The imposition of the zero-COVID policy created chaos for Chinese churches and many cross-cultural workers in China. Congregations were unable to meet in person, leaving believers even more isolated. A large number of cross-cultural workers found themselves unable to return after leaving for short vacations in January 2020. Workers who remained—both Chinese and non-Chinese—faced increased scrutiny, testing, and workloads.
God did not abandon his church in this time of turmoil.
Today we will highlight some of the articles and reflections we published while the pandemic raged and look again at how the hope which is in Christ sustained believers.
Wuhan Pastor: Pray with Us
This was the first article we published that dealt with the Christian response to the coronavirus. The pastor encourages us,
We must pray for God’s mercy upon this city, and bring peace upon this city through our prayers and testimony.
I believe this is the command of God calling those of us living in Wuhan. We are to seek peace for this city, seek peace for those who are afflicted with this illness, seek peace for the medical personnel struggling on the front lines, seek peace for every government official at every level, seek peace for all the people of Wuhan! And we can through online networks guide and comfort our friends and loved ones with the gospel, reminding them that our lives are not in our own hands, and to entrust their lives to God who is faithful and true.
3 Reasons to Celebrate from One Who Stayed
While the pandemic was certainly a time of great loss, it also showed us so much about God’s care for the church and the creativity of believers who found ways to pray and worship together.
The spread of COVID-19 and the closing of borders has brought the reality of this new era even closer to us. As more foreign workers leave or are shut out, it becomes more apparent to those who stay that the Chinese church is quite capable of standing on its own in many ways. This in no way means that foreign workers are not needed. Rather, it means that foreign workers ought to rethink ministry strategy. No longer are foreign workers “experts” across the board. Instead, their ministry strategy will go farther if they grasp that they are not the saviors of the Chinese church, but partners with Chinese Christians in this new era.
Lockdown Life
A recurring theme from our contributors writing during the pandemic were the twin realities—lockdowns in China were tremendously difficult for everyone, yet believers also experienced an overwhelming sense of God’s presence and care.
Swells in the Middle Kingdom writes:
Recently a group of believers gathered to share their experiences of 2020. They told of great sufferings and difficulties that in most cases went far beyond the struggles brought by the virus itself. Tears flowed. And yet in each of these stories brothers and sisters testified to the hand of God on their circumstances. Time and again they recounted their trials as gifts from God. None of the expats who have remained in our city regret their decision to return or stay.
This post is one from the series “Inside the Wall—Living Incarnationally.” Be sure to check out the rest of the posts, which paint a vivid picture of God’s continuing work throughout the pandemic.
My Heart Aches for Shanxi but with Hope
The author of this post was one of many expats who were trapped in their passport country while on a short visit, unable to return to China because of the closed border. Though he and his wife felt grief at being separated from their colleagues, they also rejoiced at the work their company was able to do with a local non-profit organization to assist people who had lost their homes to the October 2021 flood in Shanxi.
When looking for a way to respond to the early October flooding in Shanxi, our organization discovered that one of our former Chinese employees had already mobilized her non-profit social service organization to provide material assistance in a small remote village where 700 people had lost their homes. Our organization purchased additional goods requested by the village leaders which the NPO then distributed on our behalf. We are thrilled that this local sister, profoundly shaped by the Lord, took the lead in this effort.
Weathering the COVID Storm
Joann Pittman summarizes many of the challenges facing Chinese people during the pandemic. She highlights a variety of concerns, from moving church online to the pressures of isolation to financial difficulties. Despite the hardships, Christians were still committed to serving their communities and supporting one another spiritually.
Many of the effects of the COVID-19 crisis mentioned above have been experienced by churches and believers the world over; no doubt your own church is wrestling with many of the same issues. Perhaps now is a good time to find encouragement in the truths set forth by William Cowper in his hymn, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”
1. God moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform;
he plants his footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm.
As Churches Reopen in China, Part 1 and Part 2
In this reprint from Gospel Times, we hear from a believer at a TSPM church, as he describes the joy felt by his congregation when the church was able to reopen for in-person services. This should give us all hope. God was faithful to his people, and his people were faithful to him.
The writer closes the post with this prayer,
We sincerely ask the Lord to watch over the house of God, to keep safe the churches that have resumed meeting, and to guard the churches that have not yet reopened to meet together to reopen soon!
God! May “your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place” (2 Chronicles 6:20).
Stay tuned for the second part of this post, where we will examine the many outreach efforts of Chinese churches during the pandemic.
Image credit: Haydn Golden via UnSplash.
Rachel Anderson
Rachel Anderson serves as the Assistant Content Manager at ChinaSource. Though she has never been to China, her ancestors were missionaries in East Asia and passed on a deep love and respect for those cultures. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their five delightful children. View Full Bio
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