Due to the recent pandemic, churches are taking an alternate route in reaching their congregations. Many churches have decided to put their worship service online for people to watch safely in their homes.
Since the majority of Union students are home with their families due to COVID-19, they are having to navigate which virtual service they should attend. This is difficult to navigate because when students are at school, many plug into a church in Jackson. Now, many are at home watching services from their family’s home church. It is different and difficult because most want to still be involved with their church family in Jackson.
Sophomore social work major, Lydia Cyrus, attends church at Englewood East while at school in Jackson.
While Cyrus is at home with her family, she watches her home church online, where her father is the pastor, and then she watches Englewood’s online service after.
“Since they’re both online I can watch both,” said Cyrus. “But, it’s still kinda weird watching church at home, then watching my college church by myself.”
Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 (NIV), “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
This means that even if churches are gathered online, believers are still gathered in his name. The church is not a building. The church is people coming together to worship the Lord our God.
“I miss feeling connected to my church. I miss gathering in a sanctuary with other believers,” said Cyrus. “There’s something so awesome about being united in the same building with the same intention of worshipping God together.”
Mackenzie Murphy, a sophomore public relations major, is watching Fellowship Bible Church virtually while at home.
“I believe it gives me everything I would need and feels like my ‘home church’ now,” said Murphy.
Murphy has watched her new “home” church virtually with her family.
“It’s definitely different watching church virtually rather than in person. I prefer in person but virtually hasn’t been bad at all,” said Murphy. “Fellowship has done a great job of still giving a wonderful message and even incorporating worship in as well!”
Cameron Woodard, a junior communications studies major, is a paid college intern at Fellowship Bible Church. His role right now during this pandemic is to connect with their College Fellowship community through phone calls and text messages.
“I engage in the livestreams that Fellowship Bible Church puts out. It’s not the same as a normal meeting, but it helps my brothers and sisters to stay engaged with the Word,” said Woodard. “Watching church online has a much more ‘distant’ feel I think, but it’s all we can do for now. And I want to stay grateful for the chance to see my pastors. Pastors are trying to shepherd their flock from afar right now, and that’s really hard.”
Woodard is joining local pastors in efforts to connect members of the body of Christ with one another and to continue to teach and engage their congregations.
“I think what we’re doing now is an understandable temporary fix. It takes more on my part, I think, to dig deep and invest in what’s going on,” said Woodard. “But like David Platt says, ‘if we took away all the lights and songs, would the Word of God still be enough for us to gather?’ I sure hope so.”
