During the lockdown due to COVID-19, which lasted over four months, a church had a little financial surplus rather than a financial deficit. The pastor of the church (called G for short) never suspended the online ministry when the church was forced to cease the in-person gatherings many times during two and a half years of COVID-19.
In the small to medium-sized church in a town on the southeastern coast of Guangdong Province, Sunday services are attended by no more than 100 believers (except at Christmas and the Chinese New Year) who are almost the elderly and children, as the younger believers go to work in the Pearl River Delta region due to the urbanization.
The followings are what Pastor G does, which encourages the congregation to be willing to make offerings.
Do not "lie-flat"(or couch potato) during the lockdown period.
Besides sending some spiritual articles or prayer titles to the WeChat group every day, G gives virtual sermons around five or six o'clock every Sunday morning, letting believers hear their shepherd’s voice. Some believers gave feedback, "I’m extremely happy getting up to hear the sermon from beginning to end." In this way, believers can also be prevented from listening to heresy or extreme teachings due to their spiritual famine.
Highlight group ministry and visit believers in difficulties
Following the COVID-19 protocols during the church’s lockdown period, Pastor G increased the frequency of visits to know the situation of the members he is pastoring.
Every time he arrived at the community or village where believers live, G called to gather the believers of three to five to share the Lord’s grace and their experiences with prayers, telling them about the situation of the church.
As a 90-year-old female believer said at a group prayer meeting, "Each one has been affected by the epidemic, and the church is no exception. With the same normal expenses during this period, the church could tide over the difficulties if we are willing to give a little money. Although we elderly people cannot make money, we can contribute some pocket money that our descendants give us.” As believers present heard it, the pastor didn’t even need to mention making an offering. The next time of gathering, they donated 20, 50, 100, or 200 yuan, with some even contributing once a month.
Second, pastoral staff must be sensitive to the needs of believers, always paying attention to them and their families. One evening in early April, G received a call that a male Christian whose job was a plasterer was unfortunately injured while working. G immediately called him to ask about the situation with prayers. The next afternoon, he invited another two male believers in the village to visit him, which moved the injured believer who donated 100 yuan to the church.
A few years ago, an old female believer had an operation in the provincial hospital. G and his wife made a special trip to visit her in the provincial capital. Before the Chinese New Year, the old believer went back to live in their hometown with her husband who was hospitalized due to illness later. They often sent greetings and prayed for him on WeChat, as the hospital did not allow outsiders to enter the ward due to the epidemic. After he was discharged from the hospital, they came to visit him again. His youngest daughter living far away never stopped making offerings.
A male Christian from another place baptized by G gave his tithes of a large amount of money every month. G helped him whenever he encountered difficulties, often calling him when he was busy after the Chinese New Year. Occasionally, G was invited to his home to share the grace of God and make intercessory prayers for him.
Be an example for believers in contributions
In July 2019, the church had only about 100,000 yuan, when G was elected as the head of the church which needed to carry out projects of waterproofing, leak repairs, and altar maintenance and couldn’t make ends meet. Since then, G had been the first to offer money almost every Sunday and announced the offerings in the WeChat group on Sunday evening. Many believers were moved to make regular contributions every Sunday, which increased the income of the church.
How can’t a church afford a pastor? If it receives 3,000 or 4,000 yuan each month from 40 or 50 believers when the church cares for its members and the staff members take the lead in the offering.
Do a good job in financial management
According to the Regulations of the Chinese Church, it is not appropriate for pastors to serve as the church's treasurer, which can avoid them from entering into temptation.
During the lockdown period, when the elderly without smartphones gave G offerings to express their gratitude, the pastor recorded the donor, time, and amount in a small notebook every time. At the end of each month, G gathered the financial team to sort out the finances of the month. The accountant made out the receipts recording the time and amount of each believer’s contribution with the signatures of the church’s leader, accountant, and cashier, plus the official seal of the church. The pastor gives them the list of offerings (the third couplet) to reassure them when he sees them next time.
