Local churches add online resources during 'Stay-at-Home' order
MEDFORD, Ore. — The coronavirus pandemic has impacted countless lives leading businesses and churches to get creative with how it conducts business.
Since Oregon's Gov. Kate Brown's executive order went into effect, many churches have now moved to online platforms to reach its congregations.
“We have been online every morning for more than 40 days now. Monday through Saturday on Facebook live and Sunday’s on YouTube,” Pastor Dale Meador of Bear Creek Church said.
He said his church has been hosting a variety of guests from all over the world, including those on the front line of the virus.
“Not being able to meet in person has been hard but there have been benefits to this. One of those benefits has been that we’ve had more face time with ministry friends from around the world than we normally would in a year of Sundays,” he said.
Another church in the valley has expanded onto its already existing support groups.
“One of the ways we keep connected throughout the week is through our small group ministries. We shifted all of those home groups into online groups and created more groups for people who were not yet connected,” Pastor Ryan Emerick of New Life Church of the Nazarene.
Emerick said his church has been doing its part with helping the community as well.
“Our team put together a blood drive when the pandemic began, and we partnered with Every Child, which helps foster families with the resources they need. We are also lending our parking lot to the Medford School District's Meals on the Move program," he said.
Both pastors agree that although not meeting in person has taken a toll, they encourage people within their congregation and anyone struggling during the pandemic to reach out for help.
“Do not go through this alone, there are a lot of good organizations in this community that want to help, reach out and we will find a way to help,” Emerick said.
