Wednesday's Catch: 'Cockroaches and the Coronavirus' and More

Cockroaches and the Coronavirus

The church works best when it’s decentralized and missional. Read More

Coronavirus Could Kill Consumer Christianity

Here are three ways COVID-19 is killing consumer Christianity. Read More

Do We Really Want to Go Back to Normal?

Was the old normal good? Were we really flourishing in the old normal? Was the old normal spiritually healthy? Read More

Who Will Be There After Lockdown?

What steps we can be taking now that will change the face of our regathering? Read More

This is Probably the Most Spiritually-Receptive Week in Our Lifetime—Will You Share?

We are in a season to share Christ like few we will ever experience. Read More

Closed on Sunday: Celebrating Easter in the Shadow of Global Death

In view of the diversity of churches and ministerial contexts, there is probably no “one-size-fits-all” approach to celebrating Easter during COVID-19. Read More

A Few Churches Are Defying Bans on Large Gatherings. That Could Be Bad for Religious Liberty.

Experts warn that grandstanding will make it harder to defend against real threats. Read More

How to Help Families Live Generously in Your Church during COVID-19

Right now, COVID-19 is providing daily opportunities to live generously both inside and outside our homes. Additionally, the mission of the church must go on even during a crisis. Read More

Grief in a Pandemic: How Do We Do Funerals during the Coronavirus

As a pastor or church leader you’ll have to navigate the responsibilities you have to honor the deceased and minister to their loved ones while maintaining a safe environment. Read More

When my mother died several years ago, her body was cremated and her ashes interred in her church's garden of memories. Only a small group of family members attend the funeral service and internment. However, one of her granddaughters videoed the funeral and internment for those who were unable to attend. A minister and a representative of the family might be present for the internment, and the family representative might livestream the internment to Facebook Live for the family and others, using a smart phone and a tripod. During the coronavirus volunteers from the minister's church might provide this service. A viewing of the deceased's body might also be livestreamed to Facebook Live. This may provide some closure for grieving loved ones. An online requiem service with hymns, scripture readings, a sermon, and prayers might be held later.

4 Things Churches Need from Their Pastors during the Pandemic

There are some things a church and community need during times like these that pastors can provide. Here are four things your church—and the community you and they serve together—are going to need from you. Read More

The Virus Changed the Way We Internet

We are looking to connect and entertain ourselves, but are turning away from our phones. Read More

Voluntary Social Distancing

While we groan under the weight of these (anticipated) temporary restrictions, cross-cultural workers are impacted every day by similar necessities–all the time. They have self-selected social distancing by moving to another country. Read More

3 Reasons for a Christian to Study Islam

To communicate the gospel well to our Muslim neighbors, we must first understand them. Read More

Tuesday's Catch: Being Missional during COVID-19 and More

Don’t Miss the Church’s Missional Moment During the COVID-19 Crisis

In leading our churches to be missional during this crisis, with the hopes that this missional momentum will continue when things return to normal sometime in the future, I offer four missional ideas for this moment. Read More

The Show is Over: In Support of Your Unpolished Streaming Church.

Maybe what pastors need is to be real enough to show the isolation. Read More

4 Priority Shifts Your Church Must Make During COVID-19

Here are a few of the necessary ministry shifts my church has made in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

The Church after the Coronavirus

how can the church best prepare for the time when the coronavirus is past? Read More

10 Ways to Thrive in Quarantine

Here are a few thoughts on how to thrive during these odd and frightening days. Read More

Monday's Catch: God Is Still at Work and More

5 Ways the Coronavirus Is Making the Church Stronger

In the midst of the pandemic, God is still at work. Read More

10 Simple Ways to Evangelize During a Pandemic

Here are 10 simple ideas for leveraging this season to advance the gospel. Read More

The Decade-Old Ministry Book That Envisioned the Pandemic

How to multiply disciples beyond COVID-19. Read More

4 Things to Do Now to Prepare Your Church for Future Crises

How then can we prepare for future crises while leading our churches through them? We’re still learning, but here are four actions that will help. Read More

Five Ways You Will Be a Different Pastor after the Pandemic

Though the biblical standards of pastoral ministry remain constant, how pastors carry out that ministry will change dramatically. In many ways, the changes are already taking place. Read More

10 Questions to Ask when Providing Pastoral Care by Phone or Video Chat

Having these specific questions before you will almost certainly lead to more meaningful dialogue than an unstructured, “I’m just calling to see how you’re doing” plan. Read More

8 Strong Coronavirus Sermons You Can Preach

In partnership with SermonCentral, here are eight strong coronavirus sermons. Read More

Five Ways to Help Your Kids Worship through Live-Stream

Here is some advice to train littles to join the family for church worship.... Read More

How to Stay Connected When Nothing Is Normal

Instead of looking towards the day where everything will be exactly how it was two months ago, we need to recognize that this is the new normal for this season. Read More

What’s the Best Material for a Mask?

