Update 27 April 2020

The Australian Government has launched a new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe. The app is an important public health initiative that has the potential to keep you, your family and your community safe from further spread of the coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure. 

Once installed and running the app uses bluetooth to look for other phones that also have the app installed. It then makes a digital handshake, noting the time date and duration of contact. This information is ONLY stored in the app on the users phone;  no-one, not even the user can access it.  

If the user is diagnosed with COVID-19, and agrees to share their app information, they will be directed to upload their information and, ONLY then will the relevant health authorities will be able to access the information about who has been in close contact with another app user for more than 15 minutes. 

Please consider downloading this app – available for iPhone and android phones.

Click on the links below for more info.

Media Release
FAQ'S 

Update 24 April 2020

Click on the link below for this week's BUV Support Hub updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock  –  Connection and Community 
• New devotion series – "Church – Remember who you are"
• Current Government restrictions 
• Baptist Insurance Update
• Financial Assistance  – URGENT : JobKeeper deadlines looming 
• BUV 2019 Statistical Survey 
• Global Interaction May Mission Month 
• BUV Prayer Calendar 
• Safe Church Update
• The Marriage Course online – with Bill & Julia Brown 
• Free Online Professional Standards Workshop – Resilience for Pastoral Leaders 
• Updated resources 
• Monash University’s Living with COVID-19 survey 
• May Gathering (Nourish, Members' Dinner) Cancelled 
• Stories of unprecedented love in action 

Weekly BUV Updates (24 April 2020)

Update 22 April 2020

Current advice re Places of Worship and livestreaming services from The Department of Health and Human Services website is : 

Are places of worship closed?

All places of worship, of all denominations, must now be closed.  If it is possible to do so, ceremonies and services can still be recorded or broadcast live from the place of worship for viewing online. You are allowed to have people on site to record and live stream services, however, you must ensure those people maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between each other at all times.

Places of worship may be opened for the purposes of conducting weddings and funerals, but there are strict limits on the number of people who can attend.

• For weddings, only the couple getting married, the celebrant and two witnesses may attend – a total of no more than five people.
• For funerals, no more than 10 mourners may attend in person. Both weddings and funerals can be live-streamed if desired.
• Places of worship can continue to be opened for the purposes of hosting essential public support services such as food banks, help for the homeless or other essential activities, ensuring appropriate physical distancing is maintained by keeping at least 1.5 metres between everyone at all times.

Can I still live-stream performances from my venue without an audience?

Yes. You can put on live-streamed performances, without a live audience, at your venue if you’d like to continue to operate as a music venue, for example. However, you will need to ensure that the performers and technicians involved maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between each other at all times.

Source: DHHS FAQ 

Update 17 April 2020

Click on the link below for this week's BUV COVID-19 updates:

• Weekly message from DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock – Questions to be asking during this time 
• Government restrictions – back to indoor gathering restrictions – no change for us 
• Financial Assistance  – URGENT : JobKeeper deadlines looming 
• BUV Prayer Initiatives  
• Free Safe Church Online resources and videos 
• The Marriage Course online for Pastors and spouses – with Bill & Julia Brown 
• Free Sanctuary Mental Health Resource  
• Free Online Professional Standards Workshop – Resilience for Pastoral Leaders 
• Updated resources 
• May Gathering (Nourish, Members' Dinner) Cancelled 
• New devotion series starts next week – "Church – Remember who you are"
• Stories of unprecedented love in action 

Weekly BUV COVID-19 Advice (17 April 2020)

Update 9 April 11am

Click on the link below for this week's BUV COVID-19 updates:

• Weekly message from the DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock
• Easter Message from the Prime Minister
• Free song & video
• Government restrictions – Places of Worship at Easter 
• JobKeeper Payment for charities 
• BUV – Prayer Week and April Prayer Calendar 
• Free Online Professional Standards Workshop – Resilience for Pastoral Leaders 
• Wellbeing Resources 
• Updated resources 
• Stories of Unprecedented Love in Action

Weekly BUV COVID-19 Advice (9 April 2020)

Update 8 April 3:00pm

Registered charities will be eligible for the JobKeeper payment if their revenue declines by 15 per cent.
Josh Frydenberg announced on April 5th that “Charities that are registered with the national regulator will be eligible for the Morrison Government’s $130 billion JobKeeper Payment if they have suffered a 15 per cent decline in turnover as a result of the coronavirus. Legislation to be introduced into the Parliament this week will include a concessional test for ACNC registered charities given the benefit they provide to the Australian community. A reduced threshold at which a charity is considered to be substantially affected by the coronavirus, as compared to businesses and other not-for-profits, will support a sector which is expected to have a significant increase in demand for its services.”
Click here to see Treasury website.

