A few days ago, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region CC&TSPM launched an initiative of donations to help poor pastors over financial difficulties.
The initiative letter stated, "The lack of financial resources for pastoral staff is a long-standing problem in churches of the autonomous region, and pastors of some grassroots churches only have a meager living allowance of a few hundred yuan per month. The sharp drop in church contributions directly affected the lives of pastors during COVID-19, and some even temporarily lost their income, as a result of the long-term suspension of in-person services due to the pandemic. But pastors still insisted on responding to God’s call, watching the church and shepherding the flock."
“So we set up the Ministry of Donations on Good Shepherd Sunday in accordance with the teachings of the Bible and church traditions. On Good Shepherd Sunday every year (the third Sunday after Easter), churches in the whole autonomous region share the same scriptures, submitting the Sunday offerings to the Guangxi CC&TSPM. We make overall arrangements to help the pastors living in poverty in the region. So we urge all believers and staff of churches to actively participate in this holy work to offer constant prayer and contribution!" it added.
On the fourth Sunday of Eastertide, Good Shepherd Sunday is also known as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations which falls on April 25 this year. As on that day all churches share John 10: 14: "I’ am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
日前，广西壮族自治区基督教两会向下属基层教会发起“关于善牧主日捐的函”，呼吁信徒给基层牧者捐款。
函件中说到：“教牧同工在经济上的缺乏是我区教会长期普遍存在的问题，一些基层教会的牧者每月只有几百元的微薄生活补助。2020年，突如其来的新冠肺炎疫情打乱了教会的正常秩序。教会奉献款的锐减，直接影响到牧者的生活，有的甚至暂时失去了经济收入；但他们仍然回应圣召，守望教会，牧养群羊。”
“我会按圣经的教导和教会的传统设立了善牧主日捐事工，在每年的“善牧主日”（既复活节后第三个主日），全区教会将分享同样的经文，并将该主日奉献款上交区两会，由区两会统筹安排，以帮助我区生活贫困的牧者。请各教会同工同道积极参与此圣工，献上恒切的代祷和积极的奉献！”
复活期第四主日是「国际圣召节」,也是善牧主日。由於这个主日,教会都是分享约翰福音10：14有关「耶稣是善牧」的章节，本主日也因此被称为「善牧主日」,耶稣希望每个牧者成为好牧人。
广西基督教两会发起“善牧主日捐”倡议 帮助基层牧者渡过难关
A few days ago, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region CC&TSPM launched an initiative of donations to help poor pastors over financial difficulties.
The initiative letter stated, "The lack of financial resources for pastoral staff is a long-standing problem in churches of the autonomous region, and pastors of some grassroots churches only have a meager living allowance of a few hundred yuan per month. The sharp drop in church contributions directly affected the lives of pastors during COVID-19, and some even temporarily lost their income, as a result of the long-term suspension of in-person services due to the pandemic. But pastors still insisted on responding to God’s call, watching the church and shepherding the flock."
“So we set up the Ministry of Donations on Good Shepherd Sunday in accordance with the teachings of the Bible and church traditions. On Good Shepherd Sunday every year (the third Sunday after Easter), churches in the whole autonomous region share the same scriptures, submitting the Sunday offerings to the Guangxi CC&TSPM. We make overall arrangements to help the pastors living in poverty in the region. So we urge all believers and staff of churches to actively participate in this holy work to offer constant prayer and contribution!" it added.
On the fourth Sunday of Eastertide, Good Shepherd Sunday is also known as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations which falls on April 25 this year. As on that day all churches share John 10: 14: "I’ am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Guangxi Launches Donations to Poor Pastors
