Though the effect of the pandemic on church life and ministries has been mostly negative, there is a bright spot! This bright spot is the way we have seen God use the various recordings and live streams of our church’s Bible preaching and teaching. Though our website and various social media platforms, we have seen lives touched by the powerful truths of the Word of God.
Regarding our online worship, preaching, and teaching menu that First Baptist provides, we often receive encouraging feedback from within the church, and from those out in the local community who are not part of our church as well. There are also beautiful stories from those who contact us from abroad as well! Here, for example, is an encouraging message I received from a listener from Kenya to my weekly “Online Sunday School” that I post on Facebook. I am quoting the message exactly as the man sent it so that you can see a person working hard to communicate:
“Hello sir, if I may; I wanted to thank you so much for the impact you have brought into my life, I’ve been following up your preaching about the Christ and it has changed my life. The good job you’re doing really helps people like us and others out there, mentally and spiritually, may our Lord bless you with your family,I’ll make sure will always keep following up the preaching. Thanks, once again.”
Despite the limitations and obstacles of the pandemic, we have seen God move recently to bless our online efforts. Thanks to the Lord for sending two designated gifts (in answer to specific prayer), we have been able to set up a small “studio” to achieve better audio, lighting and video quality with our recordings and streams. In this area (temporarily located in an unused Sunday School room), there are professional-quality microphones and lighting, and a professional camera has been ordered as well. Again, this has been made possible by designated gifts for this project. We are grateful for Thom
Hunter for his leadership in this critical area of ministry.
Now, our online presence will be much stronger as we minister in different ways in this very different time. Sunday School teachers are invited to use this equipment as well, to record lessons for classes that are not yet meeting. I wanted to encourage you with this update, and remind us all that nothing, absolutely nothing, will stop the Father in calling out a body for His Son. And nothing will stop the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ! “And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
We do look forward to a day of more “normal” gatherings, but we are grateful for our new brothers and sisters (and seekers!) that we are reaching through the internet. They are now among those who are looking to this church as we preach the light and truth of Jesus Christ in these dark and troubled times.
In Christian love,
Bro. John