Dear Brothers and Sisters, Peace to you in the Lord!
Praise the Lord! In the midst of busy ministry work, I could find some time to go back to Taiwan at the end of October to early November. It has been five years since my last visit, homeland seems very familiar, yet unfamiliar. During the long flight, Abraham, who had often moved his tent came to my mind. Hebrews 11 has a wonderful description: “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that {country} from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. ” (Hebrews 11:13-16). To the Chinese living in North America, we seem to have two homelands, but for those who believe in the Lord, we have a third homeland, which is the heavenly home, and we are only sojourners on earth. Recognizing this will bring our minds to a higher level: There are many unknowns in the world (pandemics, health, futures, etc.), but they are all temporary, and the purpose is to train and hone us to become citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
This year, “Church Reorganization after the Pandemic” has been the theme for our monthly prayer letter. In this issue, we specially asked Brother Leon Chen, one of our board members, to share: “The way to Revival of the Church in the Post-Pandemic Era”.
The Way to Revival of the Church in the Post-Pandemic Era
Over the past three years, the world’s economy and people’s lives have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many losing their health and even their lives as a result. This May, the World Health Organization declared that the coronavirus is no longer a global health threat, marking the official entry into the post-pandemic era. During these years of the pandemic, God’s church has suffered trauma, with reduced attendance, decreased enthusiasm among co-workers, and stagnation in the work of the gospel. With the pandemic behind us, church leaders are urgently hoping to reverse this situation and promote the revival of the church. Revival is the act of God that turns HIS people back to spiritual vitality and restores their identity and relationship with God in times of spiritual decline, darkness, or death. However, as His children, we must prepare ourselves for revival. So, how do we prepare?
This August’s CWC Bible Camp delved into the history of the divided kingdom, where God granted five spiritual revivals in the southern kingdom of Judah. I was assigned to write a report that involves a thorough examination and comparison of the five revivals, with the aim of extracting valuable insights and reminders for individuals seeking revival. Here, I will primarily share four key takeaways, examining the way to the revival of the church from four perspectives.
Seeking God Wholeheartedly
During the pandemic, many things have occupied our minds: COVID infection statistics, government regulations, physical health, price levels, economic conditions, mental well-being, job stability, and more. Sometimes, even a nearby cough can make our hearts skip a beat. We seek stable employment and good health, which are all valid concerns. However, our pursuit of God may have gradually diminished, sometimes without us even realizing it. King Josiah sought God from a young age (2 Chronicles 34:3), and King Hezekiah’s first act upon ascending the throne was to reopen the temple of the Lord and seek God (2 Chronicles 29:3). King Asa also led the people in wholeheartedly seeking God (2 Chronicles 15:12, 15). To prepare for revival, church leaders and congregations must earnestly seek the God who grants revival, seeking HIS presence, desiring an intimate relationship with HIM, and finding wisdom, strength, and satisfaction in HIM.
Worshiping God Correctly
During the pandemic, many churches resorted to online worship to varying degrees. However, churches didn’t place any specific requirements on congregants for online worship, leading many believers to gradually become careless and lax. They started arriving late, leaving early, walking around, sipping coffee, appearing inattentive, multitasking during worship, and even lying in bed. The convenience of not having to drive to church led to a lack of dedication in worship. Later, when attending in-person worship services, this casual and lax attitude also unintentionally brought to the church: arriving late, leaving early, coming and going, and playing on smartphones during the worship. Are we truly worshiping God?
One major reason for the downfall of the Northern Kingdom was that they did not depart from “the sin that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.’ What was that sin? It was their failure to worship the true God correctly, gradually moving away from HIM. Several kings in the Southern Kingdom also faced corruption due to their casual approach to worship. During times of revival, Kings Hezekiah and Josiah both led the people in the correct worship of the true God. Prophet Isaiah reminds us to ‘call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable; not going your own ways, nor seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly’ (Isaiah 58:13, ESV). We should “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28, ESV).
Serving God in Unity
During the pandemic, churches had numerous discussions regarding pandemic response: Should masks be worn in church? Can those who are ill attend church? How long should isolation last? Should congregants be required to be vaccinated? Should unvaccinated brothers and sisters be allowed in church? Many churches experienced disputes and even division due to differing opinions on pandemic policies, leaving scars in the relationships between brothers and sisters. From the historical books of the divided kingdom, we can see that God’s desire is for His people to be unified in HIM. Even though the Kingdom of Israel split, with the ten northern tribes being exiled and assimilated, in God’s heart, they remained one entity. During times of revival, kings, priests, leaders, and the people worked together, serving God as one.
