It was a Sunday after snowing, and the temperature was nearly 20 degrees below zero. I went to a church and asked a co-worker who was serving in the square outside the church, "Is it cold?" "It’s so cold, and my hands are as cold as ice." That sister answered me, stamping her foot to keep warm. "Didn't the church equip you with cotton-padded clothes for the winter?" "No, and it's been like that for years."
It was winter and I was in a cold church office. It turned out that the church had stopped central heating and used air conditioning to save money. But in the cold winter in Northeastern China, an air conditioner with low power was of no help, and the pastors and co-workers in the office were holding a hot water bag to keep warm but they still felt cold.
Entering the winter, the temperatures of some areas in Southern China are also dropping, and even the people there need to wear cotton clothes, not to mention the people in Northern China (especially in the Northeast and Northwest of China with a temperature of about minus 30 degrees). Such weather would last for five or six months in the Northeast of China every year (from November to March or April of the following year). So the church also faces a practical problem - how to keep people warm in winter.
For some cities, the indoor heating of the church is not a problem, because there is local central heating, and the church only needs to pay heating fees. But for some small churches, especially those in rural churches without connected central heating, and churches with insufficient funds, heating, and insulation are a problem that must be solved for the co-workers who greet the believers outside the church.
Therefore, I suggest that the church should spend some money to purchase uniform winter clothing for these ushers, such as down coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and military coats.
To reduce the amount of time each person is exposed to the cold, a reasonable shift system can be arranged so that everyone takes turns resting and heating. In extremely cold weather, such as Northeastern and Northwestern China, when the temperature drops to minus 20 or 30 degrees, it is recommended not to serve outside the church, but at the entrance of the church. Churches may also provide facilities to prevent wind and snow, such as temporary tents, large umbrellas, or shelters.
The people in charge of the church should take the lead in serving outside the church, regularly ask about the well-being of those serving outdoors, provide care and greetings, ask for their opinions and suggestions, and constantly improve the heating environment and conditions.
For senior workers, who are in poor health, especially those with chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it is best not to arrange them to serve outside the church in winter. Churches should have an emergency plan in place to deal with extreme cold weather, including providing temporary shelter and extra supplies to keep warm.
(Originally published by the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission and the author is a believer at a church in Liaoning.)
-Translated by Nicolas Cao
