Here are eight stories about pastors who collected money in different ways to build churches.
I
"Let me preach a sermon in your church," said an elder to the head of a church who was hesitant to say anything to contributions to the church building. She was eager to raise money for her church, as in the beginning, the believers had gathered in a Christian’s house, then in a rented mobile room. But it was too small and shabby to gather there when the number of the congregation increased. The elder took the opportunity of a gathering to preach a sermon. At the end of the message, she prayed with tears for the construction of her church, which aroused a strong response in the congregation who later donated. The head of the church also contributed financially from the offerings.
II
"It's not me but God asking for money to build the sanctuary." The head of a rural church said to an elder of a city church who inquired, "Do you come here to ask us for money?" Later, the elder said, "We are members together of one body", letting an accountant fetch some money.
III
"The five hundred yuan is not enough for the travelling expenses for us. It is too little for the construction of our church." A township pastor said to a staff worker of a provincial capital church who asked in reply.
"Do you say it is too little for you?" The pastor stated, "It is God who sends me here, and I won’t leave as the money is too little." So, the church staff went back to his pastor for advice and gave the fund-raising pastor double the money for building the church.
IV
An elder of a town church paid door to door visits to raise money, and every villager contributed towards the church building, including Christians, non-believers, Buddhists, and leaders in the town. She was educated and popular in the village, with her husband in charge of the village for many years when he was still alive.
V
A pastor aged over 70 led the fellow workers to seek help to expand their old church, as the church couldn’t accommodate the growing number of believers, even with holding three services on Sunday. Regardless of losing "face", the pastor appealed to their seminary classmates and pastors in other churches which they had known for decades.
From south to north, from east to west, this pastor traveled far and wide by trains or church vehicles to raise money by pinching and collecting scraps.
VI
Another elder also visited all churches and pastors she was familiar with to ask for help from rural to urban areas. Every time she went out, she thought twice about where to go, how to have better conversations with others and how to deal with the situation. For several months, she took slow trains instead of high-speed ones with water and bread she brought for lunch.
After many efforts, a church building project was approved. The church elder negotiated with the construction team to give 30% first and gradually paid the money during the construction process. He also conferred with the suppliers of church tables and chairs to pay one year later. Later, he borrowed money in his own name with all his deposits to finish the construction.
VII
With pastoral staff and believers, a church leader prayed day and night for three days, as surrounding people opposed and complained about the building of the church. After the constant prayers, the people objected no longer. A member asked the leader, "Pastor, do you need money? I have 500,000 yuan which can be lent to you." At that moment, they had a financial gap of 280,000 yuan.
