As most of the churches in China have their own chat groups or official accounts on WeChat, online platforms bring both advantages and disadvantages to pastors and their flocks.
Common problems & suggestions
Dilemmas confronting believers
1. Online sermons are a mixed bag. Some heresies quietly creep into cyberspace platforms and even spend a lot of money to build an eye-catching online presence. Believers without a lack of discernment are likely to fall prey to them.
2. Some Christians are more concerned about the quantity of sermons they hear on different platforms and quickly forget what they hear.
An elderly sister once shared a parable to describe this-- "too many sermons resemble rain falling on a heart the same as on a concrete floor, easily flowing away."
Suggestions
1. To protect themselves from heresies, Christians can pay attention to WeChat accounts or websites recommended by church pastors. That will reduce the risk of being misled.
2. Sermons are not only to be heard, but also to be absorbed. If one insists on listening to many sermons, he or she can make notes of a single sermon and meditate on it again and again in a week; he or she can listen to many other sermons the rest of the week.
Problems faced by pastors
The convenience brought by the Internet enables pastors to communicate with their flocks at home and influence more people. Reruns are available for those who are far away. One sermon can nurture persons several times. However, the challenge is to ensure that every sentence is theologically and logically correct. The content should be informative and inspiring.
Suggestion
As a pastor, I can seriously say, "These requirements are actually what we should attain. Online platforms just strengthen the qualities we should acquire." The conclusion is the acceptance of those and no complaints.
Highlighted issues during the coronavirus crisis and suggestions
Issues
According to my observation for the past month, the pros and cons of online ministries have been accentuated.
The greatest advantage is that the ministries solve the issue of "nonstop services and meetings", but it is hard to have a worship atmosphere at home. An embarrassing situation for pastors is that they keep talking while looking at no one... When preaching in the church, they can see the facial expressions of the congregation and adjust what they are saying. But it's quite embarrassing when they fail to see others and have no idea of their reactions.
On the contrary, pastors can refer to notes while preaching online, but if they develop that habit, it will be difficult for them when they are back in the pulpit.
Suggestion
If a believer replays a sermon online or has to do something else, he or she can do that while listening. Nonetheless, Christians need to be quiet and involved in worship when it comes to the agreed-on meeting time. That shows respect to the organizers and helps them form a communion with other believers.
In order to be more involved in their sermon delivery, despite not seeing their audience, pastors should earnestly prepare their sermons and practice delivering them several times so they are more skilled. They should practice more times than they do when preaching in the church.
A sermon should be given without the pastor looking at his notes so the facial expression is inviting to the listener and the pastor comes across well to his audience. If a pastor's sermon is broadcast online, he or she can watch themselves in a mirror to see that they are delivering the sermon well.
- Translated by Karen Luo
关于网络牧养的一些问题和几点建议
现在，绝大多数教会都有了自己的微信群，甚至不止一个微信群。另外，只要愿意，教会也可以有自己的公众号，甚至创建一个自己的网站，也不是没有可能。这些网络平台，对信徒和牧者来说，都是有利也有弊。
一、普遍的几个问题及建议
信徒面对的问题
对于信徒来说，通过网络，能有更多的机会听到牧者的讲道，这当然是好事。对于一些想仔细听的内容，也可以通过网络实现反复聆听、思想。但网络的便利也有其隐患，比如：
1、讲道内容鱼龙混杂，一些异端悄无声息地混入各个网络平台，甚至有的异端自己花大代价，打造出一个吸引人眼球的网络平台，宣传异端思想。一些没有分辨的信徒，进入其中很可能就会误入歧途；
2、信徒奔走于各个网络平台，忙于听道，一味地求多，听完就忘。有位年老的姊妹曾做过这样的比喻——听的道像雨水一般的多，心却是水泥地，雨水再多，也只是落在上面，然后就流走了。
建议
1、为了防范异端，建议信徒关注一些教会牧者推荐的公众号或是网站，这样风险会低很多；
2、针对听道只求量的现象，一定要引起自己的注意，因为听道不只是为了听而已，听得再多，不吸收，这也是无益的。如果坚持要听很多才觉得安心，那么我建议，你可以一周选择一篇道，认真听，认真思想，并且做好笔记，做到这一点之后，一周当中剩下的时间，你可以大量的听。这样，既在量上让你安心，又能保证每周都有深层的吸收。
牧者面对的问题
对于牧者来说，网络的便利，可以让自己能够足不出户，就可以与弟兄姊妹进行交通。也可以让自己的讲道内容影响更多的人，让那些不能到现场听道的人，能够随时随地实现讲道内容的“重播”，甚至那些不认识自己，离自己很远的人，也能听到同样的内容。这就实现了一次讲道，多次牧养。然而，这也给牧者带来了挑战，所说的每一句话，在神学上要站立得住，在逻辑上要经得住推敲，在内容上要充实精彩，这些要求对于不少牧者来说，是非常头疼的事。
建议
对于这个问题，因为我自己本身就是一个做牧养的人，所以，我可以认真的说：“这些要求是我们本来就应该做到的，只是网络平台把我们这些原本就要具备的素质，再次强调了一遍而已。”所以，我们只有接受的份，没有抱怨的理由。
