There is one thing on the minds of most, if not all, of the world these days. COVID-19. It feels like in just a few weeks, the way we do life has been flipped upside down. At the time of this blog, most of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is under a “shelter-in-place” ordinance or one similar to it. The Center for Disease Control has released recommendations to help us avoid catching or transmitting the virus:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Dry them thoroughly with an air dryer or clean towel. If soap isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Stay home if you’re sick.
- Avoid touching nose, eyes, and mouth. Use a tissue to cover a cough or sneeze, then dispose of it in the trash.
- Use a household wipe or spray to disinfect doorknobs, light switches, desks, keyboards, sinks, toilets, cell phones, and other objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
We have been asked to keep at least six feet from other humans and stay home if we are sick so that we can “flatten the curve,” helping our hospitals care for the critically ill, those from the Coronovirus as well as those from other unrelated critical illnesses. There are many of us that could catch the Coronavirus and others who already have been pretty sick from it but made a recovery. Then there are those who are immunocompromised and/or elderly whose lives are in danger from the virus. It’s a scary and unexpected time in our communities.
As the church we have been called to care for our communities and now that has taken on a new, and for many of us, uncharted meaning. Many of us have moved our services and studies online. Thank you, God, for technology. Like many Christians in the past and around the world, we are adapting ministry to the circumstances around us because we serve a God who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). He is not limited to six feet of space between us. There are a lot of anxieties that fall on church leadership when we think about not meeting on campus and rightfully so. But we need to remember a couple of things:
- COVID-19 is not a surprise to our God (Psalm 139:16).
- Our hope is not in this world; it is in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).
God is moving during this time, and He is using his people to do great things. We have heard some stories already of how He has used groups and communities to help feed those in need. In this time, where for many it seems hopeless, there are stories of people sharing the hope of Christ with their friends and neighbors. There are stories of people checking on folks in the “danger zone” for coronavirus and dropping off groceries and other needs on their door steps or just calling them to talk and give them some social interaction.
In these days we are in right now, community is more important than ever. Hearing stories of how we are coming together can give hope and inspire. So, will you take a moment and share what is happening in your community to help with the current pandemic, whether it’s your church or your neighbor or someone in your community? Share in the comments about what you have seen going on around you that has brought you some joy or hope. Let’s continue to bind together as the Church.