West Park Baptist Church

covid-19

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Last Sunday Around the World: Colombia

Greetings, friends! Today starts a new Monday blog series called “Last Sunday Around the World.” On Mondays we will read stories from our partners around the globe and in the United States as they restart church post-lockdown.

Today we get a look into the mighty works of God in Colombia. I know you will rejoice in the update shared today by Daniel Mee.

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Ministry in Colombia had never seemed more fun or fruitful. The residential seminary where we work was in the middle of its biggest semester ever. The new church plant had recently achieved the goal of financially supporting its Colombian pastor and making its own rental payments. As a church we were also planning on starting a new evangelistic Bible study in a neighborhood near the church.

Then COVID-19.

On March 20th, the Colombian government announced we were going into a mandatory lockdown for 4 days. Those 4 days turned into weeks, which have turned into months. I began to struggle with giving up plans. Things were going so well and COVID-19 seemed to be destroying plans and tearing down accomplishments. As I write, it is now June 1st. I still struggle at times with giving up certain plans, but as I look back on this time and what God has done, my heart is filled with praise to a sovereign God who was not surprised by COVID-19 and who is not currently implementing plan B. My heart rejoices to see a few of the ways in which he has let us see how his plans are better than ours. I will mention a few.

  1. Meeting online has created in our church a strong desire to meet all together in the same place. 

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  2. Our church now understands the Lord’s Supper better than before. At the beginning of the lockdown we had decided we would wait till we were physically together again before celebrating the Lord’s Supper. We believe that an important aspect of the Lord’s Supper is the unity of the body of believers and we didn’t think we could emphasize that aspect online. However, as time passed we knew we needed to observe this important ordinance. Some of you can imagine the questions that arose from the young church whose members are primarily from a Catholic background. Observing the Lord’s Supper in this format actually opened doors for us to teach on these topics in a way most of the church will never forget. Church members prepared juice and bread, we turned on our cameras on Zoom and we celebrated the Lord’s Supper together.

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  3. We were able to enjoy fellowship with other churches. The church where we are serving is the result of a church-planting effort of two mother churches. As pastors of the three churches, we meet every week to drink coffee, talk ministry, and plan future church-planting efforts. We had often talked of getting the three churches together for a joint service but as the churches grew, finding a place to all meet together became more and more difficult. Because each church was meeting online, we realized that we could easily plan a joint service. On May 31st the three churches met together via Zoom and facebook live. Music, prayer, and even preaching was shared between the three churches. We celebrated the history of the churches and encouraged the churches with the plans for the next church plant.

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  4. God has brought together the largest evangelistic Bible study we have ever done in Colombia. After praying for some time for the evangelistic Bible study we would start after the pandemic passed, we realized that perhaps this extended lockdown was an amazing opportunity to share hope with our community. When we floated the idea of a virtual Bible study, our church immediately began to invite neighbors, friends, and family members. In my heart I hoped that there would be at least 4 people. The first night of the study I looked with amazement as more and more people joined the video call. At one point I looked down and there were 41 computers connected to the call. Many of those connections represented whole families. God’s ways are certainly best.

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  5. God has provided. Not only has the church been able to continue to support its pastor and pay its rent, but there have also been opportunities for the church to give to those in need.

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  6. Beyond these opportunities we have also been able to participate in a virtual missions conference with around 800 people connected. These conferences usually host around 300. In a couple of weeks we are holding a church-planting training course for pastors. Not only has nearly every pastor we have invited signed up to attend, but we are also able to have a group of amazing professors from the US and Latin America that we would never have been able to gather in a traditional classroom.

This is not to say that we haven’t had our difficulties. Just like you, we have had problems with internet at times, certain people in our church have become more distant, and the seminary faces many difficulties for upcoming semesters… But looking at what God has done, I recognize that his plans are always better than mine and my heart is motivated to trust him for the future (Is. 55:8-9)

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Daily Dose of Faith (5/18/2020)

Over the past few weeks I’ve been noticing a trend developing. Thoughts are formed about this current covid-19 situation, trenches are dug, and the war of opinions is underway.

Should I wear a mask or shouldn’t I?

Do I really need to keep social distancing from people?

Can I trust the government to make the best decisions? How about the medical community? What about my church?

The other night I went to Kroger to pick up something, and 6 young people ranging in age from roughly 11 to 16 saw me in my mask. One of them asked, “What’s with all these people wearing masks?” Recently someone in my family wore a mask while shopping, and a man got right in her face, challenging her decision to wear a mask in public. He was aggressive and eventually walked away after making his point. His demeanor reminded me of people’s very deeply held opinions right now and in that case how people shouldn’t respond to others in our current situation.

But one of the questions that is most important is: How should we as followers of Jesus Christ respond to one another both in and out of the church right now?

To help answer that question in the days ahead I would like to continue my recent exploration of the Fruit of the Spirit, as well as other lists of virtues in the New Testament, to challenge us as followers of Christ to best represent Him and bring glory to Him in the reopening of the economy and the church. My goal will be to personalize each fruit, to figure out applications during this time of reopening, and to offer as much counsel as I can for myself, my family and for all of you who read along.

