Pastors Weigh-In on Why They Are Keeping Their Church’s Doors Open despite Coronavirus Fears

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Pastors Weigh-In on Why They Are Keeping Their Church’s Doors Open despite Coronavirus Fears


Pastors Weigh-In on Why They Are Keeping Their Church’s Doors Open despite Coronavirus Fears

As America begins to settle into the new norm of uncertainty amid the coronavirus outbreak, church life as we know it is changing. 

Many churches across the American landscape are temporarily closing their doors. Dunwoody Baptist Church is located on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, and like most churches, they’re having to deal with what Sunday will look like. 

Christian Headlines sat down with church leaders Allen Taliaferro and Robert Comeaux, to discuss the new changes that their church members will see on Sunday. As soon as the interview begins, one glance at Taliaferro’s face reveals that for this executive pastor this has not been a normal week. He currently has 48 voicemails and text messages that need returning. When asked when he started preparing response protocols, he’s quick to point out the teamwork of the staff and church members. 

“One of our members on our leadership team called me last week to ask what our plan would be. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but by the end of the week we had a plan ready to go,” Taliaferro said.

Comeaux, who is the church’s worship pastor, jumped right in, explaining, “We are in a new season of church life in America as we know it.” 

Dunwoody has a plan in place for Sunday and practical directives for its members. Taliaferro shared that everything from who holds the door to the Lord’s supper will…

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Judah Smith Closes Main Churchome Campus in Washington Due to Coronavirus Pandemic, Ministries Calling for Urgent Fasts

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Judah Smith Closes Main Churchome Campus in Washington Due to Coronavirus Pandemic, Ministries Calling for Urgent Fasts

Churches across the U.S. are closing their doors as the coronavirus continues to spread. Meanwhile, many ministries are calling for fasting and prayer to end the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic, with over 132,000 confirmed cases globally and almost 5,000 deaths. The CDC reports that there is a total of 1,215 cases of the coronavirus in the U.S., and 36 people have died from it.

Many governors are discouraging people from attending large gatherings. California Gov. Gavin Newsome banned gatherings over 250, causing Disneyland to shut down. Four other states have issued similar bans, including New York, Oregon, Ohio and Washington.

Charisma News previously reported that Pastor Judah Smith announced Churchome’s main campus in Kirkland, Washington, is closed for the time being because of the coronavirus. He says church at home will be a part of Churchome’s vision moving forward.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear requested that houses of worship cancel their services at least through March 15, according to the Baptist Press. North Carolina churches are also urged to cancel services and other public gatherings for the time being, reports the News & Observer.

Some churches in Kentucky, however, are refusing to close but are still taking precautions to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, reports the Christian Post.

Popular Bible teacher Beth Moore says this is a bad idea.

It would be a mistake for us in Christian circles to disregard the warnings about large gatherings. If the thought is, “We’re the church. We’ll do whatever we please & God will protect us,” He does not protect the proud. He opposes them. We are not snake handlers. We’re servants.

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) March 13, 2020

For Christian families who stay home from church, LifeWay is offering free spiritual resources for at-home discipleship. “LifeWay Kids at Home” is a free digital resource to supplement Sunday school while at home.

While temporary, the resource is available to everyone, says LifeWay Kids Director of Operations Chuck Peters.

SOURCE: Charisma News

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University of Nebraska Professor Talks About Tests on New Anti-Viral Drug

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All 15 6th Circuit Court Judges Hear Ohio Down Syndrome Abortion Ban Arguments

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All 15 6th Circuit Court Judges Hear Ohio Down Syndrome Abortion Ban Arguments


All 15 6th Circuit Court Judges Hear Ohio Down Syndrome Abortion Ban Arguments

All 15 judges of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals listened this week to arguments over an Ohio law that would outlaw abortions on babies with Down syndrome.

According to the Associated Press, the law prevents abortion providers from performing an abortion if they are aware that a Down syndrome diagnosis, or the possibility of a Down syndrome diagnosis, is influencing the woman’s decision.

