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March 2026

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A Humble Assessment: The Spiritual Health of Our Church in the UK

Pr FF Chong

The guidance of God in the UK church is evident for all to see. One clear sign is the increase in places of worship; some, though lacking regular weekly services, still boast healthy memberships. Another encouraging indicator is the remarkable rise in youthful zeal in recent years—more young people are keen to attend worship sessions and participate in church work. Furthermore, there has been a heartening growth in the number of UKGA board members and local church deacons willing to lend a hand in shepherding members across these various congregations.

These are undoubtedly encouraging outward signs of progress. Yet, this visible improvement must go hand in hand with a clean bill of spiritual health. How, then, can we truly tell if the church is robust? Here, we shall outline two biblical points for thoughtful reflection, enabling us—with God’s help—to earnestly pursue any necessary improvements.

A Healthy Church is Always Prayerful

Workers and members alike must remain steadfast in earnest prayer (Col 4:2), for it is this discipline that keeps us watchful in our service to God. When a church stays alert in prayer, the clearest sign is her abiding ability to give thanks to God in whatever circumstances she finds herself. When the Spirit fills the church, she can perceive God’s grace and purpose even in times of hardship. Indeed, when the going gets tough, she often becomes more prayerful than ever before (cf. Acts 12:5).

However, the reality is that in some quarters of the church, complaints and disputes are on the rise, even though the importance of prayer is frequently emphasised. This worrying trend may be attributed to several factors. Firstly, when leaders themselves lack a prayerful spirit, their actions fail to inspire the church spiritually, as they do not flow from the power of God. Secondly, the apparent increase in prayer may be merely superficial, producing little genuine change in behaviour or attitude towards God and others, and still serving God in a carnal way.

Recognising this as a sign of spiritual malaise, our collective focus, both as the church and as individual members, must be on seeking the Spirit’s help in our weaknesses. In doing so, the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will (Rom 8:26), for it is always God’s desire that human frailty be overcome. When each member triumphs over their personal weaknesses, the church will stand spiritually sound in God’s sight. Then, once more, the church will resound with praises and thanksgivings to God.

A Healthy Church is Always Evangelistic

The church has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, a status that sets her apart from every other organisation in the world. This distinct privilege springs directly from having received the salvation of God. A church that truly grasps the vastness of God’s redeeming grace will inevitably be driven to tirelessly reach out to the unbelieving world, seeking to rescue as many souls as possible through the Gospel of Salvation entrusted to her by the Spirit. Her evangelistic zeal is ever-present and only intensifies as she continues to labour.

If a church and her workers are only keenly aware of divine works other than evangelism, this is an explicit sign of spiritual unhealthiness. It signals a lack of understanding regarding the message of salvation and the profound love Jesus showed. Since the ultimate purpose for the church’s existence is to overcome the gates of Hades (Mt 16:18), any work undertaken apart from evangelism is incomplete.

This worrying pattern is clear in many UK church meetings where administrative affairs are discussed at length, yet evangelism is scarcely mentioned. This must be reversed by deliberately including evangelistic matters in every meeting agenda. Workers should show genuine zeal for preaching in practice, not merely in words, setting a worthy example for the church to follow. Through united prayer, the fervour for proclaiming the gospel will be rekindled, and prayers will increasingly centre on bringing lost souls to salvation.

Conclusion: Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

A truly healthy church lives by the motto of the apostles: “We shall give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). This applies most especially to the ordained workers of the church.

When ministers are genuinely prayerful, they become powerful and discerning in guiding the congregation forward. Such prayerfulness sharpens their vigilance and enables them to reflect the very nature of God in their service, fostering a deep reverence for Him among the believers. Ministers (particularly UKGA board members and preachers) must set a worthy example in evangelism.

No amount of administration can compare in importance with the saving of souls. As God’s servants, we are to seek from Him a spiritual understanding of preaching and a heart stirred to go forth and proclaim the Gospel—willing, when necessary, to set aside our domestic concerns for the sake of the Gospel’s advance. Without these two apostolic duties faithfully carried out, the church will remain feeble and vulnerable to the assaults of the evil one.

