Coronavirus: Should We Cancel Church This Sunday?

Several churches are discussing the recent flood of cancellations, suspensions, and closings due to the Coronavirus and asking themselves, “should we consider canceling services this Sunday?”

This is a good question to ask, and worthy of discussion among your churches leadership.

I have read several articles and listened to some podcasts on the issue, and here are some thoughts to consider as you weigh your options:

• The United States is at the early stages of the virus spreading, and it is likely to get worse before it gets better. Consider the spread of the virus as a bell curve—the US is on the left side of the bell curve, and cases of influenza will likely grow exponentially before the spread begins to decline.
• When weighing your decision whether or not to cancel services, think through the ramifications of point one. If you cancel this weekend, it is impossible to gauge when you can resume services. Again, with the expectation that things will get worse before they get better, once you suspend services, it may be weeks before you can offer worship services again. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you will cancel this weekend or next weekend and then resume services. While the virus is spreading, you will be just as much at risk this weekend as you will be in four weeks or six weeks or until the virus is no longer a threat.
• Children are considered super-conductors for the spread of a virus for obvious reasons. Children’s ministry areas can be some of the most challenging areas to control a virus. You can take extra precautions, but when considering areas of ministry to suspend first, your children’s ministry should be at the top of the list.
• Public bathrooms are next on the list of places where viruses thrive and spread. Experts warn against using public restrooms unless absolutely necessary, and to be extra cautious about washing your hands after using a public restroom.
• Reconsider parts of your service that require individual interaction. This could include the customary “shake your neighbor’s hand” at the start of the service, but also things like communion. If you are compelled to offer communion during this season, consider using individually sealed servings of bread and juice.
• Currently, most cancellations and suspensions are voluntary, but if the virus spreads as predicted, likely, government authorities will either strongly recommend the suspension of any public gathering or, in the worst case, ban public meetings. In California right now, the governor is urging the cancellation of any event with more than 250 in attendance, and many California counties are warning people to avoid any indoor gathering with more than 50 people.
• The CDC is advising seniors 60-years and older to avoid crowds and indoor gatherings.
  

There is a public frenzy of cancellations right now as organizations large and small wrestle with how to handle Coronavirus. Here is perhaps the best advice I have heard: don’t assume you can cancel services this weekend and then resume a regular schedule next week. Once you cancel, you need to prepare to shut down all public gatherings of your church (not just Sunday services) until the government gives the all-clear. This could be weeks.

Also, it is important to remember that “a little bit of precaution” does little to prevent the spread of the disease. Experts warn that there will be a rush of precautions in the next week, but quickly people will tire of all the extra steps needed to slow the spread of the virus and resume their regular habits.

There is a good chance that if the virus spreads as anticipated, churches will have no choice but to suspend public gatherings until the all-clear is given. As a leadership team, you need to have contingency plans in place if your church is forced to suspend public gatherings for an extended period of time. What will force your hand? When someone in your church becomes a confirmed case or if the virus spreads to the point local authorities strongly recommend or even ban the cancellation of public gatherings.

Where can I get more information or stay informed?

The most reliable source of credible information is the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). Here is the specific web page with information on Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

At the state level, the Iowa Department of Public Health is providing up-to-date information on the spread of the virus within Iowa. You will find this information here: https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus

For churches specifically, LifeWay has created a training resource to help churches with many of the questions and concerns unique to local church ministry. The resource is available free of charge via LifeWay’s MinistryGrid application available here: https://ministrygrid.com/coronavirus

Look for ministry opportunities

A church is much more than its public gatherings. There are opportunities for the church to minister to the community in a multitude of ways. This is a good time as a church to look for areas of obvious need within your community and see how you can help people who are struggling either with the illness or because of the suspension and cancellation of services.

