Jim Donohue, pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church (Glen Mills, PA), recently wrote a blog post on our Church Development site about making sure that we’re seeing people. He writes, “God is calling us to be like Jesus and look at people—to reach out and connect. As Christians, we have the most amazing news in the world and it is news that we simply can’t keep to ourselves. We are called to love this lost world with the good news of the gospel.” The article is a good reminder of our calling as Christians—even in a pandemic ridden world! You can read the whole article here.
On behalf of the Leadership Team, with the support of the Executive Committee, I wanted to let you know that we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference because of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For us this decision was not only very hard to make, but also a sad one to make. We love being with our pastors and wives annually at our Pastors Conference. To make a decision, that we consider an exception during an unprecedented time, is heart-wrenching for us. There is no one else we would rather be with in November than the pastors of Sovereign Grace Churches and your wives.
As we sorted through, and prayed about this decision, here are some of the factors that led us to make this difficult decision:
Most of our global pastors and friends will not be able to travel to the States for our conference in November.
Because some of our pastors and wives are high risk, and because some will understandably be uncomfortable traveling when there is so much uncertainty, we anticipate that our attendance will be lower, especially when you factor in that our global pastors most likely can’t attend.
Some states in the U.S. are requiring or recommending that people self-quarantine for 14 days if they travel from current hot spot states like Florida. We have no way of knowing if that requirement will be in place in the fall, but if it is, that could negatively impact our conference attendance.
If we proceeded with holding the conference anticipating a lower attendance, we estimate that we would lose a significant amount of money. That loss didn’t seem like a wise one to absorb in a year that we project that our income will be down because of the economic impact of COVID-19.
We also know that some of our churches are experiencing a drop in income because of the pandemic making it more difficult for them to incur the expense of traveling and participating in our conference.
Given the size of our meeting room, and the much smaller hallway outside of the meeting room, we think social distancing would be possible, but would also be a challenge.
We needed to make a decision now, not only in negotiating with the hotel, but also to serve everyone to give you clarity as you make plans for the fall. Given the current rise in positive COVID-19 cases in some states, including Florida, we think there remains enough uncertainty about the future that we didn’t think it was wise to proceed with the conference.
As mentioned above, we view our decision as an exception to the norm even if the impact of COVID-19 continues into next year. Having another year gives all of us more time to gather additional information regarding the virus, and more time to potentially adjust to a “new normal” meaning that we all understand better the need for acceptable risk related to travel and gathering together at a conference.
It’s hard for me to write this post because it communicates our difficult decision to cancel the Pastors Conference. I, along with all of the guys on the Leadership Team, will miss seeing you in November. However, may that only build our anticipation to gather for our conference November 9-11, 2021 in Orlando.
Mark Prater is the Executive Director for Sovereign Grace and serves as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church. He and his wife, Jill, have three married daughters and a growing number of grandchildren.
Over the past few months, our global team has raised over $160,000 for the purpose of helping to provide food and water to nations where it has been more scarce due to COVID-19. One of our pastors in Cebu City, Philippines sent along this thank you video as an expression of gratitude to our Director of Emerging Nations, Dave Taylor, and all of those involved in donating money to provide food. Matthew 25:40 says, “‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Thank you to all who provided financially for these dear saints. May the gospel go forth in Cebu City with even greater force because of this generosity.
If you have a few minutes, please watch the video here: Amidst The Pandemic Your Love Is Relentless
And let us thank God for his work in all nations, with all people for His glory.
We wanted to pass along a post from one of our pastors, Ryan Chase, at Emmaus Road Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As Ryan writes, “Fighting the fight of faith and running the race with endurance requires living by faith and not by feelings. … Those who live by what they see and feel in the moment will soon give up, but those who live by faith in God’s future grace will endure to the end.” His encouragement from Hebrews 12 is a timely reminder as we enter another week of our current global pandemic. You can read the full post here.
Yesterday we sent our 2020 Mission Fund brochure to our pastors and staff. I love circulating this each year because it gives a glimpse behind the scenes into some of what God is doing among us. Here is an excerpt of my letter from the booklet:
The theme of this booklet is “Soli Deo Gloria” (To God Alone be the Glory). Even though this theme was chosen well before the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems even more appropriate now because we believe that God is going to use this pandemic for His good purposes and His glory alone. Could it be that God is using this unique global event to awaken the need people have for a Savior? Could it be where doors have been closed to the gospel, God is throwing them open in the hearts of people to hear the gospel? Could it be that God is going to use this unprecedented pandemic for an unprecedented advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ? May it be so, for the glory of God alone!
Our booklet this year includes updates from our recent church plants, just a few stories about our international friends, an update from Sovereign Grace Music, two articles about thinking through mission while in a pandemic and other stories. Please take time to read through them, thanking God for our partnership in the gospel and asking God how you can participate in our mission.
You can find the booklet here.
Mark Prater is the Executive Director for Sovereign Grace and serves as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church. He and his wife, Jill, have three married daughters and a growing number of grandchildren.
I spoke with a Sovereign Grace pastor recently who told me that even though his church is unable to gather together, the pandemic is actually being used to bring his church closer together. I see a similar thing throughout Sovereign Grace. God is using the COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the fact that we are truly a global “family of churches.” Isn’t it so good of God to use a global trial to bring us closer together as a “family” in Sovereign Grace?
One of the ways that our Sovereign Grace family cares for one another during this unusual time is to pray for one another. Below you will find the “Sovereign Grace Churches Second Quarter Prayer Requests.” The requests do focus on prayer needs that are the result of the pandemic. Consider praying for our family of churches in a future livestream service, Sunday or Small Group Zoom meeting, or include these requests in a devotional you create. May our prayers for one another strengthen our partnership and our faith to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ together for His glory alone.
Pray that God would give the members and pastors of Sovereign Grace churches opportunities to serve our community and demonstrate the love of Christ during the COVID-19 pandemic looking for opportunities to share the gospel with unbelievers.
Pray for the members of Sovereign Grace churches who are unemployed, have been furloughed from their jobs, or who own businesses that have been negatively impacted financially by the COVIOD-19 pandemic asking God to provide for them.
Pray for the pastors of Sovereign Grace churches asking God to give them wisdom in knowing when and how to reopen their church in the coming months.
Pray that God would provide for Jorge Del Castillo, David Del Castillo and their church plant team who started services in Santa Cruz, Bolivia just before the COVID-19 pandemic started and haven’t been able to meet since early March.
Pray that God would use this unprecedented pandemic for an unprecedented advancement of the gospel throughout the world.
Pray that God would continue to provide financially for Sovereign Grace Churches so that we can fund the gospel opportunities He is giving us.
Mark Prater is the Executive Director for Sovereign Grace and serves as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church. He and his wife, Jill, have three married daughters and a growing number of grandchildren.