Churches in the countryside are referred to as “rural” because of where they are located. When we hear about the rural church, we have a subjective bias. We think that rural churches are poor, have a small number of people, insufficient material resources, and a scarcity of preachers. However, in recent years as rural areas have developed, churches have increased in number, have improved their quality, changed the way in which they meet, and have developed further ministries. Here we want to carefully analyze the changes that rural churches have made from the past to the present.
I. The Transformation of the Meeting Program and Mode
In connection with modern progress, rural churches have gradually become orderly. Church administration and structure as well as the hardware and software of the churches all have improved greatly. Originally rural churches held worship services in the houses of some brothers and sisters. Men and women, young and old, met in this way. Church meetings included learning hymns, prayer, preaching, and then praying for each other at the end of the service.
Today's rural churches have changed greatly. First of all, there are large gathering places, different teachers for different groups, and excellent choirs and bands with keyboards, drums, guitars and other musical instruments. The order of service has also changed and gradually improved. Churches have various departments and ministries, and the number of preachers has also increased. Every Sunday service, there is a list for preachers who take turns preaching. Rural churches have learned to follow the worship order of urban churches in China and Western churches. Services begin with an introduction and welcome, followed by scripture reading, songs from the choir accompanied by musical instruments. At the end of the service the person in charge summarizes the meeting and reports on the concerns of families in the church, followed by a sharing of testimonies.
Rural churches are gradually changing with the needs of the times, striving to improve on their shortcomings and deficiencies. Originally, everything in rural churches was run by a single preacher. He/she was responsible for teaching hymns, leading worship, praying and preaching. But now there is a designated person in charge of each step of the worship service.
The model of how the church is structured and operates is in line with the development of the times. Under the principle of not violating the truth, it has been necessary to see the church develop a new model. People who gather for worship are diverse. Even new believers who want to serve in the church have the opportunity to understand the operation of the church, listen to testimonies, understand the Christian faith, and accept the Gospel.
II. Exploring New Fields
In recent years, rural churches have also made efforts to expand into cities and set up gospel classes to help young people learn about the Christian faith so that they can become a light within their setting.
In addition to gospel classes, there are also dance classes, which are opportunities for believers to reach out to the society and spread God's love.
Of course, in addition to the liturgical dance classes, the church is also developing its cultural mission. The cultural mission of Christians is to do what we can to help people in need, such as visiting nursing homes and orphanages, and being involved in public welfare activities like cleaning the city, joining volunteer teams, and bringing warmth and love to society.
Although the rural church may seem like it is backward, it is not. Rural churches also see the social needs of the times, and have an altruistic spirit of dedication. I learned some time ago that believers in some rural churches are also learning how to do first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the dressing of wounds.
III. The Cultivation of the Next Generation of Preachers
Rural churches are also paying attention to developing the next generation of preachers, with the purpose of providing qualified successors. Although some of the rural churches have a serious problem with aging staff, God has always left seeds for the church. In the present rural churches, some excellent young people are increasingly showing up and are willing to join the building of local churches. So they go to seminary for further study and equip themselves with faith in God.
When it comes to developing the next generation of preachers, there are some advantages and some disadvantages. The advantages are that some people are willing to commit themselves, and that the church has new members. The disadvantage is that most of the young believers are the children of some church leaders, fellow workers and deacons, and few young believers are the children of ordinary believers.
Why is this happening? Perhaps the believers themselves pay little attention to the cultivation of their children's faith, so they do not have the habit of participating in the church fellowship. Or it may be personal opinions and prejudices, or it may be that it’s hard for today's young people to be brought into the church and serve. To sum up, training the next generation of preachers has become the challenge of the church in this age. Rural and city churches are all facing such problems, because the social environment and cultural trends influence hearts that are of this age. Many people are unwilling to become preachers because it's too hard. One has to give up many things.
Rural churches train the next generation of preachers not only to continue and develop the church, but also to spread the Gospel. Therefore, the rise of the next generation of preachers is not only the responsibility of ministers, elders and deacons, but also the responsibility of every believer. The baton needs to be passed on to the next generation. It is the baton of the Church of God, the spread of the Gospel of God, and more directly related to the glory of God.
