Church leaders adapt, forge on

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Churches have been dealt a blow by the return to lockdown level 3 restrictions, but church leaders are making use of technology, determined to keep meeting and continuing with pastoral work.

The Mossel Bay Advertiser posted online that it would be publishing an article on how churches were operating, but received no calls from church leaders.

The Advertiser called some pastors to find out how they were coping.

Pastor Isaac Nkrumah of House of Prayer Ministries in Mayixhale Street, KwaNonqaba, said: "We formed groups on WhatsApp and I send them messages and we do Bible study. I also send out short messages on Facebook. Some of the elderly don't have WhatsApp. I visit them and have communion with them and pray with them.

"This is how we are trying to keep ourselves together. We still have to keep paying rent for our premises. It is a challenge. We've been hit hard by the lockdown in terms of finances because no gatherings are allowed."

Dominee Gerrie van Deventer of the NG Moedergemeente church in town said: "Our church doors are closed, but the church is open. We have gone digital. We use YouTube from our website, Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp. We still have meetings. They are on Zoom. We are active."

Food parcel project
"Where we must support people directly, we do so one-on-one. We also have a food parcel project, assisting 30 families. To support the ill, we have a phone and WhatsApp ministry. We urge our cell groups to still keep contact via Zoom and WhatsApp."

Zane Caetano, pastor of New Life Church in Heiderand, said: "It's challenging, but you can't put the gospel on pause.

"No one has been through this before." Caetano said the last happening which could be compared with Covid-19 was probably World War II. "There is severe anxiety and stress. We are finding that we are in a New Year, but not in a new season. I believe 2021 will be more challenging than 2020.

"We are continuing to share the gospel to build the Kingdom of God as best we can. We were just getting our numbers back at the end of November before the level 3 lockdown came again. Our numbers of youth were also rising again on Friday nights. We were running three services on Sunday mornings. Attendance was increasing every Sunday before the lockdown came again. We record services in the week and then put the service on YouTube at 08:00 on Sunday on www.newlifeonline.co.za."

Caetano said: "With our cell groups, we started off with Zoom meetings, but several people said they didn't have WiFi, so we use WhatsApp. Currently our small cell groups are still operating."

He said he hoped restrictions would be lifted in February. "I keep telling my staff the only certain thing about 2021 is uncertainty. We must not lose patience. With God's help we will get through this."

Isaac Nkrumah