77 Days

I shall be preaching this Sunday on my 11th Sunday with the church from the 1st Dec 2024 which happened to be a Sunday and my commencement as pastor. I am under no illusion of the challenges in front of me with so many things to do. Many things established over the years are set in motion and being done the same way without asking whether these things have biblical foundations. Unless there is a teaching priest in the house of the Lord, it is hard to see the congregation advances in anyway, spiritually and numerically.

The numbers are up and down. The highest was 120 adults filling the one shop lot unit of the church hall but the last couple of Sundays it's in the mid-80s plus 25 children. Some blamed it on the CNY and school holidays when members returned to their villages. Schools reopen next Monday. But I doubt it very much.It depends on the mood of the church goers whether they want to attend Sunday services. It is just a bit too convenient for some to stay home since the Sunday service is broadcast live over Facebook and TikTok. I wonder whether they should keep on doing that now that the pandemic has ceased nearly 3 years ago. People who just watch online get about 20 percent benefit of what they could feel and experience if they attend in person. 

It is in the church gathered, the presence of God is truly felt, not watching over a screen and sitting in the comfort of your sofa or chair or bed all on your own or even with loved ones. I have three big activities to do before taking one week's break. I am preaching in the next two Sunday with a short seminar next Saturday on 22nd Feb. Then on 1st March I shall be travelling outstation to visit an elder of my former church who is turning 80 years old. About 7 or 8 years ago after I was no longer serving as pastor, this elder who kept in touch with me and regularly requested prayers for his health issues. I told him, "Elder, don't worry. You will turn 80 years old and I shall come to celebrate your birthday with you."