Churches in North China’s Shanxi Province were visited by church leaders because of their long-time suspensions of in-person gatherings.
A church leader paid visits to grassroots churches that faced great challenges of self-financing and carrying out pastoral care, Shanxi CC&TSPM reported.
Since the beginning of this year, the coronavirus pandemic has repeatedly attacked all parts of Shanxi. In order to support pandemic prevention, churches in the province have been implementing the measure of "double suspension", which refers to suspending the opening of places of worship and collective religious activities.
Jin Yuting, executive vice chairman of Shanxi TSPM and director of Social Service Department of Shanxi CC&TSPM, on May 6 led staff workers to visit Xiaodian Meeting Point, Shigou Gathering Site, and Yijing Meeting Point in Taiyuan City for research and visits.
During the discussion with each church’s staff members, the research team learned about the development of church ministries, such as self-financing, pastoral care, safety, epidemic prevention, and social services, as well as difficulties in any of these spheres. Affirming the efforts of each church, Jin encouraged church staff to have faith at the end of the epidemic, to do a good job in epidemic prevention, pastoral care, and social welfare services, and to adhere to the principle of developing religion in the Chinese context.
What’s more important, Jin stated that they intended not to require the special donations made by local churches to the provincial CC&TSPM, in order to ease the financial pressure on grassroots churches.
“This grassroots survey does not only reflect the pastoral heart of church leaders but also reflects the mission of the provincial CC&TSPM which is serving others as a religious group," he said.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
