On March 11, 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Overnight the world stopped and changed, perhaps forever. Wearing a mask became a part of our daily wardrobe. People were wondering if and when things would get back to normal. Fear gripped people throughout the world. Suicide rates, fortunately, have not increased, however, certain groups of people were more vulnerable during the pandemic. There have been travel bans and some countries are still in a nation-wide or partial lock down and people are dying daily.

Since the beginning of the pandemic Christians on social media have bombarded us with gluts of videos, news clips, and stories that these are the last days before the return of Christ.

Dr. Michael L. Brown (PhD, New York University) addresses all these scenarios in this small, but relevant book by offering a sound biblically-based and a level-headed approach to these unprecedented times.

The subtitle of the book is appropriately titled: “Words of Hope, Faith, and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis.”

He admits that He doesn’t know the origin of the virus (as well as many medical experts), but dismisses the opinions of many who say that we are at the end of the age. In fact, one chapter titled, “This is Not the End of the World,” deals with this subject, which should give peace to his readers.

More than a year has passed since COVID-19 hit the world with such intensity. Vaccines have been developed and there is now talk of the need of a booster shot. The number of cases has dropped considerably. Unfortunately, a Delta variant of COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, but as Brown writes:

what is clear to me is that we should not view the coronavirus as a prophesied end-time plague. Instead, we should view it in the same way we have viewed many other epidemics and pandemics in world history. They are tragic reminders of the broken state of our world and of the frailty of our race.

He begins the chapter Psalm 91: “Living In the Hiding Place of the Most High,” by writing the following:

you may be reading this book one year later, or five years later, when the challenges we face are very different. And yet all of us, in all times and all places, need to take hold of the holy reality of Psalm 91 since we live in a dangerous world filled with demons, diseases, and death.

A question that he poses to the church: Do we give in to fear or place our faith in the true and living God?

For a book that was written in a week, Brown covers much ground on both spiritual and secular matters. It is well-balanced and reminds us that no matter what comes our way we must trust in the Lord and not give in to fear. There are uncertainties, as Brown points out, but the Lord is in control.

If you are in need of comfort in these troubling and uncertain times it would be beneficial to read this book written by a respected Bible teacher and commentator.

Reviewed by Larry Russi

John Lathrop wrote to many Pentecostal/charismatic Bible teachers to ask them if they have found that God is speaking to people more frequently or vividly through dreams during this time of isolation. Here are some of the responses that he received, may they become prompts to you for prayer.

Carolyn Tennant

A former student (graduate) of IBRP (Instituto Biblico Rio de la Plata) in Buenos Aires, Argentina recently woke up with a vivid dream of the holy city drawing near to the earth.  Some people were already in it, but it would soon be populated with more.

Interestingly enough, that night I was reading (as I was progressing through Revelation) from the church at Pergamum in Rev. 3 and found this very thing referenced there.  It was very impacting to me.

Addendum: Many IBRP students and faculty are reporting having dreams and visions during the pandemic.

J.D. King

Yes, John, I’ve been hearing a number of interesting reports. There are some individuals in my church that are seeing different things. Many of them are discussing notions of intense spiritual warfare. Even some kids seem to be having profound encounters. These sensations are extremely vast on one hand, but also understated.

Let me clarify that these are not weird or irrational people. So, I am listening attentively to their thoughts.

Most specifically, I’ve been hearing things from my daughter. She is nineteen-years-old and currently suffering from auto-immune disease. She has had several visions/dreams. The reoccurring vision is something along lines of a dark and sinister aura trying to advance toward the earth to crush and counteract that which is virtuous and good. She suggested that this evil force is desperate—reaching, grasping—but much of what it’s struggling to clutch, it cannot actually reach. She’s seeing something of the Spirit of God pushing back against this treachery and stopping it. Her takeaway is that Satan wants to obstruct and destroy—and is making an extraordinary effort. But God is on the threshold of bringing life and glory. She feels that God is about to release a remarkable move of the Spirit in the United States. From the darkness comes the glorious dawn.

It seems that one’s theology colors their prophetic experiences. Those with a more pessimistic outlook, see darker pictures and themes, but the more hopeful see ultimate victory. Obviously, the prophetic, and all non-scriptural impressions, must be diligently scrutinized and interpreted (1 Thes. 5:19-21). Christians are inadvertently filtering events through pre-existing worldviews and theological constructs. There should be humility in all of this.

