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 underlying factors (changes) that I have observed have surfaced in our churches and ministries at the dawn of this Coronavirus pandemic.
Part one was published earlier on this website.
First, our provisions.
By provisions, I mean the income and the economic life of the church and for that matter the pastor. This pandemic has not only crippled the global economy but has also had a little bite on the financial life of most churches and pastors worldwide.
Almost every church gets its greatest income and provisions through the offerings, tithes and other seeds from members, even though God Himself is the ultimate provider of all things. Having closed these churches for some months now due to this pandemic, one can easily predict the financial drain it has had on almost every ministry. Some churches who used to give their staff some reasonable payments, allowances and stipends have now reduced it to some minimal percentage just to sustain the financial life of the church during this pandemic.
Recently, I heard a very popular man of God saying in an interview that, their church Easter convention offerings alone could equal another ministry’s whole year income. That wasn’t a statement of pride but a statement of fact. Probably due to their numbers as a church and (or) due to the special grace of giving amongst the church members. But unfortunately, they missed these huge sums of money that could have come from their annual Easter convention because of this pandemic.
So the point still remains clear that, this pandemic has not only affected the global economy and the economic life of the church alone but also the very pockets of some pastors! And more dangerously the pockets of those money- conscious, stomach-driven prophets and pastors.! For once, they’re missing their huge consultation fees, counseling fees, special seed and prophetic offerings and their ‘no-nonsense seeds’ from their gullible members!
To those genuine pastors out there, God says He will surely supply all your needs even in this pandemic. To those money- seeking, stomach-directed preachers, pastors and prophet , God says, use this pandemic season to repent and return to Him and He will gladly receive you.!
Second, our priorities.
The economists would call this, the scale of preference. To begin with, understand that the topmost priority of any nation hit by this pandemic is not to get its citizens to strictly and religiously pay taxes in these times (In fact, most nations have adopted tax relieve services to their citizens) . It’s also not to get their citizens to work so hard now to restore back their broken and downtrodden economy either. No! The topmost priority of every nation on earth currently, is to first secure a vaccine for its citizens who have been victimized by the deadly pandemic.
Secondly, it is also the topmost priority of nations to now ease the economic stress and burden on its citizenry by providing basic necessities like free food, water and in some cases free electricity to its citizens . So you see, the attention has now shifted from citizens-must-give-to-the-nation to the vice versa. This is what I mean by, priorities.
Apparently, this priority-shift in most countries has not been so different from that of the church. Whilst formerly the church sought to appeal for funds through tithes, offerings and other fund raising ventures from its members (even though it still does now), now the equilibrium seems to have shifted to the church giving back to its members and even to its nation in these trying times (Though members are still encouraged to give in these hard times as a means of getting blessed!).
This was widely seen by most churches especially at the onset of this pandemic. Most churches went all out to donate to the COVID-19 alleviation fund as part of their occasional charitable deeds to the society, and for that matter the nation. Some also provided personal protective equipment (PPE) and other health logistics to various health institutions to help curtail or alleviate this deadly pandemic.
Ordinarily, some churches wouldn’t have been involved in this benevolent activities but for this pandemic. A shifted priority indeed. It now seems that, almost every church and for that matter pastor, is doing one charitable deed or the other. Left to some of these pastors, they would have honorably used these church funds for a major church project or even hold a major program like a crusade or some form of revival in advancement of the kingdom. But Coronavirus has slightly shifted their plans and priorities into doing other things. Truly, desperate times, they say, calls for desperate measures.
However, I must humbly advise that even though this pandemic has slightly and cunningly shifted our priorities as a church and as pastors, yet we must always remember that whether in a pandemic or not, the core mandate of the church to preach and win the lost to Christ must still stand and be maintained. We certainly cannot allow a passing pandemic to poorly and poignantly padlock our perpetual plans and projections of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth. Showing love and doing charitable deed is good but our focus must still be on the propagation and the promulgation of the powerful gospel and not be distracted by this powerless pandemic.
Pastors, let’s wake up to this worthy course and prioritize our preaching on christ and Him crucified. Let’s arise and preach until He (Christ) is fully formed in every rapturable soul on earth. For what is the need of providing all the necessary PPE and all other necessary logistics to our health workers to save COVID-19 patients, without the salvation of their souls!
Remember, our number one priority is to preach and save souls from hell and we must always endeavor to keep it as such! Therefore, do all your godly and charitable deeds in these trying times as a pastor, but ultimately prioritize the preaching of the word, which even has the power to heal all forms of sickness and disease including the Coronavirus disease. Never relegate and substitute your core mandate of making disciples of all nations to just doing a charible deed. Blend the two in these trying times and see the glorious impact in the kingdom and your ministry as well. Always remember, if a man’s priorities are right, his principles and practices would also be right! Selah.
Finally, our people.
A very renowned man of God was recently heard to have quoted in an interview hosted by a Joy FM journalist that, “I want us to go back to church, not necessarily for the monies of my members, but just that I have greatly missed my members” (Paraphrased by me). Seriously, this man of God couldn’t have missed that point! He hits the hammer right on the nail. No wonder the wise man said, ” In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, but in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.” (Prov. 14:28).
Honestly, church is basically about people. And without people, there is no church. It is that pastor-congregation relationship that makes the church family a pleasant and a vibrant one. One without the other unfortunately renders the church family incapacitated. I have been a pastor for some time now, and I know how it feels to preach to a very small congregation and a large congregation. The anointings can never and ever be the same! But how about preaching to empty plastic chairs too? Well, your guess could be as good as mine!
Unfortunately, that is where we are as a church by virtue of the novel Coronavirus. It has rendered almost every church auditorium and building empty (even though, the child of God (the Christian) who is the real and the true church is not empty because of the presence of Christ Jesus in him [see Colossians 1:27]).
I’ve watched how many pastors have struggled and are still struggling to preach to empty chairs almost every Sunday for the past months due to the ban on social and public gathering. And honestly, I could feel the difference in the anointing when there were large congregations and now with little or no congregation. “Man of God, are you now equating the size of the congregation to the anointing?”, someone may ask. No! But remember we’re just earthen vessels carrying His treasure in us. And as human as we are, when we’re faced with such situations, we often cannot help but succumb to that human element in us. Especially seeing how some pastors were used to preaching to large congregations. And now preaching virtually to invisible beings. It will be quite challenging trying to adjust to that!
However, I must admit that most men of God I’ve been listening and following lately have fully adjusted to this new trend of doing ministry and are now flowing freely as though they were preaching to their usual large congregation, even though they initially admitted the difficulty associated with this new venture.
What do I want to say in all these? It is just to bring to the fore, the dire consequences this pandemic has posed to the church, particularly the pastor. All of a sudden, your pastor has to adjust preaching to empty pews. All of a sudden, he has to imagine his entire congregation in his mind as he ministers online almost every week. All of a sudden, your pastor has to take your offering through mobile money (MoMo). And the uncertainties goes on and on!
It is in view of all these, that I gladly beckon all Christians to boldly arise and wage a holy anger in prayer against this demonic pandemic, and say to this Coronavirus pandemic, enough is enough!!! So that when all is said and done, we can return gloriously and joyously to our various churches to return all glory and honor to His holy name. Amen and Amen!
Author: James Quayson
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