love one another in deeds and truth

Organized/Lin Minwen

The church I attended many years ago was only recently established and could not provide the pastor with proper treatment. But the pastor still faithfully led the young brothers and sisters to serve, and gradually the church grew. After the financial situation stabilized, the deacon decided to subsidize the pastor’s library expenses and transportation expenses for visits in addition to salary, insurance, and pension. Expenses for pastors to attend retreats, seminary studies, etc. are also borne by the church. Brothers and sisters all believe that when a pastor grows, the members of the whole church benefit.

~Annon Lee, New Jersey, USA

I once visited a Korean church in Pennsylvania, the Antioch Church. In order to build the church, the pastor and ten other family members mortgaged their homes and applied for loans. The church members were so moved by this move that they jointly funded a new car and a trip to Europe for the pastor’s family.

When the members talked about the pastor, their sincere respect and love naturally showed up, which I will never forget.

~ Han Jiahua, Florida, USA

The pastor cared that I was not yet good at driving, so he would pick me up when I had to attend prison sermons and Bible study meetings. I made pot stickers and scallion pancakes in advance for him to eat on the road. Seeing that the pastor and his family were still participating in the Sunday service even though they had a cold, I visited them with fruits. When my wife and her children returned home to visit relatives, my brothers and sisters and I also went to his house to help wash dishes, clean, and cook.

This is how our friendship was established. When the pastor is feeling down, he will take the initiative to say, "I've hit rock bottom again." This helps me know how to pray for him.

～Jian Hyland, Pennsylvania, USA

Because of my budget-conscious personality, I always know which dispensaries to get freebies from. I never have to spend money on toothpaste, toothbrush, eye drops, painkillers, etc. that I need every day. If there are any more, they are given to the pastor in charge of youth ministry at the church, who has four school-age children.

I am a lawyer and I often remind the pastor who is planning the event to pay attention to some details when the church holds events. Thorough preparation can help you avoid lawsuits when the unexpected happens.

~Yang Yiqun, Pennsylvania, USA

This was many years ago. When I was an intern in the ministry, the fellowship joined with my husband and me in praying for God to give us a child. After two years of praying, God finally answered. Brothers and sisters have prepared almost all the supplies that a newborn baby may need for us as parents.

When we finished our internship and were about to enter our first service field, the brothers and sisters in the group gave us a farewell. Before leaving, I also stuffed a big red envelope worth several thousand dollars, saying that it was everyone's wish.

For those of us who have just put on the shoes of preaching, this is a verification of God’s abundant provision, and we believe that the road ahead will be dripping with fat.

~Preacher Liu Xiaobin of Shengya Evangelical Christian Church in California, USA

In the past, when I was pastoring, members often gave me birthday gifts and Christmas gifts. Someone knew that I loved reading and gave me money to buy books. These thoughtful gestures touched my heart deeply.

Occasionally, I also receive a small card or an email, describing how they have been edified through preaching and teaching, or received care and comfort. The sincere sentences often make me read them again and again, and I am greatly encouraged.

As a pastor, there is nothing more gratifying than knowing that the lives of brothers and sisters have been changed because of your teaching and shepherding.

~Pastor Lin Zhangjili, California, USA

Just after the New Year, I slipped and severely sprained my right ankle. The doctor asked me to wear big shoes that fixed my feet, and I had to use crutches to walk. I was not allowed to drive.

After being bored at home for a long time, I made an appointment with my friends to attend the "Kingdom of God" class reunion in early March. New acquaintances and old friends gather together happily, and the inconvenience of walking is no longer a concern.

After sitting and listening to the lecture for a long time, I felt my feet were a little swollen, so I retreated to a corner and put my stiff right foot on the chair. well! I just hate that my muscles and bones are so stiff that I can't support my feet and can't massage to promote circulation.

Sister Bao happened to be passing by and asked what was going on. I told her she was just doing some exercise. Unexpectedly, she squatted down, helped me untie my big shoes, took off my thick woolen socks, and said she wanted to massage me. How can this work? The feet are so dirty and smelly! Embarrassed and trying to reject her good intentions, Sister Bao kept her expression unchanged and started to press and squeeze the injured limb.

At this time, Aunt Na came over, stopped to watch Sister Bao's service, and left without saying a word. When I came back, I had a small cosmetic bag in my hand. I opened the zipper and said, "Your toenail is embedded in the flesh. It hurts! Let me fix it for you. I have a professional license!"

When I wanted to say thank you to them, my throat got choked up. As a pastor for many years, I have always been the giver of care and concern. Today, the roles have been reversed and I have become the recipient. Blinking my eyes hard to see clearly these two bowed figures, I seemed to see the Lord washing the disciples' feet.

~Pastor Zhang Lingxi, Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, New York, USA

Since I began to preach full-time in 1976, I have established and pastored three churches, and I have always enjoyed the care of my brothers and sisters for me and my family.

As church planters, my wife and I often have the opportunity to accept invitations to return to the church for anniversary celebrations. Old church members showed yellowed photos, recalled the past, and were grateful for the seeds we sown. Many times people have contacted us to thank us for the foundation we laid in their journey of faith.

When we were in a tight economic situation, we also received some anonymous donations. They don’t know how much we need, they just obey God’s moving.

We are blessed that there are always colleagues on the leadership team who are considerate of the needs of pastoral families and strive for reasonable wages for us, sparing us the embarrassing pressure of having to make such demands ourselves.

Looking back on more than 30 years of pastoral experience, I feel that the most important thing believers have done for us is to assume the responsibility of raising a prayer net. The pastor and his family are on the front lines of spiritual warfare and are targets of attack by the enemy. Having prayer warriors who cover me, my wife, and our children in prayer is the most meaningful way for them to show their love and care.

The most unforgettable moment was when, many years ago, we came before the congregation with broken hearts and spoke honestly about our situation as teenagers who acted immorally. Even if we believe that the congregation will not criticize us and our children, doing so would rather risk sacrificing our children on the altar and rely on the judgment of believers.

We have seen similar situations in the past where many churches harmed the children of their pastors in the name of justice. These children were so bitter that they refused to step into the church door and excluded God from their lives.

What's more, the church has already stipulated that according to the requirements for church leaders in 1 Timothy 3:5 and Titus 1:6, if a child makes a moral mistake, the pastor will lose the qualification to lead and must stop serving. This not only means that the family faces financial difficulties, but also brings emotional and spiritual stress. Do brothers and sisters blame their children for losing their pastor? Does my child blame himself for causing me to lose my ministry?

However, I took on my responsibilities as a father and resigned from my pastorate to devote myself to my family. Although the church could only accept my departure, the members responded with love and forgiveness, shared their own experiences, recognized our feelings, and encouraged us to believe in God's promise of victory and healing. The outpouring of love and care from the church family during that time was truly amazing. They also protect my children from less considerate people.

When the church handles such a sensitive incident, it really needs to grasp restoration and reconciliation, love and forgiveness. As a result, my children have grown up to be godly, confident people who continue to serve and worship God in the same church as us.

I firmly believe that pastors reap what they sow. When we shepherd with love and care, practicing generosity, acceptance, and unconditional love, believers will set an example and repay us in this way.

~Dr. Jay Zinn, Riverside Church, North Carolina, USA