Hello Pulpit Rock family,

In light of the conversations and concerns swirling around COVID-19, I wanted to mention a few things and share a story.

We will be having church as normal this Sunday.
And right now the plan is to continue to gather in the near future. If this makes you nervous – we understand! Remember what I said last week, God doesn’t take attendance, he gives grace. To stay connected with our church text ‘PULPITROCK’ to 77948 for the latest updates, watch sermons, listen to our podcast, find all sorts of wonderful and free content from RightNow Media.

Our team is working hard to sanitize everything in the building – especially the children’s area.
They work hard on this every week, but they have increased the scope and frequency of what they do.

As we gather, let’s be respectful about handshakes and hugs.
Let’s check with each other, and respect what one another feels comfortable doing.

I’m praying for this. Please pray with me.
I’m praying for our older population and those with already compromised health.
I’m praying for our international friends who don’t have access to the best healthcare.
I’m praying against the culture of fear in our country.
And I’m praying for our church to BE the church in these days, and in all days.

Let’s be people of faith and love during this time!

I was recently talking to a friend about the Antonine Plague and the Plague of Cyprian. They happened around 150 A.D. and 250 A.D. respectively. Christianity had spread all over Rome but was still in its infancy. In both cases the disease was devastating. In the Plague of Cyprian, historians estimate 5,000 people a day were dying in the city of Rome.

And in both instances, something extraordinary happened. While everyone else was fleeing the cities, Christians chose to stay and provide care for the sick and dying. They did this knowing full well that it was a death sentence. But they were so fearless in the face of these diseases that Christianity began to spread faster than the plague itself.

As believers, this is our heritage. These are our brothers and sisters.

I don’t share that story to shame anyone. And I’m not suggesting we all buy tickets to Wuhan.

I just want to remind us to hang onto our identity as people of faith and love – no matter what the world does.

As people of faith – we cultivate fearlessness in the face of death, because we know in Christ we have eternal life. Heaven is real. And God is sovereign over all of our days.

As people of love – we cultivate a heart that gives when others are hoarding. We cultivate a heart that sees the overlooked when others are self-focused.

I so admire the faith and love that I see in you people at Pulpit Rock. We are committed to pursuing Jesus even if it costs us everything.

My mom shared this Psalm with me yesterday. It seems appropriate that we meditate on it and pray it in this season.

Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

I love you people!
See you Sunday.

Jonathan