联系，了解各人情况。以上海为例，在部分封控期间，还可以出门的信徒会帮助封在家里的信徒购买需要的物资送过去。到全域静态管理的时候，信徒之间也积极交流，互相分享购买物资的渠道、方法。
隔离在家，除了生活上的难处，人们的心理健康也不可忽视。不少居民都经历过拿着手机抢菜一整天却什么都抢不到之后的焦虑、崩溃。年轻的单身信徒可能只是为个人的饮食发愁，有老人、小孩的家庭需要照管一大家子的饮食。再加上居家办公，孩子的吵闹也是父母要克服的一大难题。此外，还有不断出现的负面新闻。凡此种种，不少人在封闭期间状态非常低沉。
针对此种情况，教会做了多项尝试。有的教会带领信徒每天做定时祷告。有的教会信徒自发组织起来，建了读书群、运动群。
广州的锡安堂则在“双暂停”初期就制定了详细的线上牧养计划：每周录制分享经文音频并发布到各群里，定期组织各团队成员进行线上探访关怀。教牧人员坚持每日通过电话、微信联络信徒，了解信徒目前的处境、遇到的困难、期望的帮助，并做好详细记录。4月12日，牧者发现一位信徒在主日奉献备注中写到：“主啊我无法看开，我是不是死路一条了？”担心这位信徒的状况，牧者随即联系教会同工设法联系这名信徒，得知这位信徒无恙时，大家都长舒了一口气。
为了帮助弟兄姐妹从信仰和心理专业的角度应对抑郁情绪，走出不良心态的困扰，锡安堂联合心理专家筹备了“如何应对抑郁情绪及保持心理健康线上讲座暨为抑郁人群祷告会”。
此外，人们也真实地面临病毒的威胁。有感染的牧师分享自己的经历，记录每日身体状况。也有基督徒分享自己转运、在方舱隔离的经历。
助力抗疫：捐款捐物、亲身参与
教会落实防疫政策，按照规定进行消杀。对来参加礼拜的信徒实名登记，检查健康码、行程卡，测量体温。疫情状况升级之后，各地教会按照规定实施双暂停。
在抗防疫情过程中，有的教会提供场地作为核酸检测场所，有的教会积极奉献物资，还有很多信徒报名成为志愿者服务社区。
近期全国疫情以上海最严重。上海市基督教教务委员会主席耿卫忠牧师说：“对于上海基督徒而言，今年的复活节不同以往，疫情防控的原因，所有教堂暂停一切的活动，取而代之的是以不同的方式参与抗疫活动，这是上帝赋予我们特别的使命——与全市人民同舟共济，自强不息。”
疫情最为严重的浦东新区，各教堂的信徒当中有的本就是医护人员，在疫情第一线为居民群众做核酸检测工作；有的加入社区志愿者队伍，为社区核酸检测现场维护秩序；有的做社区快递员工作，为居民发送物资；有的为居民挨家挨户上门发放抗原检测盒；还有人参与了探访陪伴有自杀倾向抑郁病人的特殊志愿活动。
上海各区信徒不少人都加入了志愿者行列服务社区。没有志愿服务的信徒也为一方平安默默侍奉。有的在被控封控时主动关心其他封控者的需要，为他们送日用所需；有的与所在楼栋的老人分享自己的物资；有的注意到有人封控在家情绪出现波动，线上抚慰其情绪等等。
疫情下，各地教会做了什么？
This year Christians in China cannot gather in person as their churches have been closed down as the COVID-19 pandemic rebounds across the country from time to time, despite the fact that the pastoral ministry must be conducted. Each church actively explores ways of ministry in its own circumstance, and strives to take care of its followers. In addition, churches in some areas have also noticed the problems that believers may encounter in daily life and in mental health brought by the outbreaks, thus guidance and assistance are provided. Meanwhile, being a member of the society, churches nationwide participate in pandemic prevention in different ways.
Various forms of online pastoral ministries
Around the Easter season, many churches nurtured believers with different ways of sharing daily information and spiritual practices. Through the WeChat official account, daily scriptures and spiritual practices are sent to believers so that they can participate in learning.
From April 10 to 17, a large percentage of churches held meditations on the Seven Last Words from the Cross, Easter morning worship, Easter Sunday worship, etc., calling on believers to experience Christ’s Passion for us. Meanwhile, churches were praying for patients, medical staff, and social workers under the lockdown.
In addition, there are other forms of activities. Suzhou Xiangcheng Church in Jiangsu Province recorded the praise audio of the youth worship team; Linfen Yaodu District Church in Shanxi Province prepared dances and dramas; and Beijing Gangwashi Church held online worship.
