We strongly believe that it is very important for us to continue to come together as one corporate body to worship and glorify God together as THE church, Hebrews 10:25. With this being said, as we continue to stay open with our in-person service, we will continue to offer live streaming for those who can’t make it, may not yet feel comfortable coming or are at high risk, and to encourage those who may be sick to stay home.
We continue to encourage the following precautions when gathering, with an add on:
- Maintain social distancing as much as possible and abstain from handshakes, hugs, etc.
- Encourage anyone who is in one of the at-risk group to stay home.
- Anyone displaying cold-like symptoms, including, but not limited to, coughing, excessive sneezing, or cold chills, stay home to ensure the health of others.
- Wash hands regularly. Use hand sanitizer if washing hands is not possible. Best practice is to not use hand sanitizer’s any more than 5 times before washing hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.
- Encourage anyone who has recently traveled overseas or to a state with a positive test rate of 15 percent or higher to stay at home until symptom-free for fourteen days.
- Encourage use of cloth face coverings. Face coverings are most essential when social distancing is difficult. Note: Children under the age of 10 years do not need any cloth face coverings and they should not be placed on children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has trouble breathing and anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance. Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms.
For your safety, hand sanitizer will continue to be available throughout the facility and hand soap in every restroom and the church building is carefully cleaned and sanitized on a weekly basis.
On May 31 when we reopened Identity Church, I shared with you about an encounter that I had on May 25 about His glorious light that is shining over our nation. I believe that Ephesians 5:9-14 is upon us:
“Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
I believe that there is a MASSIVE exposure happening in this hour as God is shining His light on our nation. The Scripture says that all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light and I fear that if we don’t wake up we are missing it! The battle we face is far more than a virus or a piece of cloth. Many have walked right into the trap of Satan, becoming obsessed with an issue, and this is causing separation and destruction in our nation and the church. Lets not waste our breath over a distraction when we should be occupied with the proclamation of the gospel and winning people over through love and not debates that leads into further ungodliness. Its time for the church to, “Awake, from her sleep, Arise and turn away from distractions, so that Christ’s light can shine through us.”
As we are planning our gathering for this coming Sunday. I want to remind you, that our job as a church is to worship God and honor Him in all that we do, so let’s make sure that we support one another and present a unified voice in our community. It is very important to walk in love as we take a stand for our faith and for what we believe to be the absolute truth.
The apostle Paul told us in the book of Romans that we need to be sensitive to our brother’s conscience and not quick to judge. As a church we are made of differing backgrounds, differing mindsets and opinions. Yet, we must be able to honor the positions and opinions of our fellow believers and even to agree to disagree when necessary. This doesn’t mean that we all have to agree on policies and procedures as we continue to gather, but we need to be very careful to not criticize or judge what the church or each family may be doing or planning – especially publicly.
Lastly, I would like to add as circumstances may vary for each individual, that no one coming into Identity Church has to ever apologize to anyone for wearing or not wearing a cloth face covering. Our main concern on a Sunday morning is not a piece of cloth, but our relationship with our Lord and with one another. I want to see our hearts set ablaze with His unfailing love and walking out being the light of the world that Christ called us to be. Amen
I know and trust the fact that each of you are continuously praying your way through all of this. God will give each of you the wisdom and discernment on how to move forward and lead your families. May lives be changed and all we say and do be for the glory of God.
If you have a concern please contact the eldership team personally. Our community is watching us, let them know us by our love for each other and our commitment to working together. May we be known by our love and unity.
Online Giving
Many of you worship through your giving and generosity, and we are so appreciative. For those who will be joining us via live stream, online giving is available at the following link: https://app.sharefaith.com/app/giving/halopays-4761
Text Giving
Text any amount to: 330-576-8822
Philippians 4:19-20
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Please join us:
Sunday at 10 AM
10031 Cleveland Ave, NW
Greentown, Ohio 44630
Live streaming link at: https://youtu.be/b91qi-h1kvg