A COVID-19 Message
To the Family of Messy Churches in New Zealand
Greetings in Jesus name.
I have been thinking about COVID-19, the impact it is having on our way of life and what we might do about it. The questions – “What is God saying?” – and – “What am I going to do about it?”, are questions that are there for me, both personally and in regard to our Messy Churches in New Zealand.
The message I have for Messy Churches in New Zealand is to follow the guidelines of your parent church/es as to the individual and collective actions you need to take at this time. I am aware that a number of church congregations are not meeting on Sundays for the time being and also that a number of Messy Churches are not meeting either. Many parent church leadership teams are planning smaller gatherings via life groups, or other groups, as they continue journeying with the Lord and encouraging each other in His name. Maybe some of our larger Messy Churches might be able to do life together in a similar way, while smaller Messy Churches might continue to meet. God has given us gifts and abilities to think and work through with creative ideas ways of honouring Him, encouraging others and learning His ways – let us use these for His Glory.
What this situation has given us is opportunity to re-imagine how we share the gospel with our Christian and non-Christian friends. Let’s share those ways with others via social media, telephone conversations and by meeting in small groups and encouraging family groupings to share faith at home. Here are some ways that have been shared with me recently, that might work in your context: put together “Easter – Messy Church in a bag” – with family activities, the Easter message, + +, and personally deliver to households; check out the member websites under the NZCMN website for ideas; encourage the viewing and discussion of suitable Christian movies; put together a positive community flyer of ideas that people can do in their homes and deliver to your neighbourhood; identify good programmes on our Christian TV channels and share the list; and so on.
May God continue to bless you and minister to you and others through you at this time.
“For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Tim 1:7 Bible, NET
Written by Richard – Team Leader – Messy Church NZ National Team