There's a lot of content about the coronavirus coming at you these days. So much that it's tempting either to spiral into a hole on social media or stick your head in the sand. Leaders may find it hard to care for their minds and souls while trying to stay informed.
In brainstorming the best way to serve churches in this time, we decided to do the searching and organizing for you so you can focus on serving your family, community, and congregation. Here are the best resources and info we could find for you this week:
Harris County stay Home Order
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a stay at home order, with some specifics pertaining to filming services at the church building and being able to counsel people in person (if necessary), providing social distancing protocols are still followed:
“Faith leaders may minister and counsel in individual settings, so long as social distance protocols are followed. Religious and worship services may only be provided by video and teleconference. Religious institutions must limit in-person staff to those necessary for preparing for or conducting video or teleconference services, and all individuals must follow the Social Distancing Guidelines, including the six-foot social distancing.”
This is Not the Crisis, But It is Just a Few Weeks Away
Ed Stetzer and Josh Laxton share about a few of the challenges to come as the church maneuvers the coronavirus. They define and discuss four phases of what churches and leaders will need to do:
Pause and innovate
Prepare and plan
Engage and execute
Recover and reemerge
Coronavirus and the Church
This collaborative project was made to assist churches and ministry leaders as they prepare for and respond to the effects of the coronavirus in their congregations and communities. Find podcasts, videos, CDC resources, a planning manual, an online summit, and more than you can ever really look through in one sitting.
SBC Annual Meeting Cancelled
For the first time in 75 years, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been officially cancelled. The 2021 SBC Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville.
Great Commission Conversations
Great Commission Conversations is a weekly Facebook series from Keith Whitfield and Chuck Lawless of Southeastern Seminary. It provides a place for pastors to help one another in fulfilling the Great Commission in the midst of a global health crisis.
MinistryBrands
For the first 90 days, MinistryBrands is making its services free due to COVID-19. This link takes churches to a guide and explanation of their services, including online giving platforms, mass text messaging, a CSS feed for getting online messages from FB Live to a church’s website, etc. We don’t usually recommend paid services but know this has helped some people out.
