Springfield | Ministry teams and missionaries of the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) are taking their work on the road, in an effort to combat spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus). In keeping with requests from Illinois state health officials and Governor J. B. Pritzker to stay at home if possible, IBSA has enabled all personnel to telecommute.
Employees will still be available through their regular office telephone phone numbers and e-mail addresses. And the staff will maintain regular hours as they did when working in the office.
Ministry teams are handling multiple schedule and event changes caused by the current health concerns. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams characterized the challenge as opportunity to discover new ways to do ministry with IBSA churches. “We can respond to this crisis with creativity, resolve, and a renewed sense of purpose,” Adams said. He cited the examples of churches forced underground by adversity. Similarly, “creative, growing churches often ask these hard questions simply to be more effective to reach more people. They may turn to technology, or partnership, or new methods, or old methods deployed in new ways.”
While some churches are debating whether to hold services next weekend following government recommendations limiting group sizes to 50, many IBSA churches chose to cancel services on Sunday, March 15.
For churches seeking alternative ministry for worship attenders and church staff who must participate from home, IBSA is collecting recommendations and resources from Illinois church leaders. The growing list can be viewed at IBSA.org/church-helps.