By now we’ve accepted the reality of the temporary restrictions in place all around us. In fact, many have even managed to embrace them.
I love reading how so many of our friends and acquaintances are using the unexpected vacant schedule and season of staying home to catch up on some reading or launch a new disciplined daily routine of some sort.
Others are cleaning like they’ve never cleaned before and cleaning out closets and drawers that might never have been touched without the extra incentive and newfound time.
For the families who have children at home, I’m guessing there’s a new global appreciation for teachers.
Several of our friends have joked — some on the brink of tears — about how they now have absolute confirmation that homeschooling is not for them.
Churches, communities, neighbors, co-workers, families and friends are stepping up and caring for “the least of these” like we knew they would.
It’s encouraging to hear from people of faith across the state and nation about how they are caring for those around them.
One pastor friend told me that while he knew his family would be financially impacted by the COVID-19 situation, his primary focus right now is caring for his congregation. “I’m loving on and looking out for my people,” he said.
Watching all of the congregations circle around their shepherd — their pastor — and look for direction, comfort and hope is encouraging.
That’s exactly how it should work all the time but especially during times of crises.
Families, friends and neighbors living in the same geographical areas are the tightest circle, then it expands out to the church family and many times out to co-workers and/or ministry team peers, like how we function at TAB Media.
Each church’s pastor is responsible to care for his particular congregation and stay focused on them.
From there, the pastors can network through various peer groups including their local association of churches. The leaders of those peer groups, such as the associational missions director, serves to share resources and make necessary connections for pastors needing help in certain areas.
And many times the peer group leaders also have a place to come together to learn the best ways to resource the pastors in their groups. For associational missions directors, that opportunity comes through the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and its team of state missions leaders.
The key to all of this working smoothly in a crisis begins with already-established relationships built on trust and understanding — and of course prayer.
It’s difficult to get to know each other and understand how best to navigate a situation in the midst of chaos. It can be done, but the road will be much smoother if we already know who does what on the team and are confident in each other’s dedication to the overall goal.
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