The pandemic, which has lasted for over three years, significantly impacts many churches in China, both in terms of the number of members and in the development of their ministries.
A few days ago, the Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed six pastors in East China and reported on the changes in churches in the post-pandemic era. Many pastors believe that God’s good will is still present under all kinds of shocks, and they reflect on the pandemic from different perspectives. In their opinion, perhaps the phrase “being washed out” is more appropriate than “impact” when describing how the pandemic has influenced churches.
Pastor A says: “During the pandemic, the experiences of the individual church were definitely bad. During the pandemic, the cost of implementing various ministries was obviously much higher. Home visitation is one example - it now takes much more time and energy. However, it’s a good thing for the future of the church, because, after trials, we become increasingly aware that everything is under God’s guidance.”
In his view, the history of the church is a history of development under hardship. The book of Acts is an example. The apostles were forced to leave, and after they went out, they began to plant churches extensively. Therefore, he believes that the church needs to reflect on its mission. “In the past, we paid attention to church buildings. The current period reminds us that we should give more resources to build up lives and spread the gospel. At the same time, we should also guide believers to think: am I indeed a true believer?”
Pastor B usually pays great attention to the social participation of Christians and reflects on this perspective. The pastor argues: “The pandemic made pastors start thinking about how Christians can get out of church buildings and start to serve society in its current environment. It is necessary to prepare for other environmental and natural disasters in the future. We need to understand how to overcome ourselves to be a light and salt in society. During the pandemic, church believers volunteered to help the lonely elderly in the community by buying and delivering food as well as acid testers to them. It is a positive phenomenon when Christians can integrate themselves into the masses."
Pastor C is a fan of Chinese traditional culture, especially painting and calligraphy. He admits that the three-year pandemic has given him much pause for thought. Because he does not want to waste time, he strives to understand God’s will. After a period of suffering and prayer, he focused his eyes on culture. During the pandemic, he has seen the importance of culture in international exchanges, and that culture can enjoy a very long life. A poem, a painting, or a scroll of calligraphy affects people emotionally and spiritually. Personally, he is ready to use his own gifts to carry out a cultural ministry.
During the pandemic, the number of depressed people has increased sharply. Anxiety and depression are also issues among Christians. Pastor D, born in the post-1990s, explains: “It is very important to pay attention to the emotions of the brothers and sisters and to support their sense of self-confidence. During the pandemic, believers’ businesses are not flourishing, and jobs are hard to find. Believers pay more attention to the external, are under great pressure, and complain more. Therefore, the church needs to pay more attention to issues of food and employment while guiding people to comprehend their environment correctly. In addition, their souls need to be encouraged. We must really care for the whole person.”
In particular, he mentions: “The environment forces us to grow up, removing many external issues which distract us. The church becomes thereby more aware of the importance of the small group and discipleship. At the same time, we also see that the Lord is doing screening work in the church. We notice that the living condition of believers who remain is completely different from those who leave the church. The external environment is forcing us to make changes; the church cannot only focus on external numbers.”
Pastor E has been a worship leader for many years. He travels around and leads worship in the gatherings. He reckons that he led about 500 worship services prior to the pandemic. On average, he leads the worship once a week, and three times a day at most.
He admits: “You cannot remain at peace if you keep running and serving. My mind has been on the ministry, and I have had no time to think about life and spirituality. The pandemic has forced me to stop and reflect.” His biggest change is that he no longer needs a public atmosphere – he can now be quiet. He also notes that churches that have long concerned themselves with members' spiritual growth and have good spiritual practice are least impacted by the pandemic.
Pastor F is constantly exploring the means of church development on the basis of his pastoral experience. He says: “The pandemic brings challenges to pastors, but it also urges pastors to keep learning, to adjust their pastoral strategies, and to practice unity, which are the works of God and promote the development of the church.”
First of all, he says that pastors’ concept of shepherding needs to be updated, their comprehension should be improved and they need to keep learning. Whether it be in-person or online services, pastors need to learn computers, use applets, find platforms, and do editing. He believes that even when the pandemic is completely over, other new problems will arise. Consequently, online ministry may become the new normal mode and pastors need to prepare for such an eventuality.
Secondly, he finds that the shepherding strategy needs adjustment. The outbreak of the pandemic has led him and his church to return to a theology of the cross. He points out: “The church needs to preach suffering and the cross, and the cross is the path to the future. I keep reminding my brothers and sisters that we need to grow up, stop drinking milk, and start to eat dry food. Let church members realize that the challenges of the church in the future will be even greater. We must be prepared to bear hardships and learn to bear the costs.”
Finally, he realizes the importance of pastoral care. During the pandemic, people have lost the assurance that they could accomplish great missions. Yet the more difficult the environment is, the more we need each other. The Holy Spirit takes this opportunity to work in the minds of pastors, and pastors from different churches have become willing to sit down and discuss together pastoral issues such as the development of the church, how to plan for the future and how to give full play to their own talents in order to better link their churches together.
