As your spiritual “home,” what kind of story do you have in NPAC? I was baptized in NPAC more than 40 years ago. Looking back over the different stages, familiar faces of “family members” come to mind one after another. I have come to realize that soul care has never been one-way teaching, but a journey of “walking alongside others.” As a community of faith, the church carries the mission of shepherding and companionship. “Nurturing the soul and protecting the family” is a vision and a concrete expression of this mission.

        At different stages of life and faith, we may have overcome doubts when we first believed; chosen integrity in the face of temptations at work; experienced communal discernment and companionship when seeking a marriage partner; navigated various challenges in raising children; or faced immense pressure while caring for chronically ill family members. Throughout these journeys, pastors and believers listen to and accept one another, and together witness God’s presence with us. This companionship allows us to not feel lonely in our vulnerability, to not be lost in our struggles, and to see hope even in brokenness.

         I remember when I was in seminary, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Brothers and sisters from the Elderly Fellowship faithfully visited and prayed for her, allowing me to truly experience God’s comfort and presence even when I did not know how to pray. In my pastoral journey, I have also accompanied families through the grief of losing loved ones; witnessed individuals who were willing to be baptized in the final stages of life; and encountered situations where, before the unexpected passing of a brother’s or sister’s family member, God prompted a pastor to visit, bringing blessing and comfort. Though the process was filled with tears, it led to a deeper experience of God’s presence and healing.

         I have also witnessed the genuine love and mutual care within the community of believers: some intercede for one another for the next generation; and some fellowships take turns to visit members who are ill, bringing soup, nutritional supplements and accompanying one another to attend medical appointments. These are not merely material support but tangible expressions of love that allow others to experience the reality of God’s love.

          Recent results from NPAC’s worship service survey show that while participation in fellowships and groups has increased, more than thirty percent of the congregation are still not involved in any fellowships or small groups. In a church with a large number of congregants, if believers only attend worship services without fellowship life, they can easily feel lonely or overlooked. The support they receive would also be relatively limited. God blesses us through the community of believers and calls each of us to fulfill our roles in building up the body of Christ, growing together in love (Ephesians 4:11–16).

          Nurturing the soul is not the responsibility of pastors alone, but a shared commitment of the entire spiritual family. Every believer is called to support and build up one another, so that our own faith may grow and that we may become a blessing to other “family members,” extending the Lord’s love to our families and society. This is the mission of the community of believers—to watch over one another in love, to support the weak through action, and to uphold those in need in prayer.

          When the church is willing to become a safe, accepting, and supportive space for one another marked by sincerity, the power of “nurturing the soul and protecting the family” will continue to spread within the community of believers, bringing healing, renewal, and growth.