From the past few years till now, salary and treatment for ministers have received considerable attention. In some regions, ministers are well taken care of, so they do not need to worry about their livelihood. However, in some other regions, ministers are less certain of their ability to sustain themselves. Ministers should give their attention to the ministry of the word, but they cannot earn their livings. When their families are in crisis, which one should they choose, mission or family?
Minister Liang was born in a small town in Henan Province. He followed his mother’s faith and was baptized when he was a baby, but he did not think that he was a Christian since childhood as he stopped going to church during his upbringing. Yet, an illness changed everything. He was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2013. Confronting illness, human beings are so vulnerable and insignificant, and he was reminded of his long-lost faith.
After regaining his faith, Liang started to serve in the church. In order to serve better, he studied in a Bible school in his hometown for one year. Before graduation, a teacher talked to him about his gift of preaching and suggested he go on to further studies. At that time, he had been married, so it was not easy to continue studying. With two schooling children, his family was not rich. He was in a financial dilemma. For the teacher’s suggestion, Liang decided to give it careful prayer and consideration.
“If it was God’s will, I wished that I could pass the exam.” He turned to prayer to seek God’s guidance.
Liang passed the exam successfully and felt relieved. However, his family members disagreed with him. “Dad doesn’t love me anymore. Dad only loves Jesus,” his daughter said so to him when she learned that he was going to study theology. His wife also strongly opposed him. He was once again in a tangle, and he understood their worries, which were exactly his worries. Yet, he could not ignore God’s calling. Despite the opposition of his family, he went to study theology, which laid a hidden danger for his family relationship.
In 2019, he graduated from a seminary and officially worked as a full-time minister in the grass-roots church of his hometown, receiving a monthly salary of 400 yuan. During the last two years of the pandemic, his original monthly salary was suspended in the second half of 2021 due to the suspension of in-person gatherings.
He has two children, the older son is a sophomore, and the younger daughter is in the eighth grade. He provides for his children and sustains the family mainly by doing odd jobs here and there. In September, the beginning of a new school year, he need to prepare living expenses and tuition fees for his children, nearly 20,000 yuan. His work is unstable, sometimes, he can earn 100-200 yuan a day; while other times, he has no work to do for several days. However, because of his church duty, he can not find a full-time job. Every month, he can not make ends meet.
In fact, as soon as he graduated from the seminary, his wife asked for a divorce. “I went through such a big trial as soon as I came back,” Liang said with a wry smile.
Liang wanted to sit down and talk with his wife many times, but she refused to communicate with him and often avoided meeting him. Reluctantly, he went to the Civil Affairs Bureau with her where the divorce procedure is officiated. After being suggested a cooling-off period of one month, Liang did not go to the Civil Affairs Bureau again. His wife stopped going home and went out for work. She blocked all ways Liang can contact her. Now Liang can not find her at all.
During his illness in 2013, studying in the Bible class in 2014, and his theological education from 2016 to 2019, his wife sustained their family for six years. Though she is a Christian, she had to take care of her sick husband and her family throughout the years and did not have much time to go to church. “Gradually, her faith was weakened.”
For Minister Liang, the family relationship is the knot he cannot open. Last year, he had another surgery, and his wife did not contact him either.
Praying to God is the only thing Liang can do now. He believes that God will open the way for him and that He will help him. Life won’t be so hard all the time.
“Everyone breaks down sometimes, and the road of faith is destined to be uneven,” Pastor Liang confessed.
- Translated by Charlie Li
近几年传道人薪资待遇问题，一直备受关注，有的区域对传道人照顾的很好，他们不用为了生计忧虑；但有些区域教会的传道人，他们的生活是没有保障的。传道人当以传道的事为念，但却因此食不果腹，家庭陷入危机时，一边是使命，一边是家庭，哪个能弃之？（==当summary）
梁传道出生在河南的一个小县城，从小跟着母亲信仰，还是婴儿时他就接受了洗礼。但他并不认为自己从小就是一名基督徒，因为长大后他就不再去教会了。而这一切的转变都源于一场病。13年，梁传道被检查出来了肠癌。在病魔面前人显得如此软弱渺小，这让梁传道想起了久违的信仰。
重拾信仰，梁传道参与了教会的侍奉，为了更好的服侍，他在老家的圣经学校读了一年的圣经班。临毕业前老师找到他，觉得他有讲道恩赐，建议他继续深造学习。彼时的梁传道早已成家，继续学习不是一件容易的事，本就不富裕的家庭还要供两个孩子上学。一边是使命，一边是家庭，如何选择？面对老师的建议，梁传道决定回去祷告考虑一下。
“如果是神的旨意，就希望考试顺利通过，如果不是就求神拦阻。”梁传道将是否继续学习放在了祷告中。
考试顺利通过，让梁传道原本纠结不安的心放了下来。但却遭到了家人的阻拦。“爸爸都不爱我了，爸爸只爱耶稣。”梁传道的小女儿得知爸爸要去读神学，对他如此说。他的妻子也极力反对。梁传道再次陷入纠结中，他理解家人的担忧，这也正是他里面的担忧。但他不能无视神的呼召，不顾家人的反对，他还是去读了神学。而这一切却为他们的家庭关系埋下了隐患。
19年梁传道神学毕业，正式在老家基层教会做全职传道人服侍，每个月领着400元的薪资。这两年赶上疫情，原本定下每月400元的工资，也因为实地聚会的暂停，在21年下半年停止了发放。
