I have not been posting on my blog for a long time. I spent two weeks in Hong Kong. I visited a mega-church by their standard there. It is also the strangest church I have ever been in my life. First, everyone had to go through a body temperature test. I was then given a sticker to certify that I did not have a fever. It depends on which term one would like to describe this policy. They are either paranoid about the H1N1 swine flu, or they are vigilant about it.

I then tried to go to the sanctuary. I introduced myself as a first time visitor. However, no usher told me which floor to go. The church building is a multi-storey building. I had to go to read the floor directory and followed the crowd to the 6th floor. I was given a bulletin that had nothing to do with the morning service. I did not know at the time that there were two bulletins, one for the morning service and one for the weekly scripture reading. I was given the scripture reading one. There was no welcome, no handshake. I felt that I was totally transparent or invisible. Right at 9 am, all the doors were closed. No one was allowed in anymore. The woman on the pulpit announced that if anyone needed to leave at any time, he has to take all his belongings and not be allowed to come back. I was glad that I went to the washroom before the service started.

The music was great. The worship band was very good. The worship team could really lead the congregation sing. The guest speaker spoke. He delivered the most wonderful sermon I have ever heard. I had to leave because of a personal commitment. I wrote an email through their church’s website and thanked them. I still have not heard anything back.
I went there again the second Sunday. I shook hand with a person and he introduced himself as one of their elders. He seemed friendly but he might need some training in his welcoming skills. It was a communion service. There was no sermon. The whole service was based on scripted scripture reading, prayer, hymns, meditation, etc. It was good.

I do not think that church care much about any visitors. They may be glad that if there are visitors but it has growth so big that they do not know who they are. They also do not seem to care if there are no visitors at all. I supposed they have enough of their own to care for anyway.

The message and the worshipping spirit were definitely apparent at both services. I felt the spirit was moving there. However, I did not find the people friendly at all. Overall, I did learn something. Best of all, the sermon was the highlight of my visit this time.