May 2022 Covid Update
(Released March 2021)
168’s Preview Service, Official Launch and Opening Plan
Dear Church Community,
Each church needs to make a decision. We offer the following to help clarify our decision regarding our church preview service, official launch, and general opening plan.
In the following paragraphs, we will attempt to communicate the following:
How does the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) provide guidance for launch and opening?
In light of Luke 10, what do we do with our desire and call to gather together for worship (Hebrews 10:25)? And, how are we opening or launching?
How did we compile our data that aided our decision process? Isn’t the media over exaggerating COVID and its implications?
Closing thoughts
Jesus provides at least four parameters through the Good Samaritan to launch and open well.
1. We must primarily process opening through a biblical lens (Luke 10:25).
In Luke 10, the lawyer could have stayed home and processed his own conclusion based on his own interpretation. He doesn’t. He got up, left his house, and proactively engaged with Jesus. And because of his proactivity (and God’s grace), the lawyer received the biblical lens through which he is called to live.
Let’s keep processing videos, articles, and podcasts, but may our final decision be informed by Jesus’ Word.
2. We need to continue to ask a spectrum of questions.
The lawyer could have asked his first question “What shall I do to inherit life?” and walked away (Luke 10:25). He doesn’t. He instead asks a question that leads to transformation of the hearer’s heart. And whether the “hearer” includes the lawyer we actually do not know.
Right now, we are all asking questions. Generally, in the evangelical landscape, the questions seem to be around “religious liberty” (Acts 5:29), “what is permissible” (Romans 13:1) and if a Sunday service should be considered “essential” (Hebrews 10:25). And although there is tremendous value in pursuing religious liberty, challenging governmental mandates when they are in direct conflict with God, and assembling together under our current Sunday morning format, we want to further ask what Jesus answers: “Who is my neighbor?” “What does it look like to love our neighbor well?” and “What does this mean for the Christian?”
3. Our Christian witness to our community matters.
The irony of Luke 10 is that the “least likely” candidate rises to be the most loving neighbor. From the beginning of this church plant, 168 has desired to be “the most loving neighbor” we can be. To announce to our communities, “Jesus loves you. Let us show you how.” Whether through our partnership with Sharing Connections, Tuesday night prayer initiatives, or allocating at least 10% of our budget to be used towards seeing community restoration, we want to be a “priest” or “Levite” (Luke 10:21-32) that lives like the Good Samaritan.
4. The marker of good neighboring is how we love the most vulnerable.
In February 2021, we have an opportunity to show our communities that we not only value our religious liberty and assembling together under our current Sunday format, but that we love the most vulnerable. There are at least four statements that Jesus raises to clarify what it means to love the most vulnerable.
a) Allow compassion to lead your decision (Luke 10:33).
b) Allow proximity to guide your compassion (Luke 10:34).
c) Continue to sacrifice on the behalf of the most vulnerable (Luke 10:34).
d) Manage the tension of your needs with serving the most vulnerable (Luke 10:35).
In light of Luke 10, what do we do with our desire and call to gather together for worship (Hebrews 10:25)?
COVID has been incredibly taxing. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that depression is 3 times higher compared to pre-COVID statistics. In light of this reality, and desiring compassion, proximity, sacrifice, and the management of tension to lead our decision, 168 will launch and open for in-person gatherings to meet state guidelines. This means that although churches are exempt from pandemic-related restrictions in the state of Illinois, we will choose to allow Luke 10 to guide our decision to follow state guidelines.
What does this practically mean? How are we opening or launching?
Starting in February, we will host in-person opportunities, following region 8 guidelines. For those who are comfortable and are able to meet in-person, we will have in-person prayer re-gatherings, Sunday services, kid’s ministry, and outreach opportunities. For those who are not yet ready or able to return, we will continue to provide opportunities for on-line community.
As restrictions change, 168 will follow those restrictions.
We understand that viewing a service online has its limitations. To that end, we promise to be creative and innovative in our approach. If new restrictions arise, we will roll out new ways to meet (e.g. smaller groups, outdoors around a fire, outdoor spring services…), to engage and connect with you.
To help reduce the possibility of exposure and to love our most vulnerable neighbor, we will also follow recommended state guidelines for face coverings, social distancing, and cleaning.
How did we compile our data that aided our decision process?
We readily confess that we don’t know everything. We also confess that although watching videos, reading articles, and listening to podcasts from a variety of spectrums is helpful, it does not make us more knowledgeable than epidemiologists and virologists who study this virus for a living. Therefore, with changing circumstances, we are choosing to follow community guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health, while managing our needs with the tension of serving the most vulnerable.
Closing Thoughts
What a time to plant a church! But if we could choose to plant this church with anyone, it would be with humble, servant hearted, sacrificial and compassionate people like you. We cannot wait for the stories we will get to share of God’s provision, comfort, and blessing as we continue to allow His Word to guide our actions and timing.
In it with you,
John Jou, Tiffany Jou, Carl Fisher and Liz Fisher
3.1.2021