“I'm so happy to finally be able to have face-to-face worship at church after three months at home,” said a 70-year-old female believer from a church in Anshan, Liaoning, after hearing that the church could resume in-person worship this week.
According to a notice of the Anshan Command Center for COVID-19 Control and Prevention on June 1, all religious places in the city were allowed to reopen from that day on.
Some churches have started drills and training for staff members before Sunday, making specific arrangements according to clothing requirements, check-in requirements and disinfection requirements. For example, some pews which were for four people each before are now only allowed to sit two.
As coinciding with Pentecost, most of the sermons and hymns on June 5 were related to the Holy Spirit. In some churches, pastors had to give sermons in two or three services in a row.
At a deaf fellowship, believers also attended Sunday services led by pastors who can use sign language. To meet the needs of worshippers, each church arranges two or three services.
At present, on-site worship in Anshan City is mainly resumed in churches of the urban areas, followed by those in suburbs and townships if they pass the inspection and approval from the local authority later.
These churches have also restarted prayer meetings, Bible study groups, and other fellowships.
On that day, the government officials of each district in the city also visited some churches to inspect and guide the first in-person worship services.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Luke Liu