Updated BUV Finance advice

Update 4 April 9:00pm 

AT THE 2PM NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY the Prime Minister announced: “National Cabinet has decided to expand those able to conduct religious services, particularly over the Easter period. That doesn’t mean places of worship are open,  but that priests and those formally involved in conducting the services’ will now be classified as essential workers.”. He also said that the 2 person restriction would be relaxed so that more people could be involved in producing the services. 

The PM's latest press release stated that, "Churches and other places of worship, will be considered places of work so that services can be live streamed to the community. This will ensure that religious services, including Easter services, remain accessible to congregations. National Cabinet agreed that providing access to services is important for a sense of continuity and social connection.

Services may be conducted and live streamed providing only essential staff are present, the venue/facility remains closed to the public, and social distancing principles are adhered to.

Any church wishing to conduct religious services, including Easter services, must use the minimum number of participants required to deliver and live stream the service, which may include a priest, attendants, organist, videographer and sound recordist."

We advise using the 5 person rule as per previous advice and adhering to social distancing and hygiene rules. We also advise to still maintain only 2 people on screen at any one time.

Watch the video here 

View PM's statement here

Update 3 April 12pm

Click on the link below for this week's BUV COVID-19 updates:
 

• Weekly message from the DOMM, Rev Daniel Bullock
• Stories of Unprecedented Love in Action
• Government restrictions
• Pastoral Care During the COVID-19 pandemic
• Preparing for the future 
• Government Assistance – JobKeeper Payment
• BUV – Prayer Week and April Prayer Calendar 
• Safe Church update 
• Updated resources 

Weekly BUV COVID-19 Advice (03 April 2020)

Update 2 April 4:30pm

Church Finances
In this update:
• JobKeeper Payment Scheme
• Government help for your Church
 – Commonwealth
 – State
• Government help for individuals
• Church action

Church Finances Advice

Part 1: The Church In An Unfamiliar World by Rev David Devine
Part 2: God's Flock by Rev Mark Wilkinson
Part 3: The Temple of God by Rev Marc Chan
Part 4: Family of God by Rev Meewon Yang
Part 5: God's Field by Christine Wanstall
Part 6: Golden Lampstand by Peter Botross

 

BUV Devotion Part 7

Remember Who You Are: Bride of Christ

by Vicky Dyer

I remember about 10 minutes before my own wedding ceremony was to commence I was suddenly terrified. I grabbed my father’s hand, partly to receive comfort and encouragement, and partly so I couldn’t run away!  I was about to publicly declare some life-long promises and was afraid of falling short of those high standards.  I was nervous because I know that I as the bride, as well as the bridegroom, are human and therefore imperfect; we would each make mistakes and need to ask for forgiveness.  However, I was not overcome by fear because I know that God is perfect.  Because of God’s promises throughout the Bible, His character, and Jesus’ sacrificial death, I know that despite my imperfections I (as an individual), and all of us (as a group of believers) can be reconciled to God and to one another.

In the New Testament the Bride of Christ is a prominent symbol, and has been used as a metaphor for God’s people; with Christ referred to as the Bridegroom (Mark 2:19; Luke 5:34, Matthew 25:1-13).  Through this image, Jesus is revealed to be faithful, loving, and committed to a covenant union with his church.  However, the covenant relationship is not one way or passive.  Paul explains to the church at Corinth that he is actively and deliberately preparing them to be joined to one husband, Christ, so that he might ‘present [them] as a pure virgin to Him’ (2 Cor 11:2-3).  This choice of words illustrates his desire for a holy lifestyle among believers, most importantly, for the Corinthians to remain faithful to Christ and His gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4).

Nearly 2000 years later the Church, as a community of believers, remains betrothed (or engaged) to Christ.  This means that while we can know Jesus personally now, we are kept physically separated from Jesus; and we should be actively preparing for being reunited in a heavenly wedding (1 Peter 1:13-16; Rev 19:7-9).