So, how can we achieve unity? In Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the church, we can see that God’s glory and the presence of Christ make the church one (John 17:22-23). When discussing, deciding, executing, and evaluating church matters, we should exalt God’s glory over human prestige and rely on Christ’s presence over human abilities. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3, NIV). He also uses the word “one” seven times in the following three verses to emphasize the foundation and necessity of unity. Therefore, we must rely on God to mend the rifts among brothers and sisters and pursue unity.
Maintaining Spiritual Consistency
During the pandemic, governments implemented various policies, including the distinction between essential and non-essential activities. In some places, church worship was considered non-essential, leading to orders to close churches and cease gatherings and worship. While some churches complied with these orders, others resisted and insisted on physical meetings. Later, when someone praised one of the pastors for having confidence, the pastor responded, “It’s not confidence, but consistency.” In a recent conversation with a pastor, he mentioned that a significant challenge in today’s church is the disconnect between knowledge of faith and living out that faith. This disconnect also stems from a lack of spiritual consistency.
When God evaluated the kings of Judah and several kings of Israel, why was David always held up as the standard? It’s because David’s life exemplified spiritual consistency, and he was a person after God’s own heart. During the revivals in the Southern Kingdom, most kings followed David’s example, uniting knowledge and action. However, when any king deviated from David’s path, a spiritual decline ensued, involving the introduction of idols, walking in their own ways, forsaking the true God, and increasing in sin.
So, how can we maintain spiritual consistency? It’s through the daily, yearly habits of spiritual discipline: daily reading and prayer, continual fellowship and worship, faithful service, and frequent repentance and turning to God. Such spiritual habits are meant to foster intimacy with God, lead a holy life, and walk in His will. In this sense, the life of faith is at the core of our existence; how can it be considered “non-essential” or something to be done haphazardly? In this regard, I strongly agree with the practices of the Christ Witness Center, which has steadfastly adhered to the path of disciple training for decades.
In summary, I believe that in the post-pandemic era, both individuals and churches seeking revival have no other choice but to prepare according to the ancient way: seeking God wholeheartedly, worshiping God correctly, serving God in unity, and maintaining this kind of spiritual consistency. Let us together “building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 20).
Future Meetings:
(1) December Winter Conference (12/22 to 12/26 noon)
Still to be held in person at Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Speakers are: Pastor Tsukung Chuang, Pastor Johann Lai, Mrs. Esther Lai, Elder Eric Wu, Brother Balex Sit, Mrs. Serena Wang and local speaker Brother Henry Lee, etc. English speakers include Pastor Jonas Chang, Pastor Steve Tan, and pastors from Kansas City Countyside Church. Meeting contents include: Spiritual Revival Messages, Expositional Bible Study, Gospel Messages and various Workshops. The paper registration form has been sent out to churches and can be browsed online. Online registration is opened on November 15, we encourage you all to register online (please click here) and invite brothers and sisters in your church and nonbelievers to attend. Deadline is December 17 at 4pm. please do not miss it. Please also pray for yourself as well as the meeting.
(2) December Discipleship Training (12/26 to 12/31noon)
Speakers are: Pastor Larry Wong, Brother Balex Sit. The registration form has been sent out to churches and posted online. Usually, December Discipleship Training will be the largest number of participants because those who come for the Winter Conference especially from further places will also stay for the following Discipleship Training. So please register as early as possible. The deadline for registration is December 17 at 11:59pm.
(3) January Bible Camp (12/31 to 1/6/2024)
We will continue to study the Books of History – “The History of the Exile and the Return of Israel”. 68 brothers and sisters have registered and begun to write their assigned topic reports. If you missed the deadline for this Bible Camp, please join the December Discipleship Training so that you will be eligible for the August Bible Camp next year.
