A church is alive and it will grow. No matter it is past, present or future, a church should be a place which is full of God's presence, glory and plan.
While serving the church, I have learned a lot from working with some elderly co-workers, especially from aged pastors who have served in the church for nearly 40-50 years. I listened to their touching testimonies of countless times of grace in times of trouble and the miracles that helped them overcome difficulties.
In about 2016, I followed an old pastor to visit Northwest China. I benefited remarkably from the whole experience. The simplicity of the pastor's lifestyle gave me a different view of service. On our journey, he also mentioned to me the situation of his church, the groups who serve in the church, and what things were like in the 1990s.
The pastor told me that his church gatherings at that time took mainly the form of “under the lamps” (farming during the day and gathering in the evening) and open-air evangelism. At that time, there were many people who believed in Jesus. Believers experienced many miracles and wonders. They were cured of diseases and unclean spirits. At that time, the number of believers was increasing day by day. Each week the “under the lamps” gathering could not accommodate all those who wanted to attend. When preaching in the open air, almost everyone in the whole village was present, as adults and children were curious about the way of the Lord.
At that time, the environment for the development of the church was not environment was not good. There were external resistance and obstruction, forcing them to go to another place to preach the gospel. However, at that time, all the service staff were never afraid of the environment. Although there were obstacles, the number of God's families was increasing day by day. On every two to three days of the gatherings, many brothers and sisters would give some flour and vegetables to provide food for each gathering.
Although the number of believers was increasing fast, the conflicts and obstacles were also increasing. Sometimes a gathering ended in a hurry without a proper ending so as to avoid unnecessary troubles and permitting the believers to hold future services. The old pastor said: The revival of the Church needs external pressure and persecution because it can arouse people's confidence in times of crisis and encourage them to rely on God in every possible way.
The elderly pastor also told me that the pastors at that time were not equipped with proper theological training but rather followed the pastors of the earlier generation, and with the passage of time, they were able to preach and formally set foot on the threshing floor where they served. Although conditions were scarce and books were limited at that time, they were very happy in their service. Sometimes they taught the whole day and were very tired in the evening when they had to prepare new lesson plans, but there was always joy in their hearts. Moreover, it was also a joy to be matched with fellow workers. In the process of serving, especially when facing many people who were eager to learn, the pastors became excited and enthusiastic and were eager to share all the truths they understood.
The pastor also mentioned that later on some brothers and sisters bought three-wheeled cycles designed to be used in the countryside. They were quite happy to use these for transportation instead of walking to church gathering places. Eventually, bicycles became more popular and the church allocated themto the pastors, which facilitated their work.
The reality is that in the past, general conditions in the rural areas were not good. Roads were in disrepair. Sometimes, when it rained, tarpaulins had to be used to cover the believers during their meetings. When there were many people, there could be leaks. However, the old pastor said that as long as brothers and sisters got together at that time everyone was very happy.
As the pastor recalled these days and shared them with me, he sighed repeatedly. He said that now the times had changed and although conditions were different (better), there were more and more problems in the Church and people's hearts.
When we understand what a church is, we will strive to dedicate ourselves. When we understand what the gospel is, we will strive to shoulder the mission.
- Translated by Charlie Li
听老传道人讲述：引人深思的90年代农村教会光景
教会是有生命的，教会是会成长的，无论过去、现在、将来教会都是充满神同在、神荣耀、神计划的地方。
在服事的过程中，令笔者收获颇多的就是和一些长辈同工、特别是和一些老传道人——在教会事奉了近40-50年的老仆人聆听着他们述说动人的见证，还有无数次遭遇患难时的恩典，以及他们靠着神迹走出困境。
大概在2016年，笔者跟随一位老传道人去到西北地区走访，在整个过程中笔者受益匪浅。老传道人的生活方式的朴素令我对于服事有了不一样的看待，在同行的过程中老传道人也给我提及了当年的教会光景，当年的服事群体和环境。
老传道人提到过去教会的聚会都是以灯下礼拜（白天务农，晚上聚会）和露天布道为主，但那时信耶稣的人非常多，许许多多的神迹奇事也实实在在发生在信徒身上，有的是病得医治，有的是被污鬼附着得痊愈等等。当时的教会人数日益加添，每次灯下礼拜整个聚会的房子都盛不下，而且露天布道时整个村子的人几乎都会全部到场，大人小孩都稀奇主的道。
当时候的信仰环境不怎么好，一旦有外界的特殊抵触和拦阻，就会选择去到另一个地方传福音，但当时所有的服事人员都不曾害怕环境，虽然说有拦阻，神的家人数却日益增多。每当聚会两到三天的时候，就有许多弟兄姊妹奉献一些面粉和菜蔬，以供应聚会时的需要。
虽然说信福音的人越来越多，但抵触和拦阻也在日益加强。有时候一场聚会没有结尾就匆匆结束，以免造成不必要的麻烦，也为以后的服事存留余地。老传道说：教会的复兴需要外界的压力、逼迫，因为这样可以调动人在危难中的信心，以及对神百般的依靠。
