Coronavirus 2020
Just
about everywhere you turn, someone is talking about the coronavirus
outbreak. Depending on which websites
one visits and which news organizations one follows, people are all over the
spectrum as to their level of concern. Along with the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) who are
putting out plenty of information, we encourage each person to consult a
trusted medical practitioner for advice on how to respond appropriately to the
situation revolving around the coronavirus.
That
said, there are some things we need to be clear on as followers of Jesus. First
off, don’t forget that our God is in control, so we have no need to worry.
Coronavirus didn’t catch God off guard. And not only is He in control, He is
near to those who are in Christ. We can trust Him. He is good. In light of who
God is, remember the words of the Apostle Paul, “Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6).
Second,
whatever your personal thoughts are concerning the varying reactions and
responses to the coronavirus outbreak, let’s remember that real people
are struggling in light of this new reality – however temporary or
serious it may be. Real people have lost their lives. Real people
have lost loved ones. Real people have been infected and are battling real
symptoms. Real people have been inconvenienced by quarantines and
interrupted schedules. Real people are concerned, fearful, and anxious. Real
people are asking questions and looking for answers.
Church
lets pray for people who have been affected by this virus in some way. You may
not know anyone who has been personally infected with this virus, but chances
are you know people who are concerned about the situation. And while you are
praying for people, be sure to look for opportunities to share an encouraging
word about our God. Some of us may even have an opportunity to share the gospel
with people who are uncertain about the future.
Finally,
please know that your church leaders care for you. We have spent time asking
God for wisdom as to how to best respond to the concerns that have been raised
by the coronavirus. Here are some things that we are doing (and encouraging you
to do) considering the coronavirus situation.
Concerning
its spread:
·
As always, we encourage people to use good
hygiene practices including the regular washing of hands with soap and water
and covering your coughs and sneezes.
·
We are placing added hand-sanitizer dispenses
throughout the church and encourage you to invest in some as well.
·
If you or your children are running fever, we
encourage you not to attend worship services or bring your children to the nursery
or Sunday School.
·
To minimize the spread of germs, we encourage
you to respect people’s desire to minimize touching associated with handshakes
and hugs. Let’s replace greeting each other with a holy kiss (Rom
16:16) with fist or elbow bumps!
Concerning
Missions
·
Missions is such an important part of who we are
at Trinity Baptist Church. We want you to know that we are seeking God’s wisdom
concerning each trip that has been planned (or is being planned) this year.
·
Factors that we are considering as we make
decisions concerning each mission trip include the spread of the disease, air
travel to / through certain countries, chances of mandatory quarantine,
governmental warnings, and cost.
·
While any and every mission trip has inherent
dangers, we do not intend to knowingly place our people in harm’s way.
·
While we do not yet have firm deadlines for
making calls on any specific trip, as we learn more information, we will do our
best to keep you informed.
·
Thailand and Taiwan - At
this point, we have not purchased tickets for these trips. While we have had
some people express interest in going, we are currently in a holding pattern
until we know more information about what the summer is going to look like.
·
Peru – We are monitoring the
situation in Peru closely. According to the World Health Organization, Peru is
one of the latest countries to be hit by the coronavirus (though the numbers
are still small). While some airfare had previously been purchased, we are
holding off on purchasing any more tickets until we know more information.
·
Cuba – While information is
not easy to come by in Cuba, we do have some contacts in country who have not
sounded any alarms concerning coronavirus thus far. Tickets will not be
purchased for this trip until early summer (the trip is scheduled for late
October – early November), so we have plenty of time to make an informed
decision.
Our
prayer is that God will be gracious and put a stop to this virus. We hope that
none of our people will experience any unnecessary inconveniences or any
symptom associated with the coronavirus. That said, our hope remains in our
gracious and sovereign God.
With
Love,
Pastor
Nate