The Death of Journalism

It has been over 20 years since Dennis McCallum published The Death of Truth: What's Wrong With Multiculturalism, the Rejection of Reason and the New Postmodern Diversity in 1996. We are witnessing the full impact of the death of truth in our culture today.Fake News is not a new reality for Americans, but it has taken until 2019 for the average American to accept that when it comes to journalism, there is no truth anymore. If truth died in 1996, we will put the shovel to journalism in 2019.Two hate hoax stories in the last month serve as the final stake in the heart for American journalism. The first, the Covington Catholic School debacle, and the second, the Jussie Smollett story, showed journalists for what they really are in 2019: unashamed political hacks so devoted to the Cult of Progressivism they see no truth beyond what they believe truth to be.That is indeed sad.From the New York Times to the LA Times to the Washington Post to the Associated Press, Reuters, ABC News, and CNN, they all pushed forward the unproven narrative of Smollett's alleged assault as if it were proven fact. Politicians from Nancy Pelosi to Cory Booker to Kamala Harris all expressed their outrage at the "culture of hate" that permeates America. (See "Did the Media Jump the Gun on the Jussie Smollett Story?")When the Chicago Police Department started to suggest the the accusation was a hoax, you could almost hear a collective, "Noooooooooooooooo" from the leftists elites.I think Nana Efua Mumford writing in the Washington Post best summed up the leftist angst concerning the possibility that Smollett made up the story:

If Smollett’s story is found to be untrue, it will cause irreparable damage to the communities most affected. Smollett would be the first example skeptics cite when they say we should be dubious of victims who step forward to share their experiences of racist hate crimes or sexual violence. The incident would be touted as proof that there is a leftist conspiracy to cast Trump supporters as violent, murderous racists. It would be the very embodiment of “fake news.”And that reason, more than any other, is why I need this story to be true, despite its ugliness and despite what it would say about the danger of the world I live in. The damage done would be too deep and long-lasting. This could be one tragedy that the Lyon family — and more importantly, the ordinary people who loved the show and invested in Smollett and his character — could never overcome.

Sometimes even the most devoted disciples of the Cult of Progressivism and their doctrine of intersectionality trip over the truth, and the truth still hurts.Mumford is correct. If it is proven that Smollett was race-bating and staged the entire story in order to sow mistrust and deceit, then his actions and the actions of the celebrity leftists who voiced the emotion-laden support for Smollett in the hours after the story broke minimize and discredit all victims of true racism and violence.That is another unintended consequence of the Cult of Progressivism: true racism and our ability to call it out and identify it with authority and integrity has also died.How can we stand in judgment of someone accused of racism or violence when every day new stories emerge that trumpet the left's desire to prove their narrative right only to learn that their entire narrative is nothing but a house of cards. Racism, violence, and the host of other labels the left throws around like confetti have lost their value and impact in our culture. That is sad.In many ways, I read Mumford's editorial as the rough draft of an obituary for journalism in America. "I need this story to be true, despite its ugliness and despite what it would say about the danger of the world I live in. The damage done would be too deep and long-lasting."Unfortunately, the elitist left will not learn from this painful lesson. Just as they quickly brushed the Covington hoax under the red carpet, so this hoax will quickly die and the Progressive bandwagon will wait until the next big story about MAGA-wearing thugs surfaces and they will race to twitter to express their outrage and support.A generation ago, Walter Cronkite, "the most trusted man in America," used to sign off with the words, "And that's the way it is..."Today, journalists end their report with the words, "And that's the way we want it to be, so it is true." 

How the Mighty Have Fallen!

This has been a difficult month for the American Church. On Sunday, Feb. 10, the Houston Chronicle published part one of a three-part investigative series on sexual abuse within SBC churches over a 20-year period of time.Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 13, Harvest Bible Chapel announced Pastor James MacDonald had been fired after a recording of MacDonald making “inappropriate” comments was leaked to a Chicago radio talk show host. MacDonald’s firing was the latest revelation in a leadership crisis at HBC that has played out in public and in the courts for more than five years.MacDonald was just the latest in a growing list of big name celebrity pastors who have fallen in the last five years. The most prominent of these include Mark Driscoll, Perry Noble, Bill Hybles, and James MacDonald.In many ways, each of these men defined and shaped the American Church over the last 30 years. I could not help but remember David’s tribute song following the death of King Saul recorded in 2 Samuel 1–“How the mighty have fallen!”Here are some thoughts that came to mind as I reflected on all of this:

• Be thankful for the humble, unknown pastors who toil week-after-week to faithfully shepherd the church of Jesus Christ.
• We are all sinners and are broken, fallen men and women; be thankful for God’s grace that covers a multitude of sins.
• God is doing something in the American Church. There is a cleansing and exposing that is happening. We need to humble ourselves and pray, “Father, not my will but thy will be done.”

