03/18/2020
A word from our Lead Pastor Tony:
Dear Mission Church,
This letter will provide information in regards to our plans and response to the uncharted waters we find ourselves in. Christianity is no stranger to this sort of thing, for the church has lifted Christ as Lord during pestilence, famine, plague, war and all sorts of evil.
The COVID-19 will be no different, as long as the church is stirred deeply to be the church in such a time as this. I believe that, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” – Dan. 12:3.
The Church board, your Pastor and staff passionately desire to be the redemptive presence that is so desperately needed when things are broken and out of control. Remaining connected as the family of God must be of the highest priority. Know for certain that your pastoral team is available and ready to listen, counsel, encourage and minister when and where needed. Hebrews suggests this kind of action in 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Perhaps this is that sort of time? Perhaps Psalm 37:7 in encouraging us to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” places us exactly where we can best hear what God is saying? This means being in His presence.
I want to lead us well in being in the presence of the Lord.
Starting immediately, Mission Church is suspending all gatherings large and small for the next four weeks. As one of our board members mentioned on Monday night, “the most loving thing we can do for others, is to care for their well-being.” I couldn’t agree more. We are asking all Mission Communities to do two things:
1) Not meet as a group for the next thirty days and at the end of that thirty days, the leadership will reevaluate.
2) Stay connected by creating an atmosphere of virtual connection via, conference call, video group or email.
Go ahead and plan to remain connected and work through your lesson plans on a virtual basis. Information will be forthcoming from Beth Smith and Pastor Jeff in regards to ideas on how you might do this. Staying connected is the goal. You never know how long things will remain as they are. So absolute connection is going to be vital to remaining and sustaining the church family.
Starting immediately, and more specifically, this Sunday worship service will be prerecorded and available online for Sunday morning. Maybe plan a “watch party” and include your family members or a few other friends. Of course the ban in San Diego County is that groups who do meet, be under ten or less. In addition, your pastoral team will be providing occasional “Mission Minutes” videos on our church website (missionnaz.org) as a way to encourage, share and distribute information. It is our intention to have everything you need to know on the church website.
Again, starting this Sunday, service will only be virtual and available on the church website. We will not have regular service on campus for the next four Sundays (March 22 and 29, April 5 and 12), and then we will reevaluate.
One last but very important thing. The church board desires to enact an immediate prayer emphasis. We will be emailing out a sign-up form inviting you to commit to a fifteen-minute time slot to simply pray. You can pray alone or with your loved ones. We want to cover our church in twelve hours of prayer each Sunday. The prayer times will begin at 7:00 AM each Sunday morning and last until 7:00 PM. This allows us to cover the twelve hour time period with only forty eight people. Of course we can have more than one person praying at the same time.
REVIEW
Think about what it means to be the redemptive church in such a time as this
We are encouraging Mission Communities and classes to move to a virtual venue
Starting this weekend, Sunday Worship will be only online on our website at any time of day (missionnaz.org)
Twelve-Hour Prayer Emphasis beginning this Sunday (sign up for a fifteen-minute slot)
Watch a one- to three-minute “Mission Minute” video to be encouraged and stay informed
Mission Church, there is no doubt in my mind that God is working even in times like these. I am reminded of how the Saints of old went through so much, but they have left to us a rich heritage and a living faith that can only be explained as supernatural. So as we lean into and actually look at what God is doing, we just might be surprised at the supernatural work that is happening right in our neighborhood. Let’s Be The Church.
Serving Him by serving you,
Tony R. Miller, Lead Pastor
Mission Church of the Nazarene
Psalm 84:4
