Sisters and brothers,
Re: Covid-19 – A Word of Encouragement & Exhortation
There is a sense in which viewing the coronavirus through the lens of divine providence serves to shore up our confidence in the wisdom, grace and love of the Almighty God. We have seen that within the very crisis itself are wonderful missional opportunities and that as a faith community, we are being invited to continue discerning and responding in the power of the Spirit.
The reports received and reflected upon during the recent sitting of the JBU Executive Committee, painted a moving testimony of courageous compassion and Christlikeness amidst the crisis. How inspiring it was to learn of multiple expressions of selfless and sacrificial giving, the outpouring of solidarity and support among colleagues, church workers and families within communities and the creativity of countless think tanks, coming up with new Covid-19 worship solutions and survival strategies. God in sovereign wisdom, grace and love has been facilitating our keeping faith with the Word in an ever-changing World.
Summer is with us and for many it will be quite different from what we have experienced in our lifetimes. Travel, visits, recreation, camps, etc., have all been either cancelled or reconfigured. For example, the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) Summer Camps, an annual staple on our calendar, have shifted to an on-line format and we thank the leaders of the relevant departments for their creativity in finding ways for our young people to interact.
With the advent of summer has come an appreciable easing of the regulations and restrictions that were put in place to combat the spread of the dreaded coronavirus. For many, this is a welcome relief, as there was a general feeling of suffocation, given that so much of what we took for granted was taken away from us. Many no doubt can now testify to the renewed enthusiasm being experienced, as in recent weeks, the doors to our sanctuaries were being opened wider to receive more of us.
Yet, notwithstanding the changing narrative which may lead some to form the view that we are past the worst, the fact is Covid-19 is still a serious threat to us. Knowing that according to official figures, and with the reopening of our borders, approximately six thousand (6,000) persons are now in home quarantine should be enough to keep us vigilant and to act in ways that will demonstrate love for neighbour. It is very important to remember that the practice of physical distancing is an expression of being our brother’s/sister’s keeper, as together we continue to work to reduce/slow down the transmission rate of the virus.
As we continue to demonstrate corporate responsibility amidst the current crisis, we exhort you not to become weary in wearing your masks in public. Even beyond the legal requirement, and despite the discomfort some experience in doing so, we exhort you to treat it as an expression of love for and in solidarity with others.
Brothers and sisters, in all these things, God is showing us the way of the future; what needs to change, and what is possible if we truly work together. Even though we were seeing signs of the need to consider strategies for dealing with and driving change, Covid-19 has heightened and escalated this awareness. We could not have asked for a better “setting of the stage” for an exploration of the new JBU theme. We are in the midst of a revolution, and in times like these, the Word of God is the only constant. Therefore, let us keep faith with the Word!
We close by sharing with you the attached resolution (see link below) that was passed at our General Assembly in February, but which we delayed sharing, whilst we focused on dealing with Covid-19. As it turns out, events in the national media over the past days reiterate the importance of the resolution and remind us of our prophetic role in Jamaica’s life.
Resolution – Assembly 2020 – Corruption in Jamaica