In one well known passage (Ephesians 5:22-33), Paul compares the union of husband and wife to that of Christ and the church. Paul noted that husbands should love and nurture their wives as their own bodies (v28), as an analogy for Christ’s care of the church (including both spiritual and physical needs).

Paul’s emphasis throughout Ephesians, is of reconciliation to God, of unity within the church and ultimately about love (Eph 2:11-2; 4:2-6)!  All believers (including husbands and wives) are called to imitate Christ, who gave himself up for them out of love (Eph 5:1-2).  Paul’s concern is not simply to dictate household roles and interactions, but to demonstrate to the churches how they should live while waiting for Christ’s return – that their daily lives might demonstrate God’s sacrificial, overwhelming, life-changing love (5:3-5, 22-33; 6:1-8). 

Throughout past seven week series, we have reflected upon different images used in the Bible to describe what the church is called to be. The Biblical authors use many analogies not to cause confusion, but to illustrate this covenant relationship in a variety ways which their audiences could readily understand, regardless of their background.  It is no more essential for me to be a bride, than it is for me to be a golden lampstand (Rev 1:12), in order to understand the richness this image can bring for us.

This image evokes for me a sense of joy, because while I know my local church, and all of Christendom, will fall short in our attempts to follow’s Paul’s exhortation to live a holy life,  I have absolute confidence that the church will be loved, forgiven, cherished and provided for unconditionally.  Sadly, many people have experienced the significant pain of marriage and other relationship breakdown. Humanity longs for the intimacy described between the church (bride) and Jesus (bridegroom) (John 3:29) but may not have experienced it or understand how it is possible to attain.  God’s plan is for all believers to understand who they are and where they fit in His plan.  For this reason it is essential that the church realise its value is in relation to Christ; that as His bride we are forever joined to Him and can have confidence that we will be presented ‘holy and blameless’ to God, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Eph 5:25-27).  Then, the church can be confident to call out “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).

Some questions for personal and/or group reflection

1. Spend a few minutes quietly reflecting on the image of the Church as the Bride of Christ.

2. The Church today is made of diverse individuals, and currently we are not able to freely meet together.  How can we reflect our identity as the Bride of Christ, especially during this period of disruption? 

3. Are there any ways which you sense God could use you (as an individual), or your church/missional community, to promote and cultivate reconciliation to God and unity between believers?

I hope you find this devotion and the reflection questions useful. This is the conclusion of the devotion series.  

Blessings,
Vicky Dyer

BUV Church Health Consultant

Daylesford Church is continuing to undertake community engagement in this time of Coronavirus despite having to shut down their Pop-Up Café which was frequented primarily by locals.

Last year the Daylesford community church innovated with an idea that although there were numerous cafés in the main street, there were primarily frequented by the influx of tourists who flood the town weekends and weekdays. The church Pop-Up has been a bonus for locals who have enjoyed the heritage listed ambience of a local initiative.

With the adherence to social isolation, Daylesford have adapted to this situation by running a Pop-Up Kitchen each week serving free hot takeaway soup. The congregation are very excited to be offering this community support in times when people are experiencing financial hardship and tourism is diminished. Elaine Anderson, an initiator of this community engagement has said that the community response has already been “fabulous.”

Locals just need to order via a link on the church’s website.

“I think we will see our God do extraordinary things in these extraordinary times,” she says.

They are also moving forward with their children’s art/ learning centre and cafe downstairs (underneath their existing building) and this is with planning and building right now.

This is one example of a regional church moving forward in times of contraction, and still able to imagine and engage with their local community.

Recently I have found myself having conversations that I haven’t had since I worked as a social worker in an Intensive Care ward about twelve years ago. In that role, I would support families who had critically ill loved ones. When the patient was out of danger, my conversations with the family would turn to their self care and what they should expect over the next few weeks. I would say,

“Don't be surprised if you find yourself getting easily upset. The next few weeks will feel like a rollercoaster. You have been through a major trauma and it’s normal for your body to re-adjust both emotionally and physically.”

