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As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise and schools, workplaces and public gathering spaces across the United States remain closed, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that the coronavirus outbreak is having profound impacts on the personal lives of Americans in a variety of ways. Nearly nine-in-ten U.S. adults say their life has changed at least a little as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, including 44% who say their life has changed in a major way.

Amid widespread calls from experts for Americans to socially distance from one another to avoid spreading the virus, what recently seemed like mundane daily activities now elicit concerns from large swaths of the population. About nine-in-ten U.S. adults (91%) say that, given the current situation, they would feel uncomfortable attending a crowded party. Roughly three-quarters (77%) would not want to eat out at a restaurant. In the midst of a presidential election year, about two-thirds (66%) say they wouldn’t feel comfortable going to a polling place to vote. And smaller but still substantial shares express discomfort even with going to the grocery store (42%) or visiting with a close friend or family member in their home (38%).

How are people adapting their behavior in light of the outbreak? Four-in-ten working-age adults ages 18 to 64 report having worked from home because of coronavirus concerns – a figure that rises to a majority among working-age adults with college degrees and upper-income earners. Still, despite current circumstances, about two-thirds of adults with children under 12 at home say it’s been at least somewhat easy for them to handle child care responsibilities.

The virus also has impacted Americans’ religious behaviors. More than half of all U.S. adults (55%) say they have prayed for an end to the spread of coronavirus. Large majorities of Americans who pray daily (86%) and of U.S. Christians (73%) have taken to prayer during the outbreak – but so have some who say they seldom or never pray and people who say they do not belong to any religion (15% and 24%, respectively).

Among U.S. adults who said in an earlier survey they attend religious services at least once or twice a month, most (59%) now say they have scaled back their attendance because of the coronavirus – in many cases, presumably because churches and other houses of worship have canceled services. But this does not mean they have disengaged from collective worship entirely: A similar share (57%) reports having watched religious services online or on TV instead of attending in person. Together, four-in-ten regular worshippers appear to have replaced in-person attendance with virtual worship (saying that they have been attending less often but watching online instead).

These are among the findings of a Pew Research Center survey of 11,537 U.S. adults conducted March 19-24, 2020, using the Center’s American Trends Panel.1 Other key findings from the survey include:

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they feel comfortable proceeding with a variety of activities despite the coronavirus outbreak. For example, 69% of Republicans and people who lean toward the GOP say they would be comfortable visiting with a close friend or family member at their home, compared with 55% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Along these same lines, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say their lives have changed in a major way as a result of the virus, and that they have been feeling psychological distress.
Compared with older Americans, young adults are more likely to say they are comfortable going to a crowded party, a restaurant or a small gathering with close family or friends. Still, most adults under 30 say they are uncomfortable eating out at a restaurant (73%) or going to a crowded party (87%). Young adults are more likely than their elders to say they have used a food delivery service due to the outbreak.
Concerns about public activities and changes to personal lives have been felt more acutely in states with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. For instance, 51% of those living in highly impacted states say their lives have changed in a major way, compared with 40% of those in states with the lowest numbers of cases.
Most Americans say their personal life has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak

Nearly nine-in-ten U.S. adults say their personal life has changed at least a little bit as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, with 44% saying their life has changed in a major way. Just 12% say their life has stayed about the same as it was before the outbreak.

Women (47%) are more likely than men (41%) to say their personal life has changed in a major way as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. And while more than four-in-ten white (45%) and Hispanic (47%) adults say this has changed their lives significantly, about a third of black adults (34%) say the same.

Income and education are also linked to assessments of the personal impact of the coronavirus outbreak. More than half of those with higher incomes (54%) say this has changed their life in a major way, compared with 44% of those with middle incomes and 39% of those with lower incomes.2

Similarly, 61% of those with postgraduate degrees, and a narrower majority of those with bachelor’s degrees (54%), say the coronavirus outbreak has changed their life in a major way. By comparison, 43% of those with some college and about a third of those with a high school diploma or less education (35%) say this has happened to them. Across income groups, those with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely than those with less education to say the coronavirus outbreak has changed their life in a major way.

Across age groups, similar shares say the coronavirus outbreak has had a major impact on their personal life. For example, 43% of adults younger than 30 say the outbreak has changed their life in a major way, as do 45% of those ages 65 and older.