I will conclude by saying this, perhaps both warnings and hope are messages from God. Both give relevant guidance to believers who are in a place of deep intercession and need.

Carolyn Tennant

Craig Keener

A dream that has become a prayer point:

Early in the process of COVID spreading I dreamed that it was caused by the devil tweaking an existing virus to weaponize it against humanity, and that some scientists were on the forefront of finding a solution against it, God being with them.

But I think you had asked if there were more prophetic dreams after COVID than before, so I didn’t mention that. I’ve been having prophetic dreams for a few years now.

Loren Sandford shared his April 15, 2020 newsletter, that has much to say about dreams.

“What has Happened… and What is Coming?”

More from Loren Sandford at PneumaReview.com: http://pneumareview.com/author/rlorensandford/

Craig Keener

Craig Keener shared an email newsletter from Will and Dehavilland Ford titled, “Update On Our 7 year Old’s Covid 19 Dreams For 7 Nights In A Row! Here’s What God Revealed To Us.”

Here is one place that article was reprinted: https://soundofheavenblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/update-on-our-7-year-olds-covid-19-dreams-for-7-nights-in-a-row-heres-what-god-revealed-to-us-will-ford-dallas-tx/

Spiritual explosion in the Middle East

Included here is the April 21, 2020 Press Release from Christian broadcaster SAT-7, “COVID-19 Lockdown Ignites ‘Spiritual Explosion’ as Middle East Clamors for ‘Real Hope’: Christian broadcaster SAT-7 reports surge in viewer numbers, social media interest, as coronavirus shutdown ‘opens hearts’ of millions ‘stuck at home.’” Although this report does not mention dreams, there are many sources that describe how God is using dreams to awaken hearts to the reality of the love, power, and forgiveness found only in Jesus.

Amid strict coronavirus lockdowns, millions of people across the Middle East and North Africa—“clamoring” for a spiritual and practical lifeline—are finding help right in their own homes through “living television.”

CORONAVIRUS IGNITES ‘SPIRITUAL EXPLOSION’ IN MIDDLE EAST: Christian satellite television broadcaster SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) reports a dramatic surge in viewer numbers and social media interest, as the coronavirus lockdown ‘opens the hearts’ of millions of people stuck at home in the Middle East and North Africa. The ministry continues to broadcast across the region 24/7 in local languages.

In the region where Christianity began but is now a minority faith, Christian satellite television broadcaster SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) has seen viewer numbers surge and social media interest skyrocket since the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

“There’s an explosion of spiritual hunger across the Middle East and North Africa right now as people stuck at home seek real hope and real answers,” said Dr. Rex Rogers, president of SAT-7 USA. SAT-7 continues to broadcast shows 24/7 that present Christians as ‘living epistles’ who speak to people where they are in life.

“Millions of people in countries like Iran, Iraq and Turkey are clamoring to see and hear in their own language what it’s like to be a follower of Jesus in a time of crisis,” Rogers said.

In coronavirus hotspot Turkey, where 99 percent of the population is non-Christian, more viewers have contacted the SAT-7 TÜRK channel daily in the past few weeks than any day in the previous five years since broadcasts began.

In Iran, another virus hotspot, viewers’ calls and messages to the live, Farsi-language Signal show—beamed into millions of homes across the nation—jumped to seven times the usual number last month, as Iranians rattled by the pandemic turned to the show’s hosts for reassurance and practical advice.

One viewer shared how God was looking after her family, even though “we don’t even have any loose change.” She told other Signal viewers: “We’re living in faith, and we’re praying for everyone else.”

Across the Middle East and North Africa, SAT-7 KIDS Facebook audience has soared more than 500 percent as children stream videos offering encouragement and hope based on Bible passages.

Total Lockdown, Open Hearts

“Coronavirus has locked people inside their homes, but it’s opening hearts to God,” said Rogers. “Lockdown and social isolation do not stop our unique satellite and online Christian programs from reaching millions of adults and children where they live.”

A total of 30 million viewers are tuning into SAT-7’s uplifting Christian live shows and recorded broadcasts that take a holistic view of life, addressing spiritual, emotional, physical, and social concerns. Hosted by Christian presenters, shows tackle the topics that most deeply affect everyday life in the volatile region, and invite viewers to join in the discussion.

“When people have hope, they find the strength to carry on,” said Lebanon-born SAT-7 CEO Rita El-Mounayer, based at the ministry headquarters in Cyprus. “Our broadcasts and social media channels are needed more now than ever.”

The ministry reports 160,000 people watched “God, Fear, and the Coronavirus,” one of SAT-7’s mental health programs, featuring church leader and psychiatrist Dr. Maher Samuel.

An online video—featuring the popular presenter of the ministry’s Family of Jesus children’s show—reached more than 425,000 people and was shared 2,700 times. Meanwhile, the ministry’s SAT-7 Academy—a social development and education channel—doubled its audience on social media.

Image: Joshua Newton

Paul King

Another of our prayer intercessors shared with me another dream she received. It does not appear to apply to our own church fellowship, but it appears to me to apply to the Church, the Body of Christ as a whole. Even with the Coronavirus, although we have seen some great inter-cooperation between churches and pastors, the Church as a whole is still not united. The moved table is significant. It reminds me of the saying and book, Who Moved My Cheese? Everyone has their set way of doing things, and when things get moved or changed, people in the church can’t handle it. I am no Joseph, so I don’t have the whole picture, but this little bit may shed some light. Here is her dream:

Last night, I had a dream that seemed significant enough to share, based on your request:

There was a large gathering at a house, or maybe an apartment. There were a lot of little details, such as the wooden floor, tall windows, upper level, etc. that I’m not sure mean anything, but the actions did.

The people there were gathering together for a meal. All of them seemed to be extended family, though I recognized no one. There was a definite sense of it being a religious celebration, but no one was celebrating; they were too busy bickering with one another. There was obvious jealousy, apathy, and drudgery among the people regarding the event.

One man tried to lead the group, and I sensed his faith was genuine. However, he also showed little humility or compassion. He was more concerned with how he was being unnecessarily persecuted by another man (a brother?) mocking him.

Another seemingly important detail (though I don’t know why) is the table was moved from the room where it usually sat, into an adjacent room very similar in size and structure.

My one memorable role was when a “cousin?” asked where she was supposed to sit, because there was no table. I joked about sitting on cushions like Jesus’ disciples. She was not amused. I then pointed her to the other room where everyone was sitting down and the one faithful man had begun to pray. Although he was sincere, his prayer was weak and he was clearly distracted by the others’ indignation.

The room was crowded with people, but no one was there with the right heart, including me. I was a confused outsider who was somehow supposed to be a part of all this.

My sense upon waking was this was a picture of church disunity, apathy, and disregard for the LORD’s worthiness of celebration. It was disheartening, but also confusing, as those I’m surrounded by don’t seem to fit this model at all.

What about you? What have you experienced in this season? What is the Holy Spirit saying to those that have ears to hear?

I have been trying to read the barometer of events related to coronavirus as they have unfolded here in East Africa. Living in an African community while doing this has, at times, wanted to make my head to explode! The two logics being applied to the coronavirus outbreak, the technical scientific one I am receiving from much of the media and especially Europe and the USA, is worlds apart from indigenous people’s interpretations. The former, from the West[3] is highly scientized. In tackling COVID-19, science has called the shots. People have responded by compromising their freedom. In East Africa, people struggle to believe that a mere virus can cause such a massive problem. They desire to resolve the situation through prayer. They trust that the problem will soon go away. They hold various theories like that coronavirus infection is cured by drinking a lot of tea, or that release of the virus was a means to give China global domination over the USA.

On the street in Lagos, Nigeria, on the far side of Africa from Kenya.
Image: Joshua Oluwagbemiga

Whoever dictated how Kenya should respond to COVID-19 had little grasp of the constitution of our population. People were told to ‘stay at home’. This lock-down strategy we understand has worked in Europe and the USA. Getting home from work one afternoon, I was told we had no food for that evening’s meal. Paramilitary forces armed with batons had chased everyone from the market! Fortunately, the same afternoon, food could be acquired alongside our highways and bye-ways: Women who had been chased from the market were selling their produce on the sides of paths and roads. We did not go hungry after all!