- Translated by Charlie Li
持续了三年的疫情，给国内不少教会造成了不小的影响，无论是会友人数还是事工的开展。
日前，基督时报采访华东某地区六位牧者，谈到后疫情时代给教会带来的改变。多位牧者都相信在各样的冲击之下仍有上帝的美意，他们从多个角度谈到自己对疫情的反思，在他们看来，或许“冲刷”比“冲击”更为恰当。
牧者A：从教会历史的角度思考
牧者A是一间教会的牧师，他谈到：疫情期间，教会个体感受肯定是不好的，体验可能是很糟糕的。疫情之后开展各项事工，明显付出的代价要比过去大很多，以探访工作来说，花费的时间和精力要比过去多得多。但从教会历史看是好事，因为经过试验之后，才知道一切都在上帝的带领之下。
在他看来，教会历史本身就是在艰难中发展的历史，使徒行传为例使徒受到逼迫出去，出去之后开始广泛建立教会。因此他认为教会需要在使命上有反思，“过去我们可能注重堂会建造，这个时期提醒我们，是不是要把资源更多给到生命建造和福音使命上？同时也要引导信徒思考生命，我是真信主吗？”
牧者B：从社会服务的角度思考
牧者B平时很关注基督徒的社会参与，他从社会层面进行了反思。这位牧者表示：疫情封控让牧者开始思考基督徒怎样在这种环境中从教会的围墙走出去，进入和服务社会。也要预备将来遇到其他的环境和自然灾害的时候，教会该如何突破自己，如何在社会中做光做盐。有教会信徒在疫情期间做志愿者，帮助社区孤寡老人买菜、送餐、做核酸检测员等，基督徒能够融入人群，这是好现象。
牧者C：从文化的角度思考
牧者C是一位中国传统文化尤其是书画等艺术的爱好者。他坦言，三年的疫情让他大为深思。因为他不想浪费光阴，他很想明白上帝的旨意，在一段时间的煎熬和祷告寻求之后，他睁开了“文化”的眼睛。疫情期间他看到文化在国际友好交往中的重要性，也看到文化是可以长期被保存下来的。一首诗、一幅画或者一卷书法让人在情感上和心灵上受到震颤。他个人也预备着用自己所长来开展文化事工。
牧者D：从信徒角度思考
疫情期间，社会上抑郁症人群骤增。基督徒群体当中也存在焦虑、抑郁等问题。牧者D是一位90后弟兄，他认为，“关注弟兄姐妹的情绪，梳理他们的信心也是很重要的工作。疫情期间，信徒生意不好做，工作难找。信徒关注外在比较多，压力大，抱怨更多，因此教会除了要在灵魂上牧养，更需要关注到他们的吃饭就业问题，引导他们正确看待环境。真正做到全人关怀。”
他特别提到，“环境逼着我们成长，外在环境把很多浮躁的东西去除了，让教会意识到小组和门训的重要。同时也看到主在教会中做筛选的工作，我们看到流失的信徒和留下的信徒生命状态是完全不同的。外在环境在带领我们做出改变，教会不能只是关注外在的人数等。”
牧者E：从牧者自身角度思考
牧者E，多年来做乐队敬拜服事。这位牧者讲述自己在疫情之前常年奔波于各地的聚会，在聚会中主领敬拜。他数算，疫情之前几年的时间带领聚会大概有500场。平均一个礼拜至少一场，多的时候一天三场。
他诚实地讲，“一直奔波服事，心是无法安静下来的。脑子都在事工上，根本没有时间思考生命和灵性，疫情让我停下来反思。”他最大的变化是自己不再喜欢外在氛围，现在可以安静下来了。他也看到那些长期追求生命成长、灵修做的比较好的教会在疫情下没有太大影响。
牧者F：从教会发展的角度思考
一位不断探究教会发展之路的牧者F结合牧养的经验讲：疫情给牧者带来挑战，但是也催促牧者不断学习、调整牧养策略并学会联合，这些都是上帝的工作，是可以促进教会发展的。
首先，他表示牧者的牧养观念要更新，牧者综合能力要提高，要不断学习。线下聚会转线上，牧者需要学电脑，会链接小程序，找平台，学剪辑。他认为即便疫情彻底结束，将来可能遇到其他问题，所以线上牧养，可能是常态化的牧养模式，牧者需要做充分准备。
其次，他发现牧养策略需要调整。疫情的来临带领他和他的教会回归十架神学。他指出，“教会需要传递受苦、十字架。十字架道路是未来的路径，所以我不断提醒弟兄姐妹我们需要成长了，不能吃奶了，要吃干粮。要让弟兄姐妹意识到未来教会的挑战是更大的，要有吃苦的心理准备，要学习承担代价。”
最后，他意识到牧养联合的重要。因为在疫情时代，真实感受到一个人不能完成大使命。环境越难，越发需要彼此。圣灵也藉着这个时机在不同牧者的心里工作，不同教会牧者愿意坐下来一起探讨牧养模式、教会的发展、未来如何复习、教会之间怎样充分发挥自己的特色更好地形成联动配搭等。他表示这在疫情之前在当地是很难做到的。
圆桌间| 六位牧者不同角度谈：疫情给教会带来的或许不是“冲击”，而是“冲刷”
The pandemic, which has lasted for over three years, significantly impacts many churches in China, both in terms of the number of members and in the development of their ministries.