Sunday Online Bible Study & Prayer Meeting:
During the pandemic, many churches’ meetings were held online, that was why Pastor Ko started this Sunday evening Bible study and prayer meeting to lead brothers and sisters continue to have a life of Bible reading, prayer, and spiritual sharing. After the August Bible Camp, CWC coworkers have decided to utilize this platform, not only to help brothers and sisters to prepare for the next Bible Camp (we will teach how to study the Bible, how to do the outlines, and how to write the assigned topic reports), but also spend some time to pray for the need of CWC ministry. We will shorten the meeting to one hour (7:00-8:00PM CT) so that it will not affect your next day schedule. We will study “The History of the Exile and the Return of Israel”. Zoom account number is: 8110999917, passcode: 737903. Please come and study the Bible together that we will be equipped in the Lord.
Prayer Requests:
(1) Pray for the three meetings in the Winter:
a) Winter Conference: that the online registration program can be steady, and also pray for the speakers’ messages, for brothers and sisters’ hearts to participate; for the nonbelievers willing to come and accept the salvation; for CWC coworkers teaming up with all who volunteer in the Conference; for the preparation of short-term mission teams from different churches; for good health, good weather, and for the cooperation from the staffs of the Sheraton Hotel, and so on.
b) Discipleship Training: Pray for the speaker’s messages, the hearts preparation of brothers and sisters, and good weather.
c) Bible Camp: Pray that God to give the brothers and sisters the heart of perseverance when writing the assigned reports starting from November 1; and to give the counseling coworkers knowledge and wisdom when reviewing the reports of the brothers and sisters.
(2) Special Prayer Request: Sheraton Hotel has sent us a notice of price increase starting next year, and the range of increase is a big jump with tough conditions, such as: not allowing us to use their kitchen, and only the hotel personnel can set up the sound systems (and of course, they are asking for a high rate ), etc. Such requests will create a tremendous burden for our faith-based freewill-offering ministry to conduct the meeting. Please pray for us that God will make a way for us.
(3) For co-workers:
- Mrs. Sylvia Ko: Thank the Lord that even though the weather is getting cooler and some people around her are not feeling well, God has given her good health so that she can fulfill her duty and do what she should do. Due to unexpected reasons, the surgery date of her grandson has not been set. But his condition is still stable. Please pray for him. Thankfully, an agreement has been reached with the insurance company for compensation for repairs to the house. The repair work has begun and is half completed. Hope that it can be done before the weather freezes. I am confident that the Lord will provide the out-of-pocket portion.
- Sister Cindy Chiang: Thank the Lord for allowing her to return to Taiwan at the end of October, in addition to having the opportunity to visit some brothers and sisters, she also had done a physical check-up (including her injured foot). Although she still feels uncomfortable while walking, it is in progress. With a good rest in her body, soul and spirit in Taiwan, she is now stepping up preparations for the three winter meetings, and please pray that God may grant her with more wisdom and be obedient to His will.
- Brother Leong Qinglong: Pray that the Lord grant him with spirit of willingness to serve the Lord and others to the fullest. Pray that the Lord will give his wife and him spirit of wisdom raising their three children. Pray that the Lord give him a heart of prayer, that the Lord may be manifested in all things that he says and does. Pray that all will experience Christ’s faithfulness and victory in the three winter meetings.
- Pastor Charles Huang: Please pray for the three CWC meetings at the end of the year that the Lord will give the co-workers strength and wisdom to prepare, and that the Lord will use the meetings to become a blessing to many. Pray that the Lord will give him the spiritual ability and His Wisdom and Words to pastor the Champaign (Illinois) Chinese Christian Church and lead a group of students to have a spiritual appetite and thus influence other students, that the church will be drawn to God’s Word. Please remember his wife Judy in your prayers for the healing from the Lord on her cervical and lumbar vertebrae that have nerve compression. Also pray for the growth of his three children, especially for Faith, his eldest daughter, for her first-year study in the Moody Bible Institute.
- American coworker Scott Jerome: Please pray for the upcoming meetings in the Winter, and pray for all the co-workers and volunteers who serve. His wife, Becci, suffered from an injured shoulder, and developed frozen shoulder after the first surgery. If not healed after camps, she will have a second surgery to help it to move. Please also continue to pray for the spiritual life and ministry of their family, and the growth of their children in the Lord.
(4) Pray for the CWC monthly financial need (General fund, Building fund, Training fund, etc.) asking the Lord to manifest His abundant provision and allow more brothers and sisters to experience the blessings of giving.
(5) For CWC: Pray that the Lord will bring more co-workers to the CWC ministry for the furtherance of the gospel ministry in the Midwest.
Emmanuel
In the Lord,
Sister Cindy Chiang