In the past three years, some churches have lost more than half of their members because they cannot meet regularly in the churches or gathering points. However, some churches have seen an increase in the number of believers and growth in their spirituality.
Recently, Pastor Shen Youyou (pseudonym) from southern China shared with the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China, the blessings of his church's prayer watchtower for the church and pastors.
Christ Times: How has the number of people in your church changed?
Pastor Shen Youyou: “After three years of the pandemic, our church has moved to a place twice as big as before. Even before the pandemic, we had online meetings and pastoring, so our members were able to adapt to the model of online pastoring. During the pandemic, our church continued to pay rent for the gathering place, although the utilization rate was not high. However, we decided to keep it to give believers a sense of belonging and an example of faith. The most important thing about the gathering is to let the message of the podium itself have grace, and the form is not important."
Christian Times: What have you done specifically to keep believers attending the church?
Pastor Shen Youyou: “During the pandemic, our church placed much emphasis on prayer that we set up our own watchtower, which is a half-hour gathering every night with a brief 5-minute sharing and praying in the rest of the time. We have more than 20 church staff and 10 of them lead the watchtower, which is 1-2 times per person per month. Laypeople can also serve in the watchtower.
"Through prayer from the watchtower, church ministries are established and developed. For example, the love meal after Sunday service would have been impossible. But with prayer, more and more people participate in the division of labor, and weekly love meals can be held regularly. Through love meals, newcomers also easily find a sense of belonging."
Christian Times: What other updates and impacts does the prayer in the watchtower have on you personally and the church you’re in?
Pastor Shen Youyou: Two years ago, I fell seriously ill, and Western medicine was used to treat it. However, it destroyed the immune cells in my body, resulting in a general decline in my immunity. Through the prayers of the believers in the watchtower and myself, I decided to try the conservative treatment. Western-style doctors said that if I did not receive chemotherapy, there was also the possibility of self-healing, but the possibility was very low. While praying for a few months, I only accepted some simple Chinese medicine treatments and relied on the self-healing of my own body. In the end, I finally recovered from the illness.
Similarly, we are praying for the question of whether the church needs to train fellow workers to continue our cause. We are not in a hurry, nor do we slack off. Through prayer, we will see God's lead and revelation in choosing the right person for us to cultivate.
-Translated by Nicolas Cao
在过去的三年时间里，有的教会因为无法有规律的实地聚会，导致信徒流失过半。但也有的教会在过去的三年处境下，反而信徒人数增加了，信徒的生命也有成长。
近日，来自华南的申友友（化名）牧师和中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报分享了了自己的教会构筑祷告守望台对教会和牧者的祝福。
基督时报：三年疫情过后，您的教会现在人数有怎样的变化？聚会的质量是否受到影响呢？
申友友牧师：三年疫情结束后，我们聚会地点换了一个比之前大一倍的地方。在疫情前，我们就开展了网路的聚会和牧养。所以疫情期间，我们教会的信众已经适应了网络牧养的模式。疫情期间，我们教会房租一直在缴纳，虽然使用率不高。为了给信徒归属感和信心的榜样，我们祷告后，最终还是决定保守下来。聚会最重要的是让讲台的信息本身有恩典，形式不是绝对重要的。
基督时报：教会聚会的人数并未减少，您具体做了什么？
申友友牧师：疫情期间，我们教会非常重视祷告，因此建立了自己的守望台。大家聚在一起祷告，是24小时接力祷告。我们安排的是一个月会停一次祷告，就是给同工调整的时间。教会的普通信徒也可以成为祷告的同工加入进来。我们教会同工有20多个，带领守望台的同工有10个。每个人每个月能轮到1-2次，一次是半个小时左右。开始时，会有简短的5分钟的分享给大家，剩下的大部分时间用来守望祷告。
借助守望台的祷告，教会各项事工得以建立和发展。例如，礼拜后的爱宴，本来是做不下去的。但通过祷告，越来越多的人参与分工，每周的爱宴能定期举行。通过爱宴，新来的人也找到归属感。
基督时报：祷告台对于您个人和整体的来说，还有哪些更新和影响呢？
申友友牧师：两年前我个人生了场大病，有西医的疗法，但是会破坏我身体的免疫细胞，导致我免疫力会全面下降。借着守望台里信徒和我个人的祷告，我绝对做保守治疗。西医的医生说如果不接受化疗，也是有自愈的可能，但是比例很少。在几个月的祷告中，我只是接受了一些简单的中药的调理，其它都是靠身体的自愈，并最终得到了恢复。
同样，在教会是否需要培养接棒人的同工的事情上，我们也放在祷告中。我们不着急，也不懈怠，在祷告中，看到上帝的带领和启示来选择合适的人来培养。
专访｜一华南牧者分享：教会在疫情后的艰难中需更加重视祷告 构筑自己的守望台
In the past three years, some churches have lost more than half of their members because they cannot meet regularly in the churches or gathering points. However, some churches have seen an increase in the number of believers and growth in their spirituality.
Recently, Pastor Shen Youyou (pseudonym) from southern China shared with the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China, the blessings of his church's prayer watchtower for the church and pastors.
Christ Times: How has the number of people in your church changed?
Pastor Shen Youyou: “After three years of the pandemic, our church has moved to a place twice as big as before. Even before the pandemic, we had online meetings and pastoring, so our members were able to adapt to the model of online pastoring. During the pandemic, our church continued to pay rent for the gathering place, although the utilization rate was not high. However, we decided to keep it to give believers a sense of belonging and an example of faith. The most important thing about the gathering is to let the message of the podium itself have grace, and the form is not important."
Christian Times: What have you done specifically to keep believers attending the church?
Pastor Shen Youyou: “During the pandemic, our church placed much emphasis on prayer that we set up our own watchtower, which is a half-hour gathering every night with a brief 5-minute sharing and praying in the rest of the time. We have more than 20 church staff and 10 of them lead the watchtower, which is 1-2 times per person per month. Laypeople can also serve in the watchtower.
"Through prayer from the watchtower, church ministries are established and developed. For example, the love meal after Sunday service would have been impossible. But with prayer, more and more people participate in the division of labor, and weekly love meals can be held regularly. Through love meals, newcomers also easily find a sense of belonging."
Christian Times: What other updates and impacts does the prayer in the watchtower have on you personally and the church you’re in?
Pastor Shen Youyou: Two years ago, I fell seriously ill, and Western medicine was used to treat it. However, it destroyed the immune cells in my body, resulting in a general decline in my immunity. Through the prayers of the believers in the watchtower and myself, I decided to try the conservative treatment. Western-style doctors said that if I did not receive chemotherapy, there was also the possibility of self-healing, but the possibility was very low. While praying for a few months, I only accepted some simple Chinese medicine treatments and relied on the self-healing of my own body. In the end, I finally recovered from the illness.
Similarly, we are praying for the question of whether the church needs to train fellow workers to continue our cause. We are not in a hurry, nor do we slack off. Through prayer, we will see God's lead and revelation in choosing the right person for us to cultivate.
-Translated by Nicolas Cao
Pastor Shares Importance of Prayer
