Ways to Respond to the COVID-19 as followers of Christ

LMC is a fellowship of Anabaptist churches with a Spirit-led movement to make disciples of Jesus, mobilize every member as a missionary, and multiply faith communities locally and beyond! The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world. As followers of Jesus, we are called to respond proactively with the Love of God.

Actions to consider:

  • Urge everyone to engage in corporate intercession and fasting while social distancing or self-quarantine is in place.
  • Provide weekly prayer requests and scripture text via email, text, or website.
  • Initiate an early conversation with all pastoral staff with ‘what if’ scenarios
  • Pastors and staff: divide up the church directory to check in with your congregants.
  • Check-in with senior members of your church or community. Call them on the phone. (Consider assigning youth to check in with seniors).
  • Over-communicate and be specific! If you have a need, call, text or email…
  • Pastors: record a 5-minute, weekly word of encouragement and include scripture, lament, prayer, etc. Post it on your website or share a link via email or text or all three.
  • Ramp up to Live stream for your worship services.
  • Share Live stream links for worship services within your District or broader LMC churches.
  • If possible, create a ‘medical team’ of members in your congregation. Have trained professionals available to answer questions and reduce anxiety. Provide their contact information.
  • Check out the free 60-day subscription for church communication software.
  • Start a Virtual Prayer meeting on Facebook or Zoom; open to your community.
  • Right Now Media provides about 2000 resources for children. (free limited resources in response to COVID-19)
  • Evaluate the facility’s cleaning/ disinfectant plan and order supplies. (Delivery time may be delayed due to shortages).
  • How to disinfect our church or home
  • COVID-19 Church planning manual and template-free resource in English and Español: https://coronavirusandthechurch.com/
  • Release mission funds for needs in the local community.
  • Increase your benevolence funds and expect an increased need for financial assistance and distribution.
  • Encourage local food bank donations and access.
  • Support local business and home delivery services for community needs.
  • Pack boxes of food and hold a ‘drive-through’ food distribution at your church.
  • Encourage social media connections, conversations and discipleship. Use the LMC Facebook page if your congregation does not have a social media platform. (Yes, you can post on LMC, it is open)
  • Divide the congregation into small groups. The groups could be geographical or relational groups already in place. Have one person over each group who reaches out at least once a week to check-in and provide support as well as find out needs. Once a week, the group leaders can have a Zoom call to be in contact to both pray together and make sure physical needs are covered.
  • Offer a very short morning and evening devotional that includes scripture, prayer, and a reflective question.
  • Form a neighborhood group (either via text messaging, Facebook, or other social media platform) to check in with each day and provide encouragement and support.

Register for Assembly ’26!

Early Bird registration for Assembly ’26 and YouthCon ’26 is now open! Register at lmcchurches.org/assembly-26/.

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