In a church of nearly 5,000 in a city in southern China, in addition to fellowships formed based on age groups, there are fellowships specifically for men, women, married couples, etc., to better cater to believers with different needs. For example, the fellowship for married couples not only meets for Bible study and devotions but also offers marriage counseling and support so that couples can better glorify God and obey the will of the Lord as they go through life together.
A sister once testified that she and her husband would have divorced long ago if it weren't for the Married Couples Fellowship. The relationship between her and her husband was stuck in the cold winter season. Fortunately, the couple was willing to attend the fellowship together at that time, which turned their lives around as both of their spiritual lives were nurtured and ultimately saved their marriage.
As China urbanizes, many people leave their hometowns to live and work in the cities, forming a group of migrant workers. Very often, being far from home and struggling with the burdens of life makes them feel lost in life. Some churches see the needs of this group and begin to form fellowships for these migrant workers.
A characteristic of this type of fellowship is that while it focuses on the Christian faith, it also serves the purpose of traditional mutual support groups. In these fellowships, most of the members are often from the same region. In my observation, this type of fellowship is often associated with a party from a particular locality. For example, the members of one church in District Q are mostly from Henan, while the members of another church in District G are mostly from Anhui. Members of such fellowships tend to form close-knit groups in which they help each other. This is undoubtedly very attractive to people who work away from home. In these fellowships, while the members themselves are being disciplined and developed in their lives, the gospel can also be spread among people who are from the same hometown as them.
Similar to migrant worker fellowships, churches have also formed fellowships based on different types of work. For example, there are fellowships for taxi drivers, tour guides, security guards, cooks, and so on. Pastoring these fellowships would have a vocational approach. For example, our church has a fellowship for taxi drivers. During these meetings, the pastor always reminds the members of the fellowship that they must obey the law, be friendly and charge a fair price, and talk about how they should handle emergencies, etc. Many people, both inside and outside the church, claim that the drivers who have hanging cross decorations on their taxis are very friendly, which makes them feel very comfortable.
In the movie "Dying to Survive", Pastor Liu pastors a fellowship formed by patients. Although, according to my research, such fellowships have not yet been formed in China, this type of group should be a pretty good way to provide pastoral care. When patients get together, they can not only pray together and support each other but also share their treatment experiences, which is also very helpful for the recovery of the body.
In conclusion, different types of fellowships will emerge according to the needs of people, and I believe that in the near future there will be a richer mix in the types of fellowships that can better meet the different spiritual needs of different groups and thus promote growth in the lives of believers.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
南方某城市有个将近5000人的教会，除了年龄段划分的团契外，为了更好地牧养信徒，出现弟兄团契、姐妹团契、夫妻团契等等。比如夫妻团契，在查经、灵修之外，就特别注重对婚姻生活的辅导，以帮助他们更好地在婚姻中荣耀上帝，遵行主的旨意。
有位姐妹就作见证指出，如果没有夫妻团契，她与丈夫早就结束了这场婚姻。当时两人关系降到了冰点，幸好一同参加团契，双方都学到有用的属灵知识，才改变了生命，挽救了这场婚姻。
随着中国城市化的进程，很多人离开自己的家乡，来到城市打拼、生活，形成了外来务工人员的群体。他们在异乡往往孑然一身，加上生活的重担，让他们对人生感到迷茫。而有些教会看到了他们的需求，于是就建立了农民工团契这样的组织。
这类团契有个特点，在保留基督信仰特色的同时，也担负了传统互助会的功能。肢体的构成往往是与某一地区的人员为主。比如我调查发现，这类团契往往与某地群体有关。比如Q区教会就以河南人为主，而G区多为安徽人。他们聚在一起，往往会形成抱团与互助。这对于在外漂泊的人来说无疑非常吸引人。他们在此得到牧养，生命得以提升的时候，也促进了福音在同乡群体中的传播。
与农民工团契类似，有些地方还出现了工种方面的团契。比如的哥、导游、保安、厨师等等。这类团契在牧养上有着鲜明的职业色彩。比如我们这里就有一个的哥团契，牧者都会教导他们必须遵纪守法、对人友善、要价公平以及突发情况的处理方式等等。不少教内外的人都反映，出租车上挂着十字架的司机为人都很和蔼，这让他们感到十分温馨。
在电影《我不是药神》中，刘牧师牧养着一个由病友组成的团契。虽然根据我自己的调查，目前在国内尚未出现这样的教会小组，但这种模式不失为一种不错的牧养方式。病友聚在一起，不仅可以同心合意地祈祷和相互扶持，也可分享彼此的治疗经验，这对于身体恢复也是有积极意义的。
总之团契会随着需求而出现多样化，相信在今后会有丰富多彩的团契出现，这样可以做到精准牧养，促进信徒的成长。
团契需求变得多样化
In a church of nearly 5,000 in a city in southern China, in addition to fellowships formed based on age groups, there are fellowships specifically for men, women, married couples, etc., to better cater to believers with different needs. For example, the fellowship for married couples not only meets for Bible study and devotions but also offers marriage counseling and support so that couples can better glorify God and obey the will of the Lord as they go through life together.
A sister once testified that she and her husband would have divorced long ago if it weren't for the Married Couples Fellowship. The relationship between her and her husband was stuck in the cold winter season. Fortunately, the couple was willing to attend the fellowship together at that time, which turned their lives around as both of their spiritual lives were nurtured and ultimately saved their marriage.
As China urbanizes, many people leave their hometowns to live and work in the cities, forming a group of migrant workers. Very often, being far from home and struggling with the burdens of life makes them feel lost in life. Some churches see the needs of this group and begin to form fellowships for these migrant workers.
A characteristic of this type of fellowship is that while it focuses on the Christian faith, it also serves the purpose of traditional mutual support groups. In these fellowships, most of the members are often from the same region. In my observation, this type of fellowship is often associated with a party from a particular locality. For example, the members of one church in District Q are mostly from Henan, while the members of another church in District G are mostly from Anhui. Members of such fellowships tend to form close-knit groups in which they help each other. This is undoubtedly very attractive to people who work away from home. In these fellowships, while the members themselves are being disciplined and developed in their lives, the gospel can also be spread among people who are from the same hometown as them.
Similar to migrant worker fellowships, churches have also formed fellowships based on different types of work. For example, there are fellowships for taxi drivers, tour guides, security guards, cooks, and so on. Pastoring these fellowships would have a vocational approach. For example, our church has a fellowship for taxi drivers. During these meetings, the pastor always reminds the members of the fellowship that they must obey the law, be friendly and charge a fair price, and talk about how they should handle emergencies, etc. Many people, both inside and outside the church, claim that the drivers who have hanging cross decorations on their taxis are very friendly, which makes them feel very comfortable.
In the movie "Dying to Survive", Pastor Liu pastors a fellowship formed by patients. Although, according to my research, such fellowships have not yet been formed in China, this type of group should be a pretty good way to provide pastoral care. When patients get together, they can not only pray together and support each other but also share their treatment experiences, which is also very helpful for the recovery of the body.
In conclusion, different types of fellowships will emerge according to the needs of people, and I believe that in the near future there will be a richer mix in the types of fellowships that can better meet the different spiritual needs of different groups and thus promote growth in the lives of believers.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
From New Needs Comes New Fellowships
