Dealing with Pandemics as a Church
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
We need to come together and find hope right now and then help every corner of our city find hope.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Let us stand together in this hour of need. Along with this letter are some thoughts we wanted to share with you as part of us together doing something for the city.
God will come through as he always has.
LET’S CONTINUE TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT ADVISORIES
As Christians we believe that the Government is appointed by God (Rom 13:1) and in matters of national interest, public safety and public health we have always worked with the Central, State and Municipal authorities, and this time is no different. Therefore we suggest that we continue to:
Follow government advisories closely
Cooperate with health authorities and Mumbai police fully
Join them in relief work with their permission
WE ARE BLESSED TO SEE CHURCHES AND NGOS RALLYING TOGETHER
This is an opportunity to be generous and give according to what we’ve been given – to those in financial need, to daily wage laborers – let’s keep an eye open and supply wherever needs emerge.
Many of us and our churches are already giving. Let us continue to provide time, effort, skills, creativity and ingenuity to join several groups across the city trying to make difference in this critical time. As Jesus said, it is better to give than to receive.
UTSAV Church is part of Mumbai Transformation Network (MTN); a network of churches in Mumbai.
LEARN HOW MTN IS HELPING
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
MTN’s mission is rallying churches, igniting movements, speaking hope – this is exactly what is needed right now and our efforts over the next several months are going to be organized in various areas:
GUIDANCE: MTN is exploring and is in the process of providing some guidance (as needed) and encouragement to churches in this crisis with documents such as this one in the areas of your church’s response to:
Covid-positive situations in your church
Job losses, business shutdowns, economic anxiety in churches
Collaborative relief work to serve the community
Mental health issues in the church
Parenting challenges in this new world
Enabling emotional health for pastors and leaders
Dealing with social stigmas related to coronavirus
Theological and prophetic challenges and issues
II. PARTNERSHIPS: MTN churches and partners along with member organisations of the Social Concern Stream have been very actively involved in mobilising initiatives in responding to the COVID-19 situation in Mumbai and its suburbs.
Current initiatives include:
Providing cooked food to hundreds across the city
Supplying dry rations
Advocating and ensuring better provisions and conditions in quarantine facilities
Setting up camps for migrants
Collaborating with law enforcement agencies, medical facilities and referrals for assistance.
All of these resulting in the Church being a blessing to many vulnerable communities, migrant workers and daily wage labourers.
III. PRAYER: MTN is working on increasing unified prayer coverage across the city in this unprecedented hour of need. Various prayer initiatives have been launched.
Continuous 24X7 prayer across the city with guidelines for each hour of prayer have been set up. Currently 49 churches are involved in the 24X7 prayer.
Organized many denominations and large networks across the nation to pray a common set of prayer points on March 29 during the lockdown.
Prayed and declared a common set of prayer points on April 5. The Intercessors group continued to send out prayer points on current topics thrice a week.