The three-year pandemic has deeply impacted diversified sectors in China, including the church. As attendance at many church worship services has declined compared to before the pandemic, it is crucial to think about how to maintain the church's vibrancy in such circumstances.
Recently, Pastor Z from an emerging family church in East China shared several insights on how to maintain the vitality of his pastoral care in the church.
Emphasis on evangelizing family members and living a devout life
Z emphasizes to all believers in the church that the primary targets for evangelism should be their own family members, including spouses, parents, and children who have not yet embraced the faith. He stresses the importance of faith inheritance, encouraging parents not to worry excessively about their children’s studies but to entrust them to God. Parents should not only teach the truth to their children but also lead by example, as this significantly impacts whether the kids’ lives will be transformed. He pointed out that children come to know God through their parents. If parents are devout, faith naturally gets passed down.
The majority of church members are youth
In Z's church, the majority of the congregation is made up of young people. He aims to maintain the church's vibrancy through gatherings specifically tailored for the youth. In terms of the personal lives of believers, Z strongly emphasizes that they should experience peace and joy. Additionally, his church places significant emphasis on nurturing young workers. He stated, "The church I pastor now places great emphasis on involving young people." The church stresses equality among coworkers, allowing them to speak up and avoiding thinking too highly of the pastor.
Focus on personal spiritual growth and prayer
Pastor Z highlighted that his church places significant emphasis on the devotional practice of believers. Besides regular gatherings, the church also conducts small-group Bible studies. He shared that the church has consistently held morning prayers for over five years without interruption. Interceding for others during morning prayers is a significant focus, such as praying for unbelieving spouses, family members, and the city they live in. Apart from daily morning prayers, the church sets aside a day each month for collective fasting and prayer on these topics.
Train husbands as core workers
Z stated that his church hasn't been significantly affected during the pandemic years. The church is structured around families, with faithful husbands serving as core members.
Reflecting on past pastoral experiences, this pastor remarked, "Female Christians are passionate in their faith but tend to be emotionally driven. Additionally, their role should be that of helpers." Consequently, his church transitioned from having female believers as core workers to having male ones serve as the core.
His church emphasizes organizing male believers to study together, letting them participate in men's camps and brotherhood fellowships. He expressed that after establishing a relationship with God, they willingly emulate Christ's love within their families, embodying God's love, humility, and gentleness.
He highlighted that when families are solid, the church will also be stable. In the face of the church's current limitations to small group gatherings and increased mobility, Z remarked, "If there are seven or eight families with husbands serving in the church, the church will be stable. If the church is moving, we are just meeting somewhere else."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
三年疫情对中国的各个领域都产生了深远的影响，教会也在其中。很多教会的礼拜聚会出席人数相比疫情之前有所下降，在这样的情况下，如何让教会保持活力就显得非常重要。
近期，华东一位新兴城市家庭教会的Z牧师就他牧养的教会为例子，对如何保持教会的活力做了几点分享。
注重向家人传福音，活出敬虔的生命
Z牧师对教会所有的信徒说，第一个传福音的对象应该是自己的家人，对自己还未信主的配偶，父母，孩子要有最大的负担。
Z牧师还强调信仰的传承，Z牧师鼓励“鸡娃”的家长们，把孩子交托给神，而不是自己担忧很多。父母不仅要教孩子真理，同时要行得好，这关系孩子的生命能否改变。他指出，孩子们是通过父母认识神。如果父母敬虔，那么信仰也自然也会被传承下去。
教会成员结构上，应该是青年人居多
Z牧师牧养的教会，青年人居多，他期望通过聚集年轻人的聚会，保持教会的活力。在信徒的个人生命上，Z牧师很强调信徒要品尝平安和喜乐，另外他的教会很注重年轻同工的培养。Z牧师说：“现在我牧养的教会很注重年轻人的参与感”。教会内强调同工之间的平等，大家都有话语权，因此，“有问题大家都能做到当面讲，信徒也不会把牧师看的太高。”
教会注重个人灵修和祷告
