Pastoral Letter from Greg Gilbert of Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky
Dear Third Avenue,
I hope you’re well and trusting and rejoicing in our Lord Jesus today, even in the midst of a sobering series of events as our nation responds to the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. The Elders met last night and actually made a decision to try to hold our services and at the same time offer a livestream option at our website for those who decided not to come. However, events have progressed even since our meeting last night, and therefore the Elders have decided to move our services exclusively to online streaming for an indeterminate number of weeks.
A few events have taken place even today that make this seem, at this point, like the only responsible decision:
-First, the Mayor of Louisville is cancelling all Metro events and events held in Metro facilities until at least April 5, and is recommending that all events throughout the city be similarly cancelled until then.
-Second, the Governor of Kentucky strongly recommended in his press conference today a wide-ranging cancellation of large group events. The Kentucky High School Basketball – 16 Tournaments have now been cancelled as well.
-Third, the Governor also called on schools throughout the state to close for at least the next three weeks. Jefferson County Public School officials have announced that JCPS schools will close beginning this Monday until April 6.
-Fourth, the Governor of Indiana (just across the river) has prohibited gatherings throughout the state of more than 250 people. Several other states have taken this step as well. Our officials for whatever reason have not put it in those precise terms, but their intent does very much seem to be the same.
-Fifth, several churches in town have now announced their intention to cancel services—Southeast Christian and Immanuel Baptist Church among them. Having been in conversations with other pastors around the city, I expect more will announce similar decisions soon.
Brothers and sisters, Christians should never be motivated by fear, not when we serve the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. But there’s a crucial difference between fear and prudence, and in this case love for our neighbors compels us to join our nation’s extraordinary efforts to minimize contact between people in order to slow the spread of this virus and “flatten the curve” of the pandemic. We are not cancelling our services because we ourselves, as Christians, are afraid to get sick or even afraid to die. God forbid! “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Rather, we are cancelling because we believe it is imperative for us to be a part of our society’s response to this virus that, at best, will be serious for the most vulnerable, and, at worst, could put even more people at risk by creating a severe and sudden spike in demand on our health care system. So don’t be afraid or fearful, brothers and sisters. Read God’s Word, remember God’s promises, help those who are needy, and trust in God. He is sovereign over all, and he loves you dearly.
Now let me give you some more information in a few categories:
LIVESTREAM OF THIRD AVENUE’S SERVICES
As long as these circumstances persist, we will be livestreaming Third Avenue’s morning service on Sunday at 10:45am at this link. You can also easily find it by going to www.thirdavenue.org. Our plan is for the church staff and a small group of musicians to gather at the building and conduct the service more-or-less as usual. Please gather with your family, print off the bulletins, and participate with us. Please do not come to the church building for the services unless you are specifically requested to attend. This is important. Even if you are quite convinced that all this is “nothing to worry about” or “overblown” or “fake news,” or even if you feel that conscience compels you to come, please don’t come. We’ll be happy to talk with you over the phone about your concerns, but please do not come.
We will let you know in the coming days if and how we intend to gather by livestream for the evening service. The church staff is meeting tomorrow to consider those and a few other questions.
EVERYTHING IS CANCELLED
Until further notice, all Third Avenue Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, Children and Youth events, Internships, Home Groups, the Members’ Meeting on Wednesday, and other events are cancelled. No events of any kind will be happening at the church building, and no events under Third Avenue’s name will be happening anywhere else, either.
FINANCIAL GIVING
We need your help on this. I’m advised that almost half of our church’s giving is done through physical checks and cash that are placed in offering plates each Sunday. If you are one who normally gives by check or cash, please begin to give through our online giving platform. You can access it through the church website or through the church app.
COMMUNICATION
One of the most important things we can do is continue to communicate with one another through these next couple of weeks. Official church communication will take place by email, and you should also download the “Third Avenue Baptist Church” app from the App Store or Google Play. Also, if you’ve been filtering “Third Avenue Unofficial” emails to spam, this might be a good opportunity to turn that filter off so you can keep up with needs and prayer requests from fellow church members.
CARE FOR EACH OTHER
The staff and elders will be discussing systems and mechanisms by which we can be in touch with one another and care for each other as a church. By far the best way for that to happen, however, is to remain in close contact with the members of your Home Group. Set up text threads if you haven’t already, check in on one another, and meet needs as you are able. Make it a point especially to check in with students in your group who have been asked to moved out of their dorms. We’ve asked Home Group Leaders to let us know if any of those students, especially international students, need assistance, and we’ll move to help those folks as efficiently as we can.
Brothers and sisters, thank you again for your help and understanding in these matters. These are not easy decisions, but we think they are the best way for us to love our neighbor in a critical time. And again, just like we’ve said before, don’t be fearful about this. Be prudent and wise, but not afraid; there’s a profound difference between the two. The fact is, this fallen world has always been a dangerous place. We as Christians know this, we have always known this, the Bible teaches us to expect this, and there is a wonderful fear-smashing confidence in knowing that our God is sovereign over it all. So let’s live our lives, let’s be wise and careful, and at the same time, let’s rest in the hands of our sovereign Lord, who is working all things together for the good of those who love him. Please do reach out if you have questions or for any other reason.
Many blessings,
Greg
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender;
We go not forth alone against the foe
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender.
rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Yea, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing;
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender:
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise
When reigning in the Kingdom of Thy splendor;
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
