Foreword:
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”(Romans 1:17)
Recent years have witnessed many changes in how rural churches have done evangelism. Music performed by bands has replaced the distribution of gospel tracts, attracting more people to Christianity.
Some churches gradually have added instruments, such as keyboard, drum, guitar, trumpet, and tuba.
Before performing with instruments, bands rehearse the songs they will play and accompanying dance performance. People come to know that the Christian faith is not just limited to church services or gatherings but also includes an enriched cultural and faith life.
When rural churches give a musical performance with a band, a basic interpretation of Christianity will be given plus the explanation is written in gospel booklets.
It’s hard to preach the gospel to the heart of people as some hymns or dances seem no different from commercial activities. The band performance presents the Christian faith in a different manner.
Second, rural churches spend much time in nursing homes or hospitals, aiding elderly lonely seniors in doing household chores, including cleaning sheets and giving haircuts.
A Christian woman I know often went to help elderly residents of a nursing home wash their socks and bed linens while preaching the gospel to them. Eventually, an elderly person, moved by her good deeds, accepted the gospel.
During festivals, believers visit elderly homes and give gifts of fruit and clothes, revealing through their love that Christianity can bring help and hope to people’s lives.
In the past, rural people enjoyed meals together at the edge of their villages, each holding a bowl at the home of another person while chatting about household affairs. That served as the third opportunity to share the gospel in the countryside.
Maybe when a Christian was known by their village, non-Christian members were reluctant to accept Christ as Savior because that person failed to give a good testimony through their family life and personal conduct.
Actually, the great challenge for rural believers lies in family life and personal deeds. If a Christian can’t manage the relation between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law or teach their children well, or have a bad personal reputation, the identity of “Christian” becomes nominal. Then the world sees a Christian as nothing different at all.
We need to spend time and effort in our faith as we strive to bring glory to God in every day's life.
- Translated by Karen Luo
引言：
福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的人。
一，乐队演奏，单张派发
近些年农村教会在传福音上也做出了很大的改变，从原来的上街仅仅单张派发，变为了以乐队演奏的形式，唱歌的形式吸引更多的人群来了解信仰、认识信仰、接受信仰。
一些教会也都逐渐配备了许多的乐器，有电子琴、架子鼓、吉他，还有许许多多的小号、大号、军鼓、大鼓等。
排练一些诗歌和舞蹈，在乐器的演奏下进行演出，从而有许许多多的人来看表演，便逐步了解到基督信仰不仅仅是在教堂里的聚集，乃是有丰富的信仰生活和信仰文化。
其实对于传福音，我们或许想到的就是传福音十三字口号，“信耶稣上天堂，不信耶稣下地狱”，但这只是福音的一部分，而不是福音的全部。
农村教会以乐队的形式演出的时候，也会对信仰有基本的讲解（外加福音单张的解释），而不是让人对福音有误解和误会。
有时人一听了不信耶稣会怎么样，让那些生命弱小、不了解信仰的人觉得基督信仰类似于迷信，造成一种强迫别人信的假象。
农村教会采取乐队演出，加上诗歌演唱的形式让更多人感到原来基督信仰还可以有这样不同的一面。
传福音到人的心里是不容易的，虽然我们会演唱一些诗歌或者舞蹈，但对于一些不愿意了解信仰的人来看，似乎和商场搞活动的演出没有区别，也只是凑个热闹，捧个人场。
而对于那些想要了解福音的人来说这是一次机会，他们有机会去了解福音，或者说可以多加斟酌之后再考虑接受与不接受。
重要的是要去理解基督信仰，而不是秉持着一种“我不需要的态度”。
所以说这个时代的人需要停下来思考，我需要的是什么，这信仰和我有没有关系，我该用什么样的态度去面对这信仰。
二，福利机构，走访关怀
农村教会在传福音上也会花大量的时间在敬老院或者医院的里面，帮助一些孤寡老人清洗被单、理发、整理个人卫生。
笔者认识一位阿姨，经常去到敬老院帮助老人洗袜子和被单，并且借此机会将信仰传讲，当然神也在人的心里动工，最终老人被阿姨的行为感化，认识到基督徒的爱是因为关乎信仰，接受了福音。
有时候教会的弟兄姊妹逢年过节也会去探望敬老院的人群，并且为他们买一些水果和衣物，当然并不是用物质来换取别人对信仰的认可，乃是透过爱心造就让人明白基督信仰是能够给人的生命带来帮助和指望。
虽然彼此没有血缘关系，萍水相逢，但愿意以神的爱来去爱他们。
回顾丨近些年农村教会传福音的方式
Foreword:
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”(Romans 1:17)
Recent years have witnessed many changes in how rural churches have done evangelism. Music performed by bands has replaced the distribution of gospel tracts, attracting more people to Christianity.
Some churches gradually have added instruments, such as keyboard, drum, guitar, trumpet, and tuba.
Before performing with instruments, bands rehearse the songs they will play and accompanying dance performance. People come to know that the Christian faith is not just limited to church services or gatherings but also includes an enriched cultural and faith life.
When rural churches give a musical performance with a band, a basic interpretation of Christianity will be given plus the explanation is written in gospel booklets.
It’s hard to preach the gospel to the heart of people as some hymns or dances seem no different from commercial activities. The band performance presents the Christian faith in a different manner.
Second, rural churches spend much time in nursing homes or hospitals, aiding elderly lonely seniors in doing household chores, including cleaning sheets and giving haircuts.
A Christian woman I know often went to help elderly residents of a nursing home wash their socks and bed linens while preaching the gospel to them. Eventually, an elderly person, moved by her good deeds, accepted the gospel.
During festivals, believers visit elderly homes and give gifts of fruit and clothes, revealing through their love that Christianity can bring help and hope to people’s lives.
In the past, rural people enjoyed meals together at the edge of their villages, each holding a bowl at the home of another person while chatting about household affairs. That served as the third opportunity to share the gospel in the countryside.
Maybe when a Christian was known by their village, non-Christian members were reluctant to accept Christ as Savior because that person failed to give a good testimony through their family life and personal conduct.
Actually, the great challenge for rural believers lies in family life and personal deeds. If a Christian can’t manage the relation between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law or teach their children well, or have a bad personal reputation, the identity of “Christian” becomes nominal. Then the world sees a Christian as nothing different at all.
We need to spend time and effort in our faith as we strive to bring glory to God in every day's life.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Review: Rural Church's Approaches to Evangelism in Recent Years
