Recently, a new wave of the pandemic has hit our lives again, bringing many churches' offline ministries to a halt. The scheduled study course had to be canceled due to the pandemic. I had to cancel my scheduled work visit too.
I learned that a pastor in a certain place in Central China eventually chose to get a job after quitting being a pastor due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other problems, leaving the post of service that he was in for many years. He may have his own reasons and difficulties, but it is not a happy thing that we lost another priest. It may affect the faith of other brothers and sisters in the church, and it may cause the termination of some ministries in the church.
During the pandemic situation, the churches of Central China faced various crises, including pastoral crises and future development issues. As is known to all, most of the churches in Central China are located in the plains. When farming is busy, the church's work would be suspended because of the need to harvest corn or plant wheat and other crops. So at this time, there is a window period in the church work, and as a full-time pastor, there are other things to think about because of the temporary work in the field. Many believers have been put on hold because of busy farming and the pandemic. When the gathering stopped, the faith of the believers began to suffer, and the faith habits they had formed may be gradually disappearing due to the busy work of the farm.
For pastors, there is indeed a great deal of pressure and difficulties in their ministries, and the recent pandemic has made it impossible to hold in-person gatherings. As a result, many rural pastors have chosen to get other jobs. They either get another job while participating in the ministry where they work or become full-time workers in cities, leaving the rural church service completely.
The present rural churches in the Central China are very different from those in the past. The Internet has become developed and the spread of information is very rapid. Many believers also begin to listen to mixed information online, some of which is true and some of which is false. This unprecedented situation has created a new pastoral problem for church pastors. Because believers have other sources of information about their faith, many people are increasingly disinterested in face-to-face meetings, meaning that attendance at church services is scarce.
The church's current situation is not optimistic, and that is why we should be prepared. The pastors should keep their own minds from the temptation of the world, and the believers should be firm in their faith and practice good habits of faith and life. At present, we are not only facing the external issue of the pandemic, but also facing our own weakness and negativity, fighting external pressure and internal struggles, and asking God to show mercy and help us.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
近期，新一轮的疫情再次冲击着我们的生活，使许多教会的线下事工出现停滞。原定的课程学习，不得不因疫情的原因取消。原定的出工探访，也不得不遗憾取消。
笔者了解到，中原某地的一位牧师因疫情影响和其它问题，最终选择出外打工，就此离开了多年的服事岗位。或许他有个人呼召问题，亦或许他有自己的理由和困难，但总之离开服事的岗位的确是一件不那么令人高兴的事，也许会影响教会中弟兄姊妹的信心，也或许会造成教会中一些事工的终止。
疫情之下，中原教会出现了各种危机，有牧养的危机，更有教会未来发展的危机。众所周知，中原教会绝大多数地处平原，每到农忙的时候，教会的工作就会有所暂缓，因为需要收割玉米与种植小麦等农作物。所以在这个时候，教会的工作会有空窗期，而作为全职的牧师也会因为暂时工作而思虑其它的事。许多信徒因农忙的原因，再加上疫情的缘故，聚会也就暂时搁置了。当聚会停滞时，信徒们的信心开始出现问题，原本养成的信仰习惯也因忙碌农田的事逐渐懈怠。
这对牧者而言，的确有很多牧养上的压力和困难，再加上近期疫情导致无法举行线下聚会。所以，许多农村牧者选择了另谋他路，或许是出外打工，参与工作所在地的服事，亦或许是到城市作全职工人，彻底脱离了农村教会的服事。
如今的中原农村教会和往日已大不相同，网络变得发达，信息的传播非常迅速，许多信徒也开始在网上听取一些信息，其中有积极正面的，也有消极错谬的，可谓鱼龙混杂。这样的前所未有的场景又给教会牧者带来了新的牧养难题，因为羊群有别的渠道接收信仰信息，很多人渐渐地对线下聚会不感兴趣，以至于参与聚会礼拜时，人员十分稀少。
教会目前的发展情况不容乐观，我们当居安思危。作牧者的要谨守自己的心，免受世界的诱惑，作信徒的要坚定你的信仰，操练良好的信仰生活习惯。当下，我们除了面对外在的疫情问题，还要面对自身的软弱与消极，对抗外在的压力与内在的挣扎，求神怜悯帮助我们。
疫情下2022年中原地区教会光景
Recently, a new wave of the pandemic has hit our lives again, bringing many churches' offline ministries to a halt. The scheduled study course had to be canceled due to the pandemic. I had to cancel my scheduled work visit too.
I learned that a pastor in a certain place in Central China eventually chose to get a job after quitting being a pastor due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other problems, leaving the post of service that he was in for many years. He may have his own reasons and difficulties, but it is not a happy thing that we lost another priest. It may affect the faith of other brothers and sisters in the church, and it may cause the termination of some ministries in the church.
During the pandemic situation, the churches of Central China faced various crises, including pastoral crises and future development issues. As is known to all, most of the churches in Central China are located in the plains. When farming is busy, the church's work would be suspended because of the need to harvest corn or plant wheat and other crops. So at this time, there is a window period in the church work, and as a full-time pastor, there are other things to think about because of the temporary work in the field. Many believers have been put on hold because of busy farming and the pandemic. When the gathering stopped, the faith of the believers began to suffer, and the faith habits they had formed may be gradually disappearing due to the busy work of the farm.
For pastors, there is indeed a great deal of pressure and difficulties in their ministries, and the recent pandemic has made it impossible to hold in-person gatherings. As a result, many rural pastors have chosen to get other jobs. They either get another job while participating in the ministry where they work or become full-time workers in cities, leaving the rural church service completely.
The present rural churches in the Central China are very different from those in the past. The Internet has become developed and the spread of information is very rapid. Many believers also begin to listen to mixed information online, some of which is true and some of which is false. This unprecedented situation has created a new pastoral problem for church pastors. Because believers have other sources of information about their faith, many people are increasingly disinterested in face-to-face meetings, meaning that attendance at church services is scarce.
The church's current situation is not optimistic, and that is why we should be prepared. The pastors should keep their own minds from the temptation of the world, and the believers should be firm in their faith and practice good habits of faith and life. At present, we are not only facing the external issue of the pandemic, but also facing our own weakness and negativity, fighting external pressure and internal struggles, and asking God to show mercy and help us.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Situation of Churches in Central China in 2022 Under Pandemic
