THE IMPACT OF COVID ON CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

It might be easy for us to feel overwhelmed by the giants COVID-19 has revealed. But if we reflect for a moment, we will also see great opportunities revealed – opportunities for God’s people to live out Christ’s love, compassion and hope in communities.

The myriad health, social, emotional, spiritual, and economic giants that have emerged from this global crisis have forced the church to ask critical questions, such as “Why is this happening?” and “Where is God in this situation?” These quickly evolve into “How should we respond?” and “What is God calling us to do and be?” In wrestling with these questions, we have seen unexpected doors open for the church.

In the early stages of the pandemic, a group of SIM’s Ministry Point People was concerned about the potential for COVID case numbers to overwhelm hospitals and health facilities, especially in areas with limited capacity.

So, the question arose: How could we equip and mobilise the local church to provide complementary care in communities? An answer was SIM’s COVID Equip initiative, a video-based church training programme designed to prepare the local church for a gospel-based community response to the physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts of COVID-19.

Since its launch in July 2020, teams in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Asia have led the implementation of COVID Equip. These teams report that more than 400 pastors and church leaders have been trained.

A teams in Zimbabwe implements the COVID Equip initiative, a programme which helps to prepare the local church for a gospel-based community resonse to the impacts of COVID-19.

Participants are, in turn, training their congregations and communities and mobilising practical, local responses. These include home visits and care for the vulnerable, community awareness and education, mental health support, and pastors addressing COVID myths and fears in their preaching and teaching.

“I’ve been really equipped and resourced to go out there and minister in this time. This has provided the opportunity for usto reach out to the lost and others in a different way.”

Training participant, Zimbabwe

“My wife and I have both learned a lot from this programme. We have learned that it is an opportunity to gain our neighbour for Jesus … After this programme I am counselling them to be safe and doing my ministry more powerfully.”

Training participant, South Asia

(After the training) “The church created awareness in its members on containment measures; they also partnered with the local authorities to sensitise the public on COVID-19. With a number of their members being infected, [the parish] offered spiritual care adn members appreciated the presence of the church in their difficult moments.

Training participant, Kenya

Lockdowns and social distancing measures have forced churches to ask, “What do worship and ministry look like when physical interaction is not permitted? How do we keep people connected with God, with us and with each other?”

Use of online platforms has been key and, more than just providing ways to connect, this has opened doors into places where there had not been an opportunity to minister. For example, the move to online training enabled Trauma Healing to access new and places in the Middle East and beyond.

As we continue to stare down the giants that COVID has revealed and wrestle with the questions this pandemic elicits, the church should be encouraged to look for ways to overcome. Just as Goliath had vulnerabilities, so too does each giant. Just as the Spirit empowered David to direct his stone at Goliath’s weak spot, the church can look to the Spirit to reveal the opportunities to topple the giants before us!

For more information on SIM’s COVID Equip initiative, contact international.covidequip@sim.org.

Nancy Writebol conducts a retooling workshop in Liberia with Trauma Healing facilitators, using revised Trauma Healing material and lessons from the COVID Equip initiative.

Contributors to this article include Jacqui Croxon, HIV Ministry Point Person, Hope for Life & COVID Equip Working Group; Karine Woldhuis, For Freedom Ministry Point Person; Nancy Writebol, Trauma Healing Ministry Point Person; Tim Jacobson, Theological Education Ministry Point Person & COVID Equip Working Group; Dr Bob Carter, Health Ministries Team & COVID Equip Working Group.