07 May The Global Impact of COVID & The Church’s Response
“The world has changed, but our Father’s business must go on”.
The above quote is a recent response from our church partner in India when asked how things were going amidst COVID. I know COVID has impacted the world in all kinds of ways– ways I do understand, and ways I do not understand.
So, as someone who works with the global church to create greener energy systems, and as someone who is connected to many of Mosaic’s global missionary partners, I reached out and asked these Christians around the world, many of whom Mosaic supports, to help me understand how this global pandemic is affecting the global church.
I interviewed 10 partners in 10 different countries and asked them these questions:
How is COVID impacting the world around us? How is it impacting the local church? How is the local church responding?
As you read their answers below, you will find something amazing: amidst the damage of COVID, as one pastor put it, “the church does not bury her head in the sand.”
In other words, the church continues to move forward. And this is good news.
So, read on to find out how COVID is affecting the church globally- their answers are alternately fascinating, heartbreaking, and encouraging.
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INDIA– E, our India Partner, states:
“We have been on a mandatory 40-day lock down that will last until May. COVID has impacted almost every corner of India, but more so on the migrant or daily workers, who make up nearly 80% of Indian workforce, and who are dependent on daily work, which no longer exists. Most lack passports and with all transportation on hold the workers and families are left without food, without government assistance, without homes, and in an extreme state of vulnerability.”
They, like many other churches, are adapting their strategy to meet this incredible need. They have handed out thousands of meals to those in need and continue to do so even in the light of their own unique struggles.
CONGO DR– Marcel Serrebungo, Pastor and Congo ministry director (COVID has had a tremendous impact on the country. Along with COVID, they have since seen a resurgence of Ebola, which has up to a 90% mortality rate in parts of DRC):
“Like many other countries, people are left without work and food. Many are going to churches to ask for food. But even more so clean water, which is not readily available. They have also seen a rise in conflict in the area, but on a positive note this season has united churches, which is very rare for this region given years of conflict. Churches are working together on conflict resolution, food, water, and COVID-safety training via radio.”
CHINA – V, a local Chinese Pastor:
“The virus poses great challenges to all sectors of the society, including the church (by which I mean house church). However, although illegal in the eyes of the government, the house church does not bury her head in the sand and hide at home.
“First, they try their best to help those in need, i.e. medicine, financial, & more. Although they may not be able to carry out such ministries on a large scale (and they cannot politically), these house churches do show the world the love of Christ through their unmistakable actions and their proclaiming of the gospel in the meantime.”
“Secondly, the house churches have been praying incessantly not only for China but for the world, beseeching the Lord for his mercy.”
“And thirdly, although the virus prevents the church members from gathering physically, now they worship even more earnestly and much more often owing to the convenience of technology, the traffic time saved, and the fact that the general quarantine gives them much more time at home.”
SOUTH AFRICA – Anthony Geard, Elder at Every Nation Church Cape Town, and Chairman for Thembalitsha Foundation states:
“South Africa is enduring a severe Covid-19 lockdown. Regrettably, this will take a terrible economic toll on South Africa, which was already stumbling in and out of recession. Job losses will be severe and many small and medium sized businesses will close. While the government is trying to soften the blow, many companies, for example, not-for-profits and charity spaces, are not eligible for relief.”
While COVID has had a large impact on Thembalitsha financially, they continue to move forward to shine the light of Christ in the way they serve the community. They continue to host schools virtually for at risk youth, have delivered food to over 160 families, support new moms, and continue to operate churches in poorer communities using voice notes.
RWANDA – Charles, Founder and President of Africa New Life:
“Rwanda has been impacted like most other countries; people are struggling everywhere. But God has a plan, we know how the story ends, nothing will stop the church. How we respond in these types of crises matters. Panic and fear are never from God, we will move forward with courage.”
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC –Amber, from Makarios, mentioned:
“The impact from COVID is causing tremendous pain on families due to loss of jobs and food. But the church continues to move forward, providing food for those who have been hit hardest. Churches have transitioned to media and video. Although churches are not permitted to physically meet, they continue to find ways to share the Gospel.”
One specific story she mentioned, “In my neighborhood a few members of a local church (one of them works for Makarios) got permission from the police to ride around in their van in the evenings (after the 5pm curfew) and play worship music, call out a safety message, and share the gospel over the speaker as they ride around. Many times, my neighbors and I walk out near the street when we hear the van going by. I can’t tell you how much it means to hear that van. It’s a reminder that even though everything feels daunting, God is still working and there is always reason to worship.”
LEBANON – A local partner states:
“Although COVID is impacting our country in negative ways, God is working in miraculous ways, birthing a new hunger, and a renewed peace. We just recently got a note from a Muslim girl who has a new unique hunger and wants to learn more about Jesus.”
UGANDA – We spoke with Peter of Africa Renewal Ministries, who has planted hundreds of churches around Uganda. He states:
“Churches on the countryside have had their support cut by 95%. But churches continue to adapt, by hosting churches services on local radio, and continue to serve those in need.
BURMA – Nun, Director of Myanmar Evangelical Bible College, and Orphanages, states:
“Although Myanmar is shut down, and although the impact of COVID is almost unspeakable, God is planting something new. He is bringing the families back together. Churches are reaching new people with the Gospel as churches turn to video and social media for services.”
SOUTH AMERICA – Dennis Smith, PCUSA Regional Liaison to South America:
“We are in lockdown until May with fines and imprisonment enforced. The church is responding by hosting services by phone, internet and social media. However, pastors see this to be a major challenge, as they are a culture of interaction. Not to be able to embrace someone after they have lost a loved one is a violation to their pastoral care. Many people have lost the ability to work, which means they have lost the ability to eat, and the impact is felt immediately. As a response, the churches are investing in their food program, hosting soup kitchens and passing out food baskets.”
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To summarize, I saw three things in the middle of all these responses:
First, COVID-19 has impacted every single one of these countries and every single ministry in unique cultural ways. Citizens in these respective countries are suffering, they are scared, and they are desperate for hope.
Second, the church continues to shine the Light of Christ in word and in deed to the nations. Like Moses, who continued to move forward in obedience in the midst of Egyptian persecution, and like Esther, who chose courage in the face of Jewish genocide, the church today moves forward in faith and courage. Again, this is good news! The body of Christ is on the move. To summarize these pastors from around the world, as it says in Hebrews 10:30, “We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
And third, in EVERY single response above, I see this common thread, a common “heartbeat”: I see, and maybe you do, too, that God is doing a new thing in each nation. Even though this new silent enemy is seemingly wreaking havoc in their culture, in their church, in their homes, each church leader articulated the “newness” of what God is doing, in his or her own way. As the prophet put it: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” -Isaiah 43:19
So, Mosaic, today may we keep our ears open and our hearts close to the heartbeat of God, like our brothers and sisters in the global church. May we hear and obey regardless of what lies before us, and may we all gather our courage and find our faith to respond today, in our own way.
I’m glad to be with you.
Colby May
Mosaic Deacon, Global Missions