NOW that the places of worship are open for gatherings, subject to meeting certain conditions, the leadership and congregants must fully utilise this opportunity to raise awareness while seeking God’s intervention.
The Christian faith and other religious groupings present an attentive audience upon which information can effectively be disseminated.
This is an orderly audience consisting of people of varying background and cuts across all ages and societal status.
Churches, mosques and other places of worship accommodate congregants from various communities and also encompass professionals of all shapes and sizes.
The Christian faith in particular instils spiritual growth and promotes obedience, honesty, truth, hard work and caring for one another and many other values.
It is also true that the Church is involved in community projects such as social justice and it complements Government in the education and health sectors.
It is against such a backdrop that the Church leadership should expressly raise awareness about COVID-19 and how effectively the pandemic can be eliminated.
The fact that such gatherings will be in small numbers and within a limited period of time should not constrain the leaders from allotting some time to COVID-19 sensitisation.
In this case, sensitisation must be from a medical perspective and this certainly requires that Church leaders get acquainted with the basics so that they do not mislead the flock.
It will, in fact, be ideal for the Church to invite health experts during Sunday service and accord them time to speak with the congregants about this challenge.
Around this time, the Church should make arrangements with the Ministry of Health at district level to have experts speak in congregations, even for 10 minutes about this disease.
On the other hand, the health experts must also be proactive by engaging the Church and not wait to be invited.
In fact, arrangements can easily be made as the Church leaders are requesting for certification from councils.
A simple research has shown that a good number of residents do not seem to understand the seriousness of COVID-19 because they are not following the health guidelines.
The have to be policed to wear masks in public places and on public service vehicles.
Therefore, awareness programmes will be more effective if they are relayed in Churches where there is a sober atmosphere.
However, even as the congregants gather, they must strictly adhere to social distancing and wear masks through the service as a demonstration of obedience and respect for humanity.
It would be sad if, God forbid, people get infected of corona virus in the Church premises where obedience, honesty and care are preached on regular basis.
Congregants must observe all the rules to the letter!
Quite frankly, the congregants have high regard and full trust of the clergy and whatever they say passes.
They speak the Gospel truth and therefore their messages on COVID-19 will sink in the minds of attentive followers.
Congregants must trust their leaders who mean well and who demonstrate true Gospel and love of all, irrespective of their status in society.
Therefore, the clergy must ensure truth so that they are trusted as they disseminate COVID-19 messages.
As the saying goes, “Only trust someone who can see three things in you: the sorrow behind your smile, the love behind your anger, and the reason behind your silence.”
A true messenger of God will have the attributes mentioned above.
