Virtual faith efforts cross continents, keep parishioners close

The wife of “Luke Skywalker,” aka Mark Hamill from the Star Wars movies, has been among the hundreds from across the country and around the world to tune into worship services at Fellowship General Baptist Church since the COVID-19 pandemic changed our world in March.

I have to admit when I heard that, I was kind of impressed that someone with ties to Hollywood fame would tune into my church here in the nation’s Heartland.

Turns out, she is from the same hometown as my senior pastor, the Rev. Byron Beck, and they were friends growing up. No matter, it’s still pretty remarkable.

What’s also remarkable is where the worshipers actually are viewing the services from … and it’s not just Southeast Missouri.

Pastor Byron has reported in our weekly, Wednesday night Bible study that folks from six to 10 different states are tuning in each week to listen to the church’s online service.

Further, Pastor Byron says, the church has had people from 18 different countries sign up to watch services via Facebook during the last seven-plus months. That doesn’t count anyone who is watching via the church’s app or on its website as church officials can only track those using Facebook.

Pastor Byron says he recently received a message that an evangelist from the African country Uganda had signed up on Facebook to receive notices so he can watch future services.

Wow!!! That’s nearly 8,000 miles from here.

But, I’ll be right there with him as I am one of those who continue to watch our Sunday worship service each week via the website or app.

As our positive cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, I am still limiting my exposure to other people as much as possible and that includes not attending church in person.

And, I’m not alone.

About 50% of our congregation continues to worship remotely, up from about 30% when the church reopened for in-person services in June.

Many, like myself, also continue to attend a weekly Bible study and/or Sunday school classes remotely, although in-person attendance now is an option.

With the changes in how folks like myself are worshiping now because of the pandemic, Fellowship’s leadership is considering what adjustments need to be made going forward and how to upgrade our online ministry.

There is discussion of hiring an “online pastor” to manage and help engage a new online audience.

Online, according to Pastor Byron, is becoming the “new front door” for those 40 and younger. They will check out a church online before deciding whether they want to attend in person.

That’s a lot different than how it was when I moved to Poplar Bluff in 1993. Back then, I visited every General Baptist church in Poplar Bluff, some multiple times, before finding my new church home at Fellowship.

I’m thankful for my church family at Fellowship who welcomed me with open arms and thankful its leadership has found a way for all of us to continue worshipping even during the pandemic … when it’s not possible for us to set foot in the door quite yet.

And, if you are looking for a new church during this pandemic, I encourage you to join me at Fellowship. But, keep in mind, we aren’t perfect. We’re all sinners who love the Lord and are saved by the grace of God.

Michelle Friedrich is a staff writer for the Daily American Republic and can be reached at mfriedrich.dar@gmail.com, and her church can be reached at fellowshipgbchurch.com or by searching FGBC in the app store.