Turning a Crisis into a Ministry Opportunity
May 22, 2020
Hayden Lake Adventist Church cancelled all their Health Events because of COVID-19.
What do you do when all your health events are stopped because of COVID-19? This was the question on the mind and in the prayers of Hayden Lake SDA church members. They wondered, “How can we show the community we care and love them? How can we do it?” With churches and events closed it was a daunting situation.
Several in the church were studying and searching for ways to reach their community. One member, Lorraine Gabriel, the churches health ministries leader, found several quotes about how the publishing work is going to be the way the work on earth is finished. She felt these were an answer to prayer and felt encouraged to share these at the next church board meeting.
Initially they found a health magazine and ordered 250 copies to send out to their contacts – people who had attended their health programs in the past or had been scheduled for a program in 2020.
Then one day a copy of Signs of the Times: COVID-19 Facing the Crisis With Confidence, came to the attention of the health ministries leader. The magazine had what the community needed. It was an answer to prayer so she shared it with the church board. What they liked about the magazine was that in addition to the helpful information about the virus and the immune system, there was an opportunity on page 5 for people to take Bible Lessons and on page 8 for people to receive wellness information. This was in line with the churches focus on health ministry. So the board voted to send this to all the residents of Hayden, Idaho.
Now the church began to scramble. They put the finishing touches on a healthy web site so they could have Pacific Press, the publisher of Signs of the Times, add their web site to the back of the magazine. Check it out here https://www.haydenlake-hl.com/. About three or so weeks later they were able to send the magazine to the 11,000 residents of Hayden. These little magazines, at a cost of .65 cents each, are sowing seeds of truth.
On a recent Sabbath, they shared this “Love in Action” story with their membership. (See the magazine and quotes here). They wanted everyone to know what had transpired, and how God had answered their prayers. The web site and the magazine are ways to teach both church and community members how to do their part in their own health as well as how to have confidence in God.
May this story of one church be an encouragement to you in how the Lord makes lemonade out of lemons. When one door shuts, God opens another. If you would like to reach out to Hayden Lake Church, you may call 208-495-4559.
Link to Pacific Press
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