The development of the church cannot be separated from the guidance of God himself, and the future path cannot be separated from the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
农村教会这个名称是因着特殊地点和特殊位置而起的，一听农村教会总会让人有一些主观的看法，是不是环境差、人数少、设备不足、讲道人稀缺等问题。但其实近些年随着时代多元的发展，农村的教会在人数、质量、聚会模式、事工以及外在的环境条件上都有所提升和转变。因此，我们以此为焦点来仔细分析过去农村教会和当下农村教会的变化。
一，聚会程序模式的转变
随着时代的进步，农村教会也逐渐步入秩序化，无论是从教会运行的架构上，还是教会的软硬件设施上，都有相对的完善。原来的农村教会是在一些弟兄姊妹家里，无论男女老少，都是去到一些弟兄姐妹家里聚会，聚会的程序模式都是以教诗歌开始，然后祷告，接着证道，最后结束，问安分散。
如今的农村教会也是大变样了，首先有了足够大的聚会场地，有不同群体的栽培老师，并且也有相对完善的唱诗班、乐队、键盘、架子鼓、吉他等乐器。聚会的程序模式也逐渐开始完善起来，教会有各个部门以及事工分配，讲道人也日益增多，每主日崇拜，都有讲道人证道列表。聚会的程序流程，也开始学习城市教会/西方教会的崇拜秩序，首先有主礼，其次是带领敬拜的队长带领敬拜，再然后有经文朗读员朗读宣召经文，紧接着乐器伴奏，指挥唱诗班献唱，等证道结束后交给主礼人总结，最后家事报告，见证分享等。
其实农村教会随着时代的需要也在逐步转型，从原来的不足和缺欠中努力完善，原来的教会模式运作是由传道人一人担任教诗歌、敬拜、祷告、证道，而如今是每个聚会的步骤都有专人负责。
模式的转变是在顺应时代的发展，在不违背真理的原则下，模式产生更迭是必要的，因为聚会的群体是多元的，甚至说一些想要进入教会的初信者也有了机会去了解教会的运作，聆听证道的内容，清楚基督信仰，便于接受福音。
二，开拓新的领域
近几年的农村教会也在努力往城市拓展，建立青少年学道班，帮助青少年可以认识基督信仰，使他们可以成为这个时代的光。
除了青少年学道班，当然还有一些基督福音舞蹈班，也是可以走出去接触这个社会，传递神的爱。
当然除了基督福音舞蹈班之外，教会也在往文化使命上发展。基督徒的文化使命实则就是在这个社会上尽自己所能的帮助有需要的人，比如说敬老院的看望、孤儿院的探访以及做一些公益活动，例如为城市清洁打扫卫生、加入志愿者团队，为社会带来温暖和爱。
虽然农村教会听起来感觉是乡下的，似乎是落后，实则不然。农村教会也看到了当时代的社会需要，带着舍己奉献的心志。笔者在前段时间了解到一些农村教会也学习了专业的急救知识，包括心肺复苏、伤口包扎等。
三，下一代传道人的培养
农村教会也开始注重下一代传道人的培养，目的是使教会后继有人，虽然说部分的农村教会老龄化比较严重，但神总会给教会留下余种，当下的农村教会，一些年轻人也逐渐脱颖而出，愿意给本地教会带来造就，所以去到神学院学习、装备。
提到下一代的传道人培养有好的方面，也有一些不足之处，好的方便就是有人愿意摆上委身，教会有了新人参与，不足之处就是大部分年轻人都是一些教会领袖、同工、执事的儿女，而且一些信徒的儿女摆上的少之又少。
为什么会有这种现象？或许是信徒本身对儿女的信仰栽培欠缺，没有参与教会团契意识；也或许是个人的看法与偏见；还或许是当下的年轻人不容易被带到教会，参与侍奉。总而言之，培养下一代传道人成为这个时代教会的挑战，无论是农村教会还是城市就会都会面临这样一个问题，因为社会环境和文化潮流常常牵引着这个时代的人心，所以说成为传道人之路被很多人抛弃了，因为太苦了，需要放弃的太多了。
农村教会培养下一代传道人不仅仅是为了教会的延续发展，还有一方面就是为了福音拓展的缘故。所以说下一代传道人的兴起不仅仅是牧师、长老、执事的责任，也是每个信徒不可推卸的责任，这关乎到神教会的接力棒，关乎到神福音的拓展和延伸，更直接关乎神的荣耀。
教会的发展离不开神亲自的指引，未来的道路离不开圣灵的启示。
Churches in the countryside are referred to as “rural” because of where they are located. When we hear about the rural church, we have a subjective bias. We think that rural churches are poor, have a small number of people, insufficient material resources, and a scarcity of preachers. However, in recent years as rural areas have developed, churches have increased in number, have improved their quality, changed the way in which they meet, and have developed further ministries. Here we want to carefully analyze the changes that rural churches have made from the past to the present.
