Since the beginning of 2021, all the registered churches across the country have suspended in-person worship services again. There are some sporadic cases of COVID-19 in many places. How do rural churches carry out pastoral care and ministry work during the period of the pandemic?
One staff worker of Ganhe Church in Hongdong County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province introduced their pastoral strategy. They divide the congregation into 6 groups. Each group leader, which consists of 6-8 people, takes turns to guide the online morning service, Bible reading, praise, and worship on the smartphones. The members also pray virtually for pandemic prevention, world peace, national prosperity, church revival, and family harmony.
On Sundays, they remind the believers to watch the live services on the official WeChat account of Linfen CC&TSPM (Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement) from 9:30 to 11:00. The church's pastoral co-workers also take turns to record and broadcast the live sermons from 2:30 to 4:00 Sunday afternoon. After a few attempts, they have successfully posted several speeches.
The elderly believers who do not use mobile phones organize them to watch online service nearby if they have average body temperature and wear masks. Also, they often go to visit the sick and weak members, showing concern and love.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 during the Spring Festival last year, the church halted on-site worship services following the government's requirement. They instructed the congregation to follow the official WeChat account of Linfen CC&TSPM and watch the live Sunday service every week. Until September last year, they resumed in-person services after the Linfen churches had reopened. Before this New Year's Day, the church closed again following pandemic prevention and control requirements.
Built by elder Li Shiyi of the village around the 1930s, Ganhe Church was rebuilt in 2007 with more than 100 believers. About 80 or 90 churchgoers attend the worship services usually, as some believers go out to work. Located in the northern part of Hongdong County, the village is adjacent to Fenxi County and Huozhou City.
Following the government's requirements, the believers who have returned from working in other places are instructed to participate in the online worship, praise, and prayer activities after providing nucleic acid tests and home quarantine.
Due to the COVID-19, the church plans to hold virtual worship and praise services from the first day of the Chinese lunar month to the fifth day. It contained a thanksgiving worship service on the first day every year in the past. At home, everyone can attend the online activities of singing hymns and intercession, participating in the online group activities to be carried out in the future.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
新年伊始，新冠疫情持续零星散发，按照政府要求，各地教会相继停止了实体线上礼拜，作为农村教会又是如何开展疫情时期的牧养服侍工作的呢？
日前笔者电话采访了洪洞县干河教会的同工。据了解，该村地处洪洞县北部，与汾西县、霍州市相邻，教会历史悠久。约在上世纪三十年代，由本村已故老传道李士毅长老创建，2007年建起了新堂，现有信徒100余人。由于有一些人外出打工，平时参加礼拜平均人数八九十人。
去年春节新冠疫情爆发后，按照上级“双暂停一延迟”安排，教会停止了实体礼拜，引导信徒每天关注临汾基督教两会主办的公众号，每周收看临汾教会的讲道直播。直到9月份，临汾教会恢复礼拜后，也恢复了实体礼拜。元旦前按照疫情防控要求，停止了实体礼拜。
在疫情防控的新形势下，教会转变了牧养策略。成立了6个小组，每组由6-8人组成，由组长和年轻人带领，每组轮值，在手机上开展线上晨更，读经赞美，进行祷告，祷告内容为世界和平、疫情防控、国家富强、人民幸福和谐安康，为教会复兴、家庭和睦不住献上祷告。对于不会用手机的老年人，在戴口罩保持体温正常的情况下，组织就近收看。平时对患病软弱者，由探访小组经常进行看望、爱心关怀扶持。
每个主日，上午9点半到11点组织观看临汾基督教两会的网上崇拜直播；下午两点半到四点组织录制本堂网上讲道录音直播，由本教会轮流同工讲道。经过几位年轻同工不断尝试调整，已顺利录播几次。
针对目前从外地务工回来的信徒 ，在按照相关要求做好出具核酸检测证明、居家隔离的防疫的措施提下，引导参加网上敬拜赞美祈祷活动。
据了解，往年每年正月初一要在教堂举行感恩崇拜。今年面对特殊情况，计划正月初一到初五开展网上崇拜“云赞美”活动，人人在家里都可以随机献唱诗歌、献上代祷。此后开展正常线上小组活动。
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/portal/article/index/id/55151
山西洪洞县干河教会面对疫情防控新形势——网上云牧养，圣工不停歇
Since the beginning of 2021, all the registered churches across the country have suspended in-person worship services again. There are some sporadic cases of COVID-19 in many places. How do rural churches carry out pastoral care and ministry work during the period of the pandemic?
One staff worker of Ganhe Church in Hongdong County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province introduced their pastoral strategy. They divide the congregation into 6 groups. Each group leader, which consists of 6-8 people, takes turns to guide the online morning service, Bible reading, praise, and worship on the smartphones. The members also pray virtually for pandemic prevention, world peace, national prosperity, church revival, and family harmony.
On Sundays, they remind the believers to watch the live services on the official WeChat account of Linfen CC&TSPM (Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement) from 9:30 to 11:00. The church's pastoral co-workers also take turns to record and broadcast the live sermons from 2:30 to 4:00 Sunday afternoon. After a few attempts, they have successfully posted several speeches.
The elderly believers who do not use mobile phones organize them to watch online service nearby if they have average body temperature and wear masks. Also, they often go to visit the sick and weak members, showing concern and love.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 during the Spring Festival last year, the church halted on-site worship services following the government's requirement. They instructed the congregation to follow the official WeChat account of Linfen CC&TSPM and watch the live Sunday service every week. Until September last year, they resumed in-person services after the Linfen churches had reopened. Before this New Year's Day, the church closed again following pandemic prevention and control requirements.
Built by elder Li Shiyi of the village around the 1930s, Ganhe Church was rebuilt in 2007 with more than 100 believers. About 80 or 90 churchgoers attend the worship services usually, as some believers go out to work. Located in the northern part of Hongdong County, the village is adjacent to Fenxi County and Huozhou City.
Following the government's requirements, the believers who have returned from working in other places are instructed to participate in the online worship, praise, and prayer activities after providing nucleic acid tests and home quarantine.
Due to the COVID-19, the church plans to hold virtual worship and praise services from the first day of the Chinese lunar month to the fifth day. It contained a thanksgiving worship service on the first day every year in the past. At home, everyone can attend the online activities of singing hymns and intercession, participating in the online group activities to be carried out in the future.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Shanxi Church Carries out Online Pastoral Care
