Just because the doors of the building are closed doesn’t mean your church can’t still support the community! Here are 5 ways your church can keep being the Church through quarantine.
1. PRAY
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer is the most powerful tool we have as disciples of Christ. The thing we need to be doing now, more than ever, is praying. Praying for health, safety, our leaders, peace, and for God to use this situation to bring his love to people who have never experienced it before.
Just because your church isn’t meeting in person doesn’t mean they can’t still pray together! Pray together over video conference, through a Facebook group, or on our virtual prayer page (link). Create a prayer walk (resource we have?) in your neighborhood, a prayer guide specific for your community, or a daily time where you all pray simultaneously.
2. CONNECT YOUR MEMBERS
There are probably many older and immunocompromised people in your congregation who aren’t comfortable leaving their homes to run essential errands to the grocery store or the pharmacy. Connect these members with younger members of your church. Have them “partner up” and give the younger members an opportunity to serve those who need it. The younger members can deliver groceries, medicines, meals, cards, and check in on them over the next few weeks.
3. FIND YOUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS
Consider your community’s needs and meet them head on. Do you live in a neighborhood with hospitals? Their staff may need childcare. Are your local schools closed? Kids may need lunches. Do you have a nearby nursing home? Have your members make cards to send. Find out what your community needs and be the hands and feet of Jesus to them!
4. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS & FIRST RESPONDERS
Our healthcare workers are on the front lines, seeing and experiencing incredible difficulties every day. Encourage them with meals, cards, and thank you messages. Many hospitals are accepting sewn masks, hospital gowns, and hats. If yours does, form a team to start making supplies they can use.
5. STAY CONNECTED
Many of your members (yourself included) are probably feeling stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and fear about the current situation. When we’re struggling it’s often hard to be as generous and giving as we’d like to be. Keep your congregation mentally and spiritually healthy by staying connected through video conferences, Facebook, and phone calls. If your congregation is overflowing with love, encouragement, and joy, it will be easy to spread that to others!