Not surprisingly, those in states with a high number of coronavirus cases are more likely than those in states that haven’t been as affected to say their personal life has changed in a major way because of the outbreak. About half of those who live in states with a high number of cases (51%) say their life has changed in a major way, compared with 43% of those in states with a medium number of cases and 40% of those in states with a low number of cases.3

Among the 33% of Americans who say they or someone in their household has either lost a job or took a pay cut because of the coronavirus outbreak, 54% say their personal life has changed in a major way as a result of the outbreak. This compares with 39% of those who say they have not experienced either of these situations.

About half of Democrats say their life has changed in a major way because of the coronavirus

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say their personal life has changed in a major way as a result of the coronavirus outbreak: About half of Democrats and Democratic leaners (51%) say this, compared with 38% of Republicans and those who lean to the GOP.

These partisan differences remain even after accounting for the fact that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to live in states with a high number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. About a third of Democrats (34%) live in these states, compared with 22% of Republicans. More than half of Democrats in states with a high number of cases (57%) say their life has changed in a major way, compared with 42% of Republicans in states with a high number of cases. Similarly, in states with a medium or low number of cases, Democrats are more likely than their Republican counterparts to say the coronavirus outbreak has impacted their life in a major way.

More than three-quarters of Americans say they are not comfortable eating out in a restaurant given the current situation with coronavirus

Source: Pew Research

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Virginia’s governor on Monday ordered all higher education institutions to stop any in-person instruction amid the coronavirus pandemic, a move likely aimed at Liberty University that has reopened its campus amid the outbreak.

‘We are in a public health crisis, and we need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly,’ said Northam, a Democrat. ‘Our message to Virginians is clear: stay home. We know this virus spreads primarily through human-to-human contact, and that’s why it’s so important that people follow this order and practice social distancing. I’m deeply grateful to everyone for their cooperation during this unprecedented and difficult time.’

Liberty University in Lynchburg led by President Jerry Falwell Jr has faced intense criticism over its decision to welcome 1,900 students back to campus last week after the end of their spring break.

The vast majority of classes have been moved online, but the university has said publicly that in-person instruction was necessary for a few select courses.

‘We are currently reviewing what the governor said but aren’t able to make a comment at this moment,’ said Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb.

Lamb said he couldn’t immediately say whether any in-person instruction was continuing Monday, but the university’s website specifically mentioned that flight training for aeronautics courses would ‘remain in the traditional face to face format.’

Falwell tweeted Sunday night that only one off-campus student who never left Lynchburg had tested positive for the virus – a response to a story in the New York Times that said 11 Liberty students were sick with symptoms that suggested COVID-19.

Of the 11 who have symptoms, three have been referred to hospitals in order to get tests while eight have been told to self-quarantine, according to the newspaper.

Source: Daily Mail

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As COVID-19 continues to overthrow every aspect of our lives, churches across the nation are adapting to new restrictions and finding creative ways to worship together.

Great Bridge Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA, has modified its Sunday service into a drive-in experience – providing music and a message from the church’s rooftop.

Churchgoers sit inside their vehicle in the church parking lot and tune their FM radio to hear Pastor Will Langford deliver the sermon.

Pastor Langford told CBN News that he heard about drive-in services from a church in Texas. The church staff prayed about the idea, then announced it to the members, and launched their first outside worship service last Sunday.

“This gives people the opportunity to still maintain social distancing and be a part of a live service from their car…while in a safe environment,” he said.

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Church members are grateful for the opportunity to unite and worship as a group.

Worship Pastor Jonathan Lowery said it’s encouraging to see people worshipping together again.

“It’s great to see our church family come back together – it’s an encouragement,” he said.

Lowery explained that our normal routines have been disrupted so we can get back to the heart of the matter – reconnecting with Christ.

“We are never alone from the Lord. We’ve been stripped away from the norm so our hearts can become in tune with Him.”

Christi Briggs, who is a member of the worship team, views the drive-in service as a gift to the community.

“We are providing a way to still have an opportunity to worship,” she said. “It’s a gift to the community from our church.”

Years ago, Briggs and her husband were married at Great Bridge Baptist Church. They were overjoyed for the opportunity to celebrate their wedding anniversary last week with their church family.

“To be able to worship with my husband and church family was amazing,” she said.

After attending the church’s first drive-in service, Ramona Painter emailed Pastor Langford to share how moved she was by the experience.

“Though I was intrigued and excited by the opportunity to gather as one, I didn’t expect to find myself crying like a baby in the middle of your sermon. I don’t know if it was the Holy Spirit moving through me as I received the message or if I was feeling real peace for the first time in a couple of weeks, but those tears just kept flowing,” she said.” And they started again as I shared the experience with family and friends.”

