Family of God vs. Coronavirus

By Rev. Tyler Cronkright

As if Family of God wasn’t unique enough. As many churches are taking a break from regular gatherings, Family of God has followed suit and has had to get creative with the ways that we do ministry on a regular basis. Our fellowship hall, which regularly held close to 100 people on any given night, is empty. Our beautiful sanctuary, where many people gather every Wednesday and Sunday is eerily silent. The kitchen, which has been full of volunteers, is now full of donated goods.

The Coronavirus has affected all of us in many different ways, and for a community that is deemed “at-risk” with compromised immune systems and is in the United States’ newest “hotspot” it means taking serious precautions. We have limited our hours of operation to 6:00pm to 7:00pm during the week and 4:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, to try to not interfere with the inner clock of our people. We have set up a table at the front door, put up coffee near the elevator, and have another table set up for food and drinks. Servers are careful to abide by the six feet social distancing rule to the best of their ability and are constantly wearing and changing gloves.

After making and putting food into the carryout trays, folks then come to the front door, receive their trays, and proceed back to the sidewalk. We have a dedicated person taking prayer requests and then we pray for the community at the end of the evening. If there is an immediate prayer need, we will take them into the fellowship hall and pray together, standing six feet away. We are constantly evaluating and reevaluating our process, as we always desire the safety and health of our people.

I was just talking to my wife this weekend and said that it is amazing that we have been able to maintain this pace and serving in this way. God has provided for us financially, with people, and with resources to make this daily need happen. Churches have signed up for more days, churches and individuals have donated food, sanitizer, paper products, and even have given more financially so that we can keep our shelves stocked with what we need. God is faithful!!

Pastor Hill and I have also began giving devotions online, in lieu of in-person gathering. We post on Facebook and on YouTube (these are the social media platforms that our people use the most) four days a week, with shorter devotions during the week, and longer devotions on Sunday. The engagement with that has been a pleasant surprise.

Please continue to pray for us at Family of God. If God also puts in on your heart to volunteer in these upcoming weeks, reach out to me at tyler@fogdetroit.com or go to our website and submit a form. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Remember, that during these times of uncertainty, we cling to the one who is always certain. Our Lord Jesus Christ who calls us His friends and is the same yesterday, today, and forever. May everything we do be glorifying to Him. Be safe, be healthy, be smart.