What is Our Response to COVID-19?

Day 3

by Rocky Fleming

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

The Apostle Paul was imprisoned and taken to Rome.  He was taken out of his public ministry.  His form of distributing the Gospel had been changed.  But and this is a big “BUT,” it turned out for the good.  He said it.  He was given more direct influence on people who would have a broader influence than his individual preaching and meeting with people.  He was also forced to write his letters, which make up a great part of the New Testament, and required him to speak only to those few physically around him.  BUT it turned out to be good.  Do you think God had a plan in all this?  You can bet on it!  How about current events with churches having to cease meeting together for a while?  How about Influencers and our ministry that gathers men and women into discipleship groups?  Will this postponement with physically meeting together and using Zoom work out for advancing God’s ministry through Influencers even though it disrupts our methods?  It is already proving to be so.  Let me share some things with you to prove it.

We’ve been using virtual staff meetings for several years to both encourage and pray together.  We’ve been using virtual connections with a person who cannot be in his or her group because of such things as traveling, and thereby including them in their group that they would have missed otherwise.  For two years now we’ve been having discipleship groups via Zoom both nationally and internationally on a limited basis.  While they have worked wonderfully well, these early pioneering groups and efforts we’ve made in other ways have served as the foundation for an explosion of groups that I think will be happening soon.  I believe God was preparing this ministry for this additional form or discipleship groups way before we would realize, as we do now, not only the necessity of them, but as well the opportunity we now have.  Do you sense my excitement?

Now my encouragement to you is you do not have to be isolated or without community.  Just look for the opportunities and jump in.  Stretch yourself to learn the technology and jump in!  

COVID-19 is a dangerous enemy and we must respect it.  But our God is the most dangerous ONE to combat any enemy that comes against His family.  Let’s choose this day Him who will make good from bad, and amazing from desperation.  Remember these words:

“I’VE GOT THIS!”

 Love, God