Below is a letter from Bro. Rick and Chairman of Deacons Randy Murphree
Dear Church Family,
A month ago, a church leadership team met and discussed plans for worship and church programming considering the reopening of our state in the midst of the corona pandemic. At that time, it seemed likely that we would be able to safely unite the two worship services. But in light of the
continued infection rate in our state, the deacons feel that it is best to
wait a while before returning to one service. This gives us more space and
allows for more effective distancing, ensuring the safety of all. We will
continue to have two services: 8:30 and 10:30 am each Sunday.
This decision was reinforced by the announcement of Gov. Ivey to put in
place a mandate for wearing masks in public. She recognizes that there is
much opposition to that decision but feels it is urgent and necessary for
the safety of the people of Alabama. As your pastor, I would like to ask
you, along with the entire church family, to comply with that order when we come to worship together, even though Gov. Ivey made an exception for
religious services. I do believe that wearing a mask heightens my safety
and helps me protect the safety of the church family I love.
On a Biblical level, there are several reasons we should comply with our
state’s mandate. Paul insists that we are to “be subject to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has
established. The authorities that exist have been established by God”
(Romans 13:1). He also insists that “whoever rebels against the authority
is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will
bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2). But there is much more to it
than sheer obedience. Jesus calls us to love each other and to do what is
good for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Certainly, if there is any
chance that wearing a mask may offer some protection to my brother in
Christ, (and the world’s medical community insists that it does), it is
something I should do out of love. It would be a small sacrifice to make if
it protects one bother or sister from this deadly virus.
I received a call this week from Dave and Susanne Adams who, as you know, are our missionaries in Malaysia. They shared with me their own experience with the Corona Virus in Malaysia, an extremely poor and severely overpopulated nation. Their own medical experts required early on that the entire population wear masks whenever they left their homes. Malaysia does not have the medical infrastructure we enjoy in America. All they had were masks. Today the number of new cases is very low and Susanne shared that there had not been a single death due to Corona in the entire country in the past five days. I certainly am no medical expert. But I do trust those who are. And they are asking us to do one simple thing: Wear a mask. Let’s put our pride aside and take this simple precaution out of love for our
brothers and sisters!
We love you and continue to pray that God will bless and protect his
church family!
Bro. Rick
Randy Murphree