In some ways COVID-19 might turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because people appear to be turning to God for hope during the global Coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 may be putting their friends and family out of work and uprooting their normal routines, but online church attendance is rising during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Church Attendance, Bible Sales Rises During Coronavirus
CBN reports that out of 400 pastors who responded to a survey, half have seen an increase in attendance through their online church services. Just yesterday, CBN reported that Bible verses posted on social media are receiving three times as much engagement, and some companies are reporting Bible sales increased as much as 143 percent compared to last year.
Others have noticed a similar trend; a WalletHub survey seems to back this up, indicating that 56% of Americans who went to church on Easter Sunday last year say they will go to church for Easter this year, if it is open, in spite of Coronavirus fears. Other families are attending virtual worship services.
All of this points to a desire for hope and a relinquishing of control in these uncertain circumstances, pointing people to God.
Dr. Ralph Reed, founder and chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, argues that in times of crisis, people often turn to faith in larger numbers. With many churches closed across the nation due to COVID-19, churches are getting creative–taking worship, sermons, and Bible studies online. The response has been tremendous: many viewership numbers are increasing in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, providing a new way to reach the unchurched in this difficult season.
Reed is an expert on the concerns and trends among evangelicals, and is publishing a timely op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal that discusses the ways to reach the unchurched in this difficult season.
Reed is the author of For God and Country: The Christian Case for Trump. In his book, he argues that evangelicals played a pivotal role in the 2016 election and were morally justified in voting for President Trump.
According to Reed, President Trump has kept his promises to the evangelical community through his pro-life, pro-Israel, and pro-family agenda, making it morally permissible to vote for President Trump again in 2020.
In any case, in spite of political and health concerns, it is encouraging to see the rise in online church attendance and the new impact Bible verses are having on social media during the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Terrific article on church attendance during Coronavirus!!