COVID-19 Update

Over my many years of ministry, I have observed two things:

1. In a sin-plagued world, things are always changing.
2. In the midst of change, we must adapt our methods without changing our message.

 
I often talk about the importance of being flexible, even malleable, when it comes to presenting the gospel to a needy world. And, here we are now, in an ever-changing coronavirus climate, with the same old challenges. Frankly, I can’t even find a word to describe how I feel in the midst of the constant changes. One of our elders described it as “whiplash.”

Folks, many of us were so excited about gathering at our facilities last weekend with “in person live services.” Well, this week we are being forced to close our doors again. This is due to the increasing numbers of people who have tested positive for COVID 19. Because of this, the governor has decided to follow the newest advice of the State Department of Health. Yes, churches may still gather, in compliance with all of the state health department guidelines. However, due to the greater threat of the spread of the virus in crowds, there has been added a new requirement. We can no longer corporately sing and recite Scripture aloud in our worship services. We believe that this is unacceptable. We cannot imagine a worship service without the singing of our praises to the Lord. We cannot fathom a gathering where we do not “give attention to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13).

So, in light of these new restrictions, the elders of Campus Bible Church have made a very difficult decision. We are postponing all of our in-person Onsite Worship Services at both Maple and Palm, beginning this Sunday, July 5, until further notice (at least until the end of July). We encourage you to be even more intentional about inviting your family and friends to watch Campus Bible Church online on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Please, hear my heart. Although health and safety regulations may prompt the government to restrict our corporate gatherings, no mandate from any source can stop us from our personal and family time in Worship and in the Word. Perhaps our Sovereign Lord God is using this to have each of us hold on more tightly to the words of the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

May we all continue to do just that. In the words of Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Pastor Jim and the Elder Board