Editor's note: The impact of the 2022 epidemic on people's lives has exceeded their imagination. People who work and live in every field of society are experiencing helplessness and the feeling of loss. In a church where believers were weak in faith or left, a pastor Y in South China shared stories of how they helped church members get out of the spiritual slump through prayers, care, and support.
Pastor Y shared an example of a female believer who blamed God for the suicide of her father who had pancreatic cancer but did not want to receive treatment.
First of all, he counseled her who was breastfeeding her newly-born child in order to help her accept the fact that her father had left, saying each person might leave this world.
Second, they gathered together to pray for her faith in Christ. Through face-to-face consultations, Y tried to guide her to change her perspective and exhort her not to blame God who controls everything and whose grace is greater than all the sufferings. Finally, she overcame the trouble of receiving others’ prayers, exhortations, and company.
He continued, "Having not found a job, a female member of our church who is highly educated was anxious. In the face of believers without jobs, we introduced other Christians of the same trade or occupation to help them. At the same time, I urge her to attend services, emphasizing the importance of worshipping God.”
The pastor said they prayed online overnight for a female Christian who had been trapped at home for a month in Futian District, Shenzhen. She finally overcame this difficult period through virtual gatherings.
A Christian woman running three companies in the cultural industry felt nervous as she couldn’t fall asleep. Apart from consultation and prayers, Y said they suggested that she see a Chinese medicine doctor as soon as possible to nurse her back to health.
Y declared, "Under the epidemic, personal life and the development of the church which should give people truth, love, and hope are full of uncertainty and difficulties. God's love is true love that was revealed by Jesus' cross and true service. Loving each other as Jesus did, pastoral workers gave out what they have to help believers start anew to glorify God’s name.”
- Translated by Abigail Wu
