Editor’s note: Join us this March as we pray for Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China.
Local pastors say the southern China city can feel like a “big village.” But they also say Nanning faces the same struggles other Chinese cities have dealt with in recent years: a bad economy, less interest in Christianity, and a struggle to reach the next generation with the gospel. Despite these struggles, church leaders say God is using this season of difficulty to refine and resurrect the church
China Partnership: What are some common challenges, fears, and struggles that you and your church encounter as you minister to people in your city? How can we pray for you?
Lukewarm, Leaving Believers
Pastor Zeng: A pastor I knew came to Nanning from another province to church plant. His plan was good: in two years, he’d plant and stabilize the church, then he could leave and go back to his province on the east coast. But, after a few months, he noticed something: Christians here aren’t eager for spiritual things. They aren’t eager to gather, have devotions, or worship. They’re lax, and it’s common to come late. He was very discouraged, and felt it was unrealistic to build and stabilize the church in two years.
We used to have four small-group leaders, but now we have only two – just like the other two, the third is planning to leave China!
I feel the same way. Some are seeking God and pursuing godliness, but the lives of many are consumed with work and family. They often just care and pray about immediate difficulties: pressure, children, work, marriage, conflict, and so on.
Another challenge is that, because some brothers and sisters have lost their jobs, some have left Nanning. Some people have moved to other cities, others have returned to hometowns in the countryside, and a few have emigrated. We used to have four small-group leaders, but now we have only two – just like the other two, the third is planning to leave China! Because of economic pressure, some who haven’t found suitable work may look for opportunities in other cities. When people who leave are laborers in the church, we have to find new co-workers from among those who remain.
Our church also went through some persecution a few years ago. We can’t rent office space anymore, so now we have to meet in a private home. That has drawbacks: when seekers come, they may feel the setting isn’t as good. (Brothers and sisters can accept it, though.)
In recent years, many brothers and sisters have faced real struggles and difficulties with economic pressure. This has affected their children’s education and family plans.
CP: What is the biggest difficulty you face when sharing the gospel with people who don’t trust you yet?
Never miss a story
Pastor Zeng: People are uncertain or anxious about the future, but they don’t see faith as the solution. So, they focus on practical things, like making money. They feel like the gospel is remote. They don’t have much energy to think about eternal life, because that feels like a long way off.
Building a Biblical Worldview
Brother Jiang: It is a challenge to connect with society and with people outside the church. We still evangelize the same way we used to – but in the past, if you shared, people would say, “Okay,” and then come to church. They liked the atmosphere and the relationships. Now, even if you share in the same way, people just don’t come.
I don’t think anyone can give a clear answer as to why it’s like this. It might be economic pressure. Or, it could just be God’s timing: the church has reached a certain stage, and the gospel situation in the city is tending toward a certain state. We don’t know why – but no matter the reason, we still need to share, and do the things we should do.
For me, evangelism and shepherding are the same. Pastor Zeng mentioned how people are focused on issues like marriage, family, work, and children’s educations. In more than 10 years of ministry, no matter how much effort I put in, I’ve never been able to solve those problems. Instead, they just made me want to give up.
But recently, as I have returned to pastoring and have been thinking about shepherding, I’ve seen that the root problem is that Christians don’t understand the gospel. Even if they think it’s good to believe in Jesus, that they will go to heaven, that they are a sinner and need Christ – when they go home, they live the same as before. That’s the common condition of Christians in the church.
No matter the “issue” – marriage or family or work or children or emotions – at the end of the day, faith is too personalized. People are naturally self-centered. Even when they come to faith, it’s self-centered: “What do I get?” Heaven is good – no downside, no cost. Then they go home and keep living the way they did before. The most important thing is to help people return to Scripture and rebuild a biblical worldview.
Shepherding is pulling and tugging – pulling people’s worldview and values from that of this world back to Scripture. When believers change like that, things we used to focus on – life change, relationships, being salt and light in the world – those things follow.
In class, a teacher once said that the biggest threat to the church today is secularization. In plainer terms, “this life-ization” – how to live well, now. That still comes back to self!: “What do I get? How can I have a good life now? Jesus, help me with this and that.” All our prayers are about solving problems. You rarely find a Christian praying for God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” But that doesn’t seem to be on the radar for many.
So, we need to focus on shepherding: how to bring believers to a right understanding of Scripture, and how to gradually turn their values and worldview around. Shepherding is pulling and tugging – pulling people’s worldview and values from that of this world back to Scripture. When believers change like that, things we used to focus on – life change, relationships, being salt and light in the world – those things follow.
Instead, we keep focusing on secondary life changes – but people never grew. That’s because we are aiming in the wrong direction. It’s wasted effort.
We need to start with the foundation. I believe that, when believers really understand the gospel, the kingdom, and the purpose of our faith, then they will change. When they change, people around them will see. Then, when they share the gospel and the kingdom, those people will think twice.
A City of Few Believers
Brother An: As for the challenges of serving in Nanning, a big one is about how to reach young people. The church’s demographic continues to age.
There are not many Christians here…. People feel [the faith] is far from them, because almost no one around them is a Christian.
Also, the cultural level of Nanning is relatively low, so that makes it harder to understand the gospel. There are many in the church who are university graduates, but it seems they don’t have much depth of thought. Among those who stay in Nanning, there isn’t much reflective thinking – even among university and even grad-degree holders. They don’t love to read; they don’t love spiritual books; they aren’t interested in theology. It’s hard to raise up church leaders who have been trained more deeply.
There are not many Christians here. I don’t know the proportion, but I’d estimate maybe 0.1 percent. So, when you share the gospel and teach people about Jesus and the Bible, it’s really hard. People feel this is far from them, because almost no one around them is a Christian. That’s a challenge.
Pastor Zeng, Brother Jiang, and Brother An are pseudonyms for house church leaders in Nanning.
Pray for Nanning Christians to become passionate about God’s kingdom.
