As an African-American woman, I have experienced many losses through racism, sexism, classism and misogynoir. Of those losses, it has been the ones I have suffered within my faith community that have been the most devastating because they resulted in misperceptions of God.
At night, we held baptisms and remodeled the interior of the church. At home, we hid our Bibles so the police wouldn’t find them. And God showed me that His promises are true.
Who doesn’t love receiving a card in the mail? A text from a friend? Maybe even a call from a dear family member? Though many church facilities have reopened, not everyone has returned to in-person worship. To that end, members have found unique ways to reach out to church family and stay connected to those worshipping from home.
“These are unprecedented times, and yet we are encouraged by the resilience of SVA’s students and parents, and the dedication of the faculty, staff and the leadership of the board of trustees,” says Darren Wilkins, principal.
During the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio Conference leadership recognized one thing: Ministry does not stop. Woven into their COVID-19 “Ministry Action Plan” are words of encouragement:
During a summer in 2016, Camp Mohaven counselors Taulbee and Macomber touched the lives of five young men. And this summer, these five touched the lives of many campers for Christ.
When the Ohio Conference Hispanic Ministries coordinator Peter Simpson and his pastors began planning their 2020 evangelism season, 1,734 Hispanic members had already been baptized since the time the department was established in 1970.
Young people may particularly have a difficult time making sense of what is happening in the world today. Their brains are still maturing and they lack experience, leaving them vulnerable and confused. They have been socially isolated from their peers, teachers and churches for months.
