Three weeks ago I, along with almost every preacher in America was thrust in front of a camera when the coronavirus COVID-19 forced state after state to require its citizens to quarantine themselves in their homes and banned any public assemblies of ten or more. There went religious worship as we then knew it. For the last three weeks I’ve led worship to a sanctuary composed of an organist, a preacher, myself as worship leader, some camera persons and our media tech. We try to stay six feet apart at all times and keep our numbers below nine of us in the sanctuary at all times.

It just suddenly dawned on me: I’m a televangelist. We preach, sing, and invite people to give via television or computer monitor. I lead the hymn singing and pray in front of several cameras to a completely empty sanctuary. The audience–congregation sounds so much better–sits at home watching on their Smart phones, tablets, laptops and Smart TV’s and hopefully is participating in worship, as best they can.

For our mid-week Lenten Wednesday services there is no longer a meal served at the church at 5:45 with worship following in the chapel at 6:30. Now I sit at home and record a video of myself presenting my PowerPoint message with that video image in the corner. Then I simply email presentation to our social media staff person Ryan to post on our Website and church Facebook page.

I do miss the immediate follow-up words of appreciation in the narthex (gathering space adjacent to the worship space) from you when you’re in worship. Thank you to those of you who text or email those words of appreciation later. But more importantly what I miss is the opportunity to shake hands, visit and catch-up with one another. As I reflect on that the Safe at Home program is forcing the church to be more intentional in how we connect individually, one-on-one. Yes, there are social media–even the good old telephone. But it still is not the same as face to face. Personal visitation is a no-no. I don’t want to transmit the virus from place to place and person to person should I be a carrier and not know it. Nor, do I want to unknowingly pick up that virus in a visit with a parishioner, whether in the hospital, a nursing facility or at home.

So, I write this blog, send emails, make phone calls, write notes and mail an occasional letter along with volunteers in the congregation doing the same. And I pray. I pray this quarantine will soon be over. I pray for my parishioners and former parishioners in churches I’ve served. I pray for my family and friends. And in my prayers I ask God to watch over you, protect you and give you peace–peace as only he can give it. I pray all of us have trust in his eternal presence alongside us. And that is a promise we can take to the bank. We can literally deposit it in our hearts.

Do you have Christ in your heart? Have you put your trust completely in him? We read in the Book of Acts 4:12 that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” In the spring of 1991 amidst some job frustrations and in the depth of a long Bible Study I heard Christ’s call to full-time ministry–to give my life fully to him. I’ve never been sorry. I’ve also learned it is a continual thing, putting your trust in God, it must be renewed daily, moment by moment.

So while our world–literally, the WORLD–is upset with the coronavirus, God’s still in control. He’s got us and got this situation firmly in hand. Will we return to normal soon? I don’t think so. I think there will be a new normal, whatever that will be. It is my prayer that the world’s new normal has much more of Christ in it than our old normal ever did. But knowing our Lord, he will faithfully lead us and I firmly accept this promise from Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God has always desired our companionship and fellowship–it was his design from day one of his creation. God’s design also mandated that we have the free-choice to accept his love and direction. We are assured in the Book of Revelation that in John’s vision he saw a new heaven and a new earth coming down out of heaven “from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) And John heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (21:4)

Yes, our lives have all changed and though we are a people who resist change we’ve also learned that change is a constant in our lives and the best alternative, I believe, is to embrace it and move on. So, televangelist or not its how we have to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ today. And as I think about it maybe its a good thing to our getting that message beyond the four walls of a building. And shouldn’t the church–Christ’s church not be a building but God’s people being as Christ about in the world? The church is the body of Christ dispersed. Perhaps now it may be easier to invite our “none churched” friends who wouldn’t dare darken the door of our churches to push a button or two on a computer and watch our message–Christ’s message–away from prying eyes in the safety of their homes. Are not all things possible with God? Let’s embrace our technology and be a part of the movement to invite one and all to come and see–taste and see that the Lord is good and learn what Christ might do for them.

So here is my televangelist plea: not for funds but to help spread the word of our on-line ministry. Help us get the word out about Asbury’s on-line worship. http://www.asburymadison.com. But my plea goes further than just Asbury. Just about every church is on-line in various ways. Invite friends to search the Internet and find an Internet church “home” or two that they are comfortable with and then make it a point to check in regularly.

Together, with God’s help and direction, we can transform lives all over the world. Thank you.