Scientists are testing everyday items to find the best protection from coronavirus. Pillow cases, flannel pajamas and origami vacuum bags are all candidates.

Federal health officials have now recommended that we cover our faces with fabric during the coronavirus pandemic. But what material offers the most protection?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a no-sew mask pattern using a bandanna and a coffee filter as well as a video on making masks using rubber bands and folded fabrics found at home.

While a simple face covering can reduce the spread of coronavirus by blocking outgoing germs from coughs or sneezes of an infected person, experts say there is more variation in how much homemade masks might protect the wearer from incoming germs, depending on the fit and quality of the material used. Read More

Also See:
Coronavirus: Who Needs Masks or Other Protective Gear?
Why Wear Face Masks in Public? Here’s What the Research Shows
Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
How to Make Your Own Face Mask (Whether or Not You Know How to Sew)
How to make EASY FACE MASK in 1 MINUTE - NO SEWING! WASHABLE, REUSABLE FACE MASK [XS-XXL] [Video]
How to Make Your own Face Covering [Video]

Health experts are divided on the benefits of wearing a cloth face mask as a public health measure. People are apt to mistakenly think a cloth face mask will protect them from contagion and will ignore the other public health measures such as staying home and staying away from people. For example, several days ago a group of men crowded onto a neighbor's small front porch. One was wearing a face mask. While the wearing of a cloth face mask will reduce the spread of the coronavirus from people who have been infected with the virus but are not yet showing symptoms of the virus, they have very little usefulness in protecting the wearer from infection with the virus.

If someone wears a cloth face mask to go shopping, he or she should still keep a six foot distance from other people. The wearer should remove the mask carefully and wash it immediately in soap and hot water. The wearer should also wash their hands after each use. The wearer should discard the mask after several uses as the repeated washing will weaken the fabric. If the wearer is using a home-made mask that hooked on the ears with rubber bands, I would recommend immersing the rubber bands in rubbing alcohol and replacing them frequently too.

I also recommend that readers take time to read about the pros and cons of wearing a cloth face mask in the foregoing articles.

Note the woman and the baby in the photo are wearing their face masks incorrectly. The straps should be on the outside. Otherwise the mask bulges at the sides and does not properly cover the mouth and nose.

How to Avoid Touching Your Face So Much

There is a reason why humans are susceptible during disease outbreaks like that of Covid-19 – we keep touching our faces. Why, and what can we do about it?

Humans have a rather unusual habit we don’t share with many other animals, and, unfortunately, it makes us particularly susceptible during certain disease outbreaks – we keep touching our faces.

Our species is one of the few in the animal kingdom known to touch their faces regularly, and we often do it without even noticing. Studies have shown that we are particularly prone to touching our chins and the areas around the mouth, nose and eyes. When it comes to a disease like the new coronavirus, Covid-19, that is a recipe for fast transmission. (Read more about how Covid-19 can be transmitted by surfaces.) Read More

Social Distancing: How to Persuade Others It Works

Social distancing and self-isolation are effective ways to slow the spread of Covid-19, but from Australia to the US, many are ignoring public health measures. Here’s how to get through to someone who isn’t following the rules.

In some parts of the world, the spread of the new coronavirus has left public spaces eerily silent. In others, life during the pandemic is bustling as much as it ever was – and in some cases even more so. The Welsh countryside saw unseasonal floods of visitors before UK regulations were tightened, while in Australia, people at Bondi Beach were not prepared to let the virus interrupt their relaxation until the police got involved. In Miami in the US, students on their spring break were determined to celebrate regardless. “If I get corona, I get corona,” said one student. “At the end of the day, I’m not going to let it stop me from partying.”

And it’s not just groups of young people who struggled to get to grips with the reality of life with Covid-19. A poll in the US in mid-March found that less than half of people over the age of 60 were concerned about their risk of death from the virus. For some, like Karen Swallow Prior in Maine, it has led to a generational role reversal as she tries to ensure her elderly parents don’t sneak off into town.

Given that public health bodies such as the World Health Organization, the UK’s NHS, the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among others, are making it clear that there are effective ways to slow the spread of Covid-19 by avoiding close contact with other people, why are so many failing to take notice even after strict measures are introduced? And how can you persuade people to start taking care of themselves and the people around them? Read More

While this article offers some good suggestions, I don't think that they would work with a number of the people in my region and community, who are ignoring federal, state, and local recommendations that they stay at home and stay away from people. Earlier this evening I saw a man and a group of children talking with an elderly woman in my neighborhood. They were not maintaining a six foot distance from the woman nor was she trying to avoid them. Right now a group of people are gathered at my next door neighbor's house. They may be friends or relatives or a mixture of the two. At least three cars are parked in the driveway. I heard children's voices in the backyard.

