Three years ago, together with a fellowship, I attended the wedding of a son of an elderly pastor. As it was the day before a market day, the whole family went out, busy with slaughtering pigs, selling pork, and making tofu. Without anyone entertaining us, we had to cook dinner by ourselves, waiting for them to return before eating.
On Saturday evening, the old pastor's family was even busier, saying, "You’ve come just at the right time! Tomorrow can you give a sermon and lead the worship with a group sharing session?" I was temporarily appointed to preach that Sunday. At that time, I thought to myself, "Is their own business more important than pastoring the family of God?"
It was just after the Sunday service the next day that I realized all the young people here had gone out to work, leaving old believers to make a living on some infertile land. So how could the old pastor survive if he was not busy raising and selling pigs? Could we say he did not love the Lord when he had opened his three principal rooms as meeting places and sent his son and daughter to study theology?
Another disabled female believer named Z received several hundred yuan a month from the government as a subsistence allowance. The church couldn't pay her any salary, let alone endowment insurance and medical insurance.
Every year when the Spring Festival was approaching, Z made some handmade items such as headdresses and car hanging accessories to sell at the market. "I can earn in four days five thousand yuan as next year's pocket money," she said with contentment and gratitude.
Recently, as the head of the church fell ill, Z who used to preach in the pulpit once a month has had to prepare sermons every week, having little time to do handicrafts. Some pastors and church staff gave her some money after learning about her current situation. Receiving these donations that she refused several times, she was inspired to serve God better.
Another male Christian called W for short originally rented with others a large house with three bedrooms and one living room, providing space for fellowship and Bible study every week. Recently, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, he could not afford the high rent, changing to a small house in the suburbs.
"I should work to support myself, otherwise I will experience poverty." He went back to his old business of writing articles on an official WeChat account. "Though earning less money, doing this work can prevent financial temptations," he said.
Today, I have also become a "poor pastor", studying theology to equip myself and planting a new church at the same time. In the same position, I can better understand the old pastor and the other two servants of God mentioned above. Recently, I have often asked myself why I leave my comfort zone to serve in the countryside.
I think it is because of the renewal by the Holy Spirit every day after constantly experiencing brokenness; it is hearing the Lord’s call: do you see the lost and empty souls heading for death and the house of God is desolate day by day?
(The author is a seminary student in Yunnan, and the article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
三年前笔者深入基层，了解农村穷传道人的情况，自己甘愿成了一名“穷传道”。
三年前，我跟随一个团契，去参加一个老传道人为儿子举办的婚礼。我们去的那天正逢集日的前一天。他们全家人外出，杀猪的杀猪，卖肉的卖肉，做豆腐的做豆腐，忙得不亦乐乎。没有人招待我们，我们只好自己动手做好晚饭，等老传道人一家回来。然后他们吃着我们准备的饭菜。
等到主日的前天晚上，老传道人一家更忙，说，你们来得正好！明天你们全程带崇拜、证道以及带领会后的小组分享。我被临时安排主日证道。当时我真的不能理解，：“到底是自家的生意重要，还是神家的牧养重要啊？!”