一個膚淺的評估 : 英國教會的屬靈健康

張福華

神在英國教會中的帶領，實在顯而易見。其中一個明顯的印證，是聚會點的持續增加；即使部分地區尚未能維持固定的每週聚會，信徒人數仍舊可觀。另一個令人欣慰的現象，是近年來青年人屬靈熱誠的提升——愈來愈多青年樂於投入敬拜，並主動承擔教會事工。更可喜的是，總會負責人與各地執事，也愈加願意投身牧養，積極協助各地信徒靈命的成長。

這些無疑是外在令人振奮的進步跡象。然而，外在的增長必須與屬靈的健康並行。我們該如何確定教會在屬靈上是強健的呢？以下提出兩項聖經原則，作為我們的省思與指引，使我們在神的幫助下，持續追求更新與復興。

屬靈健康的教會常常禱告

工人與信徒都當恆切禱告（西4:2），因為這是使人警醒事奉神的重要操練。當教會儆醒禱告時，最明顯的表現，就是信徒無論身處順境或逆境，仍能向神獻上感謝。當聖靈充滿教會，她便能在困難之中敏銳察覺神的恩典與旨意，並以信心回應。的確，在艱難之時，教會往往比平日更加迫切地禱告（參徒12:5）。

然而，現實情況令人擔憂：儘管教會不斷強調禱告的重要性，在某些層面，埋怨與爭論卻漸增。這現象可能源於幾個原因。首先，當帶領者自身缺乏禱告的心志時，他們的服事便無法以屬靈的力量激勵教會。所行之事若非出於神的能力，便難以成就屬天的果效。其次，表面上看來，禱告的次數或許有所增加，但若人的性情與態度未曾真實轉變，那樣的禱告便只是形式，虛有其表，無法帶來屬靈的更新。

若能察覺以上皆是屬靈衰弱的警號，教會與個人便當專心尋求聖靈的幫助，扶持我們的軟弱。聖靈按著神的旨意為我們代求（羅8:26），因神的旨意總是要祂的子民勝過軟弱。當每位信徒都能靠主克服自身的軟弱，整體教會便能在神面前茁壯起來，邁向屬靈健全的標準。屆時，教會必再一次充滿讚美與感恩的聲音。

屬靈健康的教會常傳福音

教會是主耶穌以寶血重價贖回的，這身分使她與世上一切組織截然不同。這份殊榮，源自她領受了神所賜的救恩。凡深切體會神救贖恩典浩大的教會，必然會被聖靈激勵，不懈地向未信者傳揚福音，盼藉著所託付的救恩之道，拯救更多靈魂歸主。她的傳道熱誠不曾止息，且愈加熾熱。

倘若一間教會及其工人，只對傳福音以外的聖工特別熱衷，這便是屬靈不健康的明顯徵兆，顯示他們尚未真正體會救恩的信息與主耶穌深切的愛。教會存在的最終目的，是要勝過陰間的權勢（太16:18）；因此，凡教會所作的聖工，若未建立在傳福音的根基上，便顯得不完全。

我們當特別留意，在英國不少教會的會議中，行政事務討論詳盡，卻鮮少觸及傳福音的事工。這樣的情勢亟需改變——教會應有意識地將宣道事項列入每次會議的議程。工人更當以實際行動，而非僅以言語，展現對傳道的熱誠，為信徒立下榜樣。當眾人同心合意地禱告，福音的熱火將再次被點燃，禱告的焦點也將更集中於拯救靈魂這極其重要的事上。

結語：專心以祈禱、傳道為事

真正健康的教會，必持守使徒的信念：「我們要專心以祈禱，傳道為事」（徒6:4）。這項原則，尤其適用於教會的聖職人員。

當傳道人真實活出禱告的生活，他們在引領眾信徒時，便能充滿從神而來的能力與屬靈洞察。這樣的禱告生活不僅提升他們的屬靈警覺，也使他們在事奉中更能反映出神的性情，引導信徒在敬畏中成長。因此，聖職人員——特別是英國總會的負責人與傳道——更當在傳福音的事工上，豎立美好的榜樣。

任何純粹行政工作的價值，都無法與拯救靈魂的使命相提並論。我們既是神的僕人，便當切切求祂賜下傳福音的屬靈悟性，並激勵我們的心志，使我們願意為福音的緣故，放下個人與家庭的顧慮，勇敢前行。若我們未能忠心實踐使徒所託付的兩項職責——祈禱與傳道——教會便常陷於屬靈的軟弱，難以抵擋惡者的攻擊。

SILVERTON HOUSE

February 2026 Update

First building purchase
Thank God, after many years of searching for a location for a new General Assembly of the United Kingdom (UKGA) headquarters, an unused church building in the Longbenton area of North Tyneside, Newcastle’s neighbouring county, was bought in 2015. However, uncovered issues and constant setbacks meant that the building was later found to be incompatible for the church’s purposes. The property was eventually sold to a developer in April 2024 for a healthy profit, which more than covered the church losses.

When one door closes, God opens another
During this time, a Newcastle church member saw that Silverton House in Cramlington was on the market and notified the Newcastle Building Team. Silverton House occupies the largest plot in Northumberland Business Park on the edge of Cramlington, a town 20 minutes’ drive north of Newcastle.