I have overheard telephone conversations between my next door neighbor and a friend or relative. My next door neighbor is angry that the public health measures that the authorities have implemented prevent him from working. His company laid him off. He blames the public health measures for his layoff and not the coronavirus. Like a number of people in my community he dismisses the seriousness of the virus outbreak. Basically he is allowing his anger at being laid off to color his judgment. By hosting these gatherings at his home, he is putting himself and others at risk of contagion but he is not going to listen you if you attempt to tell him that. I have dealt with this kind of person when I was a social worker. The only way to get him to comply with the public health measures is to place him under a court order and even then he will defy that court order if he can. The court may order his arrest and incarceration for defying the court order but by then the harm will already have been done.

The region in which my community is located voted overwhelmingly in support of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Among the segment of the population that forms his base all kinds of conspiracy theories are circulating in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. This segment of the population takes its cues from the president. Since the president has been taking the virus outbreak more seriously in recent days, they themselves have begun to take it more seriously but not entirely. There are holdouts who cling to the conspiracy theories. The reaction of this population segment to the COVID-19 pandemic shows how politics is influencing thinking about the virus outbreak.

Because they live in a primarily rural area, people may also believe that they are not as much at risk of contagion as people who live in more heavily populated areas. Whatever may be their reason, their reluctance or unwillingness to change their behavior poses a public health threat.

Saturday Lagniappe: 'Virtual Communion in a Time of Pandemic' and More

Virtual Communion in a Time of Pandemic

If it’s possible to be really present to one another virtually during worship, and if God’s Word comes near to us through prayer, confession and absolution, hymns, the sermon—even when they are done within the context of online worship—it is worth reflecting on the theological possibility of the presence of the Word incarnate in, with, and through the experience of virtual communion. Read More

An Evangelistic Easter without Church Attendance

During this global pandemic and the social distancing, can Easter be an evangelistic opportunity? First, I think it can. Second, I know it will be different and will require more intentionality and creativity on our parts. How can we leverage this Easter for evangelism? Read More

Leading through COVID-19 [Video]

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has put together a free video training course for pastors and other church leaders on leading the local church during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course consists of 12 videos. Watch Now

Worship on the Lord's Day in the Time of Social Distancing

How we can honor the Lord’s Day and worship in our homes or places of shelter. Read More

Video Course: How Online Small Groups Work

Online small groups are a powerful way to provide an expression of biblical community no matter location limitations or schedule conflicts. In the following video course, you’ll learn why online groups are valuable to your church, the strategy of online groups, the details of what happens during a typical video group, and more. Watch the course yourself, send it to your group’s pastor or key volunteer. Your church or ministry will be able to launch online small groups after completing the course. Start the free 1 hour 21-minute video course today! Learn More

Lifeway Offers Free Easter Resources for Families

LifeWay Christian Resources is offering two free resources for kids ministry directors and families to use at home to celebrate the Resurrection. Learn More

How You Can Help the Poor in the Midst of the Pandemic

Ideas for making an impact in the lives of vulnerable people. Read More

ZOOM News Updates

A Must For Millions, Zoom Has A Dark Side — And An FBI Warning

Dennis Johnson fell victim last week to a new form of harassment known as "Zoombombing," in which intruders hijack video calls and post hate speech and offensive images such as pornography. It's a phenomenon so alarming that the FBI has issued a warning about using Zoom. Read More

‘Zoombombing’ is a federal offense that could result in imprisonment, prosecutors warn

Hacking into a conference call seems like a fun prank — until you get arrested. Read More

Zoom adds new security and privacy measures to prevent Zoombombing

Passwords and waiting rooms will be turned on by default. Read More

Automated tool can find 100 Zoom meeting IDs per hour

It found information for nearly 2,400 meetings in a single day of scans. Read More

Zoom has disabled a feature that was exposing users’ LinkedIn profiles

It matched anonymous users to their LinkedIn accounts. Read More

Thousands of Zoom recordings exposed because of the way Zoom names recordings

It’s unclear if Zoom will change how it names the videos. Read More

image credit: newsweek

More ZOOM Privacy and Security Tips

Zoombombing: What it is and how you can prevent it in Zoom video chat

Improve your Zoom security by following these steps. Read More

How to prevent Zoom bombing: 5 simple tips

Internet trolls are crashing Zoom video conferences and flooding them with inappropriate content. Here are easy ways to protect your meetings from Zoom bombers. Read More

5 things you can do today to make Zooming safer

Here are our top 5 “things to get right first” – they shouldn’t take you long, and they are easy to do. Read More

Check these privacy and security settings before your next Zoom video chat

Some privacy tips will go a long way to protect you on Zoom video chats. Read More

Every Zoom Security and Privacy Flaw So Far, and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

You may prefer to not use Zoom after reading this article. For my part, I continue to rely on it, sometimes daily. However, many people—perhaps tens of millions—have to use Zoom for school and work. Given that not using it isn’t an option for them, I want to offer advice on configuring it as safely as possible. Read More

I strongly recommend making a check list and using it until securing your ZOOM Meeting or ZOOM Chat becomes second nature. 

