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.