Despite the struggles and tears, the Lord's grace has been with Pastor Zhang (pseudonym) along the way of her 20-year ministry.
The start of Pastor Zhang’s dedication to the Lord was unique.
Born into a comfortable family, 28-year-old Zhang had to divorce and leave home for work alone because of her drug-addicted ex-husband and separation from her only son.
During work, a young female believer preached the gospel to Zhang, leading her to a local church. Coincidentally, this happened during the seminary admission, and the church advised her to study theology, which she refused at first because of financial problems. Being promised a supportive fund of 400 yuan a month, equal to her monthly salary from work, Pastor Zhang, who had little knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, agreed to pursue theology in 2000.
Despite first arriving with little basic biblical knowledge and a low level of education, which led to her incomprehension of the course, Zhang, driven by her tenacious spirit, insisted on studying hard.
Once, a pastor referred to sheep without a shepherd, which reminded Zhang that she was the lost sheep. There has been a qualitative change in the relationship between her and the Lord since that day, motivating her to study more diligently and actively. After graduation, she accepted a mission to preach in the challenging Western Chinese area with another young female believer.
Meanwhile, Zhang had been praying for her son's return. Zhang's fortune-telling father, on the other hand, was strongly opposed to their reunion after a two-year separation, claiming a disaster if she was with her son when she was thirty-four years old. Zhang first failed in her attempts to preach to her father. Her father was determined to find breaches in Zhang’s belief in Jesus and read the Bible twice in one breath. Learning that the daughter and grandson had both safely passed Zhang's 34, her father believed that God was the true God. Moreover, under her influence, Zhang’s mother, brother, and sister all believed in the Lord.
However, it wasn’t easy to begin missionary work in an unfamiliar place. At first, no one was willing to hear about the gospel for over two months. Pastor Zhang and her partner were limited to praying and reading the Bible. Fortunately, the Spirit led them to a Bible-reading fellowship, where Zhang met her current spouse. Her daughter was born soon after her remarriage. Zhang founded a small church of six.
Pastor Zhang has been a full-time missionary for 21 years, since 2002. Except for a little support from her home church at the start of her mission, Zhang had to rely solely on God. During the development of her church, there has been harassment from heresies and internal conflicts. She realized that the staff workers who had previously opposed her gradually turned to be in unity with her as her focus remained on what pleased God.
What makes Pastor Zhang most grateful and proud is that her whole family serves in the church. Her husband has been very supportive of her service, though he is not a full-time church worker. Additionally, despite just being volunteers, her son, daughter, and daughter-in-law always prioritize the needs of the church. As a graduate of the theological seminary, Zhang’s daughter-in-law can also preach sermons in the church. Pastor Zhang’s brother and sister couldn’t understand her dedication to the Lord at first, even though they are believers as well. However, they understood God’s blessing after observing the changes in Zhang’s family.
What matters most to Pastor Zhang is that there is now a lovely family fearing and serving God, in contrast to having nothing at the start. Though the young Zhang once complained to God about the church's limited subsidies, she was determined that "Even if I don't get any salary, I will still work for the Lord!" when she was touched by the Lord again. She is already past 50, and her husband's salary is modest. Her faith in the Lord gives her no worry about life after retirement. She also pictured herself and her husband traveling to the land of "unreached peoples" in the future to bless the people there.
Zhang’s son used to think that taking belief in the Lord was enough, but today’s confession is, “There must be a dedication to the Lord with the mission.” His son often exhorts his children to serve the Lord in all circumstances.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
张牧师在西部地区牧会20年，有艰难和眼泪，但一路都有主的恩典陪伴她。
离异打工，意外走上读神学的路
张牧师走上服事道路是非常特别的。
张牧师出生在一个还算不错的家庭，只是前夫是吸毒的，唯一的儿子也被夺走，所以28岁的张牧师离异后一个人外出打工。
在打工期间，一个年轻的姊妹给她传福音，她就去了当地的教会。赶上神学院招生，教会推荐她去读神学。她一开始是拒绝的，因为经济问题，推荐的人就答应每个月给她400元（就是她打工一个月的工资）。因此，2000年，连新旧约还不知道的张牧师就答应去读神学。
学习期间蒙恩得救
由于没有任何的圣经基础，学历也不是太高，张牧师初到神学院根本读不进去。但是性格坚韧的她，虽然学不懂，但坚持下去了。
一次，讲道人分享信息谈到没有牧人的羊群，突然意识到自己就是没有牧人的羊。那一天，张牧师跟主的关系发生了质的改变，对学习也越来越积极。毕业后，她接受派遣，和另外一位年轻的姊妹一同来到条件相对艰苦的西部地区。
度过了“命中注定”的“砍”，算命的父亲信真神
张牧师一直为了儿子能回到自己的身边而祷告。两年多，终于可以把儿子带到身边，而张牧师的父亲却极力反对。因为算出她在三十四岁那一年如果跟儿子在一起会遭灾。张牧师向父亲传福音，父亲开始不信，但一口气将圣书读了两遍，立志找出女儿信仰的破绽。他见母子二人也平安度过三十四岁，从此父亲相信上帝是真神。张牧师的母亲、哥哥、姐姐也都在她的影响下信了主。
教会在风雨中成长
在外地开展福音工作并不容易。起初，两个多月没有人愿意听她们分享福音。她们只能拼命祷告和读经，后来他们结识了一个读经团契，遇到了现在的丈夫。再婚后，张牧师很快生下女儿。2004年，组成了一个6人的小教会。