Many people have to do a day’s work to make the money they need to buy the evening meal. Others, like in my case, have money, but still need to find people from whom to purchase food.^[4] Typically, that was from the open-air markets. Travelling (by bicycle) through the area (hither and thither between my work and home, about 7 miles), apart from markets themselves being closed, there seemed to be as many people out-and-about as ever.[5] I realised that even those people who did not have to go to work or buy the day’s provisions still preferred hanging around in town to sitting all day in what is typical for many of them, their one-roomed mud-floor houses.

Around this time, some Kenyans under extended-quarantine for COVID-19 made an escape bid. This was reported in the local as well as the global media.[6] Many were held because they had just travelled in from abroad. The depravity of the conditions under which they were held has been shared widely on social media.[7] Gradually I twigged as to what was happening. African people were not going to upset their routines in response to scientific claims, as Europeans had done. They would, though, respond to force and to the demonstration of the intense suffering that awaited them as a consequence to disobedience. Although strict lock-down is hardly possible, the population seems to have been gripped by a specific fear: “If I get sick with this terrible virus, the government will force me to stay for two weeks or more in some dank cramped quarters without any family!” That terrifying prospect is galvanising efforts to social-distance and perhaps stay at home in some cases, so as not to be found sick and have to go through tortuous quarantine![8]

A few days later, a friend sent me a link to a report about a parallel situation arising in Iraq.[9] This report explains that, similar to us in Kenya but a little different, people in Iraq live in fear of being found positive for coronavirus! As a result, medical teams’ doing tests so as to assist those in need, are being avoided. People are hiding from them. The reason given in this article, is the shame involved in getting sick, and even more in being confined to a quarantine situation and dying in isolation only for one’s body to be disposed of in a large communal grave.

There are definitely overlaps between the two above-described fearful responses to shame. The shame felt by Kenyans at not being able to properly bury their dead is illustrated by the account of James Oyugi, buried at night by government order,[10] resulting in his family demanding that he be exhumed and given a proper burial later.[11] Fear of isolation clearly underscores the shame felt by Iraqis – who don’t want it to be known even that they are sick![12]

Reflecting on the above took my mind to recent research exploring the relationship between guilt, shame, and fear in cultures.[13] Guilt cultures are said to be those in the West, shame cultures in the Middle East, and fear cultures in Africa. That is to say, according to this classification system, Westerners are motivated by guilt, people in the Middle East by shame, and Africans by fear.[14] Westerners avoid guilt by complying with the prevailing scientific logic, people in the Middle East conceal themselves so as not to be discovered, while Africans will only respond to threats of being beaten by the paramilitary, or of being interned for what they perceive as torture in quarantine facilities. In the latter two cases, quarantine, and not death from COVID-19, can be the worst consequence and is to be avoided at all costs![15]

The rest of the world is supposedly following the lead of the West when it comes to countering COVID-19. The existence of shame and fear cultures, outlined above, may be making this impossible. In Kenya, many sick people who suspect they have COVID-19 may well avoid hospitals. They fear public recognition of their ailments that could result in quarantine. People that have other ailments, such as malaria, will fear going to any medical facility where their temperature may be checked. This situation is apparently similar to what is taking place in Iraq. Reported cases of COVID-19 may statistically be small in these contexts and health services may well remain very quiet. The sick will be nursed at home, with perhaps zero benefit from modern medicine, while spreading the virus to all and sundry.

I would at this point like to look at the background and cause to the above situations. I will start with Africa, and look at what is happening from two perspectives. Firstly, Africa is known for its fear of witchcraft.[16] Simplifying a little, witchcraft beliefs are based on the understanding that misfortune is always caused by someone else’s misguided heart orientation, typically their envy. People fear the consequences of the envy of others. Because what is good arises by default, and others’ actions are responsible for one’s misfortune, the other is to be feared. This is at the root of the fear aspect of traditional African ways of life. Secondly, the Christian church in Africa is often considered by Westerners to practice the prosperity Gospel. In this interpretation of Christianity, God is expected to bring blessings of all kinds, including money, position, job, wife or husband, children, prestige, public acclaim, and so on. This interpretation of the Gospel largely ignores or even denies aspects of it perceived by both Western and Eastern Christians, of following the example of Christ by accepting suffering on behalf of others.