“Thank you for the decision to gather together even if it’s within the confines of our car.  May we as Christians feel moved to share God more than ever and may we take the time to reflect on our own lives and influence in these trying days.”

Pastor Langford said he will continue keeping people connected to the church – even with a drive-in worship experience for as long as he can. “We evaluate the situation every week, but the plan is to stay on this path,” he concluded.

Despite the disruptions COVID-19 has created, Pastor Langford believes these were intended to draw our attention to something bigger.

“Disruptions can get our attention and God is speaking in a fresh, new voice,” he said. “I hope that He will use these disruptions so we become more dependent on His power and this will lead to a spiritual awakening.”

FOR CBN NEWS CONTINUING COVERAGE ON COVID-19, CLICK HERE. 

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WASHINGTON — “I’m telling you. This thing is no joke,” said Dr. Kenny Baldwin, senior pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia. “It’s serious.”

Baldwin is sounding the alarm for people who still might not be taking the coronavirus seriously, despite the mounting toll. In the DMV alone, more than 2,700 cases have now been reported – including 45 deaths. Baldwin says it nearly took his life too.

“I have never been sick. I don’t get the flu,” he said. But when he contracted the coronavirus, he questioned if was going to live through the experience.

Baldwin became sick during a work trip in mid-March. He was preaching in North Carolina and didn’t feel well, so he went to an urgent care. Tests for both the flu and strep turned up negative, but he still felt sick. He developed chills, aches and a growing fever.

“I just knew it was different and something that I wasn’t used to,” he said.

Finally, he went back to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and released .

They told him to return if he didn’t feel better. He went back to the hospital a few hours later.

“They [doctors] did an x-ray again and from what I’ve been told, the x-ray was significantly worse from just that morning,” he said.

He went through a series of treatments. Nothing seemed to work.

“I was begging, God, please just give me a chance. Please get me through this,’ he said.

Left with few options, doctors eventually used hydroxychloroquine. The drug is prescribed to treat and prevent malaria, but is being used by some doctors to help treat COVID-19.

It’s the same medication touted by President Donald Trump as a miracle drug, although researchers say more testing is needed.

“I have nothing but praises for that drug,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin continues to recover at home with his family but warns skeptics to take the virus seriously.

Source: WUSA9

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Influential pastor Tony Evans warned that “our anxiety, worry, and fear is outpacing the problem of the virus.”

“Worry and fear have a way of transferring very quickly from to other people,” Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, said in a sermon on Sunday.

“I think that’s what’s happening with this virus. The virus is not the only thing that transfers quickly. Our anxiety, worry, and fear is outpacing the problem of the virus because it’s consumed the mind, the heart, the energy and the emotions of our selves, our families, the whole nation and even the world.”

Evans offered two words to those mired in fear and anxiety: Don’t worry.

“That comes from Jesus,” he said, citing Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus says “don’t worry” three times.

“Stop it,” the bestselling speaker and author stressed. “You say, ‘How practical is that given all that we’re facing the unknowns, the crisis the expansion, the speed, the sickness? Is that a practical expectation of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, yes it is, because He commands us not to do it.”

Christians have a “legitimate right for legitimate concern,” Evans said, but added, “what we don’t have the right to do is worry.”

“What worry is concern gone haywire,” the Urban Alternative founder said. “God does not expect us not to deal with reality. If you’re sick, you’re sick. If you’re struggling, you’re struggling. But that’s different than worry. Concern you own; worry owns you.”

Evans argued that what began as concern is now causing us to “tremble” due to the onslaught of negative headlines and ever-changing statistics.

“It can draw you from legitimate concern from which you should act responsibly to illegitimate worry,” he said.

“Many people believe in God and still worry because they have little faith,” Evans said, citing Matthew 8:26, where Jesus rebukes those of “little faith.”

“The size of your faith is tied to the size of your God,” he explained. “When you shrink God, you automatically shrink faith. So if you and I have little faith, it’s because we’re operating with a small understanding and view of God.”

The way to get more faith and overcome worry is through “expanding your understanding, view of, and submission to God.”

“The best way I can help you to work through this crisis … is to grow God in your understanding, in your experience, and in your focus,” he stressed, “because when we grow Him, your faith will grow with it and your worry will shrink and become responsible concern.”

Far too many Christians believe in a God they “don’t understand as a father,” Evans noted, adding that it’s important to view “God as a father when it comes to not worrying.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Leah MarieAnn Klett

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