Offering Help and Hope: Opportunities for the Gospel During a Pandemic

In a very short time, the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. has upended everyone’s daily lives. In addition to the spread of the virus itself and over 1,000 deaths in the United States so far, many are out of work and facing economic uncertainty. Graduations, recitals, sporting events, church services, weddings, and even funerals have been postponed, rescheduled, or moved to live-stream. We should grieve the human cost of this pandemic, as well as the losses and disappointments that have come about as collateral damage. But in the midst of grief, let’s also look for the gospel opportunities that have come about during this time.

God is doing more in any one moment than any of us could possibly imagine. As our nation responds to COVID-19, let us remember who is in control and continue to put our trust in him. God has shown his faithfulness to his people since the very beginning. We know we can trust him to bring us through this.

Pandemics and economic uncertainty shatter our delusions of self-sufficiency by reminding us that we are not in control. As believers, this causes us to turn to God in faith, trusting in him as our provider and protector, but in an increasingly secular society, many of our neighbors do not know this hope, so now more than ever we should be reaching out and proclaiming the gospel. Times of crisis create gospel opportunities as the body of Christ mobilizes to minister to the material and spiritual needs of the people around us. We should make the most of this time, offering God’s eternal truth to a world in crisis.

As we do so, we should continue to honor God by submitting to our governing authorities, and we should also act with wisdom as we consider the safety of those around us. This means that different families will serve their neighbors in different ways. Rosaria Butterfield observes,

Christians will arrive at different positions based on our circumstances. One family will make phone calls, another will deliver groceries, another will welcome the stranger to sleep on the couch. Each household may serve its neighbors in different ways, but each should intend [to] serve.

Here are some practical ways that we can love our neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, offer help. Counterintuitive as it seems, one of the key ways to love our neighbor right now is by keeping our distance. That said, there are still tangible ways that we can help meet people’s needs right now. You can bless older and at-risk individuals in your community by offering to pick up groceries and other essential items for them, thus helping them avoid the risk of infection, as well as families who are under quarantine due to infection or exposure to COVID-19.

Second, practice generosity. If you are able, right now is a great time to give as God has blessed you—to your local food shelf, your church’s benevolent fund, and to local charities, including pregnancy resource centers.

Third, you can bless people by offering community, even from a distance. Many Americans struggle with loneliness and are feeling it even more acutely in the midst of social distancing. People are feeling the pain of disappointment, anxiety over the future, and the effects of isolation right now. Technology can be a blessing: let’s utilize it to care for people around us who may be hurting at this time.

Fourth, offer hope. We have no reason to fear death and disease because we know the one who has conquered death—let’s share that hope with the people around us! Even as we are staying in our homes, we can and should take this time to reach out to our unbelieving friends and family, praying that God will be at work in their hearts and use this pandemic to draw them to himself.

And on that note, love your neighbor by praying for them. Pray that God would use COVID-19 to spread the gospel. Pray for healing for the sick and for protection and wisdom for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. And pray for our national and state leaders as they make crucial decisions regarding how to address the spread of COVID-19.

In the midst of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, people are looking for answers. As the church, we must be ready to offer those answers, pointing people to the source of our hope in the certainty of the gospel and the faithfulness of God. As we do so, we must remember that “a fear-stricken church cannot help a scared world.” We must cast all of our own fears and anxieties on God, knowing that he cares for us, knowing that his purposes will be accomplished. God is at work in the midst of COVID-19, and that is reason to rejoice!