Full-time pastors and ministers often face a significant income gap compared to the need to support their families and children's education. It is a matter of concern whether pastors can venture into business.
In an interview with the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China, five pastors from different provinces in China, each with over 20 years of pastoral experience, expressed their views on the issue.
Rev. Jing Baihan, born in the 1970s and a leader of a city church of about 50 people in East China, often testifies to the wonderful work of God in his church for visitors. He also introduced how he engages in direct sales of Amway products. For instance, he demonstrates the promotion of relevant apps within his network for pastors, allowing them to earn money through others' online purchases.
He said, "As a pastor, one needs to become wealthy for God." According to him, pastors can engage in business, aiming for a better life for themselves and their families through direct sales work. He expresses the willingness to not solely depend on believers’ donations but to contribute a portion of any surplus to specific ministers in need.
Similar to Rev. Jing, Rev. Liu Yishan, introverted and aged nearly 50, underwent professional theological education and once led a hundred-member city church in South China. However, he encountered difficulties when the devil tempted him to create a fake certificate, which led the church council to suggest that he resign.
After leaving his pastoral role, he encountered a local e-commerce and social media marketing business model. He promotes his products in his social circle and regularly recommends related items to pastors and believers. He said, "I hope to bring the gospel to professionals after realizing my prior inability to understand the real situations of church believers during my pastorship."
In contrast, Rev. Cui Tianhong, born in the 1970s and leading a thousand-member church in South China, believed that pastors can engage in business but must do so cautiously. From the beginning of the establishment of the church, he has led the ministry to the present day. As a professional elite, he has performed the best in the company. Knowing he is a Christian, the boss doesn't give him a job on the weekends. Despite being a workplace elite, he considers the primary purpose for pastors entering business to be for the Lord and to reach more people in the workplace with the gospel, rather than solely for making money.
Rev. Zhang Shuqiang, nearly 60 years old, from a first-tier city in South China, equipped with theological training, has led varied types of churches and now serves as the head pastor of a 300-member church. He believes pastors can be involved in business but emphasizes the importance of clarifying the purpose and aligning with God's intentions. He shared an experience where a pastor friend introduced him to Christian entrepreneurs, some of whom were deceptive and sought funding without genuine Christian intentions. He warned about the lack of discernment potentially leading believers to financial losses and tarnishing the church's and pastors' reputations, which adversely affected the spread of the gospel.
Rev. Zuo Zongsheng, leader of a thousand-member church in South China, born in the 1960s, along with his wife, were both business elites before dedicating themselves to full-time ministry. They abandoned their affluent lifestyle and solely relied on faith to serve the Lord. Even in challenging times when they had to scavenge for leftovers or lacked money for public transportation, they refrained from re-entering the business world. They emphasized that ministers should avoid any involvement in business-related work or invitations. Zuo advocated for pastors and staff workers to do the Lord's work and leave the rest to God. They firmly believed that rejoicing in God and relying on God's provision can still be possible in today's society."
(To protect the interviewees, all names mentioned above are pseudonyms.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
全职事奉教会的牧师、传道人的收入偏低，与养家糊口，子女教育的需求相比，这个群体的收入存在着一定的缺口。牧师是否可以涉足商业，这一个值得关注的问题。
受中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报的采访，来自不同省份的5位平均牧龄在20年以上的牧者，对于这个问题表达了自己的观点。
70后的井柏翰牧师，在华东A市带领一间50人左右的教会。他常常为来访者见证上帝在他的教会里奇妙的工作，还会给大家介绍他是如何做直销安利。例如，演示相关的App推广到他的人脉圈，就可以让牧者每日因为他人线上的消费而有资金入账。
“身为牧者，需要为了上帝成为有钱人。”在他看来，牧者可以涉足商业，比起苦哈哈的生活，他更希望自己能够通过安利的分销工作能够让自己和家人的生活更好些。“我可以不依赖于信徒的奉献，同时我还可以把盈余的一部分奉献给特定需要的传道人。”
而与井牧师类似的另一位70后牧者，刘义善牧师，他性格内敛，早年受过专业的神学教育，曾经在华南B市带领一间百人教会。后因他被物质试探，在证明上作假，被发现后，教会内部委员会劝他辞职。
在他离开牧职后，他接触到了本土电商与微商结合的商业模式。于是他会在朋友圈中分享他的带货平台的信息。然后他把所有他认识的牧者、信徒拉入一个微信群中，定期推荐相关用品。“从前我过着两点一线的牧会生活，我是无法体会到教会信徒的真实处境的。我希望通过接触职场人士，能够给他们带去福音。”
与以上两位牧者有所不同的崔天鸿牧师，认为牧者可以涉足商业，但需要谨小慎微。
70后的崔牧师，在华南带领一间千人教会，他从起初建立教会时就带职事奉到如今，作为职场精英的他，一直是公司里业绩最好的员工。知道他是基督徒，老板也就不会在周末给他安排工作。