Zoom vs. Webex: 7 Features to Compare & Cons

With advanced video conference technology, it has become easier than ever for companies to hold high-quality virtual meetings and presentations. Location no longer matters, because with today’s powerful, efficient and reliable tools, you can meet instantly anywhere.

Zoom and Webex are two of the top video conferencing tools you can leverage to boost your global business connections, but which of the two is the best platform for hosting online meetings? We’ll take you through a detailed comparison between Zoom and Webex that’ll make it easier for you to pick the best option. Read More

Skype tries competing with Zoom by reminding people that they don’t need the app or an account to make a call

Skype is trying to make it as easy as possible to use its video calling software and remind people that using the app isn’t complicated. The company tweeted a reminder today that users can now start a video meeting and invite people to it without using the app or even having an account; the process is done completely on the web. (People can start a call from here.) Skype is likely hoping this feature gives it a leg up on some of its competitors, namely Zoom, which has dominated the video calling conversation ever since the pandemic started. Skype has mostly been left out of most video calling mentions. Read More

Skype has its own share of security problems. A hacker stole my Skype account password and linked the account to a G-Mail account that he (or she) had opened under a false identity, thereby preventing me from changing the password. The hacker then attempted to blackmail me, claiming that he had used my Skype account to access my webcam and to take compromising videos of me. He demanded payment from me in the form of bitcoins for not revealing these compromising videos online. I suspect that he may have done the same thing to a number of people, hoping to eventually find someone who had a guilty conscience, who would fall for his scam, and who might meet his demands.

As I noted yesterday, I think that we can expect people to use several apps rather than rely on a single app. What is important is that people have a number of options from which they may choose to maintain contact with family members, relatives, friends, and colleagues.

image credit: techcrunch.com

Coronavirus FAQs: Is A Homemade Mask Effective? And What's The Best Way To Wear One?

Since the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic, Americans have been told by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention not to wear masks unless they are sick, caring for a sick person who is unable to wear one or working in health care.

Numerous reasons have been given: That they don't offer significant protection from germs. That the most effective models need special fitting in order to work. That regular people don't typically wear them correctly. That they'll give people a false sense of security and cause them to be lax about hand-washing and social distancing.

And most of all: that there aren't enough masks and respirators for the health-care workers who desperately need them so leave the masks to them.

Now there are big changes to that policy.

The Trump administration announced Friday that the CDC is now recommending people consider wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Mayors in New York City and Los Angeles have already offered similar advice to citizens.

There's one big reason for the change: There is increasing evidence that the virus can be spread by presymptomatic and asymptomatic carriers.

These new policies come with the vital plea that people don't use the medical-grade masks that are in short supply in hospitals right now. That means one thing: The era of the homemade masks and face-coverings is upon us.

With this new attitude come many questions — which we'll attempt to answer here. Read More

Also See:
How to sew a face mask from common household materials

Remember: Wearing a face mask does NOT eliminate the need to stay home, washing your hands, maintaining a distance of six feet--the length of your extended arm, holding a broom fully extended--between you and other people. If you have been infected with the coronavirus and are asymptomatic, it will help prevent you from spreading the virus to other people if you must leave your home to purchase food or medication. The face mask should be washed after every use.

New Research: Churches Going Digital, While Offerings Drop

Earlier this week, LifeWay Research conducted a survey of Protestant pastors, hoping to discern how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their congregation so far. Aaron Earls reports on the results here. The new research shows a massive swing toward digital avenues of connection and communication, as well as an alarming drop in giving. Right now, we’re seeing churches take advantage of technological tools while bracing for significant financial challenges. Read More

Also See
Please Don’t Make “How Many Watched Online?” Our New Ministry Metric

Cultivate THIS Mindset in the Age of COVID-19

I've said many times, "There is no problem-free. Every model, system and strategy comes with a set of problems. Wise leaders simply choose the set of problems they'd rather have."

As you may already know, that is one of the 10 assumptions that shape my small group ministry strategy.

Truth be told, I think you need to have this assumption as well. Read More

image credit: markhowelllive.com

Fast and Cheap Ways to Livestream Your Church Service THIS SUNDAY [Video]

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, many churches are finding it impossible to meet in person. Livestreaming your church service is a great way of keeping the ministry moving without the germs. Let's talk about a few quick and dirty church live streaming setups that your church can use this week. Watch Now

Also See:
How to Livestream Your Church Service in 4 Easy Steps
Local Church Guide to Using Facebook Live

The third video which was produced by West Virginia United Methodist Conference assumes that the local churches using Facebook Live will have access to equipment that some local churches may not have such a music mixer.