The senior believers put the money into the offering box themselves when the gatherings resumed.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Henan.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
自己所服侍的堂会，在实行“双暂停”的四个多月的时间里，教会的财务没有出现赤字，而且还略有盈余。近三年以来，每次被迫暂停实地聚会，我的线上服侍从来没有停止过。
我在粤东南海之滨一间镇级的中小型教会服侍，受到城市化的影响，很多信徒都前往珠三角地区发展，留在本地的老人小孩比较多。本堂平时聚会（圣诞节，过年期间除外）信徒一般不超过一百人。以下是服事经验。
1、“双暂停”期间不“躺平”
疫情期间，每天我都会发一些灵修心语或代祷事项到微信群里。每个主日早晨五六点钟左右，就在线上进行讲道。每个主日，都让信徒听到牧者熟悉的声音。有弟兄姊妹回馈：今天早上起来就从头到尾听道，参与敬拜，心里无比 高兴。如此也可以避免信徒饥不择食，走入异端或极端。
2、细化（小组）牧养，强化个人栽培
虽然教堂暂停对外开放，但我们仍然在做好疫情防控的基础上，殷勤出门探访，提高探访频次，想法设法联系信徒，晓得所牧之羊的情况。
在此期间，每到一个地方（小区或村子），我都会电话给那个地方的弟兄姊妹，三五一群的聚在一起述说主恩、分享、彼此代祷，如此大家也对教会的现状有所了解。
正如有一位90岁的老姊妹在小组祈祷会上当着众人的面说：“疫情大家都受到影响，教会也不例外，但是教会的正常开支还是摆在那里，虽然我们老人不会赚钱，但是我们可以把子孙后代给我们的零花钱节省一些，只要大家都甘心乐意献上一点，教会就自然度过难关。” 在场的人都听到了，也避免了牧者开口提奉献的尴尬。下次团契的时候就你二十、五十、我一百、两百的奉献，有的人甚至每个月都奉献一次。
其次，教牧同工必须敏感于弟兄姊妹的需要，时刻关注他们包括他们的家人。四月初的一天黄昏接到一个电话，说到某村一位六十多岁的做泥水工的弟兄因为干活时不幸受伤，我立马给他打电话问明情况并为他代祷，第二天下午又约上他同村两位弟兄一起上门探望。他深受感动，一定要奉献100元给教会。
前几年有一位老姊妹在省城医院动手术，因为路途远，她孩子并不想让我们知道。我们夫妻俩专程去省城探望。过年前老姊妹夫妇回老家住下，老弟兄因病住院，虽然因疫情医院不给外人进入病房，但是我们在微信上经常问候、代祷。出院后又登门探访。姊妹的小女儿虽然远在外地，但即使在这几个月中，从没有停止过奉献。
还有一位来自外地的弟兄，我带领归主，为他施洗，当初每次遇到困难的时候，我都尽力帮忙。过年后因工作原因他比较忙，时间也不稳定，我常给他打电话。偶尔有空时也会叫我去他那里坐坐，述说神恩，为他一家代祷，每个月他都实行十一奉献，数目不小。
3、在奉献上作信徒的榜样。
2019年7月份，我被推举为堂会负责人的时候，教会的账上只有十来万元，但接下来堂会需要做防水补漏、讲台维修等工程，教会经济立马捉襟见肘，怎么办？从那个时候起，每个主日我几乎都是带头第一个奉献，而且主日晚上十点左右在微信群里公布。如此也感动了好多位在外面工作的年轻弟兄姊妹，每个主日固定参与奉献，无形中就使得教会增加了收入。
只要教会经常联系关心信徒，再加上负责同工按着圣经的教导带头奉献，即使一间教会平时只有四五十人参与奉献，一个月下来至少也有三四千元，如此哪会供不起一个传道人？
4、做好财务管理工作。
因为按照中国教会的规章，教牧人员不宜兼任教会财务，也避免进入试探中。
前面说过，老年人不会使用智能手机，不会进行线上奉献，在“双暂停”期间，他们经常把钱托我代其奉献，表达感恩之心。凡经手的奉献款我都会把奉献人、时间、金额记在小本子上，每个月月底的时候，招聚财务小组一起到堂理清本月财务。所有的收入会计都开收据，每一个弟兄姊妹的奉献时间、金额都记清楚，上面还有负责人、会计、出纳签名，再加上教会的公章，然后我再次见到他们时就会把他们奉献的单子（第三联）交给他们，让他们放心。等恢复聚会后他们就自己投入奉献箱了。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系河南一名基督徒。
http://www.fuyinshibao.cn/article/index/id/63362
上帝的供应永远最稳定——“双暂停”期间我是如此侍奉的
During the lockdown due to COVID-19, which lasted over four months, a church had a little financial surplus rather than a financial deficit. The pastor of the church (called G for short) never suspended the online ministry when the church was forced to cease the in-person gatherings many times during two and a half years of COVID-19.
