As you are well aware, we are in the middle of unprecedented times for us. We talked just this past weekend about our response to the Coronavirus. Things have only continued to escalate and since just a few days ago, there have been more guidelines implemented by the CDC and our government. 
 
We have received word from our Assemblies of God headquarters to comply with the CDC’s recommendations as a safety measure not only against the spread of COVID-19 but also against potential liability.
 
Our church leadership has been spending time seeking the Lord and conferring over our continued response. We’ve also heard from other church leaders, including an American pastor in China who has gone before us in this. So, with humility and trust that God is good, in control and working powerfully, we will be suspending Sunday & Wednesday in-person services in compliance with our government’s and fellowship’s recommendations.
 
We know that meeting together is Biblical. We also know that the church is not a building, but it’s God’s people. We are the church & we believe that this is one of the church’s finest hours. We may not be able to meet together by our normal routine, but we are working very hard to make sure that we still “meet together.” So, we have been brainstorming various methods that we will start and some we already have going but will have to tweak a little bit. 
 
Please be patient with us as we are definitely in uncharted territory. Our first priority for this week will be to set up online service, so on Sunday morning at 10:30 – just like every week – we will offer a full service online. There will be worship, message and opportunities for giving and prayer. 
 
It’s our desire to be able to continue to participate in Life Groups with groups consisting of 10 or less people. And we hope, through this, to move to an even more extensive small group model, so that everyone will have the opportunity to be involved in Biblical community. If you’re currently in Life Groups, you will be hearing from your Life Group Leader soon for any changes in your group’s routine.
 
This is an incredible opportunity for prayer, & we also plan to set up times of organized prayer where groups of ten can come to the church and pray together. 
 
Finally, this is a moment that is prime to strengthen family devotional times. Parents, we encourage you to strengthen one another & lead your children and other family members, who live with you, in seeking God through worship, the Bible and prayer. We believe you’ll see wonderful things as you implement or strengthen this practice in your home. 
 
We will continue to send updates through text, email, our church website & our facebook group page.
 
We still have much to think through including our Wednesday night ministries, ministries to our children and youth, to our elderly and to those in need. Would you join in prayer with us for wisdom and discernment as we seek God for His guidance & direction? He is a Faithful God and I believe that when we as a church body emerge from this hour, that we will be closer to the Lord, closer to one another and better equipped to minister to the world around us. 
 
May the God of peace continue to be with us all!
 
In Christ, 
Pastor Steven
 
Psalm 29:11
“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”