I. The Transformation of the Meeting Program and Mode
In connection with modern progress, rural churches have gradually become orderly. Church administration and structure as well as the hardware and software of the churches all have improved greatly. Originally rural churches held worship services in the houses of some brothers and sisters. Men and women, young and old, met in this way. Church meetings included learning hymns, prayer, preaching, and then praying for each other at the end of the service.
Today's rural churches have changed greatly. First of all, there are large gathering places, different teachers for different groups, and excellent choirs and bands with keyboards, drums, guitars and other musical instruments. The order of service has also changed and gradually improved. Churches have various departments and ministries, and the number of preachers has also increased. Every Sunday service, there is a list for preachers who take turns preaching. Rural churches have learned to follow the worship order of urban churches in China and Western churches. Services begin with an introduction and welcome, followed by scripture reading, songs from the choir accompanied by musical instruments. At the end of the service the person in charge summarizes the meeting and reports on the concerns of families in the church, followed by a sharing of testimonies.
Rural churches are gradually changing with the needs of the times, striving to improve on their shortcomings and deficiencies. Originally, everything in rural churches was run by a single preacher. He/she was responsible for teaching hymns, leading worship, praying and preaching. But now there is a designated person in charge of each step of the worship service.
The model of how the church is structured and operates is in line with the development of the times. Under the principle of not violating the truth, it has been necessary to see the church develop a new model. People who gather for worship are diverse. Even new believers who want to serve in the church have the opportunity to understand the operation of the church, listen to testimonies, understand the Christian faith, and accept the Gospel.
II. Exploring New Fields
In recent years, rural churches have also made efforts to expand into cities and set up gospel classes to help young people learn about the Christian faith so that they can become a light within their setting.
In addition to gospel classes, there are also dance classes, which are opportunities for believers to reach out to the society and spread God's love.
Of course, in addition to the liturgical dance classes, the church is also developing its cultural mission. The cultural mission of Christians is to do what we can to help people in need, such as visiting nursing homes and orphanages, and being involved in public welfare activities like cleaning the city, joining volunteer teams, and bringing warmth and love to society.
Although the rural church may seem like it is backward, it is not. Rural churches also see the social needs of the times, and have an altruistic spirit of dedication. I learned some time ago that believers in some rural churches are also learning how to do first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the dressing of wounds.
III. The Cultivation of the Next Generation of Preachers
Rural churches are also paying attention to developing the next generation of preachers, with the purpose of providing qualified successors. Although some of the rural churches have a serious problem with aging staff, God has always left seeds for the church. In the present rural churches, some excellent young people are increasingly showing up and are willing to join the building of local churches. So they go to seminary for further study and equip themselves with faith in God.
When it comes to developing the next generation of preachers, there are some advantages and some disadvantages. The advantages are that some people are willing to commit themselves, and that the church has new members. The disadvantage is that most of the young believers are the children of some church leaders, fellow workers and deacons, and few young believers are the children of ordinary believers.
Why is this happening? Perhaps the believers themselves pay little attention to the cultivation of their children's faith, so they do not have the habit of participating in the church fellowship. Or it may be personal opinions and prejudices, or it may be that it’s hard for today's young people to be brought into the church and serve. To sum up, training the next generation of preachers has become the challenge of the church in this age. Rural and city churches are all facing such problems, because the social environment and cultural trends influence hearts that are of this age. Many people are unwilling to become preachers because it's too hard. One has to give up many things.
Rural churches train the next generation of preachers not only to continue and develop the church, but also to spread the Gospel. Therefore, the rise of the next generation of preachers is not only the responsibility of ministers, elders and deacons, but also the responsibility of every believer. The baton needs to be passed on to the next generation. It is the baton of the Church of God, the spread of the Gospel of God, and more directly related to the glory of God.
The development of the church cannot be separated from the guidance of God himself, and the future path cannot be separated from the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Grassroots Rural Pastor: Changes in Contemporary Rural Churches
