Thanks for your comment Pastor. I can imagine the challenges with ministering to your congregation in these difficult times. But with every challenge, there’s opportunities.

I read the following from a friend’s Facebook post a few days ago. Hope it is encouraging for you.

“ In the 3rd Century there was a pandemic that was sweeping across Italy, Africa and the western empire. The scholar Kyler Harper believes it was the Ebola virus. At its height it killed more than 5,000 people every day in Rome. Some cities had their population wiped out by more than 60 percent.

During the pandemic people panicked. Many people abandoned the sick in ditches and left the dead unburied. People fled areas where there was sickness and abandoned the elderly, the sick and the disabled.

But there was one class of people who refused to panic. The last non-christian Emperor was a man named Julian. He wrote: “that the recent Christian growth was caused by their ‘moral character, even if pretended,’ and by their ‘benevolence toward strangers and care for the graves of the dead.’” In a letter to another priest he wrote, “The impious Galileans (Christians) support not only their poor, but ours as well, every one can see that our people lack aid from us.”

Christians instead of leaving the city, stayed at great risk to themselves. They cared for the poor, the sick and the elderly.

The historian Rodney Stark said that you can trace the rise of Christianity to the three major plagues in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th Century. He said Christianity grew because people looked at the incredible witness of Christians during times of crisis. Instead of panicking, they demonstrated tremendous faith and compassion.

If you are a believer, this is an incredible opportunity to bear witness, to be people of faith and compassion. Instead of hoarding, give generously. Instead of panicking, respond thoughtfully. It’s a time to demonstrate a love that is sacrificial and a hope that no disease can destroy.”