The month of April, 2020 can be described as a religious month. In this month, three of the world’s largest faiths, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, will be celebrating Easter, Ramadan and Passover respectively. Naturally, these events tend to be ones that require physical gatherings. However, the year 2020 has proven to be the exception.

In March, 2020, the pandemic of Coronavirus, code-named “COVID-19”, spread throughout the Earth. Many persons have been infected, many lives affected, and too many have died. As a result, governments and other authorities have been putting measures in place to curb the effects of the virus. Such measures have included social distancing, or physical distancing, which have been adopted by businesses, schools, and even religious institutions.

The Church has been and will be continually affected by this. Nevertheless, because of the availability of technological media and devices, staying connected has not been a problem. That is, until it is now affecting the Easter Weekend; the holiest observed week in the Christian faith. Believers all around the world are being encouraged to refrain from physically meeting and, instead, host virtual meetings. How can we cope with such a change?

Believe it or not, we can cope! Here are five (5) ways in which we can effectively cope with the first ever “Virtual Easter”.

#1 Help One Another with understanding and using the Technology and Software

Not everyone will understand how to use Zoom, how to access a Facebook Live stream, or how to even video chat on Whats App. As a matter of fact, there are many people who do not even know how to use a phone. Try your best (while maintaining the required distance) to help one another understand how to use the technology and software. This help can be given over the telephone or (if the person knows how to) via Whats App or another medium. Let no one be left out of using the internet to access any virtual meetings that will be held during this weekend.

#2 Church Leaders must stay connected to the Flock

In such a time of social distancing, one can be tempted to refrain from focusing on encouraging and looking out for the other saints. Church Leaders, especially Pastors, should not fall for such a trap. Using Whats App, Facebook, or even Email or simple telephone calls, stay connected with members as much as possible. Schedule time during the day to make contact with members, especially the elderly, sick and needy. Send out general messages of encouragement. Send out prayer requests. Create groups and start fun virtual activities (quizzes, challenges, riddles, etc) that everyone in the group can participate in. Do your best to stay connected.

#3 Spend quality time with the family

Even beyond staying connected with the flock, Leaders and Believers in general need to use this time to spend time with their families. Honestly, the Easter weekend can be a busy time. Services, Activities, Trips, Picnics; it can all be exhausting. Instead, use the mandatory down time to be reacquainted with the family. Have meals (not in large family gatherings), watch movies, play games, talk, prayer, play, and encourage each other. Where you cannot meet face-to-face, call your family as much as possible; this is also spending time. You would be surprised as to how much healing would take place, even in the midst of such disease-centred chaos.

#4 Spend quality time with God

More than anything else, cherish your relationship with God. This down time is an excellent opportunity to reignite your devotional life. Consider spending time in prayer and fasting, even if its just for a day or half of a day. Read the word and reacquaint yourself with the account of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Pastors, use this downtime to refresh in Christ and regain focus for His work. It might even be a good time to reconsider your Church’s calendar of activities. God uses times like these to re-shift our focus and priorities. Spend time with Him and let Him do His work in and through you.

#5 Adopt a Prayer Network

Despite this being seen as “downtime”, prayer cannot and must not be forsaken. Build a virtual prayer network among the fellow believers. Send out requests that would be specific and timely, according to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Pray for the Health care workers and other Essential Services workmen and women. Pray for those who are sick, suffering, fearful, uncertain, and for the families who have and are losing loved ones because of this disease. The enemy will be very busy at times like these, especially seeing that the Church is encouraged not to gather and be unified physically. We must, however, be fervent in prayer, never ceasing.

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It will be difficult, seeing that such a weekend has been celebrated, for centuries, with individuals coming together in corporate worship. Nevertheless, always remember this; the building isn’t the Church, we are. Also, remember this; nothing will stop the Gospel from spreading and the Church from growing. Therefore, when trials and challenges such as these come, let’s work together, in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of Peace, in overcoming them. We will cope and we will make it; we always have and we always will.

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