Covid Update: 04/01/2021

Beloved,
It has been a little more than a year since that fateful day our church leadership met and decided to cancel services due to Covid. That was a difficult and heartbreaking decision, especially knowing that we would all spend Easter Sunday locked up in our homes. Yet, the Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made (Psalm 145:9). Thankfully, FBCJ has been meeting for Sunday School and corporate worship for many months without any outbreak. Case numbers are way down, CDC guidelines for social distancing have become less stringent, indoor gathers are 100%, and many in our community have been vaccinated. We rejoice in these blessings! Added to these blessings, God has seen fit to bless us with a tremendous increase in our worship attendance. We are now averaging (and even exceeding) our pre-COVID worship attendance, including many visitors who are looking for a church home. May we all give God the glory!
We have noticed in the past several Sundays that the social distancing signs have been causing some confusion with seating this influx of worshippers. In anticipation of Easter, we called a quick Deacon’s meeting this past Sunday. After some discussion, we felt it best to remove the “do not sit” signs effective this Sunday (4/4). Additionally, we will resume choir practice and begin passing the offering plates the following Sunday (4/11). We recognize that God is blessing our church, and we want to walk by faith. Be assured that if COVID numbers rise tremendously, precautions can be taken, but we feel that it is time to move forward.
As always, we encourage everyone to take personal responsibility for his/her own health. Feel free to wear a mask as we will continue to offer masks and provide hand sanitizer. Fortunately, our sanctuary is large enough to allow for social distancing for those who choose, and we trust that you will seat yourself as you are comfortable. As we make this transition, please continue to be considerate and loving to one another as is our custom, remembering that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. In this way we will maintain love and unity in our church family and display the love of Christ before the watching world to the glory of His name.
See you Sunday!
 
Bro. Brian

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Coronavirus Update: 7/17

Good day, faith family. I pray that by God’s grace you are thriving even in difficult circumstances. I want to inform you of the new guidelines and recommendations put in place by our governor and of how our church will function for the time being as we move forward during this pandemic. Heeding the words of Proverbs 18:13, If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame,” I have waited to address this until more information was made available.Yesterday evening I met with our deacon body to discuss the latest developments of this Covid pandemic and to hear from Sheriff Brown. According to our governor’s most recent statement, restrictions on seating capacity for church services remains the same. The governor has mandated that the citizens of Louisiana wear masks in an effort to fight against the spread of Covid-19. While this is not a law (and is, therefore, unenforceable) we do want to be good citizens and neighbors. We are asking everyone to prayerfully consider wearing a mask while in close proximity to one another. Once you are seated for worship, we hope that you’ll feel free to remove your mask and worship the Lord comfortably since our seating arrangement is designed to accommodate a 6 ft gap as recommended for social distancing. Please know that we will not be policing anyone (the mandate specifically excludes churches from penalty). We will continue to respect your personal choice in this matter. We understand that there are some in our church who have health issues that make mask wearing difficult and others who have strong convictions in opposition to this mandate. We will continue to encourage everyone to practice social distancing, use hand sanitizer, and stay home if you are sick.  

It’s obvious that this pandemic has caused hardship to many. One troubling difficulty is the division it has caused in our country, communities, and even our church. Next week I plan to address this very issue. For now, I will point you to Philippians 2:1-5, Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

We want to be considerate and loving to one another for it is Christ that binds us. Don’t forget that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, a bond forged by the very blood of Jesus. Let us consider each person as more important than ourselves. Let us maintain love and unity even if we disagree. Let us be united in spirit over what is most important: the worship of our Lord and Savior. Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes, Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” This coming Sunday God has given us an opportunity to worship Him. Let us make the most of it.

See you Sunday!

Bro. Brian


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Coronavirus Update: 5/13 Regathering


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Coronavirus Update: 05/08

Greetings FBCJ,
I write this update with great excitement because we are preparing to worship together again. That’s right, the doors of First Baptist Church Jonesboro will be open on May 17th! The past seven weeks have been difficult as we were all quarantined and unable to worship together due to the coronavirus. You have been patient and faithful during this time. I have been blessed to hear how you have been keeping in touch with one another and continuing to love, support, encourage, and pray for both our faith family and the community. We are all grateful for the technological means that the Lord has given us to allow us to stay connected and to hear the preaching of the Word, but those means can never replace the biblical gathering of the local church.
We are thrilled to be able to worship together corporately once again. However, our Sunday gathering will look a little different for a few weeks. We want to be wise and stay committed to our decision to be a part of the solution in fighting against the spread of the coronavirus. Therefore, we will resume our regular activities with caution and care in stages as recommended by our governing officials. Our first step will be resuming our Sunday morning worship service. We are going to do our best to reasonably work within the guidelines that the state is recommending to churches. At this time, the government has asked that our gatherings be limited to 25% of the total seating capacity of our facility. This means that we will need to have two services for several weeks. The service times will be 9am and 11am. We will meet in the Family Life Center. To not exceed 25% capacity, we are asking that you help us by informing the church office of which service you plan to attend. Please call, email, or text the church.
 
