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Randy Williams and his sons lead a worship song from their home in Valley Center. Williams is the pastor at Faith Church.

Easter services won’t be the same
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: April 09, 2020

Randy Williams' living room has become a studio.

Williams, pastor at Faith Church in Valley Center, is preaching and leading worship services from his home in the heart of the city these days, broadcasting the onto Facebook for his congregation.

"It's different," Williams said of the situation. "It's unique."

During one of the busiest and most sacred weeks in the Christian faith, every church is finding itself in unique territory this spring with social distancing and a statewide rule that limits gatherings to 10 people. Most are responding with the help of social media.

The News reached out to Valley Center-area pastors this week to find out how they were handling the pandemic.

"Fortunately, we had been streaming our services pre-COVID-19, which made transitioning a little less stressful," said Michael Martinez, associate pastor at Valley Center Christian Church. "Our biggest challenge is reaching out to our elderly. Many are susceptible to the virus, and we must be very cautious when approaching and delivering goods to their homes. Youth and children leaders, along with Bible study leaders, are making every effort to have some form of weekly contact with their students via phone, texting, Snapchat or Facebook."

LifePoint Church is also streaming services online.

"Our team has done incredible job flexing and making necessary adjustments so that the online services are presented well," the church's pastor, Steve Rains, said. "They are able to be viewed on three different online platforms. Viewing and interaction has been positive, and it is a joy watching people connect with each other via the chat boxes while service is happening. … Besides phone call connections with individuals in groups, we have used various video communications resources. It isn't the same as sitting in a room with your group, but there is nothing like seeing a familiar face, sharing needs and being able to laugh together."

It's like bringing church to the people, said Pastor Ji Seok Ju with First United Methodist Church Valley Center, which also began streaming Sunday services on YouTube.

"We especially wanted to reach out to the elderly folks because they might be the most vulnerable ones during this time," he said. "Our church offers grocery shopping assistance to make sure they have the foods."

The church also has online worship for youth on Wednesday nights.

"Our church is still learning to worship in the age of coronavirus and adjusting to a new worship tradition," Ju said. "Zoom video conferencing has been really helpful for meetings such as Sunday schools, Wednesday night small groups, committee meetings, confirmation class, staff meeting, etc. It's a great tool we could use it during time of social distancing."

Jonathan Anderson, pastor of Pathway Church's Valley Center campus, said the work goes beyond the church's weekend online services.

"We are continually calling all of the people in our church, checking in with them and praying with them," Anderson said. "Lastly, we are utilizing our Facebook Live platforms and Zoom for meetings to empower our volunteers to continually reach out to those around them."

Calvary Baptist also is streaming its services live.

"We have also been providing encouraging devotional videos a couple of times a week to our Facebook group page," the church's pastor, Dr. Philip Carlson, said. "We are recording a Sunday school lesson each week and putting that on our YouTube page for all of our members to see. Our children's ministry has been doing Wednesday night virtual meetings using Zoom. We have also been in contact with our church members through the mail. We have several Sunday school teachers who regularly call and keep in contact with their class members. We have a number of families that have ministered to other members by painting pictures and mailing them or using sidewalk chalk to decorate a member's driveway. We have several other efforts underway as well."

Riverlawn Christian Church's efforts were similar.

"We are continuing to offer our services online at multiple times on Sundays," Pastor Jeff Isaacs said. "We have added some kid's services and youth services/meetings online as well. Our small groups are trying to meet with Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime or any other venue. We are putting out daily posts on our social media outlets. We are also doing a nightly Facebook Live prayer post every night at 8. We are having our staff call people connected with Riverlawn to see if they have prayer requests or need anything, such as a DVD because they don't have internet, or food if they can't get out."

Each pastor agreed that the efforts have been well received so far.

"Ironically, the physical distancing has opened the door to a long-lost art of communication — phone calls," Martinez said. "Everyone loves getting that short phone call and hearing the person on the other end say, ‘Hey, I just called to let you know I've been thinking about you and I miss you' or ‘I love you. Is there anything I can do to help?'"

Rains said LifePoint staff and members have handled the changes well.

"Each demographic has stepped towards the ‘new normal' and embraced it as best they can," he said. "They are grateful for the various interactions they have had with each other and from phone calls." 

Some worshippers don't have Internet access, Ju said.

"So for those who can't worship online, each week I write a summary of my sermon and mail it to them so that they could worship with us," he said.

Anderson said everyone has been understanding of the situation and many want to help.

"Although we cannot meet together physically, God has given us many tools to reach out to those around us," he said.

Carlson said the majority of Calvary's members have been happy to have at least some connections to others.