老传道又给我讲到，当时候的传道人并没有提供装备学习，乃是跟随上一辈的传道人学习，随着时间的推移逐渐可以讲道，以及正式踏入服事的禾场工作。虽说当时条件匮乏，属灵书籍有限，但他们在服事中很喜乐，有时候讲了一天的道，晚上预备讲章已经很疲惫，但总有喜乐充满在心里。并且和同工默契搭配也很喜乐，服事过程中特别是看到许许多多渴望听福音的人坐在底下时，传道人的心是激动和热情的，渴望把自己所明白的真理统统释放出去。
老传道人又提及，到后来有的弟兄姊妹家里有了农用三轮车，他们的喜乐又来了，因为他们去到聚会的地方不用再徒步，可以搭乘三轮车去参加聚会。到后来自行车开始多了，于是教会里给传道人配了一辆自行车，这样就方便了传道人的工作。
其实过去条件并不好，道路也并不通畅，有时候聚会碰到下雨就要搭油布，甚至人多的时候也有漏雨的情况，但老传道人提到只要当时弟兄姊妹聚集到一起，大家就非常的喜乐。
最后老传道人给我提及当年的教会光景时连连感叹，说如今时代变了，条件不一样了，但教会的问题也越来越多了，人内心的问题也越来越多了。
结语：
当我们理解何为教会，我们才会努力地奉献自己，当我们理解何为福音，我们才会努力地肩负使命。
听老传道人讲述：引人深思的90年代农村教会光景
A church is alive and it will grow. No matter it is past, present or future, a church should be a place which is full of God's presence, glory and plan.
While serving the church, I have learned a lot from working with some elderly co-workers, especially from aged pastors who have served in the church for nearly 40-50 years. I listened to their touching testimonies of countless times of grace in times of trouble and the miracles that helped them overcome difficulties.
In about 2016, I followed an old pastor to visit Northwest China. I benefited remarkably from the whole experience. The simplicity of the pastor's lifestyle gave me a different view of service. On our journey, he also mentioned to me the situation of his church, the groups who serve in the church, and what things were like in the 1990s.
The pastor told me that his church gatherings at that time took mainly the form of “under the lamps” (farming during the day and gathering in the evening) and open-air evangelism. At that time, there were many people who believed in Jesus. Believers experienced many miracles and wonders. They were cured of diseases and unclean spirits. At that time, the number of believers was increasing day by day. Each week the “under the lamps” gathering could not accommodate all those who wanted to attend. When preaching in the open air, almost everyone in the whole village was present, as adults and children were curious about the way of the Lord.
At that time, the environment for the development of the church was not environment was not good. There were external resistance and obstruction, forcing them to go to another place to preach the gospel. However, at that time, all the service staff were never afraid of the environment. Although there were obstacles, the number of God's families was increasing day by day. On every two to three days of the gatherings, many brothers and sisters would give some flour and vegetables to provide food for each gathering.
Although the number of believers was increasing fast, the conflicts and obstacles were also increasing. Sometimes a gathering ended in a hurry without a proper ending so as to avoid unnecessary troubles and permitting the believers to hold future services. The old pastor said: The revival of the Church needs external pressure and persecution because it can arouse people's confidence in times of crisis and encourage them to rely on God in every possible way.
The elderly pastor also told me that the pastors at that time were not equipped with proper theological training but rather followed the pastors of the earlier generation, and with the passage of time, they were able to preach and formally set foot on the threshing floor where they served. Although conditions were scarce and books were limited at that time, they were very happy in their service. Sometimes they taught the whole day and were very tired in the evening when they had to prepare new lesson plans, but there was always joy in their hearts. Moreover, it was also a joy to be matched with fellow workers. In the process of serving, especially when facing many people who were eager to learn, the pastors became excited and enthusiastic and were eager to share all the truths they understood.
The pastor also mentioned that later on some brothers and sisters bought three-wheeled cycles designed to be used in the countryside. They were quite happy to use these for transportation instead of walking to church gathering places. Eventually, bicycles became more popular and the church allocated themto the pastors, which facilitated their work.
The reality is that in the past, general conditions in the rural areas were not good. Roads were in disrepair. Sometimes, when it rained, tarpaulins had to be used to cover the believers during their meetings. When there were many people, there could be leaks. However, the old pastor said that as long as brothers and sisters got together at that time everyone was very happy.
As the pastor recalled these days and shared them with me, he sighed repeatedly. He said that now the times had changed and although conditions were different (better), there were more and more problems in the Church and people's hearts.
When we understand what a church is, we will strive to dedicate ourselves. When we understand what the gospel is, we will strive to shoulder the mission.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Elderly Pastor Shares Story about Rural Church in the 1990s