In the small to medium-sized church in a town on the southeastern coast of Guangdong Province, Sunday services are attended by no more than 100 believers (except at Christmas and the Chinese New Year) who are almost the elderly and children, as the younger believers go to work in the Pearl River Delta region due to the urbanization.
The followings are what Pastor G does, which encourages the congregation to be willing to make offerings.
Do not "lie-flat"(or couch potato) during the lockdown period.
Besides sending some spiritual articles or prayer titles to the WeChat group every day, G gives virtual sermons around five or six o'clock every Sunday morning, letting believers hear their shepherd’s voice. Some believers gave feedback, "I’m extremely happy getting up to hear the sermon from beginning to end." In this way, believers can also be prevented from listening to heresy or extreme teachings due to their spiritual famine.
Highlight group ministry and visit believers in difficulties
Following the COVID-19 protocols during the church’s lockdown period, Pastor G increased the frequency of visits to know the situation of the members he is pastoring.
Every time he arrived at the community or village where believers live, G called to gather the believers of three to five to share the Lord’s grace and their experiences with prayers, telling them about the situation of the church.
As a 90-year-old female believer said at a group prayer meeting, "Each one has been affected by the epidemic, and the church is no exception. With the same normal expenses during this period, the church could tide over the difficulties if we are willing to give a little money. Although we elderly people cannot make money, we can contribute some pocket money that our descendants give us.” As believers present heard it, the pastor didn’t even need to mention making an offering. The next time of gathering, they donated 20, 50, 100, or 200 yuan, with some even contributing once a month.
Second, pastoral staff must be sensitive to the needs of believers, always paying attention to them and their families. One evening in early April, G received a call that a male Christian whose job was a plasterer was unfortunately injured while working. G immediately called him to ask about the situation with prayers. The next afternoon, he invited another two male believers in the village to visit him, which moved the injured believer who donated 100 yuan to the church.
A few years ago, an old female believer had an operation in the provincial hospital. G and his wife made a special trip to visit her in the provincial capital. Before the Chinese New Year, the old believer went back to live in their hometown with her husband who was hospitalized due to illness later. They often sent greetings and prayed for him on WeChat, as the hospital did not allow outsiders to enter the ward due to the epidemic. After he was discharged from the hospital, they came to visit him again. His youngest daughter living far away never stopped making offerings.
A male Christian from another place baptized by G gave his tithes of a large amount of money every month. G helped him whenever he encountered difficulties, often calling him when he was busy after the Chinese New Year. Occasionally, G was invited to his home to share the grace of God and make intercessory prayers for him.
Be an example for believers in contributions
In July 2019, the church had only about 100,000 yuan, when G was elected as the head of the church which needed to carry out projects of waterproofing, leak repairs, and altar maintenance and couldn’t make ends meet. Since then, G had been the first to offer money almost every Sunday and announced the offerings in the WeChat group on Sunday evening. Many believers were moved to make regular contributions every Sunday, which increased the income of the church.
How can’t a church afford a pastor? If it receives 3,000 or 4,000 yuan each month from 40 or 50 believers when the church cares for its members and the staff members take the lead in the offering.
Do a good job in financial management
According to the Regulations of the Chinese Church, it is not appropriate for pastors to serve as the church's treasurer, which can avoid them from entering into temptation.
During the lockdown period, when the elderly without smartphones gave G offerings to express their gratitude, the pastor recorded the donor, time, and amount in a small notebook every time. At the end of each month, G gathered the financial team to sort out the finances of the month. The accountant made out the receipts recording the time and amount of each believer’s contribution with the signatures of the church’s leader, accountant, and cashier, plus the official seal of the church. The pastor gives them the list of offerings (the third couplet) to reassure them when he sees them next time.
The senior believers put the money into the offering box themselves when the gatherings resumed.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Henan.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
'God's Supply Is Always Steady': How a Pastor Served During COVID-19 Lockdown
