COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, continues to impact the world. Each day more cases are reported and closings are announced. Below are several resources to help you and your congregation navigate this unprecedented time.
A Message from Rev. Chris Ackerman, AWF Director of Disaster Response
4 Considerations for Church Leaders Regarding Coronavirus
Local Church Preparedness Example Plan from FUMC Port St. Joe
Effective Youth Ministry During the Coronavirus Outbreak
10 Ideas for Church Financial Leaders Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
Guidance on mental health and wellbeing and Coronavirus from the Church of England
Emotional & Spiritual Care Webinars
Facebook Live: Click here for instructions and tips.
Instagram Live: Click here for instructions.
YouTube Live: Click here for instructions.
Outreach: Free Streaming
Taking Your Worship Online: A guide for beginners and everyone else
Podcast: Becoming a Virtual Church with Rev. Ben Gosden & Molly Carlson
Creating Live-streamed Worship in 3 Days
Another option is to video your sermon/teaching and post it to social media or your church website. Include suggested discussion questions, spiritual disciplines, or personal reflection to help people respond.
AWF Broadcast and Sermon Archive Participants
How to Setup livestream for your church
Discipleship Ministries: Online Worship & Music Resources for Livestreaming
Ask The UMC: How can we livestream worship legally?
Instead of meeting for study or even committee work in person, try a conference call or video call. Along with email, there are also ways you can send out group messages.
Video/online resources:
Audio Only Conference call-in platform:
Mass Messaging Platforms:
Email Platform:
Online Resources:
Google: Google is offering the enterprise version to G Suite and G Suite for Education users. This includes free access to advanced Hangouts Meet video-conferencing capabilities like meetings with up to 250 participants per call and live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain. Read more here.
Microsoft: Microsoft is offering Teams for free. Teams is a collaboration tool with chat, video calling, personal and team file storage, and more. Read more here.
Slack: Slack is a collaboration app that already has a free version, but they are now offering webinars and one-on-one consultations to help you navigate your own transition to a remote workforce. Read more here.
Practical advice about preaching to an empty room
Cokesbury Kids is offering free, live, online, at-home worship services for the whole family. Gather your family around the computer for a child-centered time of singing, praying and listening. Register here.
Illustrated Ministry: Illustrated Ministry is offering free resources for churches and families as churches are exploring alternative ways
Family Pandemic Hope Devotional: This awesome resource will carry a family through the new several weeks!
Effective Youth Ministry During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Guidance for pastoring youth during the coronavirus
A Concise Coronavirus Guide for Churches (Christianity Today)
Helping children during the COVID-19 crisis
Amplify Media: This is a streaming service from UMPH/Cokesbury that offers resources for all ages.
Right Now Media: This is another avenue for streaming great video teachings and Bible studies. These can be watched individually and then discussed as a group virtually using zoom or other conferencing platform.
The Bible App (You Version): This app allows you to not only read the Bible but participate in Bible Studies and reading plans. You can create networks by inviting friends and interact with each other as you study God's word together.
Lectio365: This popular new app provides a pattern for prayer and devotion each day. P (Pause to be still), R (Rejoice with a Psalm and Reflect with a scripture), A (Ask for God's help) and Y (Yield to God's Will in your life)
A very practical concern for churches is how closure might affect this specific spiritual discipline. This is a great time to send reminders about all the ways your church can help disciples practice generosity: online giving, gifts by mail, stock donations, legacy gifts, text-to-give, etc. This is an ideal time to underscore that giving is not payment for services rendered. It is a Christian practice; an act of faith and devotion to God.
Samples of online giving platforms:
Electronic giving allows ministry to continue in ‘isolating’ times
10 Ideas for Church Financial Leaders Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
Quickly find an online giving solution for your church
Understand Electronic Giving: A Tool For Your Church
Quickly find an online giving solution for your church