Next up, after our 40 Days of Prayer series is Missions month! God is still working and we’re excited to share with you some of the stories of how our missions giving is helping to grow His Kingdom.
Pastor Andrew Cromwell
Next up, after our 40 Days of Prayer series is Missions month! God is still working and we’re excited to share with you some of the stories of how our missions giving is helping to grow His Kingdom.
Pastor Andrew Cromwell
Why Our Building is [Still] Closed
Andrew Cromwell, Lead Pastor
Koinonia Church
There is quite the uproar in our world right now regarding the restrictions surrounding COVID-19. Things have become so divisive that it seems the only thing people can talk about is masks, COVID, restrictions, politics, and what “side” they fall on.
As different churches are approaching things differently, I thought it would be helpful to explain why our building still remains closed and how we are processing things.
First, here are two things that have NOT impacted our decision to close our building:
We are closed for the following reasons:
Am I violating “God’s Law” by closing the church building?
As a pastor, pleasing God concerns me. It should concern any follower of Christ. Our ultimate goal should be to please God and to follow His directives. We should never violate God’s commands willingly or unwillingly. If we discover that we have, we must repent and correct our actions.
We have two powerful sources that give us information about God’s Law. The first is the witness of Scripture (the Bible). The second is the witness of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts. The Scripture is our bedrock and our primary source of information. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Scripture to our heart and speaks to us about our individual character and growth and gives us individual directives.
We know that the Holy Spirit will not give us a directive that is in violation with the Scripture because He wrote it (2 Peter 1:21).
In the New Testament, the word church (ekklesia) does not refer to a physical building. And it does not mention the need to keep a building open. Church buildings as we know them are a practical and useful creation, but we see in the book of Acts that they did not exist for some time after the church launched and began to turn the world upside down.
The church met in houses, in marketplaces, and even in the Jewish synagogues. It met around dinner tables, in rented lecture halls, and met in the back of chariots on the way to Ethiopia.
The Scripture that is used most often in this discussion is Hebrews 10:24-25 (I haven’t seen any others):
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Some have argued that to close our doors is to violate the direction given to us by the Apostle Paul to “not give up meeting together.”
Whenever we interpret Scripture, we seek to understand the principle behind the words, not just the words. I believe we can make the following observations:
What is not present here is a requirement as to exactly how meetings should happen or even exactly how often. We can imagine plenty of cases where people can’t physically meet together—prisoners can’t meet, churches are burned down or flooded out, severe weather results in services being canceled, people go on vacation, people get sick and can’t leave their houses, etc. In these cases we do not say that these people have violated God’s law because we recognize the spirit behind the law is the critical factor.
Whether or not we meet in a church building is not the critical issue at stake in this verse. It is the habit of fellowship. The habit of building up the community of the believers. This can happen in a building or in a house or in a park. It can happen in person or on the phone or via a Zoom video call.
I like meeting together in person. It’s lovely. I believe it is even the best. But it is not the only legitimate way for us to fulfill this verse. And I do not feel guilty when I go on vacation or am sick and miss church. It is not a sin to close a church building for a period of time or even miss corporate church gatherings for a while.
We thank God that we can “meet” as the church in many, many different ways. A closed church building is an invitation to expand when and where the church gathers. This is why we have encouraged and continue to encourage people to meet in their homes and have church with their family and their immediate circles. This is why I have encouraged people to join small groups and meet on Zoom or meet outside on their driveway.
Let us be the church and not just “go” to church.
Are our religious liberties being violated by the Governor’s orders?
No, it is my belief that they are not. I may not like closing our doors. I may not like not being able to meet as we are accustomed to in a large auditorium. I may not like the Governor’s orders or even feel like they are too restrictive or reactionary. But that doesn’t mean that his orders are illegal or that they violate my religious freedoms.
