Black churches are responding to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic by migrating to online services while feeding and serving its immediate community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines calls for social distancing as black faith leaders find it necessary to discontinue in-person church services.
Most historically black churches are adapting to a virtual worship service.
“Black churches have historically lagged behind in technology,” says Rev. John E. Cager, senior pastor of Ward A.M.E Church Los Angeles.
His church was already equipped to move to online platforms before the crisis because Ward’s services are streamed on Facebook live.
Rev. Cager adds that it was a short learning curve for Ward to get something in place immediately. “Fortunately we have people in the congregation that possess the technical skills necessary to allow us to broadcast online.”
The black church has endured and ultimately overcome every crisis that this country has seen including the U.S. war for independence, civil war, Jim Crow and civil rights movement.
However the Covid19 crisis is the most prevalent threat to the black church and a clear and present danger to the planet.
“We had to move quickly,” says Rev. DeAntwan Fitts, pastor of Peace Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. “This is a test of our faith.”
Rev. Fitts also acknowledges the church has to unite around its mission, strategy, commitment and creativity.
Peace Chapel had no online services until the coronavirus crisis struck the nation.
According to Pastor Fitts dealing with day-to-day ministry responsibilities was always an excuse to put certain things off into the future including an online worship service.
This crisis has moved the church out of the comfort ministries.
Ward and Peace Chapel churches are located in multilingual neighborhoods of south and southeast Los Angeles. Each church has found unique ways of serving the needs of its congregants and neighborhoods.
Rev Kelvin Saul, community engagement pastor at Peace Chapter, was instrumental in creating an initiative called “compassion in the midst of coronavirus crisis”.
As the coronavirus scare progresses, Rev. Sauls is using his unique skills as a fundraiser to convince community organizations to sponsor a “grab and go dinner” every night. This meal distribution allows Peace Chapel to serve its disadvantaged neighbors, reconnect with families while assisting the next-door Freemont high.
Fremont High offers grab and go distributions primarily breakfast and lunch.
So the church raised $14,000 to operate the program for 2 weeks.
Rev. Sauls says this program is his Christian obligation.
However “the first thing we see is a sense of acceptance” from those who receive their meals, he recalls. “Second we see their sense of gratitude. Most importantly they feel that their humanity is valued.”
