3.20.20 From the Apostle’s Desk
Dear Faith Walkers,
We know that walking by faith is a natural by-product of the working of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that brings us into a deep, personal, and intimate knowledge of God Himself. Therefore, we must open our mouth wide so that God can fill it with much-needed wisdom during this time of COVID-19.
Brothers and sisters, I love the church. I’ve devoted nearly my entire adult life to serving God through the church. Anyone who knows me (and after 25 years as the pastor, many of you do), knows I’m relentless about faithfully gathering every weekend to worship and growing together to help others “Possess the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Even when we’ve had several feet of snow and sometimes ice, I’ve fought to keep our doors open because I believe in our mission. I believe that there is nothing more important than helping people discover their identity, grasp their KEYS, and develop their relationship with Jesus. NOTHING.
At this time, I relent on this stance because I genuinely believe that it is required to protect our people. After all, a significant part of God’s calling on my life as a pastor is to be a shepherd. One of the vital responsibilities of a shepherd is to protect the sheep at all costs. To fail in this, I firmly believe, is to fail in fulfilling God’s calling on my life.
It is in this spirit, as a shepherd, that I’m writing this letter. After pursuing God’s wisdom, investing in understanding the issues presently facing us with the COVID-19 pandemic, talking with our ministry leaders, and listening to the advice of health experts and our State regarding the potential impact of this very new virus, I have been led to make one of the hardest decisions of my ministry. I’ve decided to suspend service and events at our physical locations for the time being and will continue to update you on a week-by-week basis for future services.
I care too deeply about each and every one of you to jeopardize you in any way, especially with confirmed cases so close to our doors. The greatest command given by Christ tells us to love God and love our neighbors. So, I believe, to fulfill this command in this circumstance, we must love our neighbors enough to do everything in our power to diminish the spread of this virus and protect them.
Our worship service this Sunday, March 22, 2020, will be streamed live on Facebook. I ask that everyone please obtain some communion bread and juice for your household for this Sunday’s online worship service; during this service, we will receive communion together. Also, please go to our Facebook page or to KCM’s webpage at www.kairospkok.org to register in Tithe.ly to prepare for our online giving. https://tithe.ly/give?c=1301087
Brothers and sisters, everything will be alright- even with life as we know it being put on pause: schools closing, employees being encouraged to work from home- if at all possible, and some employees being laid off from work until further notice. Social distancing has become the new norm.
I remember a song from my youth Sunday school classes- “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” The song says, “He’s got you and my brother in His hands / He’s got you and my sister in His hands / He’s got you and my mother in His hands / He’s got you and my father in His hands / He’s got the little tiny babies in His hands / He’s got the whole world in His hands.”
Isaiah 41:10 says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Rather than live in fear, let us together, approach this challenge in faith. We have an opportunity to model for our children, our families and each other what a faith-filled and faithful response can be. Instead of living in panic and in fear or being reactionary and taking a self-centered response, we have a chance to remain rational and reasoned and to approach this pandemic in a spirit of trust.
Feed faith over fear. Feed trust over panic. Feed hope over anxiety. How? Give praise and thanksgiving to God continually. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). (Hebrews 10:23)
I would also encourage you to stay well informed of what the health professionals are telling us and to stay in touch with what is happening and being recommended to you.
Grace & Peace,
Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Sr.
Apostle/Pastor
