Denver, Colorado … The coronavirus COVID19 pandemic is affecting all of us. The Rocky Mountain Conference recommends taking steps to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“It’s amazing how quickly this world can change.  It’s of great comfort to know that God is in charge. He is still on the throne!  We will continue to share with our churches what is helpful concerning coronavirus. Please follow all local and state guidelines. Our church needs to be mindful of the whole population, not just our church community,” said Ed Barnett, RMC president.

“We need to closely monitor and follow guidelines of the local administrations. There is a wave of school closures, restrictions on holding public gatherings, and individuals over the age of 70 are being discouraged from attending any public events. Our pastors and local congregations are to take appropriate steps to recognize their local worship needs and options, as well as needs of the communities they serve,” he added.

Several states have declared a State of Emergency. While these mandates do not directly impact our congregations, as members of society, we must display careful vigilance for our people throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference. We must seek to cooperate with collective public health actions to help protect the health and wellness of our communities.

The situation touches all of our people and our communities, RMC leaders recognize. This is a time for all Seventh-day Adventist churches, schools and ministries within our territory to be proactive and prayerful as well as to take every-day preventative actions.

Several churches in Colorado are reviewing worship options, and a number of pastors offer worship participation via video-streaming. RMC is recommending that all churches refrain from potlucks and fellowship events. Without elaborating, we are in the midst of a developing crisis.

Cathy Kissner, RMC ACS director, recommends our church members in Colorado to log on to the State of Colorado information page. “This page carries information about the recommended actions by the State of Colorado for its population.  I feel this information should be shared with Pastors, schools, and day-care centers. The age also tracks the number of cases found per day.”https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus

“Stay informed by watching news and information, including the local health authority announcements. Use common sense. We all are in this together,” commented Eric Nelson, RMC VP for administration.

Prayer is part of our response, as well. DeeAnn Bragaw, RMC prayer coordinator is inviting all to join in a special prayer event on Sunday morning, March 15, at 10 a.m. “We will be hosting a Rocky Mountain Conference Prayer FAITH OVER FEAR conference call to pray unitedly for our homes, churches, communities, and world in light of the coronavirus outbreak.  RMC president, Ed Barnett will be on the line, and together we’ll PRAY! Please spread the word and plan to join us at 605-468-8026 access code 1010801#.”

North American Division administration has released Guidance for Church in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The leadership of the North American Division of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (NAD), in consultation with the leaders of the nine union conferences in the NAD, is providing some guidance for the churches and schools in our territories regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

As Christians we have a responsibility to care for each other and ourselves. With the World Health Organization now declaring COVID-19 to be a pandemic, we should be seen as part of the solution rather than potentially becoming part of the problem.

In seeking to limit the potential impact of COVID-19, the NAD administration has voted that all staff should cease all travels immediately. Administration has prohibited work-related travel until June 24, 2020,” the statement says. Read the full statement here: https://www.nadadventist.org/news/nad-administration-provides-guidance-church-north-america-during-covid-19-pandemic

—RMCNews