By Mindy Apple
Cokesbury Community Resource Consultant for the North Georgia Conference
In the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were reacting to the ever-changing scene in our lives and in our churches. Uncertainty, grief, and fear were some of the frequent emotions we were feeling. “Fear is a good gift,” says Adam Hamilton in Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times. “It helps us detect a danger or threat.” He adds, it’s important to “look to see how our faith can play a role in our fears.”
As a Cokesbury Conference Resource Consultant, I’ve seen firsthand how these fears are being overcome by pastors and Christian educators in our Conference. These servants have taken crash courses in video streaming and are transitioning worship, Bible studies, meetings, and youth groups to virtual gatherings via platforms such as Facebook, Skype, Zoom, and Amplify Media.
They are “looking to see how our faith can play a role in our fears.”
At Cokesbury, we've compiled a list of "Books to Read in Anxious Times." These hopeful books could be helpful in your ministry: https://www.cokesbury.com/books-to-read-in-anxious-times?pagenumber=1
I have been amazed at how quickly church leaders have shifted from reactive to proactive. This isn’t just in our Conference. I am hearing from my colleagues throughout the country about the creative ministry approaches their church partners are taking.
We've seen creative ideas like: