COVID-19 has had a huge impact on society, including the churches which aren’t fortunate enough to escape the disaster. Some are even unable to keep up efforts, so what situations are churches being faced with?
Without a good worshiping environment
Though most churches conduct online gatherings which are the best way to worship God during this difficult period, some believers are unwilling to attend them virtually or think little of this new way of adoration. Therefore, many believers are even used to not meeting face to face on Sundays, which takes its toll on the spiritual lives of many believers.
Loss of offerings and tithes
The second difficulty is the financial crisis, as the main source of funds is offerings which believers usually give during Saturday or Sunday services. Due to the suspension of in-person gatherings, few contributions are made during online services for churches, some of which may not be very wealthy before COVID-19, like owing debts for building churches or renovations.
Difficulty in pastoral care
Due to the lack of in-person meetings, believers become estranged from pastors, who may know little or nothing about the situations of their members. They don’t learn about whether Christians attend online servicse or pray and read the Bible at home. Many churches establish WeChat groups to connect with and nurture believers. But some churches do nothing but complain.
Believers’ enthusiasm for gatherings diminishes
It is difficult for churches to revive during the COVID-19 outbreaks, when churchgoers are accustomed to not gathering in person and to being away from churches. The conditions of believers’ spiritual lives have been exposed under the epidemic. Facing the virus, some Christians' enthusiasm for gathering fades, and some even stumble as they don’t have the foundation of faith on the rock.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a pastor in Jiangsu Province.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
疫情对社会的冲击实在太大了，教会在这其中自然也是，甚至有很多的教会都有些支撑不住了。那么在疫情期间，教会究竟遇到了哪一些难处呢？下面我们展开简单分享。（==此句为summary）
一、崇拜难——没有正常的聚会
第一个难处是崇拜困难，使信徒失去了一个可以正常聚会的环境。虽然在疫情期间，各教会也积极采取应对措施，纷纷开展了网络聚会，这也是在这期间最好的崇拜方式，但毕竟与正常的线下聚会有很大差距。网络聚会有些人不会参加，有些人不愿参加，有人觉得参不参加不重要，有些人也就不参加了。所以，很多的信徒甚至习惯了星期天不聚会，这也对信徒生命的下滑造成了很大的影响。
二、资金难——没有奉献款
第二个困难是资金方面的困难，因为没有足够的奉献款。原本线下的奉献款是主要的资金来源。而信徒基本都是在聚会时才会奉献。对于一般的教会来说，主要的聚会时间都是在星期天（安息日背景的在星期六），可现在疫情使教会停止聚会了，自然就失去了这奉献款。所以，教会失去了这资金来源，有些教会在疫情之前可能就不是十分富裕，甚至还有的因为建教堂或者装修等欠下外债。
三、牧养难——无法及时跟进信徒
第三个困难是牧养的困难，这是很现实的一件事。疫情致使人教会与信徒的关系更加疏远了，传道对信徒的生命光景本身就不是很了解，现在更不了解了。不知道他们现在怎么样，不知道他们有没有参加网络崇拜，不知道他们的心里景况，更不知道他们每天有没有祷告和读经，甚至可以说是一无所知。因为疫情，这也实在没办法。好一点的教会，纷纷建立微信群，为要尽量了解信徒并更好牧养，但有些教会却始终不开窍，只能怨天尤人。这实在是需要引起我们的思考。
四、复兴难——信徒的心冷淡了
第四个困难是复兴困难，主的道复兴困难，教会的复兴更是困难！在疫情之下，信徒们的属灵景况都暴露无遗了，从前的信仰根基并没有建立在磐石之上，所以一遇到环境就崩塌了，被冲垮了，信徒的心就冷淡了。所以，在疫情之下的教会，即使有复堂的机会，来教会的信徒也很少了，为什么？因为信徒习惯了不聚会，习惯了不来教会，习惯了远离教会，他们的心慢慢冷淡了。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系江苏一名传道人。
http://www.fuyinshibao.cn/article/index/id/62519
疫情期间教会遇到的几个难处
COVID-19 has had a huge impact on society, including the churches which aren’t fortunate enough to escape the disaster. Some are even unable to keep up efforts, so what situations are churches being faced with?
Without a good worshiping environment
Though most churches conduct online gatherings which are the best way to worship God during this difficult period, some believers are unwilling to attend them virtually or think little of this new way of adoration. Therefore, many believers are even used to not meeting face to face on Sundays, which takes its toll on the spiritual lives of many believers.
Loss of offerings and tithes
The second difficulty is the financial crisis, as the main source of funds is offerings which believers usually give during Saturday or Sunday services. Due to the suspension of in-person gatherings, few contributions are made during online services for churches, some of which may not be very wealthy before COVID-19, like owing debts for building churches or renovations.
Difficulty in pastoral care
Due to the lack of in-person meetings, believers become estranged from pastors, who may know little or nothing about the situations of their members. They don’t learn about whether Christians attend online servicse or pray and read the Bible at home. Many churches establish WeChat groups to connect with and nurture believers. But some churches do nothing but complain.
Believers’ enthusiasm for gatherings diminishes
It is difficult for churches to revive during the COVID-19 outbreaks, when churchgoers are accustomed to not gathering in person and to being away from churches. The conditions of believers’ spiritual lives have been exposed under the epidemic. Facing the virus, some Christians' enthusiasm for gathering fades, and some even stumble as they don’t have the foundation of faith on the rock.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a pastor in Jiangsu Province.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Main Difficulties Encountered by Churches During COVID-19
