5 Things a Church Must Remember in a Pandemic (probably more)

This is the question that every Church in the world is currently asking and many are looking to each other for guidance on how to navigate the responsibility of being a light during this COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial that the Church that God established continues to operate during these times. People are hurting, jobs are lost, fear reigns and despair is setting in for some. God established the church of the best of times and the worst of times. Until Jesus returns, it is on us to be used by Him to minister in this world. This post will probably be added to as we go along and we would love to hear your thoughts as well in the comments, but here are some current thoughts.

1. Continuing the church is non-negotiable. The pandemic is starting to sort out the pretenders from the contenders. 
2. Church websites are now the gathering place. You may have your zooms, hangouts, whatsapps and group calls but to the world, your Church website must be current and the place to organise online meetings, disseminate updates, keep people connected to the church. 
3. Pastors need to work the phones. Suddenly the pastor no longer sees people's faces in church, it is very hard to read what is happening in people's lives. There is never a greater need to call people to see how they are going, whether they joined the livestream etc. 
4. Don't neglect the assembling. While we can't gather physically, the church needs to find ways for the people to gather. Some technologies can be used such as Teams, Zoom and Hangouts. If you have gone through the comparisons let us know. 
5. Look for the opportunities. This may be the best time to reach out to some people. It may be a good time to direct people to useful resources that can help with their quiet time. 

5 Things we learn from a Coronavirus Pandemic

While the world has been through pandemics before, we have had quite a good run over the last 50 years. Now, the world is taking in turns to admit the fact that we are facing a worldwide emergency with COVID-19. Some are still in denial, mainly because no one is able to test for COVID-19 sufficiently to show just now rampant the spread already is. We are only looking at testing people who show symptoms while millions may already be infected and infecting without even a fever. But there are things I have learnt from this so far. 

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

 

1. What really matters? It takes a pandemic to bring everyone back down Maslow's heirarchy of needs. We see a world fighting over the basic necessities because it doesn't matter any more how esteemed one is. 

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: 

 

2. How busy are we normally? The Bible speaks about being still and knowing that God is God. There is no greater truth than that during these times. We are so busy that sometimes we forget that God rules over all things. Having much of our busy-ness taken away from us, we are suddenly forced to reckon with God's sovereignty. Could busy-ness be an idol that we have been worshipping without realising? 

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

 

3. Diligence pays off. Readiness is a virtue that the lazy shuns. Who would think that there would ever be a pandemic? And yet we see now as the world wrestles with the unknown, those that are most prepared have been able to meet the moment without flinching while others flounder in panic. As governments shut down the opportunity for believers to meet as we always do to worship God, those that had already set up livestreaming have been able to meet the need of their congregation. Those that have always kepy a good inventory of their food haven't been affected by the panic buying in the supermarkets. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 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. 

4.  We miss church and fellowship We haven't yet had our first online livestreaming of church or our fellowship meeting, but if we used to drag our feet to church, maybe this experience will help us to appreciate the assembling of ourselves together. God knew what he was doing when he instituted the church to care and nurture believers in a world of hurt, struggle and pain. 

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? 

5. God will be magnified How much has the world become so confident? SO self-assured? With a tiny virus that the microscope struggles to see, the world has been brought to its knees. Great big cities of commerce have been shut down like the cities in the Old Testament at a moment's notice. And it wasn't even terrorism! It is a great opportunity that us believers have to evangelise to a world that may now be ready to acknowledge their desperate need of a Saviour.