On March 11, 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel Coronavirus as a global pandemic. The declaration caused many to ask what really a pandemic is. Well, I took time to fish out the meaning of a pandemic as defined by the WHO. And here it is, “A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease.” Simply put, a pandemic is a global disease.
Interestingly, history tells us that Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as COVID-19, is not the first pandemic the world has ever witnessed. The Spanish flu in 1918 was also declared a major global pandemic with all its devastating effects. That simply means that, pandemics are often or usually characterized by devastating effects. And the Coronavirus pandemic has not spared the entire world of these same effects either.
Globally, almost every sphere of human engagement in the likes of the aviation industry, economic industry, educational institutions, health sector, tourism and art industry, agricultural sector and even sports industry have been greatly affected and plaqued by this deadly pandemic.
Incidentally, religious organizations and institutions have also not been spared of the fangs of this deadly and ‘demonic’ virus with its ripple effects on the current modus operandi as far as church services and activities are concerned . Hence, my focus on the church and particularly the pastor in this article. And my chosen title “THE PASTOR IN A PANDEMIC” .
In this piece, I will attempt to unravel and plainly point out what I call, ” THE 5Ps OF THE PASTOR IN A PANDEMIC .” I seek to bring to bear what you may call it, the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on the church and particularly, the pastor.
Let me, however, begin by saying that truly the scripture cannot be broken and that the portion of the scripture that strongly admonishes that, ” Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.” (Psalm 105:15) is still relevant and applicable to all God’s chosen men and women of God (pastors), especially in these trying times. Furthermore, the promise made by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 16: 18, concerning the building of His own church and that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it has also not been made obsolete. Neither has it been diluted by this pandemic. Jesus is still building His glorious, unconquerable and triumphant church even in the midst of this global pandemic.
However, it is worthy to note that, scripture did not promise us a hitch- free or a free and fair journey as far as doing the work of the ministry especially in this End time is concerned. Jesus Himself reiterated unequivocally that, there is going to come a time where, “They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing God a favor.” (John.16: 2) (MSB).
It is in the light of this, that I humbly want to draw the minds of all pastors, church leaders and all church folks to these five underlying factors (changes) that I have observed surfaced in our churches and ministries at the dawn of this deadly and novel Coronavirus pandemic.
First, our prayer points.
You hardly need a prophet to tell you that almost every pastor’s prayer point(s) has changed during this pandemic season. Whilst some pastors were initially given to ferocious and ‘fireful’ prayers for their members to have visas and passport to travel abroad, others were consistently led by their pastors to pray for the breaking of family and generational yokes and altars. And few others genuinely led their members to pray kingdom-minded prayers.
But, having watched several TV channels and followed several online services during this pandemic period as a pastor , I cannot help but to admittedly point that, most pastors and for that matter members have changed their prayer points. It has changed from praying for passport to praying against the pandemic to pause promptly. It has changed from breaking that family pot to pausing the present pandemic permanently. It has changed from praying on their personal problems to praying to part away from the pandemic perfectly. It has changed from praying in pursuit of possessions to pushing away the pandemic properly. It has changed from praying for marital breakthrough to praying for the salvation and healing of the Coronavirus victimized souls. It has now changed from praying for financial blessings to praying for the discovery of vaccines, health workers and even for their nation and the nations of the world!
Yes, some may still be praying the same old and good kind of prayers they were used to, yet majority have partnered with this pandemic to properly pray it away through persistent and prevailing prayers. So, consciously or unconsciously , almost all our prayers have become pandemic prayers.!
But are all these prayer points against this prevailing pandemic wrong, man of God? Emphatically NO sir! Indeed, I would be the last person to condemn these kinds of prayers knowing very well that we’re truly not in normal times. And that until we pray away this pandemic, we cannot properly pray and even do other things.
But should we wait till we’re knocked with a major pandemic before we start teaching our members how to pray kingdom-minded prayers? Couldn’t we (pastors) have led and even taught our members to pray for the salvation of souls even before this pandemic? Couldn’t we have taught our members to seek heavenly and spiritual things other than praying and seeking material and trivial things like passport and visas? Couldn’t we have led and taught our flock to always pray for the sick, health workers and even for our nation and the nations of the world before this pandemic ? Oh what a pandemic can do–changing the prayer points of pastors and members!
Second, our preaching.
Scripture powerfully and pointedly posits that, “How forceful are right words!…. ” (see Job 6:25). And the Apostle Paul encouraged his son Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season (see 2 Timothy 4:2). Truly, a word spoken in season does not only inspires the soul but also instructs it.
Surely, one cannot but agree with most of our pastors in these trying times. Indeed, most of them, if not all, have truly inspired and impacted many lives through their timely, tried, tested, relevant, revelatory and reliable messages during this pandemic . Time would, however, not permit me to mention names here! But kudos and more grace to all our pastors!
Consequently, those who once were not used to preaching eschatological, kingdom- seeking, salvation – oriented and relevant End time messages fortunately joined the selected few during these trying times. Even some so-called prosperity preachers were also spotted for the first time preaching, FEAR NOT, HEAVEN & HELL IS REAL, JESUS IS COMING AGAIN, REPENT NOW, GET BORN AGAIN TODAY type of messages.
But why wait for a pandemic to strike before you exert all your energy in preaching your salvation message, my dear pastor? Why are you now drawing the minds of your ‘invisible’ and ‘home-based’ members to the realities of heaven and hell, my dear prophet? Why are you not doing your usual and money- seeking ‘akonkyire’ again, but now preaching for the salvation of souls ? Arise oh preacher and preach the unadulterated and incorruptible word! Not only in good times but also in bad times like the Coronavirus pandemic season !
Author: James Quayson