A few days ago, the Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed six pastors in East China and reported on the changes in churches in the post-pandemic era. Many pastors believe that God’s good will is still present under all kinds of shocks, and they reflect on the pandemic from different perspectives. In their opinion, perhaps the phrase “being washed out” is more appropriate than “impact” when describing how the pandemic has influenced churches.
Pastor A says: “During the pandemic, the experiences of the individual church were definitely bad. During the pandemic, the cost of implementing various ministries was obviously much higher. Home visitation is one example - it now takes much more time and energy. However, it’s a good thing for the future of the church, because, after trials, we become increasingly aware that everything is under God’s guidance.”
In his view, the history of the church is a history of development under hardship. The book of Acts is an example. The apostles were forced to leave, and after they went out, they began to plant churches extensively. Therefore, he believes that the church needs to reflect on its mission. “In the past, we paid attention to church buildings. The current period reminds us that we should give more resources to build up lives and spread the gospel. At the same time, we should also guide believers to think: am I indeed a true believer?”
Pastor B usually pays great attention to the social participation of Christians and reflects on this perspective. The pastor argues: “The pandemic made pastors start thinking about how Christians can get out of church buildings and start to serve society in its current environment. It is necessary to prepare for other environmental and natural disasters in the future. We need to understand how to overcome ourselves to be a light and salt in society. During the pandemic, church believers volunteered to help the lonely elderly in the community by buying and delivering food as well as acid testers to them. It is a positive phenomenon when Christians can integrate themselves into the masses."
Pastor C is a fan of Chinese traditional culture, especially painting and calligraphy. He admits that the three-year pandemic has given him much pause for thought. Because he does not want to waste time, he strives to understand God’s will. After a period of suffering and prayer, he focused his eyes on culture. During the pandemic, he has seen the importance of culture in international exchanges, and that culture can enjoy a very long life. A poem, a painting, or a scroll of calligraphy affects people emotionally and spiritually. Personally, he is ready to use his own gifts to carry out a cultural ministry.
During the pandemic, the number of depressed people has increased sharply. Anxiety and depression are also issues among Christians. Pastor D, born in the post-1990s, explains: “It is very important to pay attention to the emotions of the brothers and sisters and to support their sense of self-confidence. During the pandemic, believers’ businesses are not flourishing, and jobs are hard to find. Believers pay more attention to the external, are under great pressure, and complain more. Therefore, the church needs to pay more attention to issues of food and employment while guiding people to comprehend their environment correctly. In addition, their souls need to be encouraged. We must really care for the whole person.”
In particular, he mentions: “The environment forces us to grow up, removing many external issues which distract us. The church becomes thereby more aware of the importance of the small group and discipleship. At the same time, we also see that the Lord is doing screening work in the church. We notice that the living condition of believers who remain is completely different from those who leave the church. The external environment is forcing us to make changes; the church cannot only focus on external numbers.”
Pastor E has been a worship leader for many years. He travels around and leads worship in the gatherings. He reckons that he led about 500 worship services prior to the pandemic. On average, he leads the worship once a week, and three times a day at most.
He admits: “You cannot remain at peace if you keep running and serving. My mind has been on the ministry, and I have had no time to think about life and spirituality. The pandemic has forced me to stop and reflect.” His biggest change is that he no longer needs a public atmosphere – he can now be quiet. He also notes that churches that have long concerned themselves with members' spiritual growth and have good spiritual practice are least impacted by the pandemic.
Pastor F is constantly exploring the means of church development on the basis of his pastoral experience. He says: “The pandemic brings challenges to pastors, but it also urges pastors to keep learning, to adjust their pastoral strategies, and to practice unity, which are the works of God and promote the development of the church.”
First of all, he says that pastors’ concept of shepherding needs to be updated, their comprehension should be improved and they need to keep learning. Whether it be in-person or online services, pastors need to learn computers, use applets, find platforms, and do editing. He believes that even when the pandemic is completely over, other new problems will arise. Consequently, online ministry may become the new normal mode and pastors need to prepare for such an eventuality.
Secondly, he finds that the shepherding strategy needs adjustment. The outbreak of the pandemic has led him and his church to return to a theology of the cross. He points out: “The church needs to preach suffering and the cross, and the cross is the path to the future. I keep reminding my brothers and sisters that we need to grow up, stop drinking milk, and start to eat dry food. Let church members realize that the challenges of the church in the future will be even greater. We must be prepared to bear hardships and learn to bear the costs.”
Finally, he realizes the importance of pastoral care. During the pandemic, people have lost the assurance that they could accomplish great missions. Yet the more difficult the environment is, the more we need each other. The Holy Spirit takes this opportunity to work in the minds of pastors, and pastors from different churches have become willing to sit down and discuss together pastoral issues such as the development of the church, how to plan for the future and how to give full play to their own talents in order to better link their churches together.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Six Chinese Pastors' Voice: The Church Is 'Washed Out' Through the Pandemic
