2021
The church welcomed newly appointed evangelist 李仁民 to serve alongside the Rev. 张振祥.
The Adults’ and Young Adults’ Fellowships transitioned into small-group ministry, continuing to connect with adults.
A new wave of COVID-19 emerged in January. The government announced Movement Control Order 2.0 from 13 January to 4 March. With cases and deaths rising sharply, the healthcare system nearing collapse, vaccines not yet available and incomes uncertain, people faced immense distress. We prayed that our gracious Lord would bring the pandemic to an end.
The Conditional Movement Control Order introduced on 5 March allowed Sunday worship to resume, but standard operating procedures limited attendance to 180.
Movement Control Order 3.0 was then imposed from 7 to 31 May, followed by a total lockdown from 1 to 28 June. Throughout the year, in-person worship and meetings repeatedly closed and reopened. We thank the Lord that online arrangements steadily improved, allowing worship and gatherings to continue through YouTube, Facebook and Zoom.
As more people lost their income during the pandemic and Penang General Hospital urgently needed breathing-support equipment, the LCEC resolved to raise RM100,000.00 for community care. We thank the Lord that donations exceeded the target. The church donated four breathing-support units to Penang General Hospital and RM20,000 to CREST, using the balance for other community-care ministries to glorify God and serve others. The church also partnered with 7979 to distribute Manna food parcels and emergency financial assistance. From October to December, it donated 120 packed lunches to an orphanage and a disability centre.
2022
As vaccination and booster uptake increased in Malaysia, in-person worship and meetings gradually resumed.
From the first Sunday of the year, the Rev. 张振祥 actively encouraged members to read the Bible.
Several families who had moved from China to Malaysia attended Sunday worship regularly that year.
In June, the Tanjung Bungah preaching point resumed in-person worship after being closed for more than two years because of the pandemic.
The church also progressively upgraded its sound equipment that year to improve the audiovisual experience for both in-person and online worship.
During the Chinese Annual Conference in November, evangelist 李仁民 was ordained as a church officer.
In December, Christmas carolling and an in-person Christmas evening programme finally resumed after a long absence, and members joyfully celebrated Christmas together.
2023
The Methodist training school premises were renovated to serve both as a training centre and as a multipurpose centre for fellowships of all ages. The existing dining area was converted into a café to meet the needs of the church today. In addition to Sunday use, it would be available to the church’s fellowships during the week. Renovation of the two storeys cost RM588,313.07. A brief church history and historical photographs would be displayed on the café walls.
The church repaired the sanctuary’s air-conditioning system. During the same period, the Tanjung Bungah preaching point repainted the exterior of its building and repaired the roof.
Participation in the 10th World Chinese Methodist seminar on worship, liturgy and sacred music was restricted to brothers and sisters residing on Penang Island. The church subsidised its own members who attended.
On 23 September, the International Christian Celebration Choir held its 2023 Northern Malaysia praise concert, “For Love”, at this church.
The church held evangelism training on 21 October, with evangelist 邱学新 as the speaker.
The church invited Brother 许道顺 to speak at its Christmas evangelistic meeting on the theme “The New Life of a Former Gang Leader”.
2024
On 1 January, the LCEC held its 2024 fellowship and discussion gathering. Church officers shared information about ministries, strengthened their relationships in Christ, and discussed their hopes for the church, with the aim of supporting members’ growth in faith.
On 21 January, Chinese Annual Conference President the Rev. 廖克民 was invited to preach and officiate at the opening of the 80th Anniversary Hall and café.
A committee was formed to prepare for the church’s 130th-anniversary celebrations. A logo design competition was also opened to church members, with church officers serving as the final judges.
The Penang Chinese churches’ fellowship scheduled a Good Friday spiritual renewal meeting at this church on 29 March, with the Rev. 蔡家存 as speaker.
The discipleship course “Studying the Bible, Becoming Disciples” (the red book, comprising thirty-four lessons) began in April.
On 27 April, the Northern District held a “Renewing Worship” workshop in the sanctuary. Worship and music chairpersons, lay leaders, LCEC chairpersons, worship-team members and choristers were encouraged to attend, share and learn about worship appropriate to the present day.
The Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Malaysia encouraged members to enter their personal details in the Membership App.
In August, the Tanjung Bungah preaching point began the “Angels’ Fellowship”, offering Bible study, testimony sharing, prayer, group recreation and exercise.
In August, the church held an online theology course on ecclesiology, led by the Rev. 李仁民.
The church’s youth evangelistic meeting was scheduled for 7 September, with the theme “Give Yourself a Chance”, welcoming both Christians and those exploring the faith.
A Mid-Autumn Festival celebration took place on the evening of 14 September. It was jointly organised by the seniors’ ministry, Women’s Fellowship, youth fellowships, small groups, Boys’ Brigade and community-care ministry.
In October, the church held an online theology course on eschatology, led by the Rev. 张.