In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes “for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power, of love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7 ESV).”
In Psalm 91, Moses writes of the protection of God, reminding us to not fear the “pestilence that stalks in darkness.” Let me first encourage us to live in the promises and peace of our Refuge and Shelter. Let fear find no foothold.
With that being said, we also need to be smart about preparation and planning. On March 11, the World Health Organization has officially labeled the novel coronavirus “a global pandemic”. As ministry leaders, we owe it to those in our care to do everything in our power to both prevent and mitigate the effects of illness.
As communicated before, preventative measures MUST be a priority for all staff and students to effectively manage the spread of this virus. Some brief examples:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for minimum of 20 seconds, multiple times throughout the day.
- If you are sick, STAY AT HOME or in an isolated area to avoid spreading germs
- Cough into your elbow, NOT into your hands.
- Take extra care to clean common surfaces – especially including doorknobs, stair rails, light switches – each day.
Further practical actions to take for ATC centers:
- “Social distancing” (avoiding crowds) has proven to be effective for this virus. Over the next few weeks, it would be good for staff and students to avoid malls, social gatherings, and public events where possible. Use your best judgement on these gatherings. Limit overall time out in the community.
- If your center does “store-front outreach,” we recommend postponing these activities for the immediate time being. Being in public (particularly in communities hardest hit) may send a message to the public that ATC does not listen to health care authorities or that we don’t care about public health. If your center’s financial stability requires you to solicit donations in public, please train your staff and students to avoid touching (shaking hands, high fives, etc.)
- Assign teams of staff/students to clean common areas in the centers multiple times per day including bathrooms, kitchens, TV rooms, hallways and of course all hardware such as door handles, stairwells, light switches, counter tops, etc. Hot, soapy water is as effective as cleaning supplies.
- Establish contingency plans to access food, water and other essentials should quarantine be required in your area. Know who to call and be ready to execute the plan if needed. (see CDC website for more information: www.cdc.gov)
- Spend some extra time in prayer in your centers for all those affected by the virus around the world.
- Create a contingency plan to isolate any staff or students within your center who may test positive (more guidelines coming soon).
With that being said, we trust in our God who protects and gives us hope in all things. Remember this may be another opportunity to show love to a sick and dying world. Our calm assurance in this time of global pandemic can be a powerful witness!
Please review the following links from the CDC and other organizations for further information:
- CDC Coronavirus Info
- CDC Coronavirus Mitigation Strategies PDF
- Mayo Clinic Coronavirus Info
- Canadian Coronavirus Updates
- ECFA “Who to Trust”
- CDC Checklist for Community and Faith Leaders
*This resource is provided by Adult & Teen Challenge as a courtesy only. Adult & Teen Challenge recommends that you consult authoritative sources for up-to-date information on COVID-19. We hope these links and ideas are helpful, but we do not intend for this to be a substitute for authoritative data and information put out by the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and other agencies.
