On Friday night, Pastor Guo's home was lively as he hosted several friends for dinner. He offered fruit and snacks, along with health supplements he began using after being discharged from the hospital a year ago. Now an agent for these products, Pastor Guo's involvement has even sparked controversy among some members of his church.
During the gathering, his smile suddenly ceased. Reflecting on a recent prayer, he said, "Lord, I can't keep going like this." His words revealed the struggles he has faced over the past year: relocating to a new city to accompany his daughter to school, living alone, dealing with separation from his wife, managing rent and living expenses without a suitable job, and at times relying on his parents for support.
Choice: Shift from Resistance to Experimentation
Once one of the most resistant to direct sales within the church, Pastor Guo experienced a change in perspective following an illness in 2023. As a minister, Guo has constantly faced financial challenges. The illness forced him to rethink his situation: approaching 50, lacking workplace job skills, needing to care for his daughter, short on time, and once even "chased away by urban management officers while selling socks at a street stall."
"I haven't found any suitable job in a whole year," Guo admitted, though he kept his struggles private from fellow believers, fearing they might feel obligated to donate. He was determined not to accept help too easily, even turning down a sister's donation three times. "I felt others needed it more than I did," he said. Only when someone is clearly in a better financial position does he feel comfortable receiving support.
Therefore, Guo was determined to find a solution on his own, listing various options, only to rule them out one by one and feel lost.
After his hospital discharge, he began taking a health supplement to support his recovery and found it effective. After the investigation, he decided to become an agent for the product. "This isn't traditional direct sales," he emphasized. "There's no stockpiling or upfront investment. If it works, I share it, and I don't profit from price markups." Most importantly, the role offers flexibility, allowing him to continue caring for his daughter.
Disagreement: The departure of church members
Tensions arose when Guo began regularly promoting wellness products on social media. One sister, who had previously offered him financial assistance three times, all of which were declined, stopped attending church gatherings and never responded to Guo's messages of concern. Her husband later explained that they had once been deceived by a pyramid scheme. "Now that she sees me becoming a product agent and attending training sessions, she feels uneasy about it and has decided not to attend," Guo shared. Another believer, who had come to the church through this sister, also stopped attending.
Guo chose not to persuade them to return. "I respect everyone's decision," he said. However, to avoid misunderstandings, he addressed the issue openly during the next church gathering.
"If someone leaves, I bless them," he noted. "As long as they have been nourished by God's Word here and have grown spiritually, I am thankful and give glory to God wherever they go. What God has entrusted to me does not belong to me but to Him. If ones are meant to stay, they will. If not, no persuasion will keep them."
Controversy: Balance Between Faith and Reality
This incident reveals a common dilemma faced by church ministers: how to strike a balance between their ministry and livelihood?
Pastor Guo explained his view: "First, it must be legal; second, it should be a legitimate profession; and third, it should not involve profiting from the church but rather be shared privately among friends."
He noted that if income from agency work could make him financially self-reliant, it would ease the financial burden on the church. However, he acknowledged the tension this may cause: "If eating meat causes others to stumble, I would rather not eat it. But I also have to survive. I can't just sit and wait—I need to consider the pressures of life and provide for myself and my daughter. If the church supports me, then the worker deserves his wages—thank God. But for now, there is no such provision from the church."
Many preachers today face a similar predicament: full-time ministry often does not provide enough to sustain their families, yet taking on part-time work can raise doubts about their intentions. In fact, quite some urban pastors do hold side jobs, although most prefer to keep them discreet.
Aftermath: To Stay or to Leave
The departure of the sister from Pastor Guo's church was not a single case. Another sister who left for similar reasons remarked, "It's not that I don't trust the pastor, but seeing health products reminds me of the time I was deceived."
Nevertheless, some members continue to support him. Brother He commented, "Paul also made tents to support himself. The key is whether the work is honest."
Six months later, Pastor Guo was hospitalized again due to illness. Following his discharge, he readjusted his priorities, placing greater emphasis on his physical health. As there are currently no available channels for promotion, the health supplement is now used only for his health maintenance and has not been commercially marketed.
His social media content has also shifted from promoting supplements to advocating for a healthy life. "Thank God, my latest physical examination showed that all my abnormal indicators have returned to normal, simply through exercise and diet, without relying on medication," he said.
Despite ongoing financial challenges, he remains committed to living and serving with zeal. "Live by faith," he affirmed.