Under the law, abortion providers who perform an abortion on the babies could face a fourth-degree felony charge and lose their medical license.

Federal attorneys, however, say the law is unconstitutional because it doesn’t seek to ban all abortion, but selectively chooses circumstances surrounding abortions, CBN News reports.

Justice Department attorney Alexander Maugeri said at the hearing that the “Ohio law serves an important purpose” because it lets people with Down Syndrome know they “have lives that are worth living.”

Opponents of the law, however, say it is a “reason ban” and doesn’t allow a woman to make her own decision.

Jessie Hill, an attorney for the ACLU of Ohio, argued that the law could “cut off communication between a woman and her doctor.” 

A group of mothers whose children have Down syndrome joined with the ACLU against the law, saying it actually perpetuates discrimination against Down syndrome children.

Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life,…

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Anne Graham Lotz on Is the Coronavirus a Sign of the End Times?

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Anne Graham Lotz on Is the Coronavirus a Sign of the End Times?

“Great earthquakes will occur in various places, and there will be famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. … When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:11, 28).

COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, has created national fear in a way I have not witnessed in my lifetime. As of this writing, ball games are being canceled; theaters are shutting down; schools are closing; travel is restricted and the stock market is on a crazy, wild rollercoaster ride. It’s almost as though our nation is being attacked by an invisible enemy seeking to destroy us.

While my age and recent chemotherapy put me at risk, I am more concerned about the fear the coronavirus has provoked than I am of the virus itself. We seem to be caught up in a national panic.

As I reflect on all the above, I remember the words of Jesus. He warned us that at the end of time there would be pestilences. In the last few years, we have endured SARS, the swine flu, ebola, avian flu, MERS, West Nile virus and now COVID-19. Could this coronavirus be one more sign that our redemption is drawing near? Is the end in sight? Is Jesus coming…soon? If so, is fear the proper response?

SOURCE: Charisma News

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6 Critical Ways Church Leaders Should Prepare for COVID-19

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6 Critical Ways Church Leaders Should Prepare for COVID-19


Dale Chamberlain
| Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
| Friday, March 13, 2020

As concern mounts about the spread of the coronavirus, Church leaders can’t afford to ignore it. This virus has affected the more than 100,000 people who have been infected by it, and millions of others who live and work in affected regions. The spread of COVID-19 has led to thousands of deaths, quarantines, school closures, and large-scale fear around the globe.

But in the midst of every crisis, the Church has an opportunity to show the love of Jesus and the hope we find in him. When things are darkest, that’s when the light of Jesus shines brightest.

Here are 6 ways church leaders can prepare themselves and their churches to respond to the coronavirus in a way that inspires hope and faith in Jesus:

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Natali Mis

  • 1. Don’t Feed into Panic

    Slide 1 of 6

    With the coronavirus continuing to be a concern worldwide, many people are experiencing a great deal…

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University of Nebraska Professor Talks About Tests on New Anti-Viral Drug

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Kerry and Chris Shook Share How God Used the Loss of Their Grandson to Help Others

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Kerry and Chris Shook Share How God Used the Loss of Their Grandson to Help Others


Kerry and Chris Shook Share How God Used the Loss of Their Grandson to Help Others

When Kerry and Chris Shook picked up the phone, I could tell they had been up for hours and had already jumped started their day. 

The Shook’s are the founding leaders of the Woodlands Church outside of Houston, Texas.

Woodlands Church has been deemed one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in America.  

Although the Shooks love their church and love talking about church growth, what brings them to the call is the love of their children and grandchildren. You can tell from the excitement in their voices as the topic of family came up that they have a tremendous amount of love for their kin especially their grandchildren.

Kerry and Chris can still remember when their son Josh and daughter in law Kelly told them that they would become grandparents.  Everything about their grandson Jude, looked promising. “I can remember getting the call to head to the hospital because something was wrong with Jude,” Kerry recalled. 

After arriving at the hospital, the Shooks would learn that their grandson was going to be delivered prematurely and would only be granted life for just one day (January 7 to January 8, 2017). 

