Though our church’s buildings are not to be used
temporarily for gatherings under State and local laws, we have come together
online for all of our scheduled services.
Our area churches are connected Sundays and Wednesdays
via our electronic devices to: praise, pray, and preach all in real time. This
has been so meaningful to us. Whether we are at home, on the farm, in our cars,
or laying in a hammock, we are staying well connected. What has been a
wonderful surprise is the fellowship time after our online services. We
continue linked long after our “structured meetings” to share informally the
impact of this epidemic in our personal lives.
As you folks there in America, here in Brazil we are
not for lack of opinions regarding how to deal with the present crises, nor
what the procedures should be taken by the federal and local governments.
Secondly, our churches have come together by helping many
of our friends and families financially. A food bank has been setup and many
are using their reserves to help those that are now in physical need. I am
humbled by some who have so little giving to those that now have even less.
So… our area churches are in this boat together on our
“Sea of Galilee”. We are hoping to get to the other side before we sink to the
bottom, never to come up again. The news outlets say that we are going down
fast; all the visible numbers show that is true. Our economy in Brazil was
still fragile and struggling from massive government corruption from the recent
past. Our business friends and most of the brethren were seeing stability in
there financial lives. So, some folks do question, where is Jesus?
If we could do as the disciples did that night (Mark
4:35-41) and wake Jesus up, He just might look out at our storm then look at us
straight in the eyes, smile and ask “why are you afraid”?
That question is haunting and personal. A part of me
does not like that question, because I know the answer.
Yet,... that is the question to ask, isn’t it?
by tim reiner
