“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.” ― Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers is my hero. I even own a few zip-up cardigans, but I don’t change my shoes when I come inside. Mr. Rogers told whole generations of people they were loved “just the way you are.” “What do you do with the mad that you feel? When you feel so mad, you could bite? When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong.”

What do we do with these feelings of frustration? I have friends on both sides of the issue. I have some who refuse to leave the house in anything slightly less than a hazardous materials suit. Others, to quote, “Stick it to the governor! I’ll do as I please!” I get it! But what does the Church say?

I tend to do my best thinking when I’m out for a long walk talking to myself, and with the Lord. So I have wondered, what are we doing with these feelings? How can we put that energy to good use? When I feel scared or worried, I know that God is there. I also know that I can see God’s movement in the way faithful people respond in times of difficulty.

I miss it when everything is hunky-dory. When trying times come, I can see things I usually miss. Hugs and handshakes have been taken for granted. The habitual assemblage of people for worship, meetings, or sporting events was ambivalent. Now, some of us hunger for it. It’s weird talking to people six, eight, and ten feet away. I can’t get used to talking to people behind a surgical mask. Yet, there are some among us who have taken to this challenge quite well. I will tell you where I have seen God lately.

I have seen God when congregations cooperate to care for the community. One of our Free Will Baptist churches has collected food items to share with those in need. Items could be collected at several exterior locations, and people not connected to the congregation have donated food items to help meet those needs.

One evening at Vidant Medical Center, Greenville area congregations planned a community-wide prayer service in the vacant employee lot. Since the outbreak, hospitals have stopped almost all visitation, so employees have parked in the unused visitor lots. The employee lot was full of worshipers sitting in their vehicles, windows and sunroofs open, hearing preachers and worship leaders lift praise and prayers to God. Many of these prayers were for patients and staff of the Medical Center. After the event, the cars formed an ad hoc parade to drive around the hospital campus praying, shouting Thank You, and blowing horns in support of healthcare workers. I’m not an emotional person but seeing this kind of support put a lump in my throat.

Most days, when I leave my office, I find some supportive note on my car. One was from Reedy Branch FWB; you can read about in this issue. My favorite was a single handwritten post-it note with a quick doodle of a man’s head saying, Thank You. Those small tokens of support did not go unnoticed.

When members and congregations cooperate, great things can happen to make the world a little bit better. What congregations in your area can you network with to support teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, police, or utility workers? How can your congregation support these high school seniors who won’t have a prom or graduation? Can you identify a beautician or barber who is prevented from working who may need your financial support? Find a need and cooperate with others to do Christian work in your community.

I have seen God when congregations share the skills and resources to do ministry. It might be a small thing, but not all pastors were well equipped to handle the technological shift that we were dragged into kicking and screaming. We’re not comfortable with talking to a kitchen table and computer screen. It’s just not the same, but I found friends helping friends get set up online.

My neighbor reported how he asked contacts from another congregation about setting up microphones and best practices to record services. Friends with decades of pastoral experience were calling younger ministers to learn how to set up Facebook live videos. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

In a recent survey sent from the Headquarters, 46 pastors responded to the short questionnaire. Almost all of them admitted their ministry plans were significantly disrupted; however, 42 of them shifted to broadcast some kind of worship service through some technological platform. Most of these pastors used Facebook live or YouTube to post their sermons. These shifts do not come easily, and some respondents admitted they were not prepared for this change.

The Church looks most like the Church of the New Testament when it cooperates with each other and builds on one another’s gifts. Not everyone is called to be a pastor, but there are people drawn to record, edit, and publish videos. Some people are good at calling neighbors and seniors to respond to their needs. What areas of giftedness have you seen surface during this time? Preaching has limitations, and musicians have another set of challenges. Now is time for the other areas of giftedness to shine!

I have seen God when Christians worship together. Honestly, I rather enjoy getting to hear the sermons of my friends. During this time, I listen to sermons by Phil Wood (Little Creek), Harry Grubbs (Friendship), Bill Groce (Daniel’s Chapel), Bruce Jones (Kings Crossroads), Neal Cox (Winterville), Dale Belvin (Rose of Sharon), and David Hines (Gum Swamp). I enjoy Walt Tyndall and Greg Barnes (Milbournie), Todd Sutton (Pleasant Hill), Tom Malin (Reedy Branch), Jeff Daughty (May’s Chapel), and those are just the ones I can remember. I don’t see them all, but I enjoy seeing my friends’ faithfulness to the work.

Many of these listed include musical presentations by members, children, or even the pastor himself. I have been blessed by the gifts of Janet Williamson (Daniel’s Chapel), Guyla Evans (Tarboro), and Stephanie Marshburn (Friendship). I rarely get to enjoy these ladies’ musical talents, but their gift of music touches lives through social media each week.

This period has put more people online than I ever expected to see before. With all this time on our hands, we can choose to fill it with Good News from the comfort of our home, when it is convenient. I happen to think these may be services churches should continue.

In the survey, respondents 43 of the 46 said they planned to continue to use these new avenues of ministry after the pandemic is over. There will still be a need for broadcasting services, drive through communion, feeding programs, and support for servants of the community. We still need to check on senior citizens and those with certain health risks. We should continue to work with local congregations to maximize our efforts and our outreach. Use these newfound tools to expand the kingdom.

 

 

 

It’s such a good feeling, to know you’re alive.

It’s such a happy feeling: you’re growing inside.

And when you wake up ready to say, “I think I’ll make a snappy new day.”

It’s such a good feeling, a very good feeling,

The feeling you know, you’re alive. –Fred Rodgers

 

There are so many great and wonderful things to experience. Turn off the talking head news commentators. Stop listening to the tumult of the politically “pungent.” This is still God’s world, and He is still in love with His creation. We have not been left alone as orphans but made join heirs in the family of God. We are brothers and sisters of a new spiritual family on a global scale. It is such a good feeling to know, in spite of pandemics and quarantine, the Holy Spirit is still at work in the Church of Jesus Christ.

When difficult times come, look for the helpers. Look for those doing the Lord’s work. Look for glimpses of heavenly sunshine breaking through the gloom of despair. Look up to the hills from whence comes our help. That is such a good feeling!