For them, this was devastating news. They have authored books on living life to the fullest so hearing the news that their grandchild would just be given one day to live was more than unbearable.

“I wanted to fix the situation for our children,” Kerry shared…

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President Trump declares national state of emergency: Serving others out of love for Jesus

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President Trump declares national state of emergency: Serving others out of love for Jesus

President Trump announced at 3 p.m. today that he is declaring a national state of emergency. His declaration allows him to invoke the Stafford Act and open up $50 billion in federal aid to assist in combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act was enacted on
November 23, 1988. This law amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974.

Today’s declaration will trigger FEMA physical and financial assistance. It is expected to support free testing for the virus and guaranteed sick pay for workers who take time from their jobs. It will also infuse money to handle unemployment benefits and boost food programs for children, families, and senior adults.

In other news, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he, President Trump, and the rest of the leaders of the Group of 7 economic nations have “agreed to organize an extraordinary Leaders Summit by videoconference on Monday on Covid-19.” They intend to “coordinate research efforts on a vaccine and treatments,” and to “work on an economic and financial response.”

Financial aid that enables sick people to stay home is crucial
to efforts to “flatten the curve,” slowing the spread of the virus so
that the number of infected persons does not exceed the capacity of our health
care systems.

Serving others out of love for Jesus

As our governments work to this end, it is vital that we do
all we can to help. Many churches are moving their worship services online.
Ministries and other organizations are enabling their personnel to work from
home. Other ways to practice “social distancing” are being followed.

Such steps are challenging and even sacrificial for many. But
Christians are called to serve others out of love for our Lord and for our
neighbor. Anything we can do to help the elderly and others at elevated risk
from coronavirus is an act of compassion…

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What It's Like to Be Infected with COVID-19: Doctor Charts Daily Course of the Disease on Social Media

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What It's Like to Be Infected with COVID-19: Doctor Charts Daily Course of the Disease on Social Media

An emergency room physician who got infected with COVID-19 is giving his social media followers a day-by-day blog of how the virus’s symptoms are affecting him.

Dr. Dale Tung Chen found out he was infected with the coronavirus. He caught the disease from a colleague while treating patients in the emergency room of the Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, Spain, according to the New York Post. 

While living in quarantine in his home since Sunday, Chen, 35, is tweeting out ultrasounds of his lungs along with commentary about the symptoms he’s experiencing.

Chen told NBC News he wanted his experience to be educational, but he wasn’t expecting the warm response he’s received.

“It meant the whole world to me to receive support from people all around the world,” he said. 

Chen’s symptoms have been relatively mild. Experts say the virus affects everyone differently. 

Day 5 after #COVID diagnosis. Less cough & tired, still no dyspnea/chest pain. #POCUS update: Effusion resolved, as subpleural consolidations spread bilaterally on both posterior lower lobes. Started on HCQ yesterday. #mycoviddiary @TomasVillen @acam_acam pic.twitter.com/fjtq2SEM1d

— Yale Tung Chen (@yaletung) March 13, 2020

Chen told CNN on Friday he had developed pneumonia because of the virus, but “he’s doing just fine.”

You can follow Chen’s progress here.

Chen is not the only one sharing with others their fight against the coronavirus.  A man in Wuhan, China was sick for three weeks with the disease.

Tiger Ye, 21, told The Guardian he was diagnosed on Jan. 17 and was cleared by Feb. 7.  He told the newspaper the illness was at its worst from Jan. 21 to Jan. 26. 

People who have been infected with COVID-19 are recovering. As of Friday, the total number of known cases worldwide stood at more than 137,000 – but that’s just for people that have been tested and confirmed. There have been more than 5,000 deaths due to the disease.  

However, the total number of people who have recovered from the virus currently stands at almost 70,000. 

John Hopkins University has created a website where the medical data by country is added and is regularly updated.   
 
For those who do contract COVID-19, roughly 20 percent will experience severe-to-critical symptoms, but the vast majority do not. That’s one reason why it’s unclear how many people have actually contracted the disease since some people may not even have had enough symptoms to think they needed to get tested.

Source CBN

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