二、疫情中凸显的问题及建议
问题
为了防控疫情，教堂暂停了聚会，于是网络平台的牧养便风生水起。根据笔者一个月的观察，在这段时间，网络平台的利弊尤为突出。
关于“利”，当然是除了上面所说的益处之外，现阶段最大的益处，就是解决了“不能停止聚会”的问题。然而，信徒在家虽然能准时参加聚会，但是因为在家比较随意，根本无法进入到敬拜的氛围。
牧者也面临着尴尬景况，试想一下，你对着电脑或者手机，看不见一个人，然后在那一直讲一直讲……在教堂里讲道，还可以看见会众的表情，一方面可以激励你大胆传讲，一方面可以随时调整状态。而当你看不见会众的时候，无法知道他们的反应，这会让你觉得很囧。另一方面，牧者在进行网络牧养的时候，可以一直看着稿子，这当然给牧者减轻了一些压力，问题是，牧者终将回到讲台上，面对会众讲道，一旦读稿的习惯养成，恢复聚会后，你将无比痛苦。
建议
在家听道，如果是网络平台上“复播”的内容，就是已经结束的聚会所录制下来的讲道，如果你有事需要做，同时又想听道，那么你可以一边听一边做事。但如果是大家约好的聚会时间，那么就要安静下来，与众人一起融入到敬拜当中。这是对组织者的尊重，也是让自己能够越过电子产品，与弟兄姊妹彼此相通。
对于牧者来说，为了减少因为看不见听众而产生的没有激情，说话卡壳的情况，我们需要认真预备讲章，反复熟练，甚至熟练的次数，要比在教堂讲道所预备的次数更多。在讲的过程中，要做到脱稿，甚至要始终注意自己的面部表情，因为你的表情会影响你的语气。至于怎么看表情，办法是有的。如果你是直播间讲道，那么在屏幕上看就可以了，如果是其他方式，可以选择在自己的前方放一面镜子，这样，问题就解决了。
文章只是罗列了一些自己的看见，盼望我们每一位弟兄姊妹都能用好网络，让网络带给我们更多的益处。
As most of the churches in China have their own chat groups or official accounts on WeChat, online platforms bring both advantages and disadvantages to pastors and their flocks.
Common problems & suggestions
Dilemmas confronting believers
1. Online sermons are a mixed bag. Some heresies quietly creep into cyberspace platforms and even spend a lot of money to build an eye-catching online presence. Believers without a lack of discernment are likely to fall prey to them.
2. Some Christians are more concerned about the quantity of sermons they hear on different platforms and quickly forget what they hear.
An elderly sister once shared a parable to describe this-- "too many sermons resemble rain falling on a heart the same as on a concrete floor, easily flowing away."
Suggestions
1. To protect themselves from heresies, Christians can pay attention to WeChat accounts or websites recommended by church pastors. That will reduce the risk of being misled.
2. Sermons are not only to be heard, but also to be absorbed. If one insists on listening to many sermons, he or she can make notes of a single sermon and meditate on it again and again in a week; he or she can listen to many other sermons the rest of the week.
Problems faced by pastors
The convenience brought by the Internet enables pastors to communicate with their flocks at home and influence more people. Reruns are available for those who are far away. One sermon can nurture persons several times. However, the challenge is to ensure that every sentence is theologically and logically correct. The content should be informative and inspiring.
Suggestion
As a pastor, I can seriously say, "These requirements are actually what we should attain. Online platforms just strengthen the qualities we should acquire." The conclusion is the acceptance of those and no complaints.
Highlighted issues during the coronavirus crisis and suggestions
Issues
According to my observation for the past month, the pros and cons of online ministries have been accentuated.
The greatest advantage is that the ministries solve the issue of "nonstop services and meetings", but it is hard to have a worship atmosphere at home. An embarrassing situation for pastors is that they keep talking while looking at no one... When preaching in the church, they can see the facial expressions of the congregation and adjust what they are saying. But it's quite embarrassing when they fail to see others and have no idea of their reactions.
On the contrary, pastors can refer to notes while preaching online, but if they develop that habit, it will be difficult for them when they are back in the pulpit.
Suggestion
If a believer replays a sermon online or has to do something else, he or she can do that while listening. Nonetheless, Christians need to be quiet and involved in worship when it comes to the agreed-on meeting time. That shows respect to the organizers and helps them form a communion with other believers.
In order to be more involved in their sermon delivery, despite not seeing their audience, pastors should earnestly prepare their sermons and practice delivering them several times so they are more skilled. They should practice more times than they do when preaching in the church.
A sermon should be given without the pastor looking at his notes so the facial expression is inviting to the listener and the pastor comes across well to his audience. If a pastor's sermon is broadcast online, he or she can watch themselves in a mirror to see that they are delivering the sermon well.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Problems & Advices on Online Ministry