"Most are staying at home, but are still able to feel connected," he said. "We have heard many reports of members who feel less lonely and less isolated because of our efforts."

Isaacs agreed.

"I think everyone knows that all of these changes were decided for us by those who are trying to protect us all from getting the virus," he said.

There is still no substitute for face-to-face interaction, Williams said.

"The biggest thing I miss is that sense of social connection, of being face to face," he said. "Our church just feels like family. … This is like my family."

Martinez said he misses seeing people at church.

"I miss the handshakes, the hugs, the small talk about the previous week or getting caught up on a previous trip someone has made," he said. "I miss seeing the children run around laughing and carrying-on, enjoying being in the church building. I miss the smiles and peace that comes with being around family and other Christians."

Rains agreed.

"Simply being together," he said. "Hearing voices raised in unison of worship and prayer. Seeing families walk in on Sundays and Wednesdays."  

Ju's response was similar when asked what he missed about the "old days."

"I miss seeing everyone, especially miss worshipping and interacting with my church family," he said. "But the situation makes me more thankful and appreciate more of my people and the body of Christ being able to gather together every Sunday morning."

It was the same for Anderson, Carlson and Isaacs.

"I miss the in-person contacts and serving our local community face to face," Anderson said.

"Gathering together to worship our Lord," Carlson said. "Sure, you can watch at home and even be part of the live service through a chat box, but you cannot be encouraged by one another the same way as when you are physically together. Humans are social creatures and having regular community together is part of our normal needs and the way God designed human beings. God gives each believer a gift to be used to build up one another, and many are not able to exercise that gift while apart during these times. That is what we are missing the most." 

"No doubt I miss the face-to-face interaction on Sundays, and throughout the week," Isaacs said. "I miss singing to God with other people in worship." 

The pastors agreed that the pandemic will not be around forever.

"This is obviously no fun for anyone, but it's not going to last forever," Williams said. "We're still able to connect in certain ways. My main message is, don't neglect human connection. Be creative. Find a way. And don't hesitate to reach out. … Don't lose hope because this is not the end. This is going to end. This is going to pass."

From the pulpit

The Ark Valley News asked local church pastors what message they had for their churches during the coronavirus pandemic. This is what they said:

This is obviously no fun for anyone, but it's not going to last forever. We're still able to connect in certain ways. My main message is don't neglect human connection. Be creative. Find a way. And don't hesitate to reach out. Don't lose hope because this is not the end. This is going to end. This is going to pass.
— Randy Williams, Faith Church

To remember that the church is not the building, but God's people. Riverlawn Christian Church hasn't stopped; it's just changed its operating address. All the churches are called to be faithful to God, each other and to sharing the hope of Christ with the world in these trying times. I am telling them to not retreat in fear, but advance in faith. Be creative on how you get the message of hope in Christ out to your neighbors and friends during this trying time. This is the time for God's people to shine for him by sharing his love with everyone we can. We must go beyond our walls, and now we have been forced to do that. We can't sit and do nothing. The church should be prepared to mobilize "for such a time as this."
— Jeff Isaacs, Riverlawn Christian Church

I would echo the words of James 4:8 and remind everyone during these times to draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. There is never a better time to study your Bible than today. While everything might seem like it is changing, hang on to those things that don't change. Things like God and his love and care for you. His joy and his comforting presence in the scriptures will always be available to you.
— Dr. Philip Carlson, Calvary Baptist Church

Pray instead of panic. Be a neighbor. This, too, will pass. Worship instead of worry.
— Steve Rains, LifePoint Church

The Bible instructs us to "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10. What a wonderful opportunity given to us to purposely "be still" and spend time with God both in prayer and Bible reading. In some way or another, each of us has had an hour each day opened up to us. Fill it doing something positive for Christ. Be creative in your devotion time. Mix it up a little. Call someone and have prayer time over the phone. Search out new music. Listen and watch a new-to-you preacher. There are multiple adventurous ways to improve and experience learning about the Bible and Jesus Christ.
— Michael Martinez, Valley Center Christian Church

Our message is this: Although it isn't what we have planned, God is using every moment of every day to reach people. With the continual advancement of technology and online capabilities, God is desiring to reach those that haven't been connected to a church before. It is easier for people to jump into an online service than come face to face, so it is exciting to see people take those steps of engaging in a relationship with Jesus Christ for the first time.
— Jonathan Anderson, Pathway Church, Valley Center

Church is not a building, but we are the church. A treacherous winter might bring hardships and trials in our lives. The season of spring is coming and summer is on the way. Our world might be in a winter season with COVID-19, but we know the season of healing and restoration will be here soon.
— Ji Seok Ju, First United Methodist Church Valley Center





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