After the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted at the beginning of 2023, churches in many cities in northeast China's Liaoning Province resumed their Sunday services.
At the Lantern Festival on February 5, Shengli Church in Tai'an County, Anshan City, held its first Sunday service in more than three months because of the epidemic.
According to Elder Shi Xiuchen, who is in charge of the church and delivered a sermon titled "A Brand New Year," it was the first praise and worship meeting of 2023, which was held once every quarter.
In addition, other churches also reopened the day after the first day of spring, including those in the cities of Anshan, Dalian, Shenyang, Yingkou, Tieling, and Beipiao.
Some churches restarted most of the activities held before the epidemic, including daily Bible study, prayer, praise, youth fellowship, and gatherings. Others resumed some activities first and then all of them.
One church held two meetings to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the dedication service.
Some took the opportunity to redistribute Christmas gifts to all believers; some set off firecrackers that were laid out in the shape of fish as a celebration of the "reopening of the church."
Based on Luke 10:28–37, Senior Pastor Liu Xueguang of Shuishiying Church in Lvshunkou District, Dalian, delivered a sermon titled "Who is Your Neighbor?" and then hosted a communion service. Elder Zhou Fenglou in Wenhua Road Church, Pulandian District, Dalian, preached a sermon named "New Wine, Bride, and Groom" and Rev. Yuan Ming of Lvhua Street Church in Anshan preached "The Promise of God's Blessing," citing Philippians 4:19 and John 6:35. Rev. Jiang Mao from Xingsheng Church in the same city gave a sermon with the title "Grace and Gratitude."
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times and the author reported in Liaoning.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
