Weekly Roundup: COVID-19, Part 1
The whole world is talking, writing, posting, worrying, preparing, and responding to COVID-19, also called Coronavirus Disease 2019. This post is not meant to share medical information about the virus, or discuss what ought to be done, but instead to curate some of the pastoral responses and the encouraging stories that don’t make it on the major news outlets.
May we respond to such a time as this with faith, not fear; with courage and trust, not despair; for our gracious God is with us and reigns as King forevermore.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
(https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/339)
Resources
A Door Opened in Wuhan China | P.Z. | HeartCry Missionary Society
This update is from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of what has now been classified as a pandemic. It was written on February 7 and tells of an amazing opportunity for the gospel.
This was published on March 12. I was really hoping that someone go back in the annals of history and see how the church responded—and 9Marks delivered! This is not the world’s first pandemic, although it is certainly the first major one of this millennium. There is a ton to learn from our Christian forefathers; may we exercise Christian ethics Scripturally, winsomely, and wisely!
How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus? | John Piper | Desiring God
John Piper tackled this question with typical doctrinal clarity. I appreciate him setting the theological backdrop against which we should make our decisions.
Brett is a friend I met this year. On February 22, he published this Medium article about the circumstances in Japan when it still had the highest number of cases of the disease outside of China. He does a good job of describing the “fog of war” that descends upon a country during such a chaotic time and asks for prayer for the country.
Japan: “He is mighty to save!” | Luis R. | HeartCry Missionary Society
This is an update from a church planter in Tokyo, written March 3. He offers some good encouragements and ways that we can pray for Japan.
A Pastor’s Update from Italy on the Coronavirus | Michael Brown | Ligonier Ministries
This pastoral update is from Milan, Italy, written March 10. He also gives pastoral encouragement to not fear and a few ways to pray for Italy.
A Guide for Christian Leaders in the Time of Coronavirus | Justin Taylor | The Gospel Coalition
This is written particularly for church leaders, but it has useful resources for every Christian trying to get a better grasp of the situation and what to do about it.
Coronavirus Response Updates | Lighthouse Community Church
The church I serve at created this page detailing our response. I’m sure your church leaders have been thinking about what to do as well, and maybe we can swap ideas.
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).