Can I talk to y’all for a minute about my church? #smalltownministry #ruralministry #covid19church
A thread/
A thread/
We are not set up for online. We are barely set up for a Facebook page and email communication. We are still having services in our small, rural community where there is currently no known outbreak. But we are taking steps. By next week (maybe tomorrow) we’ll be streaming.
We are cleaning like crazy. We are encouraging people who are sick or at risk (like me and my kiddo) to stay home. We are taking measures and trying to figure this out. But I want to tell you what we are doing really well. Bc it is the character of this church.
Tomorrow was supposed to be a big fundraiser dinner for a mission trip this summer. The trip is up in the air and may be cancelled. The groceries for the dinner were already bought and a team ready to start cooking. My hub was on the phone with people all morning trying to plan.
The leadership of our little, country, good ol boy church was pretty unanimous- we use the food to care for our community in this time. For elderly or sick church members and non church members. For people who will need help if (when) schools and business continue to close.
It was a pretty swift and decisive decision. What is practically she pastorally best ministry for the church is not to feed ourselves, to keep our schedules and agendas, but to show wisdom and care to our community.
We are still figuring stuff out.
We are still figuring stuff out.
But the decisions a church makes in a time of crisis reflects its character. And I’m thankful that the character of my small rural church is to look at the moment we are in and chose to be the embodied Jesus in our little corner the best we know how, even if it is new or weird.
Big city mega church friends, tiny rural church friends, everyone in between. We are figuring it out as we go. But if we are following Jesus and doing all we can to heal the sick, feed the hungry, care for the lonely, and preach the good news to the poor, we will figure it out.
We don’t know what tomorrow or next week or next month looks like. But we can take a next right step and do the next right thing. Big or small, city or rural, online or wherever. Trust God. Live like people of the Resurrection. Wash hands and wash feet. Whatever it looks like. /
*and not she
Since a lot of people are reading this. I think we will move to no or almost no in person gatherings quickly. If your church can, it’s the best. Especially for your faithful older saints who will show up any time the doors are open. Prince Hans is bad, love is a closed door.
