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Ministry COVID–19 Update Dear Staff and families,
If you look at the sudden rise of COVID-19 since mid-June (just a few weeks ago) it is remarkable that it has increased in a marked infection rate, increased hospitalizations, and a growing death rate so rapidly. Governor Abbot made his executive order and remarks this past week and the whole matter is something that needs to be taken very seriously by all of us.
We have enjoyed minimal effects of COVID-19 these past few months within our Big Sandy and Oak Brook campuses involving our personal lives, families, and ministries. The adjustments and good health we seemed to enjoy led most of us anticipate a great opportunity for personal ministry in the upcoming summer activities with the young men’s JTTH, Quest, Sound Foundations/Instrumental Workshop, return of battalion for additional training, Excel in August, and the largest events, the Family Conferences the final week of July (Big Sandy) and final week of August (Northwoods).
There is a possibility that we may need to cancel some or all of these events, particularly since the spread is being monitored not only state-wide in Texas, but also county-wide, where Upshur County Judge Todd Tefteller will determine if these activities can be held. We have an opportunity to pray for the immediate reduction in the incidence within the state, the pressures these government officials face, as well as Judge Tefteller’s willingness to allow us to continue our plans as scheduled.
We will check with him early this week and talk over these scheduled events and receive his guidance and decision for Big Sandy activities. Please join me in praying that we can have a good visit with Judge Tefteller and receive his favor so that he would allow the people that are able to come to Big Sandy campus, many who are from out-of-state, to join us for these ministry events.
Next week we will be returning to some protocols we previously had implemented such as no noon-time staff or prayer meetings, allowing those who can to work from home, and asking our staff to take their own temperatures at home before coming to work each day and to keep a written record that they have done so. (Please see attachment.) One new thing we will need to do is to wear masks even in the workplace whenever we cannot remain socially distant from one another.
These guidelines are intended to slow the spread and serve as another step in showing that we are doing all we can to comply with COVID-19 workplace safety practices and interacting with the public being served by our ministries.
Please pray for truth to continue to be made known and for wise, godly leaders in our nation and state to have courage and discernment for the situations at hand. And pray for spiritual fruit no matter what our own family and personal involvement with the disease, effects on campus life, or changing of our schedule may look like in the next few months.
And enjoy the Fourth of July as a special celebration of the birth of this nation that has been used by God, and still needs to be “one nation under God” if we as American Christians expect to impact our nation and the world for Christ in the future. Pray with me and all of our fathers and their families, as well as our ministry leaders within IBLP and IAA that we can see the Lord work mightily within the month of July as well as the remainder of 2020.
Sincerely in Christ,
Tim Levendusky |
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