Suzhou Dushu Lake Church in Jiangsu Province held a prayer meeting from 7 to 8 on Easter morning. The pastor led believers to worship and praise reflected on Jesus’ experience in the Holy Week and guided them to pray online for the country, the church and believers. The prayer meeting achieved good results as some believers took the initiative to give feedback, indicating that the whole process was very touching and their hearts were full of gratitude.
In addition to the pastoral work related to Easter, other church ministries are being carried out. For example, the seekers’ class and faith growth class. There are also daily readings of spiritual books, special sermons, special studies, etc., which guide believers to learn by means of reading, listening and watching.
Comprehensive care: living conditions and mental health
During the pandemic this year, many residents face a shortage of living materials. Faced with this situation, the church and its followers keep in close contact and learn each other’s situation. Taking Shanghai as an example, during the period of partial closure, believers who can still go out helped those who are confined at home to buy the needed materials and send them there. By the time of global static management, believers also actively communicate with each other and share the channels and methods of shopping.
While isolating at home, apart from the other difficulties in daily life, people’s mental health can not be ignored. Many residents have experienced anxiety and mental collapse after struggling to get food by means of their mobile phones for a whole day, but then have failed to buy anything. Young single believers may only worry about their own meals, and families with old people and children need to take care of the diet of a large family. Coupled with working at home, children’s noise is also a big problem for parents to overcome. In addition, there is constant negative news. Because of this, many people are in very low morale during the period of lockdown.
In view of this situation, the church has made many attempts. Some churches lead believers to pray regularly every day. Some church believers spontaneously organize themselves and set up reading clubs and sports groups.
Zion Church in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province made a detailed online pastoral plan at the early stage of "double suspension" (referring to “suspensions of the opening of places of worship and group religious activities”): recording and sharing audio scripture every week and posting it to various groups, and regularly organizing all team members to visit and care online. Pastoral staff keep on contacting believers by telephone calls and WeChat every day to know their current situation, difficulties, and expected help, and make detailed records. On April 12, the pastor found that a believer wrote in the Sunday dedication remarks: “Lord, I can't let it go. Am I dead?” Worried about this believer’s condition, the pastor immediately contacted the church staff to contact this believer. When he learned that this believer was well, everyone had a sigh of relief.
In order to help congregations cope with depression from the perspective of faith and mental health, and get out of the trouble of bad mentality, the church, together with psychologists, prepared an online lecture on how to cope with depression and maintain mental health and a prayer meeting for people who suffer from depression.
In addition, people also face the real threat of pandemic. Infected pastors share their experiences and record their daily physical condition. There are also Christians who share their experiences of transhipment and isolation in makeshift hospitals.
Anti-pandemic assistance: donations and personal participation
The following are measures of preventing the spread of the pandemic inside the church:
1. Implement the pandemic prevention policy of the church and carry out disinfection according to regulations;
2. Register the real names of believers who come to worship, check their health codes and travel cards, and take their temperature;
3. After the pandemic situation escalated, local churches were to implement the "double suspension" policy according to regulations.
Throughout the process of fighting the spread of the pandemic, some churches have provided venues for nucleic acid testing. Some churches actively contribute materials and many believers sign up to serve the community as volunteers.
Recently, Shanghai has seen the worst coronavirus outbreak. Pastor Geng Weizhong, chairman of Shanghai Christian Council, said, “For Christians in Shanghai, this Easter is different from the past. Because of the pandemic prevention and control, all churches have suspended all activities, and instead, they have taken part in anti-pandemic activities in different ways. This is a special mission given to us by God - to help each other in the same boat with the people of the city and strive for self-improvement.”
In the Pudong New Zone, where the pandemic situation is the most serious, some of the believers in various churches are medical staff, doing nucleic acid testing for residents at the front line. Some have joined the community volunteer team to maintain order for the community nucleic acid testing site. Some work as community couriers, sending daily necessities to residents. Some people distribute antigen test boxes door to door for residents. Others participated in special volunteer activities to visit depressed patients with suicidal tendencies.
Many believers in various districts of Shanghai have joined the ranks of volunteers to serve the community. Believers who do not volunteer also serve quietly. Some take the initiative to care about the needs of other blockaders when they are accused of being blocked, and send them daily necessities. Some believers share their possessions with the elderly in their neighborhoods, while others learn to soothe the negative emotions of people who encounter emotional fluctuations at home through the internet.
- Translated by Charlie Li
What Do China's Registered Churches Do Under Lockdown?