There is much to be concerned about not only in the American Church, but also in the country where this church is planted. The United States has all the appearances of a nation that is experiencing a Romans 1 judgment, where God abandons people to the evil intentions of their heart.As I hear the words of David ringing in my ear, “how the mighty have fallen,” so I hear the words of Thomas Jefferson who warned, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”If judgment is beginning to fall on America, then we should not be surprised that the cleansing would begin in the church. As Peter warned, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)When Jesus warned Peter to be on guard against the attack of Satan, He encouraged Peter to “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41).Let this be a call for the house of God to fall on its knees in prayer. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.It is as if the Lord is saying to His church in America, “Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”Watch and pray, for the hour of judgment is near. 

Learning Styles: How to Lose More Than Half Your Audience Before You Start

Think back for a moment to your high school or college days. What classes would you label your favorites? Why?Now think about how you enjoy learning today?

• Do you like to learn in a solitary environment where it is just you and a book and you can think deeply?

• Do you like to learn in a small group where there is a constant exchange of ideas and flow of discussion around a topic?

• Do you like to learn by watching a video or seeing a lot of pictures and graphics to accompany a lecture?

• Do you like to learn by working in a lab where you can try and experiment and get your hands dirty?

Depending on how you answer one of these questions will help point you to your learning style. What is a learning style? Quite simply, this is how we receive and perceive information. It is how we process and learn new knowledge.Like other aspects of our individuality, personality style, for example, our learning style is unique and contributes much to who we are as a person.There are dozens of various models that help describe a person’s learning style. I prefer Fleming & Mills VARK model for its simplicity. VARK stands for Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic sensory processes for learning information. In summary, these various styles are described as

Visual (V):This preference includes the depiction of information in maps, spider diagrams, charts, graphs, flow charts, labeled diagrams, and all the symbolic arrows, circles, hierarchies and other devices, that people use to represent what could have been presented in words. This mode could have been called Graphic (G) as that better explains what it covers. It does NOT include still pictures or photographs of reality, movies, videos or PowerPoint. It does include designs, whitespace, patterns, shapes and the different formats that are used to highlight and convey information. When a whiteboard is used to draw a diagram with meaningful symbols for the relationship between different things that will be helpful for those with a Visual preference. It must be more than mere words in boxes that would be helpful to those who have a Read/write preference.

Aural / Auditory (A):This perceptual mode describes a preference for information that is “heard or spoken.” Learners who have this as their main preference report that they learn best from lectures, group discussion, radio, email, using mobile phones, speaking, web-chat and talking things through. Email is included here because; although it is text and could be included in the Read/write category (below), it is often written in chat-style with abbreviations, colloquial terms, slang and non-formal language. The Aural preference includes talking out loud as well as talking to oneself. Often people with this preference want to sort things out by speaking first, rather than sorting out their ideas and then speaking. They may say again what has already been said, or ask an obvious and previously answered question. They have need to say it themselves and they learn through saying it – their way.

Read/write (R):This preference is for information displayed as words. Not surprisingly, many teachers and students have a strong preference for this mode. Being able to write well and read widely are attributes sought by employers of graduates. This preference emphasizes text-based input and output – reading and writing in all its forms but especially manuals, reports, essays and assignments. People who prefer this modality are often addicted to PowerPoint, the Internet, lists, diaries, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations and words, words, words… Note that most PowerPoint presentations and the Internet, GOOGLE and Wikipedia are essentially suited to those with this preference as there is seldom an auditory channel or a presentation that uses Visual symbols.

