Shepherding urban believers is critical to modern churches. A Chinese preacher named Chen Enzhun shares his view on the challenges urban believers may meet in the workplace.
1.The challenge that comes from being upset
More people rush into cities with the accelerated pace of urbanization in China. Those people who move from serene villages into noisy cities find it hard to integrate themselves into cities which is so close to them but feels so far away. Not belonging to the country, this group walks between cities and villages and feels upset, which people who live in the cities since their birth would not understand.
2.The challenge that comes from loneliness
People who live in noisy cities still feel lonely even when enduring crowdedness. They busy themselves with work during the daytime bu end up feeling lonely at night or during festivals. Although they can keep in touch with others via calls, messages, emails or online chatting, they sink deeper into their loneliness after their separation with others.
3. The challenge that comes from pressure
For people in cities, pressure comes from the boss, the challenge from co-workers or subordinates, the exclusion from competitors, the changing company strategy and even some unspoken rules in the workplace, with may be difficult to handle. Urban elites suffer from stress at work, wondering if they may be eliminated at some point. They're stressed out both in body and mind, without happiness.
4. The challenge that comes from anxiety
The accelerating life pace, the expanding wealth gap, the success of relatives and friends, the lure of materialism or the desires of the sinful nature continuously challenge people in cities. Faced with complex affairs every day, people in the cities may be filled with anxiety and panic. If not handled well, the anxiety may develop into a mental disease or an anxiety disorder.
The four different challenges cannot be solved by technology. If pastors in urban churches know them and can shoot the arrow at the target in the daily ministry of shepherding believers in the workplace, they can help those urban believers overcome the challenges in their city life.
