Three Pastors Who Lost Their Jobs

01 Jan 1970

China Christian Daily recently wrote about three brothers who were once influential pastors but who now work as street vendors or as a taxi driver.

Brother Wang a decade ago served in a church primarily composed of migrant workers. He studied at a seminary in Zhejiang. He then served in a church located in a provincial capital in central China, whose congregation was mainly migrant workers with some local students. He later became the senior pastor. As his ministry grew and became accepted by the believers in the church he began to draw up plans to establish a new rented meeting place. But the Covid epidemic put a stop to those plans. The few believers who remain today meet temporarily in a sister’s house. Brother Wang’s income has suffered and so to feed his family (his wife and two children) he now is involved in food delivery work, gaining only a modest income.

Brother Zhang “graduated from a seminary in the United States, and his theological training courses were previously in high demand. During those years, his income was relatively substantial due to training fees and the contributions of believers, rendering him a successful figure.” But the new religious laws forced him to cease his underground training programmes and to work “as a church pastor in a developed city in the south.” This church primarily catered to cultural and professional groups. “Following three years of the pandemic, the church under economic pressure decided to terminate his employment. With his daughter studying abroad and his family's need for sustenance, he has resorted to working as a taxi driver.”

Brother Wen “graduated from a prestigious university. After obtaining a master's degree, he briefly worked as a university lecturer. Subsequently, he joined a church in central China. Slowly, his ideas clashed with those of the church. That forced him to leave church ministry and rely on writing articles. At one point, his official WeChat account gained over ten thousand followers.

Pray for these three brothers that they find encouragement in the Lord and a path of service for the future. Pray for those believers who no longer attend church because of the Covid pandemic.