How To Live Stream with Zoom [Video]

Not only is Zoom a great meeting platform, but you can Live stream with Zoom as well.

There may be times when you want to share a meeting with your audience, like a panel discussion, or interviews with industry leaders.

This is a perfect solution for remote bible studies, homeschooling, distance learning and a whole lot more. Watch Now

Also See
How To Stream Zoom on Facebook Live
How to Schedule a Facebook Live
How to Start a Scheduled Facebook Live Stream
Schedule A Facebook Live Five Shows you how to do it with Facebook or a third-party tool
How to Live Stream from Zoom to YouTube
How To LIVE Stream to Multiple Platforms at the Same Time
Copyrighted Music on Facebook?
How to Avoid Copyright Strikes on Facebook and Instagram
Zoom Settings for Music Performance
Best Audio Settings for Zoom Meetings with Music
7 Zoom Meeting Tips Every User Should Know! Includes a tip for muting an unwanted guest

image credit: zoom.us

Speak Life: Going Digital [Videos]

Here are links to 4 Speak Life videos covering a range of things that pastors, small group leaders, and others will find helpful in going digital.

Speak - How to Present to Camera
Stream - How to Live Stream High Quality Video on YouTube
Set Up - How to Film High Quality Video from your Mobile Device
Sing — Understanding Copyright For Your Streamed Worship

How to Keep Uninvited Guests Out of Your Zoom Event

We love that so many people are finding Zoom to be an easy way to stay connected in this time of social distancing, school closures, and work-from-home routines. All these virtual happy hours, coffee breaks, afternoon hangs, dance practices, yoga sessions, and so many other events over Zoom — your creativity and resilience in these tough times are inspiring!

What’s more impressive is that many of us are learning to host these events on the fly! As more people use our platform and host their virtual events using Zoom, we wanted to offer up tips to ensure everyone joining an event does so with good intentions. Like most other public forums, it’s possible to have a person (who may or may not be invited) disrupt an event that’s meant to bring people together.

So, a couple of reminders on using Zoom to host public events.... Read More

image credit: zoomblog

The Best Alternatives to Zoom for Videoconferencing

If recent news has made you Zoom-hesitant, there are other apps available

The Zoom videoconferencing app has become a highly popular means of keeping in touch for a world increasingly in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic, both for personal and professional meetings. However, there have been a number of complaints about Zoom’s privacy and security record of late, especially as more and more people flock to the platform and a brighter spotlight is shined on how it works and what data it may collect.

We recently ran a roundup of some of the free videoconferencing apps available, including Zoom. Since so many questions have come up about Zoom’s security, we’ve decided to run the roundup again, this time excluding Zoom and adding other apps that you can use instead.

As before, it’s worth noting that while all of these have free versions, some are offering temporary access to additional features for those who are currently working from home or who want to check up on friends and relatives online. Read More

Also See:
10 Free Zoom Alternative Apps for Video Chats

What I see happening is that people will start to use use more than one app--a different app for video conferencing, video chat, and so on. Every app has its strengths and its limitations.

Sometimes the deciding factor will be what app their company uses if they are working remotely. Other times it may be the app that is popular with family, relatives, and friends.

Friday's Catch: Praying through the Changes and More

7 Ways Our World Has Changed, But God Hasn’t

We are gradually coming to terms with the massive changes that have gripped our world in the last few weeks. I have written about 7 temptations we will face in isolation, 7 spheres in which we should be confident in God’s Word during this time, and 7 tips for preaching online. Now, here are 7 changes that we should pray through at this time.... Read More

5 Low-Tech Ways to Collect Offering Even While Your Church Isn't Gathering

do believe the number one step right now for the vast majority of churches is to unleash digital giving like never before. However, some people will simply not be able to make the transition. They desire to be generous but need other ways. Here are five offering opportunities that can unleash giving today. Read More

4 Struggles COVID-19 Causes for Single Adults in Your Church

As we self-quarantine and comply with local stay-at-home orders..., it’s critical for church leaders to understand the extra set of concerns single adults grapple with. Read More

Finding a Pastor’s State of Mind

Leading into his presence is what pastors do. But we have to go there first. It could take some time. This time, finding this place took me three days. But I cannot lead people there, I cannot lead from there, if I am not there myself. But when we get there, we will walk with our churches, our neighborhoods and the least of these among us through this tumultuous time. There will be a glorious feast on the other side. Read More

Pastors, There’s Never Been a Better Time to Pick Up the Phone

While pastors may not be able to visit people during the coronavirus outbreak, they can still give them a phone call. Read More

