Stories tagged with: the coronavirus

• FIRST-PERSON: Coronaweary

  by Tim Riordan, posted Friday, July 31, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Tim Riordan gives ideas for overcoming the weariness the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. "The first step to overcoming coronaweariness is changing your focus," he says. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Pray for a breakthrough in treatment and prevention of COVID-19

  by Ronnie Floyd, posted Monday, July 20, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  "Our God who said, 'Let there be light,' is the same God who will reveal what He already knows about the keys to treating this illness," Ronnie Floyd says. "Therefore, as the people of God, we must ask Him for a supernatural breakthrough for effective treatments against this virus." Read More

• Florida Hispanic churches suffer deaths, illness in local COVID-19 surge

  by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, July 10, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  MIAMI (BP) -- In the middle of one of the highest COVID-19 surges worldwide, pastors serving Florida's hard-hit Hispanic community are suffering illnesses among their respective congregations while continuing their ministry.

  Emanuel Roque, Hispanic church catalyst with the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC), said in several Hispanic churches, pastors and some members have tested positive and are recovering. Included is El-Faro Baptist Church (Lighthouse Baptist Church) in Marathon, where many members were among a group of more than 20 who contracted the illness while attending a non-church related camp in Tennessee in June. Read More

• COVID-19 hampers Michigan Baptist response to historic flooding

  by Diana Chandler, posted Thursday, May 21, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  Photo from Facebook

  MIDLAND, Mich. (BP) -- Historic flooding in middle Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) disaster relief.

  As the BSCM mobilizes flood response teams, feeding units, damage assessors and chaplains, BSCM state disaster relief director Bob Kiger says some volunteers might find the work too risky. Most volunteers are retirees in the age group most vulnerable to the coronavirus. Read More

• Florida mayor and pastor sees job as 'salt and light' during COVID-19

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, May 19, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  ST. CLOUD, Fla. (BP) -- For St. Cloud Mayor Nathan Blackwell, prayer is an essential tool in leading his city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Prayer is second nature for the mayor, who is also founding pastor of Cornerstone Family Church, the largest of several Southern Baptist congregations in St. Cloud. Blackwell said faith has driven his mayoral leadership, especially during the pandemic. He prays during weekly Zoom meetings with business leaders and frequently prays for front-line workers outside places like hospitals and pharmacies. Read More

• Black, Hispanic congregations dealing with COVID-19 health, economic disparities

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, May 18, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from Facebook

  NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- The usher typically allows five people in the sanctuary at a time. One person approaches the casket. The others wait, at a safe distance, for their turn to view the body of a loved one who died of COVID-19.

  In the pandemic hotspot of New Orleans, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Senior Pastor Fred Luter has instituted socially distanced wakes in advance of funerals, having lost seven church members to the coronavirus. Read More

• State reopening plans a concern for religious liberty, churches

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, May 12, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (BP) -- Southern Baptist pastors in several states are concerned that governmental restrictions on reopening the economy might unduly impact churches.

  Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) Executive Director Nate Adams said many pastors believe the five-phase "Restore Illinois" plan, released May 5 by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is too cautious. It limits gatherings to fewer than 50 people until a COVID-19 vaccine or effective treatment is developed. Read More

• 'Alpha and Omega': ICU nurse joins in hymn as her COVID-19 patient dies

  by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, April 29, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  NEW YORK (BP) -- As her COVID-19 patient lay dying, intensive care nurse Idara Inokon began singing a version of "Alpha and Omega" with the patient's wife, who joined by FaceTime.

  "Despite she was looking at her husband intubated, sedated ... his heart holding on, we were able to just kind of worship God in that moment, and I was with him when he passed. It was heartbreaking, because he was only 45," Inokon said. "I can see that we really did everything possibly imaginable to try to save his life, and we couldn't. And in the end, we just had to give it into the hands of God." Read More

• In rural Georgia COVID-19 hotspot, pastors cautious of resuming onsite worship

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, April 27, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  Photo by Garrett Grubbs

  ALBANY, Ga. (BP) -- Pastor Michael Catt would like to resume onsite congregational activities at Sherwood Baptist Church in the unlikely COVID-19 hotspot of rural Albany, Ga., but he's too concerned with the safety of his congregation and the community to take the risk.

  Even as the state of Georgia begins to reopen, Catt plans to practice caution and doesn't have a target date for returning, saying: "We can’t just throw the switch." Read More

• COVID-19 hits Charles Billingsley amid album release, family celebrations

  by Diana Chandler, posted Thursday, April 23, 2020 (3 years ago)

  

  LYNCHBURG, Va. (BP) -- In the span of a month, pastor and chart-topping worship leader Charles Billingsley celebrated 26 years of marriage and his wife's birthday, released a new album and was hospitalized with COVID-19.

  Billingsley, teaching pastor and worship leader of mega Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., still had residual double pneumonia when he spoke with Baptist Press Wednesday (April 22). Read More