A street scene in Cairo, Egypt.
Image: Simon Matzinger

People of the Middle East are considered less oriented to fear of witchcraft than are Africans. Perhaps this is because of the practice of Abrahamic faiths over centuries. Many people in the Middle East idealise the example of Muhammed. Muhammed is unquestioningly considered wise, strong, intelligent, and successful. He married many wives, was frequently victorious in battle, and became a wealthy and popular leader.^[17] The example set for Muslims in the Middle East is that true believers should be wealthy, powerful and successful, clearly underlies the profound shame they experience if taken sick from their homes to die in isolation.

I want to contrast the above with the understanding of the ancient churches of the message of Jesus.^[18] The role model for Christians is the life of Jesus. Jesus ended up shamed, rejected by nearly all (including his closest disciples), crucified on a cross (a shameful death) between two criminals (a shameful context). Jesus’ followers often faced shameful situations of defeat and failure. Jesus’ apostles are portrayed as incompetent in the Gospels, especially Mark’s Gospel. Peter, one of the heroes of the New Testament, was periodically interned, almost killed for his faith, offered no resistance to his persecutors, and was eventually shamefully crucified upside down.[19] Paul, another hero of New Testament faith, spent years in different prisons, never led any military force, and ended up ignominiously executed in Rome. The island of Patmos, on which the writer of Revelations (the final book of the Bible) spent many years, “was a lonely, isolated place.”^[20]

My examples above illustrate how Christian believers are, in so far as they follow the example of Jesus, ready for defeat, shame, suffering, rejection and even isolation for the sake of their faith. We can go further. Christians consider such suffering salvific.^[21] As Jesus died for others, so his disciples knew that their suffering was to benefit others.

In Luanda, Angola
Image: Francisco Venâncio/Olhar Angolano

The strategies being employed in the West to counter COVID-19 today can succeed for one major reason: The cultures of Western countries have ancient connections to Christianity. The reasons, only some of which have been mentioned here, that the same strategies can be much less effective or even ineffective in the Middle East and Africa, are to do with the absence of the same tradition. This has many implications: 1. Within the West itself, at this time of immense suffering due to isolation, interruption of all regular routine, fear of death, often deep relational tensions, the example of Christ and other biblical characters should be over and over emphasised to help people realise that what they are going through has a purpose, even an eternal purpose, that is something that God himself acknowledges and understands. This includes that their suffering can be salvific for others. 2. As a result of their long history in the Gospel, many Western people implicitly carry a profound comprehension of this message. Amongst the populations we have looked at in this article, people of the Middle East and people in Africa, many either have not been exposed to the Gospel, or in the Middle East have had false propaganda on it rammed down their throats. In the case of Africa, many have been presented with the Gospel in terms of prosperity.

In conclusion, I suggest that there is a desperate and urgent need as a precondition for counter-COVID-19 strategies, for a profound and widespread sharing of the message of the Gospel of Jesus, globally. Not doing so may well result in thousands, or even millions, of avoidable deaths.

I should emphasise, that I am not here referring to high-budget English language Gospel content being beamed into Africa or the Middle East. I am talking about Christian believers willing to share God’s love in eager vulnerability, using indigenous languages without relying on outside resources. Some may retort that it is too late, there is too little time to do this. I believe it is never too late to begin.

PR

More from Jim Harries on the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa:

https://www.growkudos.com/projects/coronavirus-covid-19-in-africa

https://jimharries.academia.edu/research#covid19

Notes

[1] This was 19^th April 2020.

[2] Not a pleasant prospect in Kenya: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52326316

[3] Some might argue that this is not ‘from the West’, but global, certainly including China. My sources of information are in the West.

[4] There are many reasons why people purchase a day’s food on the day in question. One foundational reason is, because hoarders of food are considered greedy. If neighbours know that food is stored, they may well come and ask to be given some of it. To not share what is available is considered unsociable. In addition – many local people make their daily bread by being a part of the daily food distribution system, particularly many women.

[5] My impression is that people are slower to get up in the morning, and quicker to go home at night, because of the curfew.