他的看见是，牧者涉足商业的初心，应该是为了主，为了神得到更多职场的百姓，而不是单是为了赚钱这一个目的。
来自华南的超一线城市的60后章书强牧师，受过神学装备，他带领过不同类型的教会。如今在华南的D市一间300人的教会做主任牧师。
他的认为牧者可以碰商业，但要明确这么做的目的是什么，是否合乎上帝的心意。在过去的一年里，他的一个牧者朋友，也给他介绍了一些基督徒企业家认识。他发现其中也有很多是假冒的基督徒，只是想拉人进去融资，获得他们公司的第一桶启动资金而已。“如果一个教会的牧师没有分辨力，就容易随便地介绍信徒给这些假冒的基督徒商人认识，很有可能让他们在金钱上受到亏损。更为严重的是教会和牧者的名誉可能会受到负面的影响，折损福音。”
一位来自华南E市，带领一间千人教会60后的左宗圣牧师，他和师母在全职事奉教会之前，他们都是社会上的商业精英，被主呼召拣选后，他俩放弃了过去没有千元的衣服不穿的生活，选择了一条只凭着信心走事奉主的道路。
离开商业职场后的左牧师夫妇，也捡过市场里的剩菜 ，也有没有钱坐公交的时候，但无论多么艰难，他们都没有再涉足商业。他们强调传道人不可以碰跟商业一切相关的工作和邀请。他坚持倡导牧者同工尽力做主的工，剩下的部分交给上帝。“每次在我们身处艰难的时候，上帝就会派弟兄姐妹来给我们带来及时的供应。”“我们始终坚信以上帝为乐，靠上帝供养的生活依旧可以在今天这个社会里安然度日。”
(为保护受访者 以上人物均为化名)
话题：教会牧者在事奉教会与涉足商业之间 ，如何守住底线？
Full-time pastors and ministers often face a significant income gap compared to the need to support their families and children's education. It is a matter of concern whether pastors can venture into business.
In an interview with the Christian Times, an online Christian newspaper in China, five pastors from different provinces in China, each with over 20 years of pastoral experience, expressed their views on the issue.
Rev. Jing Baihan, born in the 1970s and a leader of a city church of about 50 people in East China, often testifies to the wonderful work of God in his church for visitors. He also introduced how he engages in direct sales of Amway products. For instance, he demonstrates the promotion of relevant apps within his network for pastors, allowing them to earn money through others' online purchases.
He said, "As a pastor, one needs to become wealthy for God." According to him, pastors can engage in business, aiming for a better life for themselves and their families through direct sales work. He expresses the willingness to not solely depend on believers’ donations but to contribute a portion of any surplus to specific ministers in need.
Similar to Rev. Jing, Rev. Liu Yishan, introverted and aged nearly 50, underwent professional theological education and once led a hundred-member city church in South China. However, he encountered difficulties when the devil tempted him to create a fake certificate, which led the church council to suggest that he resign.
After leaving his pastoral role, he encountered a local e-commerce and social media marketing business model. He promotes his products in his social circle and regularly recommends related items to pastors and believers. He said, "I hope to bring the gospel to professionals after realizing my prior inability to understand the real situations of church believers during my pastorship."
In contrast, Rev. Cui Tianhong, born in the 1970s and leading a thousand-member church in South China, believed that pastors can engage in business but must do so cautiously. From the beginning of the establishment of the church, he has led the ministry to the present day. As a professional elite, he has performed the best in the company. Knowing he is a Christian, the boss doesn't give him a job on the weekends. Despite being a workplace elite, he considers the primary purpose for pastors entering business to be for the Lord and to reach more people in the workplace with the gospel, rather than solely for making money.
Rev. Zhang Shuqiang, nearly 60 years old, from a first-tier city in South China, equipped with theological training, has led varied types of churches and now serves as the head pastor of a 300-member church. He believes pastors can be involved in business but emphasizes the importance of clarifying the purpose and aligning with God's intentions. He shared an experience where a pastor friend introduced him to Christian entrepreneurs, some of whom were deceptive and sought funding without genuine Christian intentions. He warned about the lack of discernment potentially leading believers to financial losses and tarnishing the church's and pastors' reputations, which adversely affected the spread of the gospel.
Rev. Zuo Zongsheng, leader of a thousand-member church in South China, born in the 1960s, along with his wife, were both business elites before dedicating themselves to full-time ministry. They abandoned their affluent lifestyle and solely relied on faith to serve the Lord. Even in challenging times when they had to scavenge for leftovers or lacked money for public transportation, they refrained from re-entering the business world. They emphasized that ministers should avoid any involvement in business-related work or invitations. Zuo advocated for pastors and staff workers to do the Lord's work and leave the rest to God. They firmly believed that rejoicing in God and relying on God's provision can still be possible in today's society."
(To protect the interviewees, all names mentioned above are pseudonyms.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Topic: Should Pastors Venture Into Business?
