By Charles Jones
Baptist historian

Canceling services due to illness is not new to Baptist life. Pandemics, epidemics and weather have all been part of our collective experience. 

In musty old church minutes, it’s not uncommon to see statements like “services canceled due to cholera” — or typhus or smallpox. John Newton (1732-1790), an early Georgia Baptist pastor and physician, left diaries that included Indian uprisings along with illness as reasons for canceling services. 

Possibly the most feared epidemics were those of yellow fever, which periodically swept through the South, emptying cities, towns and villages. Three major outbreaks occurred in 1820, 1854 and 1876. 

None of the earlier epidemics had the impact of the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. It began in the fall of 1918 near the end of World War I. This flu was especially fatal to young people. People woke up feeling fine in the morning only to be dead by nightfall.  [Read more…]

By DeAnna Gibson
Contributing columnist

As COVID-19 makes its way around our globe, our everyday patterns are in upheaval. The assurances of a few weeks ago have given way to questions of preparedness. Painful dilemmas we now face include school closings and paychecks. Social media is in full flourish with complainers, fear mongers, conspiracy theorists and toilet paper hoarders.

Hearing the term “social distancing” as an autism mom, I laughingly thought, “These are the days in which many are living like autism families.” Within a week, our church was streaming online. Sunday felt incredibly different for me, but for some of my dear friends it felt familiar. For many special needs families it may have felt like a fairly normal Sunday — home alone, behind a screen, looking in from the “socially distant” outside.

And, it made me sad. [Read more…]

By Bruce Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention 

Coronavirus.  It took most of us a little while to learn how to say it and a little bit longer to learn how to spell it, but it has quickly become a part of our vocabulary.

I want to encourage you today.  This will pass.  And God is on the throne and none of this caught Him by surprise.  I believe deep in my heart that the prayer that many of us have shared for God to bring a great awakening to our land might very well be tied to this worldwide pandemic.  

God is getting the attention of the entire world.  And we need to be sharing His truth at every opportunity. [Read more…]

By Larry Robertson
Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville 

I’m going to say something that I know will be controversial to some, but I need to say it. At least I think I need to say it.

If your church is viewed by your community as part of the COVID-19 problem and not part of the solution because you continue to gather, shake hands, hug necks, you’re killing your influence in the community after this thing’s done.

Government leaders requesting that churches not gather during this time of increasing viral spread is not persecution. It’s not an attack on religious liberty. It’s not a judgment against the content of our beliefs. It’s not part of some global conspiracy to stop the spread of the gospel. [Read more…]

By Willie McLaurin

EDITOR’S NOTE: Willie McLaurin is vice president for Great Commission Relations and Mobilization with the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

NASHVILLE — COVID-19 will forever change the way we do life and ministry. Change is around us in every area of life. God often uses crisis to bring about changes that were overdue in our lives. Author Tony Robbins reminds us: Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

The coronavirus did not catch God by surprise. We must not waste this season, but we must embrace it and allow God to shape our lives for His glory. Many pastors and church leaders are past due for a RESET in their regular routine. I am convinced that we must take advantage of this season to reinvent ourselves physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Physically

Let me first acknowledge that more and more pastors are taking advantage of the benefits of regular physical activity. Health professionals continue to emphasize the benefits of regular physical activity. If you are in need of a physical tune-up, then this season is perfect for you. I would encourage you to carve out time in your calendar each day to engage in physical activities. [Read more…]