On Jan 10, 2017, Rev. Gong Yanrong died of nasopharyngeal cancer at the age of 40.
The young pastor who earned a bachelor degree in theology from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary and a master degree from Yanjing Theological Seminary started to serve in a local church of Lintong District, Xi'an in 2004. Two years later she pursued further education in Shaanxi Normal University and graduated in 2009. Later she resumed her pastoring work.
Her husband, Brother Yang Bin, supports the family by doing odd jobs after retirement. They have an 11-year-old son who is in the fifth grade. Yang tells CCD that the pastor who grew up in a Christian family began to serve God in her teens. She could stay in a seminary to teach after graduation, but she chose to serve in local churches to save more souls.
Rev. Gong pastored six or seven churches in Lintong and preached several sermons weekly. However, she never earned a regular salary. Besides, she served some churches in Xi'an. "She always left home at around 5 in the morning.... and came home at night. She had to write sermons till late at night at home and rarely went to bed before 12 in the midnight." Brother Yang says.
Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with early throat cancer last July. She and her husband had to launch a fundraising campaign on Qingsongchou, a hot social networking crowdfunding platform in China and raised the target fund of 200,000 yuan in just five hours. But she died after treatment. It is said that her memorial service will be held on January 12.
The sad event raises hot discussions among Christians on WeChat:
A netizen, WeChat name "Yanzi", claims, "There are heated discussions in groups of pastors. If churches paid more attention to pastors, for instance, providing them an annual medical examination, her illness could be found earlier. The current physical conditions of Chinese pastors are worrying... Farewell, Rev. Gong. "
Another WeChat user, "Li Wei" states, "I was moved to tears after hearing a recording of the news twice. You really need to concern and care about pastors' physical and mental life. How could you take from and squeeze them alone? The servant of the highest God deserves respect and love! If you love God, love his chosen servants... Regardless of your position, fame or location in a city or the countryside, I would love you just because you are the servant of God!"
A netizen named "Fuwei" shouts, "The sad news for today, another young Chinese pastor left us! Does pastor really become a high-risk occupation? My Lord..."
Translated by: Karen Luo
