By Aaron Earls

LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — The coronavirus outbreak has had ripple effects across the country, including in U.S. churches, according to a new study of pastors. 

Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked Protestant pastors how the pandemic has impacted their congregations and what their plans are for the near future.

While nearly all pastors say their church held in-person worship services at the beginning of March, the situation had changed radically by the end of the month.

In the first weekend of March, 99 percent say they gathered, while 95 percent held services the next weekend. By March 15, that number dropped to 64 percent. And by March 22, 11 percent of pastors say their churches gathered in person. On March 29, only 7 percent of pastors say their congregations met in person. [Read more…]

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is including churches and houses of worship in his list of essential services under his latest COVID-19 safety protocols. — Photo from Twitter

AUSTIN, Texas — Church worship and ministry are considered essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas under the latest protocols issued by Gov. Greg Abbott, but several pastors said Abbott’s directive likely won’t change their church safety protocols.

First Baptist Church of Vidor pastor Terry Wright said he switched to online-only services March 15 after a few church families were concerned that they might have been exposed to COVID-19 at an off-campus event not sponsored by the church. He consulted the Texas Department of State Health Services in response, and according to Wright, the person in question tested negative.

“I think (Abbott) is trying to let the church be the church and facilitate worship through whatever means we can, but also minister to people,” Wright said. “You know there’s a lot of other ministry out there … people who’ve been laid off, who don’t have money and that kind of thing. I know the governor’s responded to that, but from what I can hear and find out, he’s just trying to let us do our ministry and be the church, what we should be to people in the time of need.” [Read more…]

By Susan Ervien
Marketing strategist and writer, GuideStone Financial Resources

DALLAS — At this point, there is no running from it. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is here and having a particularly destructive impact on vulnerable populations.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is more dangerous for those over the age of 60 and for those with underlying health conditions — such as COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

At GuideStone, the safety and well-being of this demographic is particularly important to us because of our Mission:Dignity ministry. We are currently honored to be serving more than 1,700 retired SBC ministers, workers and their widows struggling to pay bills, buy food and purchase medications — all of whom fall into this vulnerable category. [Read more…]