他的两个孩子，大儿子读大二，小女儿读初二。梁传道主要靠平时打零工来供两个孩子上学，补贴家用。9月份开学，给两个孩子交生活费和学费就要近两万元。平时打零工，好的时候一天能挣100-200元，有时几天也找不到活干。但因为教会的服侍，他又不能找一份稳定的工作，每月生活入不敷出。
其实，梁传道神学一毕业，妻子就向他提出了离婚。“一回来就经历这么大的试验。”梁传道苦笑着说到。
期间，梁传道也多次想要和妻子好好谈谈，但妻子都不肯和他交流，也经常躲着不与他见面。无奈他们就去了民政局。经过一个月的冷静期，梁传道没有再去民政局。他的妻子就不再回家，外出打工了。同时将与梁传道的联系方式都拉黑了。现在梁传道根本联系不上妻子。
从他13年生病，14年读圣经班，16年到19年又连续读了三年神学，整6年的时间，都是梁传道的妻子支撑这个家庭。他的妻子也是一名基督徒，但那几年，又要照顾生病的丈夫又要照顾家庭，妻子能去教会的次数越来越少，“自然心灵会软弱”。
情感问题成了梁传道的心结，去年身体又动了一次手术，妻子也没有与他联系。
祷告交托给神，是梁传道现在唯一可以做的。他相信神会给他开到路，相信神会帮助他，不会一直这样难下去。
“人都有崩溃的时候，信仰的路注定不是一条平坦的路。”梁传道如此说。
一位因坚持读神学而陷入家庭危机的传道人
From the past few years till now, salary and treatment for ministers have received considerable attention. In some regions, ministers are well taken care of, so they do not need to worry about their livelihood. However, in some other regions, ministers are less certain of their ability to sustain themselves. Ministers should give their attention to the ministry of the word, but they cannot earn their livings. When their families are in crisis, which one should they choose, mission or family?
Minister Liang was born in a small town in Henan Province. He followed his mother’s faith and was baptized when he was a baby, but he did not think that he was a Christian since childhood as he stopped going to church during his upbringing. Yet, an illness changed everything. He was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2013. Confronting illness, human beings are so vulnerable and insignificant, and he was reminded of his long-lost faith.
After regaining his faith, Liang started to serve in the church. In order to serve better, he studied in a Bible school in his hometown for one year. Before graduation, a teacher talked to him about his gift of preaching and suggested he go on to further studies. At that time, he had been married, so it was not easy to continue studying. With two schooling children, his family was not rich. He was in a financial dilemma. For the teacher’s suggestion, Liang decided to give it careful prayer and consideration.
“If it was God’s will, I wished that I could pass the exam.” He turned to prayer to seek God’s guidance.
Liang passed the exam successfully and felt relieved. However, his family members disagreed with him. “Dad doesn’t love me anymore. Dad only loves Jesus,” his daughter said so to him when she learned that he was going to study theology. His wife also strongly opposed him. He was once again in a tangle, and he understood their worries, which were exactly his worries. Yet, he could not ignore God’s calling. Despite the opposition of his family, he went to study theology, which laid a hidden danger for his family relationship.
In 2019, he graduated from a seminary and officially worked as a full-time minister in the grass-roots church of his hometown, receiving a monthly salary of 400 yuan. During the last two years of the pandemic, his original monthly salary was suspended in the second half of 2021 due to the suspension of in-person gatherings.
He has two children, the older son is a sophomore, and the younger daughter is in the eighth grade. He provides for his children and sustains the family mainly by doing odd jobs here and there. In September, the beginning of a new school year, he need to prepare living expenses and tuition fees for his children, nearly 20,000 yuan. His work is unstable, sometimes, he can earn 100-200 yuan a day; while other times, he has no work to do for several days. However, because of his church duty, he can not find a full-time job. Every month, he can not make ends meet.
In fact, as soon as he graduated from the seminary, his wife asked for a divorce. “I went through such a big trial as soon as I came back,” Liang said with a wry smile.
Liang wanted to sit down and talk with his wife many times, but she refused to communicate with him and often avoided meeting him. Reluctantly, he went to the Civil Affairs Bureau with her where the divorce procedure is officiated. After being suggested a cooling-off period of one month, Liang did not go to the Civil Affairs Bureau again. His wife stopped going home and went out for work. She blocked all ways Liang can contact her. Now Liang can not find her at all.
During his illness in 2013, studying in the Bible class in 2014, and his theological education from 2016 to 2019, his wife sustained their family for six years. Though she is a Christian, she had to take care of her sick husband and her family throughout the years and did not have much time to go to church. “Gradually, her faith was weakened.”
For Minister Liang, the family relationship is the knot he cannot open. Last year, he had another surgery, and his wife did not contact him either.
Praying to God is the only thing Liang can do now. He believes that God will open the way for him and that He will help him. Life won’t be so hard all the time.
“Everyone breaks down sometimes, and the road of faith is destined to be uneven,” Pastor Liang confessed.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Pastor’s Story: Family Crisis Due to Insistence on Theological Studying
