 Good afternoon pastor David. Hey John. Welcome everybody to unfiltered with pastor David pastor today, I want to speak a little bit about the church and We all remember during COVID that there was a time where we were the actual Building was shut down, but yet we were still people were still coming by and and seeing you and some of the people that were there that were either coming for prayer and and And then when COVID lifted there was this expectation for people to return like a welcome home and The reality was is that it wasn't that great homecoming as we thought it would be and Even though that COVID restrictions have totally lifted there still seems to be a sense of those staying at home I don't know if there's what it is and even some Leave in the church and so you get the combination of the of COVID and then the online church And then people leaving. What are your thoughts on that pastor? I think that the The time that we had Undergoing we're undergoing the situation with COVID was a time of proving a time of refining in the fellowship. I was Greatly concerned During that time because of the government mandate to to no longer fellowship and all and so at the beginning of that You know closing down of houses of worship and all Because we didn't know how this particular virus was being transmitted completely and all we didn't have that much information. I Felt it was wiser to temporarily closed down our Live meetings and all because I wanted to protect the health of the people in our fellowship. That's what shepherds do We want to make sure that the people are cared for But you know you and I others my wife included would come To the church grounds in the event that somebody and they always did would show up and need some ministry or whatever And so we we still actually remained serving It just wasn't in the regular church services and ultimately after a few weeks we We realized that we weren't getting all of the information and the information that was being spread as is proven now was not always accurate and So my feeling for that was to protect the sheep. I Don't want someone to ever fall Into some kind of hurt because of my perception of what faith is and as I live out my faith I I am not here to to take over somebody's faith. I'm here to help them in the joy of their faith You know, so that's how we handled it at first John as you remember So during that time it seems that quite a number of people decided that Watching online was a better thing than being there live, which is is not really true And hopefully some have discovered many have discovered that that's really not true Because the the body of Christ was not created by God to be in isolation The body of Christ is intended to be just that a body Where hands and feet and the rest of the the members of the church are to be to be recognized and utilized and all of that and so some failed to understand the need for fellowship some misunderstood the entire Purpose of the church to do the work of ministry requires the body of Christ to work Together every joint is to operate and all of that so that we can do the work of the Lord And so some people came to realize that they filtered back over time There are others who decided that this fellowship this particular part of the body the overall world body of Christ was not their home anymore and I just I just pray that they go to wherever it is that they're fed spiritually. That's my great desire and Then there are others who discovered that Christian faith for them wasn't a real thing They never returned not just to this church fellowship, but any church fellowship I grieve over them because they have lost the opportunity to To have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, but I think it was a pruning that took place In many ways and those who wanted to be here John as you know in this fellowship They returned those who saw that as an opportunity to visit other fellowships and Discovered that that's a place that they fit in and their gifts and and all can be utilized best Then that's good for them too So with that I think that it was a a purging in some ways and in our fellowship There was a Building up in some ways those who were here really wanted to be here It became refreshing that people weren't just Deciding just to get up and leisurely walk out when they just felt that something was said they didn't like You know that was becoming pretty much that well that's been common for many years because The narcissists there's so many narcissists that go to church who they want it their way like it's a Burger King or something They want it their way and when it's not said their way or when they have heard something Maybe more than once and they think oh, this is repetition. I need some fresh stories Well, I'm not a storyteller in that way I do teach with stories, but I'm not that I'm not here to tell stories to people to Make them feel good about themselves. So why I saw that purging taking place But by and large those who have remained and those who are actually now showing up and Thank thankfully the the pews are beginning to fill up more. I pray they continue to They're they're normally now occupied by people who want to be there John, you know and and I see that as a good thing but overall I I saw the COVID thing and the 24-7 propaganda by the government that I truly and I'm not a conspirit conspiracy person as you know, but It seems too obvious to me that it was used to the advantage of The Democrats it's quite obvious that it was Used to their advantage where their presidential candidate didn't even have to campaign didn't even have to debate And so they did that then and they're still using that tactic now But by and large the people who were going to church Well, we came to realize and understand that then in California You've got a governor who decides to go to a very expensive restaurant doesn't wear a mask or You have a senator who decides that she's going to get her hair done Doesn't wear a mask, you know So the laws are for you and not for me and we saw that more clearly than ever Didn't change the way people voted because I think that sheep don't care if they're being lied to as long as they may get some Free thing or whatever and that that was a bother to me, but overall with the church. I think the church Was strengthened this fellowship this particular body of believers was was strengthened. I believe that online Option at that time was a was a viable option and but now that everything has been lifted There's no restrictions. It's it's kind of cool to see the people returning and the excitement of the gospel the excitement and worship and and especially now when things are getting so dark and And even as we're preparing for the Christmas season We're seeing more people come back and I think that's a work of the Lord as that pruning has taken place And I was thinking about it this morning pastor. It really shook things up Here at the church. We had to turn things on a dime We had once Sunday an audience and now or the congregation the people that were here and now everything's 100% online But what the amazing thing was and I believe pastor The it was the the small beginnings that we really don't talk about being out there every Sunday And people were showing up nobody knew about it And it was those times when that couple came from Riverside and they saw you and they prayed and they were weeping and Those times I think were the faithful and the small things at that time be faithful in these other things I really think that that is ministry. I mean They were coming to deposit their offering to the Lord and just so happened that we were there and Yeah, I remember that that was very touching how They approached and visited and probably under different circumstances. That's not as easy or you know or as possible because We've got numbers of people who come up and speak to me But they had their opportunity to and I had my opportunity to visit and pray with them So yeah, I saw God do some very good things and and I'll close by saying That there are those who may be watching this right now Who haven't yet returned to live services and I really encouraged them to do so Because it's not good that man should be alone God created us for fellowship I mean my encouragement would be to come To come and I would love to see you man and with that church family We do have our Wednesday night service tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. You're taking us through the book of 1st John and Great opportunity to invite your friends And if maybe you've been watching online come on out and join us and be a part of our worship and and part of our Praise and it's spending time in God's Word and then Sunday morning We have our 8 30 and 10 45 services as pastor you're taking us through the book of Mark And so want to invite you guys to come out and join us pastor again Thank you so much for sharing with us and you know, I thinking back again Thank you so much for the faithfulness that even in those days and when we had coven The faithfulness that you had shown our church that we've shown I wasn't alone I think because they were serving donuts, I mean that was you Church family, thank you so much. God bless you. Thank you for tuning in