COVID-19 Archives - Baptist & Reflector

OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS REACH RECORD HIGH IN U.S. DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

July 29, 2021

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

ATLANTA — Drug overdose deaths reached an all-time high in the United States in 2020, rising nearly 30 percent to more than 93,000, according to the latest provisional numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among factors impacting the rising deaths are the isolation and loneliness suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more 611,000 people nationwide, medical experts and addiction recovery ministries such as Celebrate Recovery have said.

Trevor Truitt, a recovered addict and pastor of the Arabi, La., campus of Celebration Church in greater New Orleans, said at least four members of the church’s Celebrate Recovery group died of overdoses in 2020.

“There were a lot of relapses that happened,” he told Baptist Press late last year. “It’s taking a toll on our people.” [Read more…]

COVID-19 AND PERSONAL FAITH

July 26, 2021

By Todd E. Brady
Vice President For University Ministries, Union University, Jackson

Just when it seemed like life was getting back to some sense of normalcy, now there is talk about a new Delta variant of COVID-19 going around. After months of washing up, social-distancing and wearing face coverings, are we getting ready for yet another round of doing it all over again?

Sunday after church, I stopped to fill up with gas. Two other folks pulled up next to me to do the same. While pumping gas, I overheard an interesting conversation:

Woman: I hope we’re not getting ready for another season of COVID-19.

Man: I’m not worrying about it. I’m not even thinking about it! God’s on my side!

Woman: Oh yeah?

Man: I’ve got faith. With faith, all this COVID stuff ain’t nothing. With faith, nothing’s gonna touch me. If you’ve got faith, God’s gonna protect you. He’s not gonna let it get to you. Nothing to worry about. I ain’t getting sick.

Woman: Amen!

Man: Amen!

My furrowed brow must have signaled my contemplation. That morning, I had seen some of my Christian friends who had received the COVID-19 vaccine. There were also some there who have told me they won’t get the vaccine because they don’t trust it. One thing is certain — gather two or three people in a room and you are sure to have five to seven opinions about COVID and vaccines. [Read more…]

VIRTUAL SERVICES CAN’T MEET ALL NEEDS

July 19, 2021

By Mike Farmer
Director of missions, McMinn-Meigs Association of Baptists

What a blessing to see so many “normal” church activities arriving on the schedule now. It has been a long, difficult year. I pray we have a greater appreciation for these normal activities.

My question now is this, “What have we learned from the past year?”

We should have learned the truth that God did not make us to be isolated individuals. We were created for fellowship with God and one another. If you understand the first few chapters of Genesis, you know God created mankind in His image. Communion with our Creator is an important part of who we are. While God gave us responsibility in caring for His creation, our ultimate purpose revolves around a relationship with Him.

As physical beings, we need food, water and shelter in order to survive. Beyond the physical existence, we are spiritual beings. And some of the needs for the spiritual nature are fellowship with our God and relationships with other people. [Read more…]

ACP DATA: CHURCHES FEEL COVID IMPACT

June 8, 2021

By Carol Pipes & Lonnie Wilkey
LifeWay, B&R writers

NASHVILLE — When Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s season record for home runs in 1961, an “asterisk” was placed by his name because he played more games.

A similar rationale can be applied to the 2020 Annual Church Profile.

In the early weeks and months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Southern Baptist churches, including those in Tennessee, joined the wave of school and business closures to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Churches shifted to online worship services, while Sunday School classes and small groups met in backyards and via Zoom. While the total impact of COVID-19 on church practices may not be fully known, recent data from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) suggests a significant effect.

According to the latest Annual Church Profile (ACP) report, the Southern Baptist Convention saw key metrics decline in 2020, including baptisms, membership, average weekly worship attendance, giving and total number of Southern Baptist congregations. [Read more…]

BROWNSVILLE CHURCH COMPLETES RESTORATION DURING PANDEMIC

May 25, 2021

By Carolyn Tomlin
Contributing writer, B&R

BROWNSVILLE — Woodland Baptist Church, located in eastern Haywood County, has completed a restoration of the 100-year-old auditorium. After 13 months, the congregation moved back into the renovated auditorium in February of 2021.

Due to tithes, donations and other gifts, the renovation of Woodland Baptist is debt free.