等到那天聚会后，我才慢慢了解到，这里的年轻人都外出打工了，留下来的都是靠几亩薄田维持生计的老弟兄、老姊妹。那么老传道人不忙着养猪、卖猪，这日子怎么维持下去呢？他已经奉献出自己的三间正房当做聚会场所，又送自己的一儿一女去读神学，我们又怎能说他不爱主呢？
笔者认识的一位Z姊妹就是农村的。她身患残疾，一个月领几百块钱的低保，教会根本发不出工资给她，更不要谈什么缴纳养老保险、医疗保险等。。
Z姊妹每年临近春节时，她会做些女孩子喜欢戴的头饰和汽车挂件等手工，到集市上摆摊儿。“四天就卖了五千块，一年的零花钱够用了。”她的语气里充满知足和感恩。
最近教会的负责人生病了，Z姊妹从原来一个月站一次讲台，到现在每周都要预备讲章，根本顾不上做手工了。有得知她近况的老师和同工，悄悄转给她一些爱心奉献款，Z姊妹多次推脱不掉，就收下了。这些来自同工同道的经济支持，激励她更加安心讲台奉献，多做主工。
另一位在城里的W弟兄，原来与人合租了一套三室一厅的大房子，就为了每周能在宽敞明亮的客厅里服侍弟兄姐妹，一起查经，团契。最近因为疫情防控吃紧，W弟兄付不起昂贵的租金，只能换了一个郊区的小房子。“坐等受穷不如去自食其力”，他重操旧业，开设公众号，写文维生。“日子虽清苦些，却少了很多金钱的诱惑，利远远大于弊呀。”W弟兄说。
如今，我也成了一个“穷传道人”，一边读神学装备自己，一边在开拓一个新的教会。因为感同身受，就更加理解那位老传道人以及上述两位传道人的做法了。 最近也常常叩问自己是什么让我心甘情愿离开舒适区，甘心坚守乡村呢？
我想，应该是不断经历破碎后，每天被圣灵甘露浇灌后的更新与满足；是听到主的呼唤：是看到周围迷失而空虚的灵魂们正向着死亡迈进的那份焦急；是眼睁睁目睹神的家在日渐荒凉……
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系云南一名神学生。
http://www.fuyinshibao.cn/article/index/id/61582
我为何甘愿成为一名“穷传道”？
Three years ago, together with a fellowship, I attended the wedding of a son of an elderly pastor. As it was the day before a market day, the whole family went out, busy with slaughtering pigs, selling pork, and making tofu. Without anyone entertaining us, we had to cook dinner by ourselves, waiting for them to return before eating.
On Saturday evening, the old pastor's family was even busier, saying, "You’ve come just at the right time! Tomorrow can you give a sermon and lead the worship with a group sharing session?" I was temporarily appointed to preach that Sunday. At that time, I thought to myself, "Is their own business more important than pastoring the family of God?"
It was just after the Sunday service the next day that I realized all the young people here had gone out to work, leaving old believers to make a living on some infertile land. So how could the old pastor survive if he was not busy raising and selling pigs? Could we say he did not love the Lord when he had opened his three principal rooms as meeting places and sent his son and daughter to study theology?
Another disabled female believer named Z received several hundred yuan a month from the government as a subsistence allowance. The church couldn't pay her any salary, let alone endowment insurance and medical insurance.
Every year when the Spring Festival was approaching, Z made some handmade items such as headdresses and car hanging accessories to sell at the market. "I can earn in four days five thousand yuan as next year's pocket money," she said with contentment and gratitude.
Recently, as the head of the church fell ill, Z who used to preach in the pulpit once a month has had to prepare sermons every week, having little time to do handicrafts. Some pastors and church staff gave her some money after learning about her current situation. Receiving these donations that she refused several times, she was inspired to serve God better.
Another male Christian called W for short originally rented with others a large house with three bedrooms and one living room, providing space for fellowship and Bible study every week. Recently, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, he could not afford the high rent, changing to a small house in the suburbs.
"I should work to support myself, otherwise I will experience poverty." He went back to his old business of writing articles on an official WeChat account. "Though earning less money, doing this work can prevent financial temptations," he said.
Today, I have also become a "poor pastor", studying theology to equip myself and planting a new church at the same time. In the same position, I can better understand the old pastor and the other two servants of God mentioned above. Recently, I have often asked myself why I leave my comfort zone to serve in the countryside.
I think it is because of the renewal by the Holy Spirit every day after constantly experiencing brokenness; it is hearing the Lord’s call: do you see the lost and empty souls heading for death and the house of God is desolate day by day?
(The author is a seminary student in Yunnan, and the article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Why Am I Willing to Be 'Poor Pastor'?