5 Ways to Make Sermons Stand Out from the Noise

How do you help the sermon stand out from the noise and clutter your people hear every day? Here are some thoughts and suggestions. Read More

How to Talk to Your Kids About the Coronavirus

Kaye, my wife, and I sat down with Morag Webb, a family therapist in Orange County. Morag is highly respected for her work with children and adolescents so Kaye and I wanted to gain wisdom from her on talking to our own kids. You can watch the video on here, but here are three actions Kaye and I are taking after talking with a family therapist about leading our girls in this season. Read More

Leverage Your Loneliness

Let’s not miss the opportunity we have to meet with the living God in this moment. As we shut ourselves off from the world, let’s not shut down our interaction with God. Let’s reject the voices that want to lure us into fear or senseless numbing. Instead, let’s quiet our souls in the presence of our good and sovereign King (Ps. 131). Read More

Seven Tips to Manage Your Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Feeling overwhelmed by a lockdown and the need to suddenly adopt e-learning? Keep connected and compassionate, says clinical psychologist Desiree Dickerson.

I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in academic mental health and well-being. In mid-March I was due to run a resilience and well-being workshop in Sweden for doctoral candidates, but was instead facing day eight of quarantine with two small children in my apartment in Spain. Like many people’s, my sense of resilience feels increasingly frayed. When our minds are consumed by the spread of the coronavirus and its impact on our health, loved ones, home countries, economy and students — not to mention our research programme, funding or employment status, and an abrupt transition to e-learning — how do we maintain our own mental health and well-being and that of our community?

Here are some tips that have resonated from discussions I have held with academic leaders and students about responding to COVID-19.... Read More

Also See:
Tips for How to Stay Happy in Troubling Times

How to Dine 'Out' during COVID-19

When the coronavirus hit Italy, chef Massimo Bottura had to temporarily close his restaurants, which include the three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana in Modena, as part of the government-orchestrated lockdown. Like everyone else, Bottura and his family were suddenly confined to their home, only able to venture outside to buy groceries or for emergencies.

Bottura explained that his daughter Alexa came up with the idea of filming him cook and sharing it with his Instagram followers as part of an unfiltered cooking show they have named Kitchen Quarantine. “I didn’t even know Instagram TV existed,” Bottura said, “but Alexa told me not to worry and she did it.”

The nightly demonstrations have proven hugely popular, with hundreds of thousands of people tuning in starting at 20:00 (CET) to watch Bottura, one of the world’s leading chefs, conjure up dinner for his family. “Despite the loneliness and being isolated in our homes, we can connect and talk to people all over the world,” he explained. “This is something very special.”

Bottura and his family have already spent three weeks in lockdown and likely have many more to come. All over the world, people affected by the coronavirus pandemic are turning to the internet and finding food-related ways to navigate this new territory together. Read More

How to Make a Quick and Simple Hand Sanitizer

Create a germ-killing solution out of just a handful of common household ingredients.

Running out of hand sanitizer during cold and flu season is a potential nightmare for anyone anxious to keep their hands 99.99 percent free of germs. The good news is that you don’t need to dash to the store the next time you run low. With a few simple ingredients and a few containers to mix them in, you can cobble together your own hand sanitizer from the comfort of your home. No chemistry degree required. Just make sure to avoid these times you’re overusing hand sanitizer. Read More

Also See:
13 Coronavirus Products Not to Waste Your Money On

Things to Consider as You Fine-Tune Your Online Gatherings

Some observations from online services I’ve watched and helped prepare

After having watched and engaged with the preparation for a number of churches as they moved to gather online this weekend, and then watch the amazing work leaders across the country did to reshape the central gathering of their church communities, below are some thoughts and observations for leaders to interact with and consider for the coming weeks and months. Read More

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How to Use Virtual Backgrounds in Zoom from Your Phone

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How to use Breakout Rooms in Zoom for Teaching and Learning

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Zoom Privacy: A Guide for ZoomBombing
Here's 8 Quick Tips To Keep You From Getting "Zoombombed" By Trolls
Zoom Meetings May Not Be Totally Private, So Try These Extra Security Measures
Zoombombing: What It Is and How to Prevent It in Zoom Video Chat
Protect Your Zoom Meetings with a Password Now — Otherwise, You're Leaving the Door Wide Open for Hackers to 'Zoom-Bomb'
Zoom Meetings Keep Getting Hacked. Here’s How to Prevent ‘Zoom Bombing’ on Your Video Chats
Intruders Are Hijacking Zoom Calls with Noise and Gross images — Here’s How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of ‘Zoombombing’
Zoom Announces 90-day Feature Freeze to Fix Privacy and Security Issues

A number of the preceding articles repeat the same information but offer additional tips that the other articles do not offer. 

