COVID-19 has had a huge impact on society, including the churches which aren’t fortunate enough to escape the disaster. Some are even unable to keep up efforts, so what situations are churches being faced with?
Without a good worshiping environment
Though most churches conduct online gatherings which are the best way to worship God during this difficult period, some believers are unwilling to attend them virtually or think little of this new way of adoration. Therefore, many believers are even used to not meeting face to face on Sundays, which takes its toll on the spiritual lives of many believers.
Loss of offerings and tithes
The second difficulty is the financial crisis, as the main source of funds is offerings which believers usually give during Saturday or Sunday services. Due to the suspension of in-person gatherings, few contributions are made during online services for churches, some of which may not be very wealthy before COVID-19, like owing debts for building churches or renovations.
Difficulty in pastoral care
Due to the lack of in-person meetings, believers become estranged from pastors, who may know little or nothing about the situations of their members. They don’t learn about whether Christians attend online servicse or pray and read the Bible at home. Many churches establish WeChat groups to connect with and nurture believers. But some churches do nothing but complain.
Believers’ enthusiasm for gatherings diminishes
It is difficult for churches to revive during the COVID-19 outbreaks, when churchgoers are accustomed to not gathering in person and to being away from churches. The conditions of believers’ spiritual lives have been exposed under the epidemic. Facing the virus, some Christians' enthusiasm for gathering fades, and some even stumble as they don’t have the foundation of faith on the rock.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a pastor in Jiangsu Province.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