如果从2002年开始算，张牧师踏入了全职事奉的行列，到今天已经有21年。张牧师除了最初被派遣时，得到母会一点帮助外，后面都需要完全仰望上帝。她所建立的教会在成长过程中，受到过异端的搅扰，也经历过内部分裂。她发现当自己只是专心做上帝喜悦的事情，慢慢的，曾经想要分裂的同工开始跟她走向了合一。
全家敬畏主蒙祝福 带着使命前行
最让她感恩和自豪的是，她的全家都是服事者。首先丈夫虽然没有全职服事，但是非常支持她。此外，儿子、儿媳和女儿虽然是义工，但都是把教会的需要放在第一位。儿媳是神学院毕业，也能参与讲道服事。哥哥姐姐虽然信了主，但起初对于张牧师的服事仍然不理解。在看到张牧师家庭的改变后，他们也终于知道这是上帝的祝福。
张牧师回想起初一无所有，现在不但组建了美好的家庭，最主要的是他们全家都是敬畏主的，服事主的。虽然教会补贴少，但她年轻时埋怨神，当她被主再次触摸的时候，她想：“即使一点工资没有，我也要为主做工！”她已经50多岁，丈夫工资也不高，她靠着对主的信心没有担心退休后的生活，还畅想着将来跟丈夫一起去“未得之民”的土地上去祝福那里的百姓。
张牧师儿子从前是只要信主就可以了，但是今天的告白是，“一定要事奉主，一定要有使命。”儿子还常常教导自己的孩子们，无论如何都要服事主。
故事|一西部女牧者的见证：离异打工后，意外踏上服事路，一路蒙福至今
Despite the struggles and tears, the Lord's grace has been with Pastor Zhang (pseudonym) along the way of her 20-year ministry.
The start of Pastor Zhang’s dedication to the Lord was unique.
Born into a comfortable family, 28-year-old Zhang had to divorce and leave home for work alone because of her drug-addicted ex-husband and separation from her only son.
During work, a young female believer preached the gospel to Zhang, leading her to a local church. Coincidentally, this happened during the seminary admission, and the church advised her to study theology, which she refused at first because of financial problems. Being promised a supportive fund of 400 yuan a month, equal to her monthly salary from work, Pastor Zhang, who had little knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, agreed to pursue theology in 2000.
Despite first arriving with little basic biblical knowledge and a low level of education, which led to her incomprehension of the course, Zhang, driven by her tenacious spirit, insisted on studying hard.
Once, a pastor referred to sheep without a shepherd, which reminded Zhang that she was the lost sheep. There has been a qualitative change in the relationship between her and the Lord since that day, motivating her to study more diligently and actively. After graduation, she accepted a mission to preach in the challenging Western Chinese area with another young female believer.
Meanwhile, Zhang had been praying for her son's return. Zhang's fortune-telling father, on the other hand, was strongly opposed to their reunion after a two-year separation, claiming a disaster if she was with her son when she was thirty-four years old. Zhang first failed in her attempts to preach to her father. Her father was determined to find breaches in Zhang’s belief in Jesus and read the Bible twice in one breath. Learning that the daughter and grandson had both safely passed Zhang's 34, her father believed that God was the true God. Moreover, under her influence, Zhang’s mother, brother, and sister all believed in the Lord.
However, it wasn’t easy to begin missionary work in an unfamiliar place. At first, no one was willing to hear about the gospel for over two months. Pastor Zhang and her partner were limited to praying and reading the Bible. Fortunately, the Spirit led them to a Bible-reading fellowship, where Zhang met her current spouse. Her daughter was born soon after her remarriage. Zhang founded a small church of six.
Pastor Zhang has been a full-time missionary for 21 years, since 2002. Except for a little support from her home church at the start of her mission, Zhang had to rely solely on God. During the development of her church, there has been harassment from heresies and internal conflicts. She realized that the staff workers who had previously opposed her gradually turned to be in unity with her as her focus remained on what pleased God.
What makes Pastor Zhang most grateful and proud is that her whole family serves in the church. Her husband has been very supportive of her service, though he is not a full-time church worker. Additionally, despite just being volunteers, her son, daughter, and daughter-in-law always prioritize the needs of the church. As a graduate of the theological seminary, Zhang’s daughter-in-law can also preach sermons in the church. Pastor Zhang’s brother and sister couldn’t understand her dedication to the Lord at first, even though they are believers as well. However, they understood God’s blessing after observing the changes in Zhang’s family.
What matters most to Pastor Zhang is that there is now a lovely family fearing and serving God, in contrast to having nothing at the start. Though the young Zhang once complained to God about the church's limited subsidies, she was determined that "Even if I don't get any salary, I will still work for the Lord!" when she was touched by the Lord again. She is already past 50, and her husband's salary is modest. Her faith in the Lord gives her no worry about life after retirement. She also pictured herself and her husband traveling to the land of "unreached peoples" in the future to bless the people there.
Zhang’s son used to think that taking belief in the Lord was enough, but today’s confession is, “There must be a dedication to the Lord with the mission.” His son often exhorts his children to serve the Lord in all circumstances.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Testimony: Blessed Journey of Woman Pastor Serving in Church After Divorce