[6] https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/mandera/32-escape-quarantine-in-Mandera/1183298-5523690-lkoyiv/

[7] https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p089ly4z

[8] My suspicions are shared by the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52326316

[9] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/world/middleeast/iraq-coronavirus-stigma-quarantine.html

[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoGia6VGEsc

[11] https://www.pd.co.ke/news/national/relatives-ask-court-to-order-siaya-virus-victim-exhumed-33093/

[12] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/world/middleeast/iraq-coronavirus-stigma-quarantine.html

[13] This resulted in the production of a test, that can enable someone to determine, through answering some questions, whether a culture is predominantly guided by guilt, shame or fear: http://honorshame.com/theculturetest-website/

[14] Shame and fear ceasing to be the dominant underlying cause for misfortune enabled the initiation of scientific discoveries for which the West is renowned.

[15] See also: http://honorshame.com/coronavirus-in-shame-contexts/

[16] [Editor’s note: See Jim Harries, “In Witchbound Africa”]

[17] https://www.al-islam.org/life-muhammad-prophet-sayyid-saeed-akhtar-rizvi/battles

[18] I use the term ‘ancient churches’ to refer to churches in the old world and countries populated by Westerners, with pre-20^th Century foundations. This is in contrast to ‘newer’ churches in the majority world that tend to be oriented to prosperity. I often discover this difference first hand. I am a Western Christian. I do a lot of ministry with orthodox Egyptians, in Kenya. The contrast between us and Kenyan Christians on these concerns is often great.

[19] The account of Peter’s crucifixion is not in the bible but in Christian tradition.

[20] https://bibleview.org/en/bible/revelationpartone/johnonpatmos/

[21] 1 Peter 2:21-25.

Greetings with Jesus’ joy!

With the arrival of coronavirus (COVID-19) on the world stage, more than 130 countries have been caught in a public health crisis of yet unknown devastation. Today, in the United States, along with other countries, “ordinary” life as we have known it, is no more. We now daily face a deadly virus, one stealthily transmitted by a person unaware of her or his infection. Suddenly, “social distancing” demands that we restrict human interaction – no handshakes, no high five’s, no hugs, no crowds.

The demand for tests and testing and the widespread closing of schools, universities and businesses, along with cancellations of social, political and religious events, all point to a severely crippled America. We see anxious shoppers entangled in chaotic scrambling for water, food, and yes, toilet paper! Just thinking of the long-term impact on the economy boggles the mind. A vaccine, scientists report, could be as far away as twelve to eighteen months.

In Washington, D.C., the rapid spread of COVID-19 compelled a historically contentious Congress to pass an unprecedented bipartisan funding bill. These funds will underwrite the costs of urgently needed resources – many associated with job loss, childcare, medical leave, emergency equipment, and nutritional needs. Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic has the power to affect us all in ways more drastic and more frightening than anyone could have predicted.

People of faith, however, can access a greater power – the power of God. In times of great stress, people of faith need not be overwhelmed. Crisis may reign but God is strong and unmovable. Each of us can declare with the confidence of the psalmist: God is my refuge and my fortress… my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:2). Our attitude toward this “new normal” should not be hopelessness and despair.

As people of faith, we can pray that COVID-19 will peak, decline, and descend into nonexistence. Surviving this outbreak will take more than medical expertise and modified behavior; it will require the steadfast faith of God’s people, drawing strength from both “In God We Trust” and “E pluribus unum.” This is not a time to panic, but a time to activate our faith and trust the blessed assurance of God’s faithfulness to us.

At the same time, we must attend to precautionary measures:

• Educate yourself about coronavirus (COVID-19). Ask questions. Stay up to date with information from credible sources, such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Maintain strict personal hygiene. Wash your hands throughout the day with soap and warm water, and avoid touching your face, eyes, and mouth.
• Prepare for a possible imposed quarantine. Stock up on food, water, medicine, household supplies, entertainment, communication devices and other essentials to sustain your household for 6-8 weeks.
• Pay special attention to elderly loved ones and to any person in the home with a compromised health condition.
• Maintain contact with family and friends through radio, telephone, television, and social media. Visit them “in person” on Skype!
• Remain calm and prayerful. Seek peace in spiritual pursuits. Explore new ways to stay positive, encouraged, and constructively busy.

Times like these are reminders that health, life, and normalcy are more fragile than we probably realized, but we must always remember that God is in control. Until we can congregate again in person, know that I care deeply about your well-being and will be lifting you in prayer.

Grace and peace be multiplied upon you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Antipas