VIII
Another elder of a town church went to the provincial capital with other staff to see a Christian entrepreneur who had contributed greatly to church buildings. But the boss was too busy to receive them, so they waited patiently till 6 p.m. Finally, he appeared and gave funds for them.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
这儿有8个关于牧长们建教堂的故事，他们为了筹款付出心血和劳苦，殚精竭力。
主内的肢体都知道，我们的教堂在建设的初期都有许多感人的、可歌可泣的见证。我们今天要分享的是几位教会的牧长为了建堂筹款所付出的心血和劳苦，他们为建圣殿殚精竭力募集资金。
当我们看到那巍峨耸立的教堂、十字架熠熠生辉，看着主堂里七盏金灯、百合花绽放着芳香，你可知道建堂初期那些牧长们为了募集资金所付出的心血吗？让我们记住他们为神的圣殿所付出的辛苦。
一、以讲道“换”建堂资金的长老
一个小镇子的教会，创建初期只是在信徒的家里聚会，然后租了一个活动房，但是随着信徒的增加，场地不够用，而且也显得特别简陋，没有庄重感和仪式感。为了建一个大家渴慕已久的教堂，教会的长老东奔西跑，在办完建堂手续后，开始筹集资金。
一次她到了一个兄弟教会，但是这个教会里的负责人热情接待，就是迟迟不愿意提贡献的事情。面对这种情况，这位长老看着这个兄弟教会恰逢聚会，灵机一动，于是就和教会的负责人说，今天我给你们证道吧，教会的负责人很高兴，说好啊，那请你给证道吧。
于是，这位长老登台为会众讲道。在讲道之后，在回应的祷告中，这位长老泪流满面的向神呼求，为自己教会建堂的事情祷告，向会众介绍自己教堂遇到的困难，引起了会众的强烈反响，大家很受感动。聚会结束之后大家不管多少，纷纷慷慨解囊。这个教会的负责人也从教会的奉献里，拿出来一部分。使得这一次筹款的事情，圆满顺利的结束。
二、“不是我和你要钱”
一位乡村教会的负责人带着同工，到一个大城市的教会去寻求帮助，因为他们建堂需要资金。在教堂的门口就被安保给拦住了，问他们干什么？他们说，我们也是你们的弟兄姊妹啊，我来见你们的长老。这个时候从教堂正门走出来一位中年的弟兄，是这个教会的长老，
乡村教会负责人说，我们建堂需要资金，需要你们帮助。哦，教堂的长老顺口说了一句，你们是来要钱的呀？教会的负责人听到此话，就“理直气壮”地说：不！不是我和你要钱，我个人即使缺钱也不会找到这里。是我们建神殿需要资金，是神和你要钱！
听到这位乡村教会的负责人说的这些话，城市的那位教会的长老也不好意思的说，你误会了，我们会支持你们的，会支持你们的，普天下教会是一家。然后，通过会计给奉献了资金。
三、“给少了，我不走”
教会建堂，需要募集资金走出去。教会的负责人需要有一股闯劲和虎劲儿，羞羞答答的、腼腆的，不行。
这也是一位乡镇的教会牧师，她带领同工到省会的一个大教堂去求助。教堂门也难进。好不容易进去了之后，就去找教会的主任牧师。牧师派了一位同工出来接待。听到她们的来意之后，经过请示，就给了500元钱。这位牧师说：这么点钱都不够我们几个人到省城来的路费钱，太少了。那位同工说：你这来要钱的，还嫌给的少？牧师说：我要钱，也是神的差派，不是我要来的，我是为了给神建殿，钱给少了，我不走！
那位同工笑了笑，无奈的说：好吧，我去请示牧师。后来那位同工给了筹款牧师双倍的建殿款项。
四、挨家挨户拜访求奉献
这间乡镇教会的长老，在当地的村里是“文化人”，她的丈夫健在的时候，是村里多年的负责人,老姊妹的人脉也好。建堂的时候，就带着教会的同工在村里从头到尾挨家挨户的去拜访、去寻求帮助。包括村干部家里她也去。
乡里乡亲的见面之后，大家都很热情。村里几乎每家每户都为教堂建设奉献了款项，不管是信基督教的也好、信佛教也好，没有信仰的也好、或者信仰其他宗教的也好，就连镇里的有关领导，也奉献了现金。
五、四处求援的牧师
一座老教堂，由于信徒的增加，一个礼拜日三堂都容纳不下信徒。教会的老牧师已经70多岁了，就带领着同工开始了四处求援的行程。是为了扩建圣殿，老牧师不在乎面子问题，求当年神学院的同学、求几十年来的其它教会的牧长。从南到北、从东到西，近途乘教会的车，远途火车，一路省吃俭用，就为了筹集资金。
还有一间教会的长老，每次外出募集资金都要反复思考，做好“功课”：想着到哪里去、怎么和人家说、说什么、怎么能够把资金筹集上来？遇到了什么情况怎么处理等等。连续几个月，她带领同工从农村到城市，能想到的教会、能想到的教会牧长，都一个个的去拜访、求助。有的时候，他们的午饭就是自己带的水和面包之类的简易餐食；舍不得坐高铁，就做普通的绿皮的慢车，起早贪黑奔波劳碌。
六、倾尽存款又借款的牧长
这位教堂的长老，历经了几十次的跑手续，建堂手续下来了，接着就开始募集资金。他和施工队谈好了，先给30%，施工过程当中逐步的给钱。这就省了一笔钱。然后教堂里面的一些桌椅板凳等就和供货方商议好，我暂时没有钱，这笔款一年以内你不要和我要，一年以后我一定还给你。由于他的信誉，供货商也满口答应。就这样资金还有缺口。他就把家里全部的有限的存款拿出来，然后又以个人的名义去借款，一点点的把资金筹集起来，最后终于把教堂建设起来。
七、昼夜祷告三天三夜的牧师
一间教会在建新堂过程中，待手续完备之后遇到了两个难题：一个是周围的个别群众反对、投诉不让建教堂；一个问题是资金的匮乏。教会的牧师带领教牧同工和信徒努力的在协调和解决这些问题。他们为了求神保守，连续三个昼夜，24小时的守望祷告。三天之后奇异的恩典出现：在祷告的过程中，个别反对建教堂的人，不反对了；资金缺口28万元，第二天就有人给牧师打电话，说：牧师啊，建教堂缺钱吗？牧师说：是啊！对方说：那好，我这有50万元，现在先借给你们。这一下子就解决了大问题，而且富富有余。
就是在牧师带领会众祷告、求告和众信徒奉献中，很顺利的就建立起来了，而且还有信徒奉献钢琴、音响、桌椅板凳等等，一切问题都迎刃而解。如今已经成为当地的一个中心教堂。
八、“软磨硬泡”就是等
一间乡镇教堂的长老带领同工，进省城找一个企业家的信徒募集建堂资金。这位企业家有自己很大的产业，而且也为各地建教堂奉献了不少。但这是一家大企业，见到这位当老板的弟兄很忙，没有时间接待，于是他们就等。办公室的人说你们回去吧，我们老总没有时间。。他们坚定的表示：我们大老远的来了，不见我们，我们就不走。“软磨硬泡”的静静地等。等到了下午六点多钟，这位当老板的弟兄终于出面了，热情的接待了他们，而且给他们预备好了奉献的资金。
（本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。）
为建圣殿殚精竭力的牧长们
Here are eight stories about pastors who collected money in different ways to build churches.
I
"Let me preach a sermon in your church," said an elder to the head of a church who was hesitant to say anything to contributions to the church building. She was eager to raise money for her church, as in the beginning, the believers had gathered in a Christian’s house, then in a rented mobile room. But it was too small and shabby to gather there when the number of the congregation increased. The elder took the opportunity of a gathering to preach a sermon. At the end of the message, she prayed with tears for the construction of her church, which aroused a strong response in the congregation who later donated. The head of the church also contributed financially from the offerings.
