Dear Frontline Family,
2020 has certainly been one of the most challenging years we have had in many years and perhaps the most challenging in your lifetime. On top of dealing with a world-wide pandemic that has impacted all of us in some way, many of you have faced difficult personal challenges as well in 2020. While this has been a difficult and perhaps frustrating year for us as individuals and as a local church we are confident that God is in control and will accomplish his purposes. This year has also brought new opportunities for serving God and serving others, and has forced us to be more creative in how we share and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As your board of elders and deacons at Frontline Bible Church we have had to make a number of difficult decisions in the past nine months that we would have never imagined at this time last year. While these decisions haven’t always been easy to make, we have strived to make decisions that honor God and help safeguard the health and well-being of our church family and surrounding community. With the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in West Michigan and with our local hospitals at or near capacity with Covid patients, representatives of the FBC Board met with the Frontline Medical Advisory Committee to discuss the situation and determine if any change in our approach to combating the pandemic was warranted at this time. At this meeting, which took place prior to the governor and state health department announcing revised restrictions Sunday evening, we arrived at a consensus that for the safety and wellbeing of our congregation, as well as the greater community, the best course of action was to temporarily suspend in-person services at Frontline for the next several weeks.
This recommendation was shared with the Board at our meeting Monday evening and the board agreed that temporarily suspending in-person services while continuing to provide on-line worship services was the best course of action in light of the rapidly spreading virus. This decision was made not only for the sake of our congregation, but also as a way of demonstrating our care and concern for the greater West Michigan community and for those who serve on the frontlines of our overwhelmed healthcare systems. With that in mind the FBC Board has made the decision to suspend our in-person worship service through at least Sunday, December 6th. In making this decision we realize this is a fluid situation and adjustments may need to be made as the situation changes. In addition to the suspension of Sunday in-person worship, the Board has determined the following:
- FBC facilities may continue to be used for any group of 10 people or less.
- Groups larger than 11 people or more are prohibited from meeting in Frontline facilities through December 8.
- Groups of 10 people or fewer that continue to meet at FBC will now be required to wear face masks/shields while in the building.
We know this is not an ideal situation and while this decision may be comforting to some, we realize it may also be frustrating to others. While we would much rather continue to offer the option of worshipping in-person, we realize these are extraordinary times and we pray that our Frontline family would excel in showing patience and grace as we go through this together. While we are unable to meet together in-person for the next several weeks, your FBC board and staff will continue to seek alternative ways to bring our church family together and grow in the unity of the Spirit that we have in Christ. I encourage you to make time daily to pray for our church over the next several weeks, and pray also for those who have contracted this virus as well as the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who are putting themselves at risk to care for those suffering with Covid.
As we go through this challenging time together I want to remind you that the hope and promise of the upcoming advent season is as true as it has ever been! In John 1:5 the Apostle John speaking about the Lord Jesus says that “the light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” It is often said that the light shines brightest in the darkest times, and while it would be easy to focus on the darkness during the upcoming holiday season, I hope you will choose to focus on the light and look for opportunities to share this “light” with those you come in contact with who may be in desperate need of the hope we have in Jesus.
May God bless you and keep you in his constant care!
Sincerely,
Your Frontline Board of Elders and Deacons
Dwayne Huff
Chairman
Continue being the Body of Christ by:
- move your giving online
- continue to support Project ABBA online through easyTithe. If you have selected an envelope from the Giving Board, simply mail in your amount, or give via easyTithe. If you can note which envelope you are fulfilling, that would be great. We would like to have all gifts in by November 30. Thank you!
- and spread Christmas Joy by participating in Secret Santa 2020 This is open to all ages, men, women, boys and girls! Respond this week to get in on the fun!
- stay encouraged by reading God’s Love Letter and reading the November SEE Blog (will be published 11/20/20, watch for the text)