Coronavirus and the Church: Resources

Trusted Resources for Churches from Leading Experts

The purpose of this site is to assist churches and ministry leaders as they prepare for and respond to the effects of the Coronavirus in their congregations and communities. Browse Resources

Ed Stetzer drew attention to this website on the webinar, "The Future of the North American Church," earlier today.

Thursday's Catch: The Ripple Effects of the Coronavirus Outbreak and More

Few Churches Plan to Gather for Easter, Most Already Have Stopped Meeting

The coronavirus outbreak has had ripple effects across the country, including in U.S. churches, according to a new study of pastors. Read More

5 Predictions for the COVID-19 Aftermath

A friend recently asked me how I expect life and ministry to change in the aftermath of COVID-19. And I’m sure many of you wonder the same thing. I claim no prophetic gifting. I just read and speak with experts much smarter than I am. Based on those interactions I generated five tentative predictions, phrased in seemingly contradictory pairs. Read More

Best Practices for Church Planters During COVID-19 [Podcast]

The coronavirus caught the world off guard. Church planters are scrambling to restructure our churches around nationwide lockdowns, overwhelmed medical communities, looming economic recessions, and health risks. For all the advantages that come with living in the information age, there are no handbooks on how to plant and pastor churches during a global pandemic. Listen Now

A Challenging Word for Churches from USA Today

We’re responding now in new ways, but I still wonder what that will look like on the other side of the crisis. Here are some possible ways to maintain our Great Commission urgency post-COVID-19.... Read More

How to Help Members Deal with the Pain of a Dying Church

Revitalize and Replant often talk about dying churches and the pain it creates for members. Thom Rainer and Kevin Ezell discuss best practices for leaders to utilize as they help members of a dying church deal with the pain. Listen Now

2020 will see the demise of a sizable number of dying churches. One of the tolls of a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic is that churches which were struggling at the beginning of the crisis will have have disappeared before the crisis subsides. This is what happened to a number of churches when Hurricane Katrina struck their communities. Even those churches that survived the hurricane and its aftermath were seriously weakened.

14 Hymns of Hope to Sing during COVID-19

COVID-19 has upended life for billions. This unusual season brings countless trials, pressures, and pains. And yet, we trust that God has important lessons to teach His people during such disorienting days. One of those lessons is that no matter where we are, whom we are with, or what is happening in the world, believers can and should sing to our Savior. Read More

Tips for Parents Who Are Suddenly Homeschooling

Everyone’s situation will be different, but hopefully this advice will help you in these crazy days. Read More

Ask These 9 Questions Before Starting Online Small Groups

The most frequently asked question I get from pastors is always about online small groups, and it’s a question that has become dramatically relevant for churches in recent weeks. How does Saddleback Church do online small groups? How do they meet? How do you train leaders? Do you ship materials to group members? These are all great questions! The Online Campus at Saddleback Church has over 1,000 online-only small groups, and we’ve learned a great deal about what works and doesn’t work over the years.

Take a few minutes to read our answers to commonly asked questions! Read More

Also See:
Miss the Live Demonstration of an Online Small Group Connection?
7 Absurdly Awesome Apps for Small Groups Leadership

Technology for High School Small Groups When You Can’t Meet In-Person

I’m not sure what it’s like in the rest of the country, but basically all in-person church ministry has been canceled in the Washington DC area. Youth groups, Bible studies, fellowship groups, small groups, staff meetings, and even prayer meetings have all been canceled for basically the rest of the school year.

This is a particular burden for youth groups, where weekly discipleship is so critical. Fortunately there are technological options to enable much of that ministry to still go on. Here are a few suggestions for the youth pastors and small group leaders to stay in touch with their high school students. These are written for youth leaders who may not have used these tools before, but keep in mind that your high school students are probably using all of them for school now. Read More

Coronavirus: Zoom under Increased Scrutiny as Popularity Soars

The videoconferencing app Zoom has come under fresh high-level scrutiny as its popularity soars during the coronavirus pandemic.

New York's attorney general has written to the firm raising concerns over its ability to cope with the rise in users.

Zoom is now being used by millions of people for work and leisure, as lockdowns are imposed in many countries.

But its data security and privacy measures have been questioned.

The letter from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James asked Zoom whether it had reviewed its security measures since its popularity surged. It also pointed out that in the past the app had been slow to address issues. Read More

Also See:
ZOOM Meetings Aren't End-to-End Encrypted, Despite Misleading Marketing
Maybe We Shouldn’t Use Zoom after All
Are Zoom Chats Private? Here’s Why You Should Think Before Opening The App
Beware Zoom Users: Here’s How People Can ‘Zoom-Bomb’ Your Chat

I am posting links to these articles NOT to discourage you from using ZOOM but to make you aware of some of its limitations.