In close today let me share a link with you to an article on the Gospel Coalition website titled “Church, Don’t Let Coronavirus Divide You.” The author describes our need for patience with one another during this time. I will be back on the blog tomorrow with thoughts about love. Until then continue praying for our church leaders, our government leaders, our medical community workers and one another.

 

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Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 9

Today we close this series on Global Perspectives. While it’s sad to transition to other perspectives in the days ahead, it’s been so refreshing to get my eyes off myself and my concerns to see what the Lord Jesus is doing in others around the world. Julie Sanders began this series helping us see what can learn from Covid-19, and I’ve asked her to write the last article in this series to help us keep our eyes on Global Perspectives going forward.

How COVID19 is Teaching us What’s Essential

Most of us thought we knew the meaning of essential. Now we’re not sure. FEMA says, “Essential services are the services and functions that are absolutely necessary, even during a pandemic. They maintain the health and welfare of the municipality. Without these services, sickness, poverty, violence, and chaos would likely result.” We’re making decisions about essential travel, services, businesses, supplies, even essential medical care. We’re used to having a lot. It hasn’t all been essential.

No one wanted to learn the essence of “essential” this way. It would be more comfortable to learn from a book, highlighter in hand, coffee in cup, and extra toilet paper in closet. But God captured our global attention, turning our hearts to know our needs in ways we didn’t know we didn’t know.

The Essential Question

We were packing to move when the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory. Between decisions about what to keep or take, we counseled others about what to carry on scarce international flights.  “Only take what you need,” we said to team mates and ourselves.

On the day we packed the truck, it didn’t all fit. Jeff asked, “What’s essential?” It was a good question.

On both sides of the world, we wrestled with the Essential Question. COVID demands, “What matters most everyday and eternally?”

Everyday

In a matter of weeks, our budgets and our schedules have all been impacted. Instead of spending with wants in mind, we’re stewarding resources with needs in mind.

Our Heavenly Father knows our needs. He designed physical, emotional and spiritual needs to work together. Everyday life a place to exercise the essentials.

God wants us to ask the questions He knows the answers to.

  • What things are necessary?
  • How much is essential?
  • Where do we use resources He’s given?
  • Who needs what we have?
  • Why is this useful in the Kingdom?

Police in Bosnia ordered a ministry to refugees to stop cooking out of their kitchen. The national leader considered what was truly essential, asking permission to distribute pre-packaged food. At greater cost, the congregation sacrificed their already strained budget to provide basic supplies.

  • Review your budget, asking God to remind you of where your supply comes from.
  • Ask God to help you see what is essential from His perspective.
  • Ask God to help you understand needs vs. wants and trust Him to care for you.

“So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ … your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Eternally

By now, we know this isn’t a staycation. This is a blank slate. At home, we can create a new normal. In how we live privately, we have the opportunity to put the most important things in place. What will we include in this current COVID lifestyle that will last?

  • When a four year old Rohingya child began to run a high temperature, Live Global partner S had a decision to make. While most would stay away, he and his wife decided he would go. Greeted by a worried mother in a full black burka, a sign of her Muslim faith, S let eternity determine his actions.

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  • When the government issued stay home orders to an impoverished region, panic buying ensued. National partners considered their resources and the needs. They assessed what it would take to buy basic supplies for each slum home they serve. They know supplying everyday resources opens doors for eternity.

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  • When a Live Global prayer warrior heard about increased needs and increased limitations, she used her resources. From her fixed income she sent a gift, and with her abilities on social media, she shared the needs and asked for prayer. Going further, she wrote a message of encouragement to the leaders, encouraging them to stand firm. Instead of letting age or confinement be a restriction, she used her new normal to make an eternal difference.

In this unprecedented time, all nations are asking the same question, “What’s essential?” Everyone is thinking about what matters most in life and in death. More than before we heard of COVID19, everyone knows — eternity is essential.

In our new normal, the Gospel goes out in new ways.

  • Inform your prayers: read missions letters, use the news, ask good questions.
  • Encourage the body: use technology, write notes to let people know you’re praying.
  • Stay engaged: gather as the church through technology.
  • Be still: If you don’t know how to pray, let the Spirit pray for you.
  • Protect the opportunity: refuse to let distractions hijack what God is doing.

We could use our energy worrying about having enough in store for what we don’t know what’s in store. But, “For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lost his life?” (Mark 6:36).

When we look back at this, let’s say we lived for what was essential in our everyday lives and in the expectation of eternity.

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Would you consider supporting the work the Sanders are doing? Visit https://www.abwe.org/work/support and type in “Sanders.” You’ll be able to give directly to them as they share good news in a troubled world.

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Daily Dose of Faith (April 2)

God knows how much we need music.

He created it (Job 38:4,7)

He commands us to sing (Psalm 96:1-2, Psalm 47:6, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16)

God Himself sings! (Zeph. 3:17)

One special feature of music is its ability to cheer, comfort and settle our troubled souls. On that particular note I want to recommend a few songs to add to your playlist in these troubled times that tend to trouble souls.

