On August 7, Wenhua Road Church in Pulandian District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, hosted a thanksgiving and praise service to mark the seventh anniversary of the "Joshua Senior Fellowship," a group of elderly believers actively engaged in various church ministries. The event drew over 400 participants.
Since its founding, the Joshua Senior Fellowship has expanded from just over 100 members to more than 500 today. Most members are women, with ages ranging from the early 60s to 90. Supported by the church and guided by Elder Zhou Fenglou, now in his 70s, the fellowship has gradually developed a refined organizational structure. It is divided into 26 small groups, which are further grouped into five larger sections. This structure has enabled the fellowship to embody what are referred to as the "seven haves": leadership, activities, devotion, worship, praise, mutual care, and love, establishing it as one of the church's core ministries.
During the celebration, Elder Zhou delivered a message titled "The Perfect Seven," in which he explained that the number seven in the Bible symbolizes completeness, as it is ordained by God. It is frequently used to represent perfection and is often seen as a multiple of completeness. Seven, he noted, is a number of wholeness. Elder Zhou encouraged believers to pursue spiritual maturity before God and reflected on the fellowship's seven-year journey, attributing its growth and vitality to God's continued guidance and blessings.
Following the sermon, the thanksgiving and praise portion of the service commenced. The church choir opened with two hymns, setting a reverent tone. Each group within the fellowship then presented a total of 29 praise performances, including songs and dances that had been carefully prepared over days. Some elderly members, even those in their eighties, stood to participate in the worship, while members of other church groups joined in, clapping and praising together in a joyful expression of faith and unity.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times, and the author is a Christian in Dalian City, Liaoning Province.)
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
