Do Not Let This Crisis Go to Waste – Learning from China about Being the Church Online

China-Partnership-Do-Not-Let-This-Crisis-Go-To-Waste-Learning-About-Being-Church-China

Ryan moved to the United States from Guangzhou, China, at the age of twelve. Ryan received his Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is currently serving as an Assistant Pastor at New City Presbyterian Church in his US hometown of Cincinnati, OH. He also serves as the China Partnership Translation Manager.


A few weeks ago, I had the chance to participate in a Zoom conference meeting between a Chinese house church pastor and a group of almost 60 American pastors and church leaders.  The purpose of the call was for the Chinese pastor to share how they have used Zoom (an online video conferencing software) to lead virtual Sunday worship and small group meetings. 

While most American churches are exploring this uncharted territory in the U.S. in the last couple weeks, our Chinese brothers and sisters have been using Zoom and other online platforms to provide pastoral care and discipleship training over the past several months during their own Covid-19 quarantine, and some for even longer due to periods of persecution. 

Although the conference call on Tuesday night lasted little more than an hour, it gave me a glimpse of the many ways we pastors in America can learn from the churches in China.

1) Virtual Pastoral Care and Discipleship 


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While many of us are still figuring out how to set up virtual worship services, our brothers and sisters in China have been experimenting with Zoom and other communication software for discipleship training and even Sunday school classes. While pastoral care is often best done in person, this is not always available when the entire city is under quarantine, or when your movements are being monitored by the government. How can we “visit” and care for the sick when they are under quarantine? How to maintain church unity when our members differ on whether to follow the government’s guidelines regarding church services? How to encourage tithing and generosity online without sounding too crass and insensitive? These are all questions that my pastor friends have been asking in the last few weeks and our colleagues in China have a lot to share on these topics.

2) The Theological Implications of Gathering In Person 

I have often found it amusing that many Chinese house churches insist on gathering in person for Sunday worship during the most intense periods of persecution; yet when the coronavirus threatened their cities they immediately moved their services online. This decision is obviously not made out of fear since they continued to meet under the threat of imprisonment and fines. So what is the rationale behind this sudden and drastic change?  

While we do not face threats of persecution in the West, many of us do have to wrestle with the theological rationale for moving our worship online. We may find that some of our concerns are already addressed by our Chinese colleagues. And even as we move past the virus in the coming months, it is unlikely that everything will return to normal at once.  What are some of the gatherings that we must conduct in person and what are some that we might continue to conduct online? Our Chinese brothers and sisters can help us think through the theological rationale and implications of these decisions.  

3) The Ecumenical Nature of Online Content 

In the past two weeks I’ve heard a quote by a former Chicago mayor repeated several times: “You never let a serious crisis go to waste.” With many Chinese cities were under lock-down and millions of Chinese citizens were confined to their homes in the last couple months, many Chinese house churches have come together to offer extended trainings and prayer gatherings online. These trainings range from marriage counseling to Bible teaching. Since these classes are online, churches from various cities could come together to share the workload. This has opened doors for evangelism and discipleship that would not have happened under normal circumstances. Many of my pastor friends have discussed the possibility of conducting a joint Good Friday service online (if we are still restricted in our gathering). While we explore these opportunities to collaborate across churches, we do not have to reinvent the wheel. The churches in China already have ample experiences and content to share with us.

4) Understanding the True Essence of the Church

Speaking of content, churches in the West do not lack content to share. Just in the past week, my own church has released two sermons online, six 10-minute devotion podcasts, two other podcast episodes, and many more social media posts and reflections. While these are all helpful, simply pushing out content may lead us to miss out on a very important aspect of church: each-otherness. 

One reason many churches in China choose to conduct their worship services on Zoom is because Zoom offers the ability for participants to see each other. As one Chinese pastor shared with us, “We ask people to put on their Sunday clothes and have the whole family gather before the screen. After the worship service, we ask everyone to turn on their video so everyone can see each other, greet each other, and say hello.” At the end of this crisis, our members will be tired of watching and hearing from their pastors, while they may never get the chance to see each other for two months. We should try to mitigate the former and encourage the latter.

Conclusion  

These are only four points I have observed from a short conference call with a Chinese house church pastor. In the coming weeks and months, we will have many more opportunities to learn from our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world. Let’s not let this serious crisis and opportunity go to waste.

 


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More COVID-19 Resources

We’ve put together a special page devoted to ways we can learn from, love, and pray alongside our Chinese brothers and sisters during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

About Shenyang

Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

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About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 21 million people. The city has a rich history that spans over 3,000 years, and it has served as the capital of various dynasties throughout China’s history. Beijing is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The city is also a hub for political, cultural, and educational activities, with numerous universities and research institutions located within its boundaries. Beijing is renowned for its traditional architecture, rich cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a must-visit destination for travelers to China.

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About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

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