COVID-19 & Worship: 3/24/2020

Oklahoma City: (Italics updated 3/25/2020) We are writing to communicate to our community of guests and members how COVID-19 is affecting our worship, Bible studies, and fellowships at Wilmont.

On March 15, we announced a temporary closure for two Sundays and three Wednesdays given the information we had at the time. It appears that recommendations for quarantines are not slowing. Just today, the Southern Baptists have canceled the SBC Annual Meeting in June. Our Oklahoma governor has issued a "Safer at Home" initiative, calling this "the new normal for a little bit." I am pleased to report, however, that your Wilmont staff and leadership have been preparing for the possibility of longer-term digital worship and ministry care. Therefore, as of today, Wilmont is preparing to follow quarantine recommendations by the government and SBC leaders until we believe the threat to our members and guests to be minimized.

With recommendations changing daily, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on measures we are taking for ministry as a church and resources that are available from Wilmont to help keep you connected to ministry.

Measures Taken at Wilmont

1. Our ministers and administrative staff have been given the option to work from home. Ministers are available. Phones are being answered (call back if it's busy.) Volunteers have been asked not to come to the church.
   
2. Clorox wipes are abundantly available and are being used daily.
3. Office area bathrooms are being cleaned several times each week. Church bathrooms and public areas are continuing to be cleaned weekly.
4. Ministers are working to stay connected to church members and to provide tools that make member connections easier.

Resources

We have made some changes that we hope will make communication with our members and guests easier. We understand that the abundance of church communication tools and member preferences make communication difficult and sometimes frustrating. While we will continue to communicate with the public by pushing information out through our various mechanisms (like text, email, social media, etc.), this website will become the central hub where you can find the information you need.

1. Our big worship event will continue to be broadcast during our regular worship time on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. on Wilmont's facebook page. It will remain on facebook after the live event. Sometime early that week the worship event will be posted on our website's media page for easy access by others. (Facebook users can watch live. All others may have to watch the recorded event after the live stream has ended.)
2. Our home page will share a weekly schedule of events and where you can find necessary weekly communication. It will also contain a list of resource tools that will help you. Please sign up for these services (text, email, etc.) as you are able.
3. Wilmont staff will be communicating updates and sharing devotions with you every weekday Monday through Friday through Facebook videos. The schedule of these videos will be posted on our weekly events on our home page. Please engage with these videos and include children and youth when possible.
4. Video conference software (Zoom) has been shared with all of our Sunday School teachers and committee chairs. We encourage Sunday School classes to meet as able to maintain community and fellowship. Further, many of our committees are essential in supporting staff and members, especially finance/personnel, CaringWell, Deacons, Building & Grounds, and others.

How You Can Help

1. Sign Up for Communication Tools. As possible, sign up to receive our text messages, emails, etc. Facebook access will continue to be an asset to you as you stay connected to Wilmont.
2. Update your contact info. Does the church have your correct cell phone and email address? You can update your own on Church Center or Adjace. Otherwise, please verify by calling the church office that we have your info correct.
3. Participate in worship. We plan, as able, for you to have multiple ways to connect with us during worship. We want to hear from you! Whether by sharing our worship video, commenting, or calling our prayer line, please participate as we worship together. Make it an important family event by getting up, getting dressed, and broadcasting the video on the largest screen in your home.
4. Engage your family. For quite some time we have been teaching our church that the family is the best discipleship unit. Instead of outsourcing your family's spiritual walk to a church, we have asked couples and parents to begin to establish worship practices in the home. We believe social distancing is helping us realize the importance of this lesson. Let's learn from what is ahead of us and disciple our families through tools provided by our church as well as prayer and Bible reading at home.
5. Adjust expectations. Certainly, none of this "feels" like "church." Know that when everything feels different and God seems distant, remember the attributes of God. His immutability reminds us He doesn't change. His omnipresence reminds us that he is not limited to a certain location. We can worship together, serve the Lord, and minister for His glory during this time!
6. Give. As you would imagine, offerings are down. If your job has not been impacted by social distancing, would you consider increasing your giving during this season of separation? Wilmont operates on a thin budget and few expenses are able to be reduced. You can mail offerings, give online through your bank, give online at WilmontPlace.com, or text-to-give (New as of today).

Watch here for a video update that shares part of this message.

We love you in the Lord and look forward to gathering with you again in worship.
Because of Him,

Shawn Nichols, Sr. Pastor

About Wilmont Place Baptist Church: Wilmont Place Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist church of 150 active members on the south side of Oklahoma City. Text-driven expository preaching, Bible-teaching, personal growth, and community evangelism define the culture and direct the activities and events of the congregation. The church is working through a formal revitalization strategy in which members become family and the community becomes ministry.

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