In an effort of caution and protecting one another, there will be more distance between chairs and rows. Hand sanitizer and masks will also be made available for anyone needing them. Please note that we are making every effort to abide by state guidelines. We WILL NOT BE POLICING these guidelines, but we do ask that you be mindful of others during these times. We will not be regulating whether or not you shake hands with someone else or if you give someone a hug, but we ask that you be considerate of all people, recognizing that others may be maintaining stricter boundaries of contact than you at this time.
Also, if you have any symptoms of illness, we ask that you stay home until you are feeling better. This is a practical way to love your neighbor.
In the coming weeks we will begin to renew other gatherings such as Sunday School, prayer meetings, and youth and children’s activities. We appreciate your patience as we make this transition slowly. For those who may be unable to attend, we will continue to upload the Sunday singing and preaching online, but it will be made available after the service.
Once again, thank you for your understanding and faithfulness during this difficult and unusual time of transition. We cannot wait to worship with you on May 17th!
I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1
 
By His grace,
 
Pastor Brian

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I Hate The Coronavirus

 
I hate the Coronavirus! NOT because I am afraid of getting it (But let’s be clear: I don’t want to get it). NOT because anyone I know is (as of the time of this writing) terribly ill due. NOT because my kids are unexpectedly out of school (My kids homeschool, so unfortunately for them, school is still in session). We have toilet paper and groceries, and my job remains intact. Why do I hate this virus? Of course, all of these complications and concerns contribute to my dislike, but the main reason I hate COVID-19 is because it has taken away from me a piece of heaven on earth: corporate worship.

 

My Sundays are not usually what I’d call a “day of rest.” Surprisingly, that first Sunday home was. We had filmed the sermon on Saturday, and I was exhausted from a week of upheaval. That Sunday my family and I woke at our leisure. We sang some hymns, listened to the sermon, and discussed the scriptures more in depth. Then we rested. We certainly needed the rest, but something was missing. It wasn’t normal, but it wasn’t terrible. Unfortunately, by the next week I would begin singing a different tune. The week was long and full of things that I am not particularly good at: writing, filming Bible studies, and being isolated. After filming the Sunday service on Saturday afternoon, I was ready for another day of rest. Sadly, it did not come. My coveted day of rest turned in a big reminder of how broken our world is. As my family gathered for worship, I was overwhelmed with longing for my faith family. Some of my children were not as attentive and worshipful as they were the week before, and Sunday School was filled with constant interruptions. All of this put me in a really bad mood. Then, to top it all off, I almost burned down the house while grilling supper (Don’t ask🙈). The day was anything but restful!

 

COVID-19 and days like that Sunday are a reminder of how broken our world is. A virus that has shaken the whole world = brokenness. Children’s bad behavior = brokenness. Interruptions to our attempts at spiritual nourishment = brokenness. My own sin = brokenness. I felt like David in Psalms 40:12, “For troubles without number have surrounded me.” Or Psalm 69:1, “For the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing.”

 

What I needed that day and every day was a reminder that this brokenness will not always remain. COVID-19 took from me a reminder of a wonderful truth that brings me great joy. You see, the corporate gathering of the faith family reminds me of my hope and my future in heaven. Listen to the Apostle John from Revelation 7:9-12, After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

 

Every Sunday when I gather with my faith family, I am able to look past all the brokenness of this world and get a glimpse of what awaits me. I am able to “practice” for a moment what I will one day do forever. There we will with glad hearts gather around the throne of God and worship Him perfectly face to face. In that land there will be no viruses, no interruptions, and no sin. I long for this!  Like Job, I need to be reminded, “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” The Sunday gatherings for worship are weekly reminders that one day I will see my Savior with my own eyes! They are a reminder that one day I will sing to my Savior as He stands before me. Sundays are a taste of heaven, and COVID-19 has taken that from me for a little while. Yes, I hate COVID-19, but it has reminded me of how precious Sunday worship is, and maybe that’s the point.  

 

By His Grace,

Pastor Brian

 

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