Editor’s note: This April we are praying for the southern China coastal city of Shenzhen. Shenzhen epitomizes the breakneck speed of Chinese growth over the last decades, burgeoning from a village of 30,000 in 1979 to a metropolis of 18 million today. Shenzhen is busy, and remains relatively economically successful, even amid China’s recent economic downturn.
House church pastors in the city say their congregants are struggling with financial pressures, and that evangelism and faith is not as vibrant as it was just a few years ago. Still, they believe there is still much good work to do in their city as they work to strengthen their churches and support the believers around them.
China Partnership: How has your city changed in the last five years? What changes have occurred in your church?
Pandemic and Pressure
Lu Yudong: As everyone knows, the past five years in our city have been marked by the pandemic, then by the lockdowns of the previous two or three years. Both of these have significantly impacted the church and pastoral care.
Even now, after the pandemic, Shenzhen’s economy is declining, leading to increased unemployment and salary reductions for brothers and sisters in our church. Because of this, they have greater pressure, especially financial pressure.
Evangelism has become more and more difficult over the past five years. The pressure and suppression coming from above are becoming more apparent.
Third, policies have tightened. Outdoor evangelism is no longer as free as it used to be. Mostly, we can only share the gospel among friends and relatives. Public, open evangelism has been affected.
Declining Cooperation Among Churches
Wang Yijian: Our church was also affected by the pandemic over the past five years. Before the pandemic, we had more than a hundred people. After, the number decreased. Now, around 70 or 80 people attend our Sunday services.
Evangelism has become more and more difficult over the past five years. The pressure and suppression coming from above are becoming more apparent. This is quite difficult.
Shenzhen is still a vast harvest field for the gospel. The challenge is how we can effectively spread the gospel.
Another thing is that communication between churches has decreased. Five years ago, before the pandemic, our church had pastors from other churches come and preach once a month. This stopped after Covid.
However, our church’s in-person meetings never stopped. Even during the most severe times, the church staff came to the church and still preached in the sanctuary. Since Covid, I’ve preached by myself every week. There is less interaction between churches. We thought many times about making an alliance with other churches, because no one church should stand alone. But because of Covid’s aftermath and the lack of opportunities for fellowship, now we’ve become an independent church.
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Bringing People Back to the Gospel
Pan Raiqi: Shenzhen’s population and economy are both growing.
For the past two years, Shenzhen has been number one in rankings of Chinese cities that are attractive for Gen Z. This means young people are constantly coming to this city. Yes, China’s overall economy is declining, but Shenzhen’s GDP is consistently third among Chinese cities. The city’s infrastructure is improving and educational enrollments are increasing, from kindergarten all the way up to university.
Shenzhen is still a vast harvest field for the gospel. The challenge is how we can effectively spread the gospel. May God give us wisdom!
Within the church, members have a high turnover rate, and a low level of commitment. This is a significant challenge for pastoral care. The turnover is partly due to internal church issues, and partly due to the normal flow of people moving between cities. In our church, the membership turnover rate has been 50 percent over the last few years.
Within the church, members have a high turnover rate, and a low level of commitment.
As for changes that have occurred for me, it’s probably the shift in my personal ministry approach. I hope to bring people back to the gospel and to help them clearly understand their identity in Christ. Then, even if they leave Shenzhen, they know what kind of church to look for and commit to.
There are denominational structures in south China, but I hope that brothers and sisters won’t be overly reliant on this and idolize the structure. Instead, I want them to be more rooted in the gospel. Our church has spent the past few years trying to dismantle the idolatry of church structures. We are praying that, through church ministry, the gospel returns to its rightful place in individual souls. We want to affirm identity in Christ, and understand who is the Lord that we follow. At the same time, we continue to pave the way for biblically sound structures, equipping the flock to recognize and call shepherds who are accountable for the flock.
Lu Yudong, Wang Yijian, and Pan Raiqi are pseudonyms for Chinese house church pastors in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen
Pray for Shenzhen churches to help believers become deeply rooted in the gospel, and to find their identity in Christ.
