Growing up in a church planting family, I’ve always known that church is not a place. Over the years our church has met in movie theaters, middle schools, high schools, even a bar downtown. The Church is a body. It is a group of Christ-followers, walking together. Without the people, a church building is just an empty building. I’ve known this – but this past week, I saw it in a new light.

I’ve never experienced the necessity of ‘cancelling’ church due to a global pandemic, as I assume is the same for many others. What I’ve known for years I got to see in practice in a way I haven’t seen before.

Communities were called to cancel church. We didn’t. What they meant, of course, was to cancel large gatherings to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. And we listened, as we all need to work together to slow this thing down.

But we didn’t cancel Church – because you can’t. Sure, we weren’t physically together. But the Church was worshipping and serving the Lord – maybe more than ever. We met in small groups in homes, we worshipped in living rooms, we served those who need help. We used technology as an avenue to worship and gather together online.

I’ve prayed that during this unprecedented time local churches can see this as an opportunity to remind their communities that the church is not tied to a building. We are tied to the grace and love of Jesus Christ and will follow where He leads us. The Church has an opportunity to provide hope and peace during this season. It is a season of uncertainty, which can lead to anxiety and worry. A verse that has meant a lot to me seems even more powerful in a time such as this:

‘Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6-7

Over the past week, many ‘churches’ were nothing but empty buildings. But the Church was still alive and evident. The Church was in living rooms, relief stations, hospitals, bedrooms. Which is always the case, but over the last week, we got to see it in a new light.

We are called to serve our neighbor and to serve those who need help. In a time when disease threatens our everyday life, we are still called to be The Church. The Body of Christ, on earth.

Church – let’s provide not only physical resources for those in need, but also let us share the hope that is found in Jesus.