BALM in the Time of COVID-19
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deut. 31:6
In this unprecedented time of global upheaval, suffering, emotional stress, economic uncertainty and social distancing, we are grateful to know that we have “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Heb. 6:19) We have a triumphant Savior who promises Himself to us in covenant love and quells our fears. We have hope! We have a balm in our distress.
A balm is an ointment that heals, soothes, or relives pain. In Jeremiah 8, the prophet asks, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" We believe Jesus is the balm for Baltimore. He dwells in his bride, the Church, to accomplish his healing.
So how is BALM (Baltimore Antioch Leadership Movement) fulfilling its mission to multiply disciple-making leaders in the time of COVID-19? What does mentoring, discipleship and --yes, even preaching--look like in the time of social distancing? Right now, it often looks like this: an online platform such as Zoom, Skype, or Facebook Live.
BALM's mission is to multiply leaders who are equipped to contextualize the gospel to ever changing cultural conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a powerful teaching moment for showing the gospel to a world in crisis and change.
A friend from Faith Christian Fellowship told me about the church's COVID-19 website page. I was greatly encouraged to see a seamless stream of relevant resources: how to attend or hold worship and small group meetings remotely, tips to reduce risk and practice social distancing, local news sites, links on managing stress and anxiety, practical ways to help your neighbors, and other resources to equip the saints for applying the gospel to this crisis.
But after reflection, I realized that this comprehensive response was not unusual for a church that as a norm had been applying the gospel in the context of shifting cultures and a city in crisis. We are grateful to have been part of such a church culture, and desire to multiply more such cross-cultural disciple-making leaders.
Stan and I are grateful to be part of Metro Baltimore Seminary (MBS), which has provided uninterrupted, robust instruction in the face of social distancing through online technology. We continue to lead MBS’s monthly Church Planting and Renewal Track and Urban Ministry Track cohorts through monthly Zoom online meetings. These students and emerging leaders are being equipped to engage the unpredictable with the unchangeable gospel. We are praying for additional students for the seminary, and recently met on Zoom with a young woman who plans to enroll this fall to be further equipped for ministry. We are praying for 20 new students for the MBS city site, which would bring MBS enrollment to 40 -50 students.
Lord willing, BALM plans to lead its second mercy-justice project this summer: renovating classroom space for the new MBS site at Freedom Church in Baltimore. This will expand the reach of this accessible, affordable and accredited seminary to further multiply Christ-centered, cross-cultural leaders for disciple-making movements. We will keep you informed about dates.
Leadership Wisdom in Shifting Times: I recently sent this article, “Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization is Now a Start-Up" to local pastors in my denomination. In a cultural storm, you need the best gospel-centered wisdom available. I also initiated an online meeting for pastors to discuss how they can best serve their churches in the time of COVID-19. Please reach out to us if we can serve you in some way.
In the midst of many challenges, God is presenting opportunities. Several pastors told me that people who rarely or never came to church are watching their online services. A leader of a prayer movement reported he’s seeing a groundswell of prayer he hasn’t seen in his 50 years as a believer. May this pandemic draw people to Christ, who has defeated death; as the Heidelberg Catechism says, Jesus “is our only hope in life and death.” May we respond with grace, wisdom and courage.