The elders held a conference call this afternoon, and wanted to communicate the following direction to the brethren as we go through these difficult times.
Some may still feel that this is all unreal and distant. The fact is that the effects are already beginning to impact us as a congregation. Some have already lost their employment, even among the elders, and others may soon lose theirs. What we are trying to do is ensure that no one loses their life or causes someone else to die by our failure to act wisely.
Brethren, we have no need to fear; and we exhort all to refuse fear. We have the Lord with us now and will go to Him when we pass this life. What we want to do is love our neighbours by not inflicting on them harm or loss.
As elders we acknowledged that the most effective way to reduce the spread of this highly contagious pneumonia-causing virus is to follow the government’s direction to stay home. This means that, in addition to not gathering for meetings of any size, no one who doesn’t live in your house should be in your house. No one. We also agreed that this is extremely difficult to follow for everyone, and not everyone will.
Nonetheless, I’m entreating all brethren to do just that. In my own family, we accept no visitors and we visit none, not even our grown children. These are drastic times, and if we are to be effective in reducing the spread of this highly contagious illness we need to take drastic measures. We are already weeping with those that weep, suffering some of the same adversities.
Possibly, several in our congregation already have the virus and are spreading it. Remember that half of the people that get it will never know they have it and may have no symptoms. But they will pass it on to others, and of the 10% or more that get critically ill, some will die. Pray for each other daily and phone each other daily, but please stay home and have no visitors.
Secondly, we are asking that all brethren refrain from taking meals to others such as to new mothers that have just given birth. This is part of the physical distancing that is necessary to reduce the rate of spread. Those that can work from home, or at least alone or with their household, are asked to do that. Others who must go out to work should still isolate when not at work.
For the short term, perhaps the next month, the elders purpose to phone each household for personal encouragement. We also intend to put daily encouragements out by call line each evening, Monday to Friday, a different elder each evening. Lastly, we will be recording current messages for the congregation and posting them on the website and delivering sterilized CD’s to those without internet. We do not plan live streaming at this time.
Your elders remain available by phone. The other elders’ numbers are in the church directory.
All of this is to do our part, as Christians, to lighten the burden of the rulers of this country as they seek to do what they can for the welfare of the nation. Some perhaps have encountered those that misuse Scriptures, suggesting that in this case we ought to obey God rather than men and are determined to meet anyway. We will post on the website answers to some of those errors and entreat all brethren not to heed those voices.
All available knowledge suggests that this could be devastating on a national and global level, and could last well over a year. The next four weeks should make things much clearer. Until then, we are asking all brethren, for love’s sake, to comply with these directions, even if they seem overly restrictive. We will be monitoring the situation daily and communicating with the church regularly.
Thank you for your encouraging, loving, and prayerful support.
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