Kinesthetic (K):By definition, this modality refers to the “perceptual preference related to the use of experience and practice (simulated or real).” Although such an experience may invoke other modalities, the key is that people who prefer this mode are connected to reality, “either through concrete personal experiences, examples, practice or simulation” [See Fleming & Mills, 1992, pp. 140-141]. It includes demonstrations, simulations, videos and movies of “real” things, as well as case studies, practice and applications. The key is the reality or concrete nature of the example. If it can be grasped, held, tasted, or felt it will probably be included. People with this as a strong preference learn from the experience of doing something and they value their own background of experiences and less so, the experiences of others. It is possible to write or speak Kinesthetically if the topic is strongly based in reality. An assignment that requires the details of who will do what and when, is suited to those with this preference, as is a case study or a working example of what is intended or proposed.[note]The VARK Modalities.[/note]

It is important to note that there are no hard boundaries between the various modalities. Most people will find they are a blend of two or more learning styles.

How Learning Styles Impact the Church?

Pastors, typically, in my experience, pay little attention to learning styles when developing their sermons and teaching materials. Visit most churches in America today, and you will find a delivery style that is almost 100 percent formatted for auditory learners. Yes, you may throw a few PowerPoint slides up on the screen, but, again, most pastors stick to words only on their “visuals.”

You know what I’m talking about, too. It’s when you see a PowerPoint slide with an ENTIRE CHAPTER of Scripture crammed onto the screen. That, my friend, is not a visual. In fact, I would go so far as to say that, based on the definitions above, any PowerPoint slide that is text only is not a visual, it is just words on a screen.

A visual is a picture, graph, or video, something that touches the emotions. Words on a screen do not count.

Please understand: no matter how engaging your speaking style might be, it is a fact that if you only approach your teaching methodology from an auditory perspective, you will lose half your audience.

How Can You Begin to Address the Various Learning Styles in Your Church?

One of the most helpful books to address this topic specifically for pastors is The Power of Multisensory Preaching and Teaching: Increase Attention, Comprehension, and Retention by Rick Blackwood (2009).

Blackwood identifies five benefits of learning to be more “multisensory” in your preaching preparation and delivery:

1. Gains audience attention quicker and holds it longer

2. Brings greater clarity to teaching

3. Generates long-term retention

4. Encourages application

5. Makes teaching and learning fun

In the epilogue to his book, Blackwood shares a powerful story of how remembering the learning styles of your audience can take a good sermon to a great, impactful sermon:

I am writing this on Christmas Eve night just following our 2007 Christmas Eve service, and tears are welling up in my eyes as I type. Mind you, my manuscript for The Power of Multisensory Preaching and Teaching has already gone to the publisher, but I hope they allow me to add this story. Here’s what happened.

Tonight, Pastor Eric Geiger spoke during our Christmas Eve service. I decided to sit in the rear of the auditorium so I could experience a Christmas worship service for the first time in many years. There are many experiences we pastors miss, simply because we are busy speaking while the Holy Spirit is working in the audience. This was one experience, however, I was destined to see. Follow the events.

As the music portion of the worship drew to a conclusion, a young couple came in and sat at the rear of the auditorium. They were just in front and to the left of where I was seated. With them were their two little boys, both of whom took their seats between the wife and husband. Within minutes, a life-and-death struggle began to unfold before me … an eternal life and eternal death struggle.

Eric began to teach from Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” The message was a powerful unpacking of the Christmas rescue mission. As he taught, however, I noticed this husband never looked up to make eye contact with Eric. In fact, he appeared hell-bent on not looking up. He looked down, instead, at his wallet and busied himself by shuffling his credit cards and money. At the same time this was going on, I could tell his wife was a believer. It was clear that she had invited him to the service in hopes that he would meet the Savior.

As Eric spoke the wonderful message of rescue, the wife continually reached her hand across the two little boys over to her husband’s shoulder. Lovingly and pleadingly she admonished him to look up, but he refused. Interestingly, I could tell he loved his wife, but it was clear he didn’t want to be in church. Perhaps, he came only to humor her or to get her off his case. At any rate, twenty minutes went by, and the young husband continued to bury his face in his wallet. By now, his wife looked as if she was dying within. It was clear he was not going to connect to the message or to Christ.

Then, however, Eric began to make a point about a certain United States Marine, Dave Karnes, whose bravery and rescue mission was documented in the Oliver Stone movie World Trade Center. After briefly describing the true event, Eric had the media team launch a series of video clips from the movie.

