God’s grace and blessings never ceased during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of Beijing Nankou Church shared their testimonies of life under the COVID-19 pandemic.
The testimonies were about faith, prayer, spiritual growth, family relations, and social service.
Brother L from Shahe Church: "My story with the Shahe Church"
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Brother L ran into an awkward situation when he was required to be home quarantined after returning to Beijing for work.
As all restaurants were closed and take-away services were stopped, he had to cook by himself. Unfortunately, the range hood in the kitchen didn’t work well, which made the apartment smelly. Then he bought a high quality exhaust hood from an online store.
Since the machine needed to be installed by a professional, he had no idea what to do because his community prohibited any non-resident from entering it.
Feeling helpess, he suddenly remembered his church had an electric tool which was necessary for the installation. He borrowed it from an elder and then the hood was successfully assembled. He was full of joy and thanks.
Sister X from Beiya Meeting Point: “The Lord establishes our steps”
God gave a precious verse to Sister X on the first day of 2020: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
As a spiritual infant in the Lord, she could not understand that verse because she insisted that everything she had was because of herown efforts.
However, the sudden pandemic forced her to meditate again on God’s word.
She confessed that people could make plans for their life, but their life’s path was determined by God. Sometimes God guides our life through unexpected changes, which causes us to change our plans. The Lord had led her to read the Bible and pray with her child.
Brother L from Hongfuyuan Meeting point: “I speak to please God”
It was four months ago when China imposed a lockdown in Wuhan. All the on-site religious activities were suspended, but Christians in China could attend online services.
Brother L was confused about how to lead services for the Lord. He prayed to God and 1 Thessalonians 2:4 came to his attention: “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”
The revelation which pricked his heart, “speak to please God,” became the guideline for his online ministry.
In live broadcast groups, he could not see anybody’s face and did God’s work silently. He said that he really needed to look upon God rather than people and to please God, not others.
He has written and preached 15 sermons for the practical needs of the congregation.
Sister S from Changping Meeting Point: “Be cautious of my tongue - rebuilding a healthy family”
For years, the family of Sister S was in chaos. As her daughter grew older, for years she complained of her hard feelings and grievances to her child.
Growing up in a quarreling family, her daughter had to endure her complaints. During the pandemic, the Holy Spirit rebuked her when she was trying to say something bad about her husband. She had an epiphany that grumbling would make the tense relationship between her daughter and the father worse and not good for family relations.
“Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect (James 3:2),” she thanked God for transforming her life.
“Thanks to the change in my life that the Lord has done, I speak words of blessing about her father to her. This gives her a good image of her father and she knows that he is a father who is responsible for their family and loves her. Then she can feel safe and have faith and hope in her future marriage.”
Sister Y from Xingshou Meeting Point: “Pass the Lord’s love”
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1,4)
The family of Sister Y experienced joy and peace amid the sudden pandemic that interrupted people’s regular life.
On the snowy early morning of February 3, 2020, she received a notice saying that her community was recruiting volunteers who were supposed to help residents register to receive a pass so they could enter the neighborhood compound.
Nobody registered because the coronavirus pandemic was very severe then. She earnestly prayed on her knees, “Lord! I would like to what I can for the community security. I ask that the Lord will open a way for me and keep me safe all the time.”
After the prayer, she laid down all her concerns. Wearing a cold coat and a mask, she came to the neighborhood committee. As the only volunteer, the moment she saw many residents queued in a long line for registration, warmth flooded her heart. She starting work.
Back home in the evening, her husband waited to eat until she returned so they could enjoy the prepared dinner together.
- Translated by Karen Luo
