“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Two saved through food ministry
Members of Camino De Esperanza in Seaford, Delaware, have been providing food for local families in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Pastor Josean Nater said the church has used the opportunity to share the Gospel as the Holy Spirit leads. As a result, two people have made professions of faith.
Nater said the church is uploading their weekly services to YouTube.
The pandemic is very difficult for the Hispanic community in Delaware, Nater said. Many people are supporting multiple family members, and some are sending money abroad. Required closures are especially challenging for Hispanic families. This is especially true for those who are undocumented and who may consequently be afraid to get tested. Some are reporting to work while infected with the virus. For others, working or not working is a matter of life and death.
Audio recordings for church
During the COVID-19 pandemic season, Parkville Baptist Church in Maryland is offering sermons and audio recordings of their music on their website. A few members of the worship team meet, prepare the music, and record it each week.
The church also has call-in/video Zoom prayer meetings and one Sunday school class, with alternating teachers. Pastor Kurt Wesolowski said there are many seniors in the congregation and the format is a comfortable way for all to participate.
“We’ve been trying to look for outlets to keep things stable and somewhat normative during this time,” Wesolowski said.
“Prayer Push”
Village Church, in Hampden, Maryland, had a recent “prayer push,” which began on May 11. For a week, the church sent daily emails to members. Each email shared a region of the world for which to pray and highlighted a missionary who lives in that region of the world.
Fellowship With Trivia Nights
Faith Baptist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, is having some fun with “Trivia Nights,” using Facebook Chat, YouTube, and Zoom. Lead Pastor Tim Byer and Worship/Missions Pastor Jeff Higgins host the shows with plenty of laughter, barbs, and fun.
“Let’s bring in contestant number two, Freetown baby,” Byer said, introducing one couple. Participants shared answers on chat or by holding up whiteboards.
Byer and Higgins asked questions about songs, sitcoms, news, and video games from the 80s, added some fun jingles, sang sitcom opening songs, and just had a blast.
Bringing the show to an end, Byer encouraged attendees to tune in to church on Sunday morning. The event is designed to encourage fellowship and to bring some light fun and laughter to folks during a difficult period.
Quotable quotes
“The will of God must first live in us, if it is to be done by us.” Holy in Christ
“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend; the difficulty will not me offend. For I perceive the way to life lies here. Come, pluck up, heart; let’s neither faint nor fear. Better, though difficult, the right way to go, than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.” ― The Pilgrim’s Progress
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our Helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and pow’r are great; and, armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.” — Martin Luther, excerpted from “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
History Highlights
- In 1850, Joseph M. Harden, an African-American member of Seventh Baptist Church in Baltimore, was appointed to the Liberian Mission by the SBC Foreign Mission Board.
- In 2010, Disaster Relief leaders obtained a chaplain crisis care unit to provide additional opportunities to evangelize and open doors to share the Gospel.
- Also in 2010, Maryland/Delaware reached out to Haiti’s needs following a major earthquake.
(History Highlights are taken from “Gofwd, A Southern Baptist Retrospective,” a special feature publication of BaptistLIFE).
Cover photo provided by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Huntingtown, Maryland.