Lord, From Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42)

This wonderful song from Matt Boswell and Matt Papa reckons with deep grief and sorrow during trials. Without minimizing those trials or the depth of grief in any way the song points us in the right direction with the chorus,

Oh, my soul, put your hope in God
My help, my Rock, I will praise Him
Sing, oh, sing through the raging storm
You’re still my God, my salvation

Come Weary Saints

This album produced by Sovereign Grace Ministries includes truth-filled songs like Hide Away in the Love of Jesus, Oh the Deep Deep Love, and It is Not Death to Die. These songs first released when I lived and worked in China. Far from home, often by myself, these songs comforted me and helped me focus my affection on things above (Col. 3:1).

 

CityAlight is one of Australia’s best kept Christian music secrets.

CityAlight is a music ministry based in St. Paul’s Church in Sydney Australia. This is what they say of their music:

We really see ourselves as a local church, first of all writing for our people, and also praying that God might take these songs out to any of His churches that might be helped by them.

Top song I’d recommend is Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me

 

But how could I recommend songs without including Hymns that have sustained us for generations? Here’s a list, by no means conclusive, that you should have handy in these days:

A Mighty Fortress

Be Still My Soul

Be Thou My Vision

Behold Our God

Blessed Assurance

How Firm a Foundation

It Is Well

Rock of Ages

Solid Rock

‘Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus

What a Friend We Have In Jesus 

My Anchor Holds

He Giveth More Grace – consider these relevant words:

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Amen and keep singing!

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Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 8

Yesterday I shared a portion of my interview with a contact in China. Today I’m sharing part 2. As I said yesterday, it’s helpful to take a step back from media coverage of China and see things through the eyes of believers there. One of the most helpful things I’ve heard in recent weeks is that the Chinese believer are praying for us here in America. Let’s get on with today’s Global Perspective to hear more from a family on the ground in Beijing.

Perspective from China, Pt. 2


How are Chinese believers responding to the virus?

Our church, and a couple of others in Beijing known to us, have gone online fairly smoothly. There are lots of social media groups (on WeChat, the ubiquitous platform in China) in which believers are sharing encouragements and prayers. Bible studies and prayer meetings are also happening via video-conferencing. We have been very impressed with how the more mature believers have continued to encourage everyone to keep being involved with one another even though we can’t meet. The teaching from our church has been solidly biblical, and neither dominated by the coronavirus situation nor minimising it. It feels like they really have done the best that anyone could do. The church also organised offerings in order to donate supplies to Hubei province in the early days of the virus, but the government has generally frowned on any civil society or charitable efforts and so we haven’t heard any more about further opportunities to give in that way since early February. Most recently people in our church have been praying for other countries and checking up with us about our friends and family back home, offering to send things to our families if needed.

I wish I knew more about rural congregations, or churches in other cities, but I can only really speak intelligently about a small section of the church in Beijing. There has been more fear than I believe is appropriate in the congregations known to us, but there are also very wise voices speaking into those situations, and the church leaders seem to be doing a great job.

What should American believers learn from China’s experience through the coronavirus?

Prepare for months of disruption to church life, and plan creatively and positively to support the lonely and vulnerable, even if you can’t go to visit them right now, and to strengthen the faith of all other believers. Get used to gaining what you can from online meetings, and from lots more phone calls, but hunger for the day when you can meet again in significant numbers to enjoy face-to-face fellowship and worship together in person.

Humility and patience are vital. This is certainly true inside the home — you’ll now be spending more time with a smaller number of people in a confined space, and that will test the quality of love and forbearance. As for outside the home, don’t insist on personal expression and freedoms in the moment if it would increase the risk of others catching the virus.

Exercise sober judgement when you hear conflicting things from politicians, medical experts, media voices, etc. When in doubt I recommend listening to the medics — they are much less likely to be lying to you or shooting off their mouths than the politicians, who tend to say something different depending which day of the week it is (clearly some politicians are much worse than others in this regard). Doctors here in China warned of the virus weeks before the local government in Wuhan was prepared to admit its severity. In America you have the opposite problem — not too few voices, but too many!

Cherish the fact that our treasure is not here on earth. And comfort those who are anxious using gospel truth, not with platitudes. It may well be that the Lord will open up conversations with unbelieving family members, colleagues or friends who are especially afraid, or who are grieving, and the good news of Jesus is what they need to hear, from a loving ambassador of Christ, whether there is a virus going round or not.

If there are people you see in need because they have lost their jobs, don’t hold back in generosity. If you are a landlord and your tenants are suddenly unemployed, don’t throw them out. I know of a few cases in Beijing where landlords have made a lot of trouble for out-of-town or foreign tenants, and the coronavirus itself is bad enough without cruelty and profiteering of any kind making it worse. Millions of people in China have already suffered economically because of the coronavirus, and their large savings accounts may tide them over for a while. But Americans tend to have less saved up than the Chinese, so in times of crisis, many people around you probably have very little buffer in place.

If no one hoards and panic buys toilet paper then there is enough toilet paper. Think very seriously when you load up your shopping cart about what the Lord would say to you. Are Christians here in this world to do as the world does or to live out a better way?

Don’t talk about praying more — just pray more.