Z牧师说，他牧养的教会很注重信徒的个人灵修生活。教会除了正常的礼拜聚会之外，还有小组查经。Z牧师分享说，教会坚持做晨祷已经5年多了，没有间断过。中间也有艰难，但是坚持下来了。晨祷上，为别人代祷是做的最多的。比如为了信徒还不信主的配偶、家人、所在的城市守望祷告。除了每天早上的晨祷之外，每个月还有一天会分别出来，全教会信徒一起为平日献上祷告的题目做禁食祷告。
教会的夫妻信徒比较多，注重培养弟兄做核心同工
Z牧师表示，在疫情的几年中，他的教会基本没有受到太大影响。因为教会的组成单位是家庭，并且教会核心侍奉成员是信仰稳固的丈夫们。
反思之前牧会的经验，Z牧师说：“姊妹们信仰是很火热，但是也容易情绪化。此外，姊妹的角色应该是帮助者。”因此，他牧养的教会慢慢由姊妹做核心同工过渡到让弟兄做核心服侍。
Z牧师牧养的教会很注重组织丈夫们一起学习，男信徒可以参加男士营和弟兄团契。他说，弟兄和神建立关系之后，会很愿意效法基督爱自己的家庭，效法神的爱、谦卑和温柔去对待自己的家庭。
他指出，家庭都稳固了，教会也会很稳固。面对教会现在只能小组聚会，并且移动性比较大的情况。Z牧师说：“如果教会有七八个弟兄站起来服侍的家庭，那么教会就很稳固，（面对移动问题）大家只是换地方聚会。”
华东一城市家庭教会牧者谈“如何让教会保持活力？”
The three-year pandemic has deeply impacted diversified sectors in China, including the church. As attendance at many church worship services has declined compared to before the pandemic, it is crucial to think about how to maintain the church's vibrancy in such circumstances.
Recently, Pastor Z from an emerging family church in East China shared several insights on how to maintain the vitality of his pastoral care in the church.
Emphasis on evangelizing family members and living a devout life
Z emphasizes to all believers in the church that the primary targets for evangelism should be their own family members, including spouses, parents, and children who have not yet embraced the faith. He stresses the importance of faith inheritance, encouraging parents not to worry excessively about their children’s studies but to entrust them to God. Parents should not only teach the truth to their children but also lead by example, as this significantly impacts whether the kids’ lives will be transformed. He pointed out that children come to know God through their parents. If parents are devout, faith naturally gets passed down.
The majority of church members are youth
In Z's church, the majority of the congregation is made up of young people. He aims to maintain the church's vibrancy through gatherings specifically tailored for the youth. In terms of the personal lives of believers, Z strongly emphasizes that they should experience peace and joy. Additionally, his church places significant emphasis on nurturing young workers. He stated, "The church I pastor now places great emphasis on involving young people." The church stresses equality among coworkers, allowing them to speak up and avoiding thinking too highly of the pastor.
Focus on personal spiritual growth and prayer
Pastor Z highlighted that his church places significant emphasis on the devotional practice of believers. Besides regular gatherings, the church also conducts small-group Bible studies. He shared that the church has consistently held morning prayers for over five years without interruption. Interceding for others during morning prayers is a significant focus, such as praying for unbelieving spouses, family members, and the city they live in. Apart from daily morning prayers, the church sets aside a day each month for collective fasting and prayer on these topics.
Train husbands as core workers
Z stated that his church hasn't been significantly affected during the pandemic years. The church is structured around families, with faithful husbands serving as core members.
Reflecting on past pastoral experiences, this pastor remarked, "Female Christians are passionate in their faith but tend to be emotionally driven. Additionally, their role should be that of helpers." Consequently, his church transitioned from having female believers as core workers to having male ones serve as the core.
His church emphasizes organizing male believers to study together, letting them participate in men's camps and brotherhood fellowships. He expressed that after establishing a relationship with God, they willingly emulate Christ's love within their families, embodying God's love, humility, and gentleness.
He highlighted that when families are solid, the church will also be stable. In the face of the church's current limitations to small group gatherings and increased mobility, Z remarked, "If there are seven or eight families with husbands serving in the church, the church will be stable. If the church is moving, we are just meeting somewhere else."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
House Church Pastor Shares How to Keep Church Vibrant
