As attendance at many church worship services has declined compared to before the pandemic, Pastor Z shared several insights on how to maintain the vitality of his pastoral care in the church.
A wife of a pastor emphasized, "Do not underestimate the pre-meeting worship, because in hymn worship, a stream of the Holy Spirit is brought down. When the flow of the Holy Spirit passes through, even though you are present, you are not in the flow of worship, then the Holy Spirit cannot flow through your heart."
Rev. Li Tao said that the selfless dedication of the early believers stemmed from their initial commitment to follow, the wonderful example of the Lord's self-sacrifice, and their hopeful anticipation of the kingdom of God.
Sister Yuan who becomes much less committed to her church since the pandemic is not a single case. Her life experience may offer a conclusion about a current situation in Christianity: believers may tend to be more atomized.
Rev. Li Tao believed that today's church should also experience many signs and wonders like the early church, as the miracles can help God fufill His promises, prove Himself, and open the door for the gospel.
Regarding the prevalent concept in churches in China that suggests being poorer indicates greater devoutness, leading to a reluctance to discuss money and wealth, a Chinese pastor from Soth China states that Christians can create and manage wealth according to God's will.
In present-day churches, perhaps the vast majority of people lack regular prayer at private times. Although we all know that prayer is very important, we often pray after we have finished everything.
A pastor shares three reasons why churches are losing elderly members and staff: lacking the protection by the Word of God, "anorexia" towards the truth, and stumbled by others.
A pastor states that in the early church, there was a strong emphasis on mutual sharing, breaking bread, and prayer. Nowadays, small groups are highly valued, not only in China but also in churches worldwide, with a primary focus on fostering fellowship among believers.