Religious freedoms in our country do have limits. These limits are generally based on the general welfare of the society. For example, even though polygamy was a part of the Mormon religion, it was ruled by the Supreme Court to violate the good of the larger community and therefore could not be practiced. In other words, freedom of religion in our country can be limited for legitimate reasons.
In our current situation, our governor believes that there is a public health reason to temporarily limit certain gatherings. This is not based on them being religious gatherings. If it were, then there would be a problem. In some states, there is a clear argument that the limitation placed upon churches is unfair because other gatherings have not been restricted.
Now, it may be that the way our governor (or other governors) have used their authority to place limits on churches or other institutions or businesses is found to be unconstitutional or inappropriate. But I am not persuaded that this is something that I am ready to be civilly disobedient over because while I might disagree with the policy, I don’t disagree that he has the authority. I will vote accordingly when it comes time for me to express my opinion!
Some Concluding Thoughts
I believe that God is teaching us something new about church and we shouldn’t miss it. Church has become a place you go rather than something you are. And we have been reminded that we really get “stuck” on having our “church” the way we like it.
Whether or not you believe the restrictions are good or bad, we have all been invited into a new understanding of church and community.
I also believe that God has invited us back into a renewed understanding of hospitality and deep relationships. Our culture has exchanged pseudo-relationships for real relationships. This may not be your experience, but I have realized that meeting together with others at church can give me the “feeling” of connection without actual connection. Perhaps it is a gift to be reminded that just seeing other people does not equal hospitality, community, and connection.
Finally, I am more determined than ever to not let things get in the way of my worship. I have learned I can worship with or without a mask. I have learned that I can do church in a whole bunch of different ways. I have learned that when things change, I don’t like it, but when I push through and worship anyway, there is something deeper and richer that happens inside of me.
Let His Kingdom Come!
Andrew Cromwell
Lead Pastor
Koinonia Church
Hanford, CA
October 2020
Dear Koinonia Family,
On Monday, Governor Newsom announced that our county, among many others, was moving backwards once again in the reopening process due to the surge in COVID-19 cases and the reduction in available hospital beds. This means that church buildings are once again closed.
So, we continue to learn to pivot and dance in a challenging season!
This is how we are responding:
Now, there is also a question of how we should respond as individuals to this ever-changing environment.
As a spiritual leader, I am concerned about how we carry and express our beliefs in this moment. I am freshly aware how the Enemy is using COVID and all the other issues we are facing as a nation to divide and destroy us. Many are playing right into his hands. Whether we are separated as the result of physical or ideological isolation, we seem to be moving farther apart, instead of seeking common ground and unity.
How is this not a work of the Enemy? Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Matt. 12:25).
I encourage you to maintain a higher perspective. Humility requires us to respect and love one another even if we disagree. It also mandates that we admit that we might not be right about all the things of which we are convinced. I find myself closing off to new information and have to choose to re-engage and listen constantly even though it is not my natural tendency. This work is worth it for all of us.
The way we respond to these challenging times is more about an opportunity for us to grow spiritually and to become more like Christ. The more angry and frustrated we are, the less we are full of the Spirit and the more time we must spend to get His heart before anything else.
I implore you according to Colossians 3:12-14: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Church family, let our reputation in this community be that we found a way to navigate through this season with joy in our hearts and love on our lips. I am reminded of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, “I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
We may be confused by many things, but we should never be confused about our calling to point to Jesus in the midst of every challenge. He is our hope in this hour. He is the one that can end COVID quicker than any vaccine. He is the one who can heal every division and repair every broken heart.
Here’s the short story:
This Sunday will be the 11th Sunday since we moved services online and I miss you! I know that this has been a season of refraining from embracing (Ecclesiastes 3:5), but I’m ready for it to be a time to embrace once again! Like all seasons, it has come with both its own trouble (Matthew 6:34) as well as its blessings, and I am determined to allow the Lord to do all He desires. But, I’m ready for a season shift!