II
"It's not me but God asking for money to build the sanctuary." The head of a rural church said to an elder of a city church who inquired, "Do you come here to ask us for money?" Later, the elder said, "We are members together of one body", letting an accountant fetch some money.
III
"The five hundred yuan is not enough for the travelling expenses for us. It is too little for the construction of our church." A township pastor said to a staff worker of a provincial capital church who asked in reply.
"Do you say it is too little for you?" The pastor stated, "It is God who sends me here, and I won’t leave as the money is too little." So, the church staff went back to his pastor for advice and gave the fund-raising pastor double the money for building the church.
IV
An elder of a town church paid door to door visits to raise money, and every villager contributed towards the church building, including Christians, non-believers, Buddhists, and leaders in the town. She was educated and popular in the village, with her husband in charge of the village for many years when he was still alive.
V
A pastor aged over 70 led the fellow workers to seek help to expand their old church, as the church couldn’t accommodate the growing number of believers, even with holding three services on Sunday. Regardless of losing "face", the pastor appealed to their seminary classmates and pastors in other churches which they had known for decades.
From south to north, from east to west, this pastor traveled far and wide by trains or church vehicles to raise money by pinching and collecting scraps.
VI
Another elder also visited all churches and pastors she was familiar with to ask for help from rural to urban areas. Every time she went out, she thought twice about where to go, how to have better conversations with others and how to deal with the situation. For several months, she took slow trains instead of high-speed ones with water and bread she brought for lunch.
After many efforts, a church building project was approved. The church elder negotiated with the construction team to give 30% first and gradually paid the money during the construction process. He also conferred with the suppliers of church tables and chairs to pay one year later. Later, he borrowed money in his own name with all his deposits to finish the construction.
VII
With pastoral staff and believers, a church leader prayed day and night for three days, as surrounding people opposed and complained about the building of the church. After the constant prayers, the people objected no longer. A member asked the leader, "Pastor, do you need money? I have 500,000 yuan which can be lent to you." At that moment, they had a financial gap of 280,000 yuan.
VIII
Another elder of a town church went to the provincial capital with other staff to see a Christian entrepreneur who had contributed greatly to church buildings. But the boss was too busy to receive them, so they waited patiently till 6 p.m. Finally, he appeared and gave funds for them.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Fundraising Stories for Church Constructions