Wednesday's Catch: What Do We Do for Easter? And More

5 Ways to Make Your Online Easter Service Impactful

Amid this time of uncertainty and change, one question looms for many church leaders: What do we do for Easter? Amid this time of uncertainty and change, one question looms for many church leaders: What do we do for Easter? Read More

Asian Americans Call on the Church to Preach Against Coronavirus Racism

Hundreds of Christian leaders sign a landmark statement denouncing spike in xenophobia. Read More

In Quarantine: What We Can Learn from the Early Church

God calls the church for times just like the one we are living in. Read More

Is it All About the Weekend? Not Now, and Should Not Have Ever Been

Customer-centric Sunday experiences have weakened the church— Coronavirus is pushing us to a better way. Read More

The Best Digital Mixer You May Never Need

The Behringer X32 digital mixing board is an amazing product: used reliably all over the world, loved by beginners and pros, and is still a great choice in many situations nearly 10 years after its initial release! It’s so good it singlehandedly rescued the reputation of the Behringer brand. But does your church need it, or any digital mixer for that matter? Read More

4 Things Our Children Will Remember about COVID-19

Children aren’t supposed to feel the weight of the world, much less understand it. As our children and grandchildren struggle to grasp the implications of COVID-19, there are a few concrete concepts we can help them with, which will remain for the rest of their lives. Read More

Human Connection Bolsters the Immune System. That’s Why It’s More Important than Ever to Be Kind.

Don’t go to work. Don’t see your friends. Don’t visit your grandmother in the nursing home. Don’t bring food to your sister who works at a hospital. Don’t hold your wife’s hand while she gives birth. Don’t play together. Don’t pray together. Don’t hug.

Of the many cruelties of the coronavirus pandemic, this is one of the hardest to accept: In a time when all we want is to be close to the people we care about, closeness is the one thing we can’t have.

Six feet has never felt farther away.

Psychologists are worried about the long-term effects of our new, socially distant reality. Decades of research has shown that loneliness and isolation are associated with high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, weakened immune systems and a host of other health issues.

But there is also hope in the data. Studies have revealed that human connection — something as simple as getting an offer of help from a stranger or looking at a picture of someone you love — can ease pain and reduce physical symptoms of stress. People who feel supported by their social networks are more likely to live longer. One experiment even found that people with many social ties are less susceptible to the common cold.

For everyone quarantined in solitude, aching and afraid for far-flung family and friends, this science can provide some solace. A supportive phone call, an empathetic ear, an expression of love — these things can bolster the immune system on a molecular level. Whether you are the recipient or the giver, kindness is good for your health. Read More

Also See:
How to avoid burnout amid a pandemic

The Social-Distancing Culture War Has Begun

Across the country, social distancing is morphing from a public-health to political act. The consequences could be disastrous.

For Geoff Frost, the first sign of the coronavirus culture war came last weekend on the golf course. His country club, located in an affluent suburb of Atlanta, had recently introduced a slew of new policies to encourage social distancing. The communal water jugs were gone, the restaurant was closed, and golfers had been asked to limit themselves to one person per cart. Frost, a 43-year-old Democrat, told me the club’s mix of younger liberals and older conservatives had always gotten along just fine—but the guidelines were proving divisive.

At the driving range, while Frost and his like-minded friends slathered on hand sanitizer and kept six feet apart, the white-haired Republicans seemed to delight in breaking the new rules. They made a show of shaking hands, and complained loudly about the “stupid hoax” being propagated by virus alarmists. When their tee times were up, they piled defiantly into golf carts, shoulder to shoulder, and sped off toward the first hole.

Frost felt conflicted. He wanted to encourage the men, some of whom he’d known for years, to be more careful. “I care about their well-being,” he told me. “But it’s a tough call, just personally, because it’s become a political thing.” Read More

COVID-19: What We Know and What We Don't Know

The US has more than 200,000 cases of coronavirus. And carriers who don't feel sick are fueling the spread

The number of US coronavirus cases surged by more than 14,000 in just a few hours Wednesday as the death toll topped 4,400. Read More

CDC Director On Models For The Months To Come: 'This Virus Is Going To Be With Us'

An interview with Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers on Disease Control (CDC). Read More

Underlying Health Disparities Could Mean Coronavirus Hits Some Communities Harder

As the coronavirus spreads across the country, millions of Americans already struggling with health and finances — especially those in minority communities — could bear the brunt of it. Read More

Why children are not immune to Covid-19

The evidence so far suggests that children are less vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus, but they can still be infected. Why does the virus seem to affect children differently? Read More

Coronavirus: Are loss of smell and taste key symptoms?

A loss of smell or taste may be a sign that you have coronavirus, according to UK researchers. Read More

Coronavirus: US 'considers cloth face masks for public'

US health authorities are debating whether to recommend face coverings for everyone when they go out in public. Read More