How Are You Affected by Covid-19?

I reckon that we have all been affected differently by the Covid-19 pandemic. For us the three biggest changes have been:

1. Online schooling for our children and having them home with us almost ALL the time
2. Not seeing friends or family for Jessica and Elijah’s birthdays or while our kids have been off school
3. Doing on-line church services instead of visiting our home church every Sunday here in Adelaide

As a missions agency Youth With A Mission has been significantly impacted. Many of our courses have been closed down with students sent home and outreaches cancelled. Quite a few of our staff have had to leave the countries they have been serving in, and others have been isolated in their ministry locations of homes for quite a few weeks, with severe restrictions in place.

At the same time though there has been a lot of need that many of our missionaries have been able to meet during this time. The last two monthly prayer times for YWAM have focused on the Coronavirus and I have been able to continue to assist in the distribution of these prayer letters during this time …

It’s a challenge to know how, as believers, we are to respond to the pandemic. This video has been something that has spoken to me during this time …

In case you don’t have the time to watch the video, some of the key takeaways that I got out of it are:

• We need to trust God during this time
• Have patience, trust, and peace in God
• Love and serve our neighbours
• Only repeat things that think are true
  • You might end up being wrong, but don’t lie
• Do not give into the temptation to “weaponize” the situation against people outside of our own “tribe” or group

Romans 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I want to follow up by asking you a few questions:

1. How are you doing?
2. What’s going on in your life?
3. How can I pray for you?

For now I will leave it there and I look forward to hearing from you about how I can pray for you …