After 10 decades, the auditorium was in need of repair. The plaster was cracking and the sheetrock was bulging. When the sheetrock was pulled off, there was black mold and rotted studs. Also, there were concerns about the foundation. Water was seeping into the basement. Serious structural problems were evident.

After the deacons, pastor and committees met, it was decided to bring the matter of restoring the auditorium to the church body. In November of 2019, the church voted to proceed with the renovation. The project was begun in January of 2020, just prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]

THE RISING HOPE FOR DAYS AHEAD

May 20, 2021

By Randy C. Davis
President & Executive Director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

Sometimes all people need to press forward is a sliver of hope. Last week we got it.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky delivered that hope when the director of the Center for Disease Control stepped to the microphone during a press conference and said, “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or socially distancing.”

That simple pronouncement was like turning the corner at the end of the long driveway and seeing the Biltmore Mansion for the first time.

Her declaration is a monumental, long-awaited signal that light is dawning after plodding through the dark night of the coronavirus pandemic. [Read more…]

PANDEMIC ALTERED U.S. CHURCHGOERS’ DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICES

May 14, 2021

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay news office

NASHVILLE — Fewer churchgoers filled pews and Bible studies during the pandemic, but many still continued personal discipleship habits throughout 2020.

A study by Nashville-based Lifeway Research found U.S. churchgoers were less likely to be involved in small groups during the pandemic, but many added some digital and individual activities to their discipleship routines.

“Some have defined discipleship as a journey of following Christ in fellowship with other believers,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “COVID-19 appears to have had both positive and negative impacts on discipleship. Pre-pandemic churchgoers largely have shown more resolve in following Christ over the following year while altering how they engage with other believers.” [Read more…]

‘HOW CAN YOU EVER PAY THAT BACK?’

May 6, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

Members of East LaFollette Baptist Church, called Zach’s Prayer Warriors, gather for photo in support of their pastor, Zach Lloyd, who spent 175 days in the hospital while battling COVID-19 and undergoing a double lung transplant.

NASHVILLE — As Zach Lloyd looks back on his seven month journey with COVID-19, he realizes he and his family have been extremely blessed.

“God has moved in ways I could never imagine,” said Lloyd, pastor of East LaFollette Baptist Church, LaFollette. “So many people and churches have reached out with monetary donations and other acts of kindness in addition to countless prayers lifted up on his behalf.”

One church reached out in a special way.

Red Bank Baptist Church in Chattanooga found out about Lloyd’s unique situation from Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, and reached out to the Lloyd family and offered to pay the mortgage on their home for nine months. [Read more…]

SEVEN-MONTH JOURNEY

May 6, 2021

After surviving COVID-19 and a double lung transplant, LaFollette pastor Zach Lloyd is eager to return home

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

After being away from his children for months, Zach Lloyd was able to spend time with his wife, Sara, and children, Lily and Titus, on April 23-24.

NASHVILLE — When a local television station in Nashville aired footage of pastor Zach Lloyd recently leaving Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, probably few people realized they were witnessing another one of God’s infinite miracles.

But that really is the only explanation for how Lloyd, pastor of East LaFollette Baptist Church in LaFollette, was able to leave after 175 nights in hospitals and a double lung transplant.

While Lloyd is quick to praise the care he received during his illness, he is even quicker to point out that “God moved in ways that defy medical explanation.

“There were many nights that the hospital personnel did not know if I would make it through the night. Our stance is that God provided and will continue to provide and that He will move in a mighty way.” [Read more…]

SURVEY: CHURCHES HANDLED COVID WELL

April 8, 2021

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, churches responded to serve churchgoers in a variety of ways, and churchgoers are overwhelmingly proud of how their church handled the crisis.

According to Nashville-based LifeWay Research, almost nine in 10 Protestant churchgoers (86 percent) say they are proud of how their church has responded during the coronavirus pandemic, with 58 percent strongly agreeing. Few (9 percent) disagree.

Inversely, few (12 percent) say they are ashamed of how their church responded to the crisis. More than 84 percent disagree, with 73 percent strongly disagreeing. [Read more…]

After surviving COVID-19 and a double lung transplant, LaFollette pastor Zach Lloyd is eager to return home

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