Church leaders serving in rural communities struggle to take care of their physical and spiritual families during lockdown

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Following the 21-day nationwide lockdown, pastors and evangelists serving in rural communities across the country are struggling to take care of themselves and their families as their only source of support from church offerings and tithes have been stopped as Christians can no longer gather for worship services.

Pastor Ratnam from Telangana's Potireddypeta village was leading a congregation of 30 people along with a weekly visit to six other villages.

Though the lockdown has stopped all his routine activities, pastor Ratnam continues to pray and exhort his congregation through phone calls hoping that their faith will survive this lockdown.

But pastor Ratnam finds it challenging to meet the needs of his widowed daughter and grandchildren staying with him.

"There have been no church gatherings for more than three weeks. The little income I used to get from the church offering and tithes has stopped," the Christian leader told International Christian Concern (ICC).

Pastor Moses, who leads a Baptist congregation in Telengana's Madanapuram village, has not opened his church doors since the lockdown started.

He told ICC that the only thing he can do for his congregation at this time of lockdown is to pray for them.

"Tears roll down my cheeks when I start praying for my congregation during this lockdown," he told ICC.

"As a shepherd of my congregation, I know my sheep and their needs. When I think of the weaker members of my congregation and people who are new to the faith, I am troubled and pained. How will these individuals survive in the absence of spiritual nurturing and fellowship?" he explained.

Since the lockdown may extend to several more weeks, pastor Moses fears that it will have irreversible effects on his congregation.

Additionally, the lockdown has left pastor Moses and his family only with a few resources to support themselves.

"So far, it has been a miracle of how God has provided for us," he said. "The road ahead is not going to be easy for us, but we must trust in God for our next meal."

Christian leaders serving in rural areas across the country are following the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, but the lack of income has put them under new challenges to take care of their physical and spiritual families.