HE LOOKED UP!

Folks, as soon as that clip came on the screen, this young husband looked up! I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was the first time he had paid attention in the entire message. I watched him like a hawk, and I prayed for his soul. Here is the story behind the film clips, and this is the drama he witnessed as the film rolled.

Dave Karnes, an ex-Marine turned businessman, saw the World Trade Center events unfolding on television just like the rest of us did. As he watched, however, he felt compelled to go down to New York City to help out. The film clip shows the moving words of President Bush telling the nation that we are under attack. As the President spoke, the former Marine said, “I have to go down there to help.”

From there, the film chronicled the response of Karnes as he prepared for his mission. First, he went to church to pray. Next, he went to the barber and had his head shaved Marine-style. Finally, after putting on his military garb, he got in his Porsche and drove 120 mph down to lower Manhattan. By the way, I checked the attention of the audience at Christ Fellowship—every eye was riveted to the screens.

The next clip moved seamlessly to the wreckage of the World Trade Center. The ex-Marine was allowed to go inside the rubble of the buildings. The film follows the Marine as he shines his flashlight in the darkness and calls out to any survivors. Suddenly he hears a trapped man call out in the darkness. The man was Will Jimeno, who along with John McLaughlin had survived the tragedy.

Jimeno screams out to the Marine, “Please, don’t leave us! Please, don’t leave us!” The Marine then said something I’ll never forget as long as I live: “Sir, we are the United States Marines. You are our mission!”

The young husband in front of me never took his eyes off the screens. He was locked in. Then, Eric began to draw the connection between the rescue mission of that Marine and the rescue mission of Christ. He said this: “If you are here tonight and you have never trusted Christ, you need to know that you are in danger of being lost forever. You are in danger of being separated from God forever. Christ came for the express purpose of rescuing you. You are his mission.”

At that exact moment, the husband reached over to his wife and touched her on the hand, signaling that he was under conviction. His wife’s eyes filled with tears and so did mine. Eric then called for a commitment, and I watched as this man prayed to receive the Lord. Later he filled out a communication card.

Then, at the conclusion of the service, I saw one more thing that blew me away. To close out the service, our congregation sang the song “Rescue.” Almost everyone raised his or her hands in praise to God. This young man, who had just trusted Christ, slowly raised his hands and tried to sing the song with us. I felt like a silent observer to the rescuing work of the Holy Spirit.

But don’t miss the point: The man was totally disconnected until that visual video was introduced. The Holy Spirit used that clip to draw that man to Christ. Mind you, Eric is a phenomenal communicator in his own right. But it took a visual aid to grab this man’s attention. I suppose it will be easy to criticize what I saw, but think of this: If this man were your friend or your child or your husband or your wife, would you be so critical? Or would you praise God for Eric’s passion to do whatever it takes to connect to the unsaved of our world?My prayer is that you will witness this kind of effect as you use multisensory teaching. My prayer for you is that you will have similar stories that change the lives and destinations of people forever.[note]Rick Blackwood, The Power of Multi-Sensory Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 189–191.)[/note]

One of the most difficult hurdles we must cross as pastors is to acknowledge that perhaps, just perhaps, the way we are doing things, and the way we have done things for a long time, are not working great. Maybe they are working, but, in our heart-of-hearts, we know that it could be a lot better.

Educator Stephen Brookfield offers a powerful challenge to all teachers and pastors as they consider their communication style:

Sooner or later, something happens that forces the teacher to confront the possibility that they may be working with assumptions that don’t really fit their situations. Recognizing the discrepancy between what is and what should be is often the beginning of the critical journey.[note]Stephen Brookfield, Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1995), 29.[/note]

Evaluating Your Sermon Series

Getting honest feedback about how you are doing as a teacher is invaluable. In a classroom environment, how your students are learning can provide feedback on how you are doing as a teacher. In a church setting, getting relevant feedback can be difficult, unless you ask for it.

At First Family, we value input from our congregation. To do so, we will use a survey from time-to-time that can be filled out online or via paper copies. Below is a sample of the survey we used for our series "When Ancient Meets Current: A Study of the Seven Churches of Revelation."