Damage Control or Door-Opener?

          Eventually, the end will come. Someday, this pandemic will be over. Only God knows what time that will be; and it could be a while from now. But when we do start to look back at what took place; each of us will have many stories to tell from this time. Perhaps future generations will be asking us: “What was the COVID-19 pandemic like and what did you do during that time?” Just like the events of World War II or 9/11/01, there will be a wide array of responses from those who lived through these times. This is an event that is now touching all of us in different ways. Differing perspectives will emerge as the grocery store worker, front-line ER doctor, Christian missionary, and those from different walks of life continue to share their stories. Yet during this time- what will be our stories and experiences through this pandemic? Some of those stories remain to be written…

              To close out the month of March, my goal is to give an update and shed some light with regards to preparing to depart as a missionary overseas before the end of the year (Lord willing). Furthermore, I also wanted to share a message that I have been feeling that God has been placing into my heart recently about this unfolding pandemic.

              With regards to preparing for the World Race, February was a successful month as I continued to visit local churches to speak, partnering with fellow Believers, and sharing the Gospel with college students. Yet as February turned into March, the coronavirus outbreak in China mushroomed into a global pandemic that shut down most of the United States by the end of the month. As I became inundated with new information each day with lives being altered in the face of the pandemic, this became a significant test of faith. How was I to still prepare to depart to the nations even as new border closures, skyrocketing infections, and lockdowns came into effect almost daily? The Lord is now asking me to trust in Him during this time… even when circumstances threaten to make overseas travel and mission trips nearly impossible for the near future. Will I (and the rest of the team) step out in faith when things do not make sense and in the middle of the storm?

              As I have been praying a lot for the LORD to heal this land and change the course of this disease, He is also challenging His church as well. The Lord answers prayers… but often in unexpected ways. And during this time of prayer and discernment in the midst of uncertainty, He has been conveying to me (and likely to others as well) an important message: will we react defensively or offensively to this pandemic? Will we retreat defensively- in defeat and frustration as this disease continues to spread? Or, will we go on the offensive- calling upon Jesus’ name in prayer and reaching out to others with the Gospel? This is a choice that we as a church are going to have to make over the next few months.

              When I look back at March, I saw myself in “Damage Control” mode as I wondered: “How bad was this going to get?” As fear and uncertainty continued to advance because of the virus, I reacted to it. Maybe this virus will go away on its own and it won’t be a serious threat to normal life?- I thought. As universities began to have their students go home, I also reacted to that as well. I hoped that perhaps this will just be one long break and life will be back to normal by May and graduation will happen in the stadium like nothing out of the ordinary took place… When the United States began social distancing and eventually followed suit by shutting almost everything down, I indeed reacted to it as well- I was very shocked. Having the last semester of college with close friends end so abruptly has caused me to grieve at times. Today, it is tempting to focus on what could have taken place and be fearful of what will take place. It is easy to become defensive and discouraged as news and deaths from this virus continue to be reported.

              Recently, I hiked up a mountain and prayed about everything that was going on. Because the cold winds gusted across the landscape, I took shelter beside a tall rock hoping that it would shield me from the wind. Yet as I continued to lift up my concerns to the LORD, the question continued to resonate: will you (as a member of the Church) continue to react defensively to the ever-changing news or go on the offensive for the Kingdom during this time? There was a clear choice to make. Ultimately, I decided to come out from the rock and up to the top of the mountain. As I faced the wind and saw the valley below me, I knew that I needed to go on the spiritual offensive, and the Church is now at a very critical juncture…

              As April begins and Easter is set to take place in a couple of weeks… what would it be like to shift our perspective of this pandemic? Yes- it is sad to see so many deaths and many healthcare workers sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. But what if we as a church were to look deeper and see a beautiful chance to act? What if we viewed what is happening before us as an opportunity to be a strong church and reach out to those with the Gospel? This will certainly take innovation to get the message out, but God is certainly on the move. And so, here are some stories of what’s taken place:

– In Brazil, people are crying out to the LORD from apartment balconies as they are under lockdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8knqgsFQRA

– In Italy, doctors are coming to know the LORD, and people are beginning to open up to Him. Will there be an awakening in Europe? https://godtv.com/atheist-doctor-italy-found-god-covid-19/

– Based on reports from No Place Left groups around the world, there has been a greater response to the Gospel; including a friend in central North Carolina that is responding to an influx of follow-up Gospel conversation calls and people wanting to be trained in discipleship.

– People are also coming to know Jesus during this time in places such as Pakistan and Iran. https://believersportal.com/the-miraculous-ways-god-is-radically-transforming-iran-despite-persecution/

– There are also reports of underground church members sharing the Gospel in East Asia and meeting online despite extensive coronavirus lockdowns and government surveillance.

               What is our story going to be? How are we going to remember this in five years when everything is said and done with regards to the pandemic? What stories of faith will we have to tell people and generations that come after us? Today is a terrific opportunity for the Church (and all of us) to go on the spiritual offensive and be a light in a very chaotic and uncertain world. It is a time when many people are opening up to the Gospel in new ways; we as a church can step out and reach them with the Good News. We can look at this time as a “Door-Opener”- a chance to open doors into peoples’ lives and bring them into the Kingdom. Yet this will require a very different mindset from the world- one centered on the Kingdom (instead of fear); and using this time to be bold and radically stepping out in faith when uncertainty is present. So the question remains: What will you do?

PSALM 112: 6-8: “Surely the Righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”

(The picture was taken at a beautiful church located in Szczecin, Poland- May 2017.)