A Note About the Coronavirus

We wanted to take a moment to share with you how we as a church are going to approach the current crisis and what we are doing to continue to worship the Lord, build a strong church family, and minister to our community. Please read this article carefully and watch the video from Wednesday night March 18, 2020.

We are going to start by trusting in the Lord:

  • Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
  • II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

God is still God and God is still good. Keep your focus on the Lord. Use the common sense He gave you to do the things we are advised to do such as washing your hands, keeping social distance from others, and monitoring your own health; but trust the Lord with what you cannot control! You cannot see the Coronavirus, but we know it is there. You cannot see God, but you know He is there. 

  • Hebrews 11:1,6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen… But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Let’s show the world what it means to trust in God! 

Faith begins with prayer:

  • Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Prayer is not “the least we can do”, it is what we should do! Pray for our country and the world, for our leaders to make good decisions, for safety for medical professionals, for those who are more vulnerable, for people who have lost their jobs, and especially for our churches and spiritual leaders.

Faith requires action:

  • Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Put action to your faith. Set a good example by your own personal testimony of obeying the authorities and not panicking. Go the extra mile as you deal with people. Be patient. Take a plate of cookies or a meal to your neighbors. Send a note of encouragement or connect with others online. This is our opportunity to give a cup of water “in Jesus’ name.” 

Online community:

For the duration of the crisis, we will be conducting all of our services online. We may have to “social distance” ourselves from each other, but we can still keep a “spiritual connection” through other means. All of us need to work at staying connected through social media, phone or text, and even as families in groups of 10 or less. Church is about:

Worship

Make time to worship the Lord as a family and personally. John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Fellowship and Accountability

Stay connected with each other. Share prayer requests, blessings, and ideas with other church members. Make it your goal to personally connect with five church members each week. Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Preaching and Teaching

Be “faithful” to all of the church services. Try to join us live instead of watching it later. Participate in the service and especially give your full attention to the message. I Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Outreach

Make a commitment to reach out to others through this time. Unless we are ordered to shelter in place, we will still do sign-waving. Make it your goal each week to invite at least 10 people to join you for the online services. This is a great time to share your personal testimony. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Giving

We don’t need an offering plate to give! You can mail your tithe to the church or you can give online. Our expenses continue whether we meet in a church building or at home. Don’t miss out on God’s blessings. Be faithful in your giving. Philippians 4:16-17 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 

Final Notes:

 Please do not hesitate to contact us with any special needs, prayer requests, or concerns you may have. We are here to serve you. I am sad that we cannot “assemble ourselves together” as we normally do, but I am excited about what God is going to do in the weeks to come. I believe we have an opportunity to connect with God, our families, and each other in a new and exciting way. I look forward to seeing what God can do!