As things do begin to move towards reopening, I want you to know what to expect as far as church gatherings are concerned. As a staff, as a board of elders, and as a community of Kings County pastors, we have been actively engaged in planning to return once again to our buildings. For Koinonia that means the following:
We need your help during this planning process too! I need to know how you feel about coming back and under what circumstances. Would you please take a few minutes to help us know how you are feeling? Your voice is critical right now. Please fill out this questionnaire about reopening.
We will be together again!
Pastor Andrew
Lead Pastor
Dear Koinonia Family,
I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to update you on what’s happening at Koinonia as we navigate the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in this part of the world which we call home.
I would first like to say how proud we are of our church and teams. Everyone has rallied together to communicate trust and confidence in a time of fear and rumors. We are brainstorming ways to bless our community and be a light of hope. So thank you Koinonia for your courage and input during this time!
Our governor and local health officials have asked large groups to not meet for the next few weeks in order to slow the spread of the virus. Having watched how quickly the virus spread in China and Italy, we have seen that the virus can quickly overwhelm the healthcare system. We do not want to either ignore this nor be driven by fear in our response.
We believe that the best way to serve our community is to suspend our in-person meetings and to move what we can online. Twenty years ago, not meeting in person would have meant not being able to worship together. Today, we are incredibly blessed to have a fully functioning online church experience. Church does not have to happen in a building!
We see this as an opportunity for families and small groups to lead each other in times of worship. God has actually prepared us for this moment to adapt how we do church together to meet the needs of our community and reach the hearts of our neighbors.
So here’s what’s coming next.
Online-Only Sunday Services
Beginning Sunday, March 15 and probably through March, our services will be held online only. Service times will remain the same at 9 and 11am for English services, and 2:00 for Spanish Service. Our hope is to be able to gather together on our church campus as soon as possible, but in the meantime, we believe we can continue to learn and grow together as a church by worshiping together in our homes with friends and family. And you can still invite your friends! If you’ll be watching the live-stream on Facebook, we encourage you to share it on your feed. If you’ll be watching on our website, consider inviting someone to join you by sending them the link.
I want to encourage you to participate in the chat and make the service interactive! In this way we can build a community experience and inspire one another.
To watch the live-stream on our website, click here
To watch on Facebook, click here
For Families with Kids
Please know that each of your families will continue to be in our prayers as we navigate these circumstances together. We want to keep your kids engaged and provide ways for them to grow spiritually. We’re posting the curriculum that would typically be used on Sunday on campus for your kids through Right Now Media, which we highly encourage you to utilize. It’s super easy to register and is a great way for kids to do church online along with the rest of your family! We provide anyone who calls Koinonia home free access to this service. There are several videos for kids with optional discussion questions and activities that can be downloaded.
To register for Right Now Media, click here
To login to your existing account, click here
Questions? Email: kchanford@kchanford.com
Mid-Week Programs
We are suspending all on-campus ministries for the next 2 weeks. We will evaluate this decision week to week as the situation around the outbreak continues to unfold. In the meantime, we will be providing alternative ways for you to grow closer to God and learn more about Him.
Future-Hope Preschool
We will be keeping our preschool doors open to our students and teachers. We are taking additional measures to ensure they are healthy and our facilities and processes stay as germ free as we can!
King’s Pantry
Our food pantry will also continue to provide groceries for those who need it. We are evaluating our procedures to maximize safety and we are working hard to protect both our volunteers, staff, and patrons.
Opportunities to Serve & Give
While the impacts of the coronavirus mean some changes to our daily lives, the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of people have not been put on hold and we must continue to care for those around us. We are currently looking for ways to be a support to our medical centers. As a need arises, we will communicate how you can get involved with donations.
Even though we’re not gathering in-person for church, you still have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by giving your tithes and offerings through our giving page.
Final Thoughts
Even though our world has changed, the power of God has not changed. The truth of Scripture has not changed. The hope of Jesus has not changed. Our mission as a church has not changed. Let us not give in to fear. Rather, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Walk in wisdom, pray with diligence, and love your neighbor!
In Christ,