I have been saying similar words this week. Often after a major trauma or incident we find ourselves having strong emotional, spiritual or physical reactions. I think COVID-19 would count as a major trauma! If you are in leadership in a church, over the last few weeks you have been forced to lead your church through a massive change process that has happened at very short notice. You have totally transformed your mode of church; had to learn how to stream services, provide pastoral care remotely, run meetings online and deliver sermons to camera rather than a present congregation. Some or all of this has been outside of your experience.

When facing trauma, it is often at the three-week mark that we find ourselves at a vulnerable point. This is often when our emotional tank is nearing empty, having been drained by constantly responding to the needs of others around us.  We may also feel spiritually flat after engaging with the initial challenges to faith and service. You might be experiencing some of the following:

• Feeling as if you are in a state of ‘high alert’ for what needs to happen next
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Feeling distant from God or spiritually drained.
• Becoming easily upset or emotional
• Feeling fatigued or tired
• Feeling very stressed or anxious
• Being very protective of others including family and friends
• Reduced concentration and memory
• Change in appetite such as eating a lot more or a lot less.

Maybe you just want to stay in bed and pull the bedclothes up over your head.

Here are some helpful tips for us to remember at this time:

• It is important that we remember that it is normal to have both a physical, spiritual and emotional response to a major event.
• Don’t bottle up your feelings – talk to someone who can support and understand you.
• Try to keep to a normal routine.
• Practise your usual spiritual disciplines, even if you don’t feel like it.
• When you feel exhausted, make sure you set aside time to rest.
• Make time for regular exercise
• Connect with others in your team, your church, your friendship circle to support each other.
• Find ways to have fun (even with social distancing restrictions) – play games online, have dinner with others online, go for a walk or bake a cake.
• Relax – pray, use music, gardening or do things you enjoy.

Make some time to read and reflect on Elijah’s experience in 1Kings 19:1-21. In what ways can you relate to Elijah’s experience? What resources did God provide to support him in that situation? How might you access similar resources to support you at this time? Click here for a sermon by Rev David Devine on 1Kings 19.

If you find things going for too long, seek help. It is important to talk to someone as early as possible to prevent longer-term issues from developing. You are able to contact your Regional Pastor or a Church Health team member if you want further assistance.

Take care of yourself during this time. God is faithful and will sustain us.

Christine Wanstall,
BUV, Church Health Consultant

 

Mental Health Resources:
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries recognizes the need for access to online mental health resources in this season, and so they are making The Sanctuary Course available for free. Simply use the code "mentalhealth" at checkout to receive a 100% discount for the next month (discount code expires April 18, 2020). This course is intended for use in small groups, and so now more than ever we ask that you gather online with friends or your church community to engage with the material together. You'll also find other useful Mental health resources here.

At the time of publishing, Australia has had 6,000 cases of coronavirus. Whilst there are many potential trajectories our nation could take, now is a good time to learn from church leaders who have been experiencing even greater social isolation and feeling more acutely the societal, emotional and health impacts of the virus. These leaders reside in Spain, Italy and the USA; countries that have well surpassed the cases reported by China – which was once seen as the most unthinkable benchmark of the disease’s spread.

The church across the world is responding to this changing landscape as it seeks to be the best witness of Christ in the crisis. Below are seven lessons from pastors and missionaries who recently participated in a webinar hosted by SEND INTERNTIONAL (In Lockdown: Learning from the European Church’s Missional Response). They are gospel workers in Spain and Italy who have reflected on what they wish they knew before the tidal wave of disease hit their nations. Some further insights from North America have been included, along with helpful resources for our Australian context.

1.      This pandemic is taking people to the wells of spiritual life.

From the epicentre of the disease, a pastor spoke through tears of the pain their people face. Imagine this: A spouse is quarantined after the death of their partner. They must drive themselves to the hospital. No one else can drive them. They can’t even go to the funeral. They grieve alone. The pain is acute.

In the face of unfathomable pain and suffering, Francis Arjona, a pastor in Spain has seen a marked change in what has been a society largely resistant to the gospel. “The Bible talks about important things. Our world here has never wanted to listen to that. Life is important. Money and work are not going to solve this. We are talking about life and death here. I believe there is revival happening.”

Where some churches may have had event invitations on their websites, these are being replaced with clear presentations of the gospel. Some have ads on social platforms linking to clear gospel-centred resources for people searching for answers. Some leaders have advised to resist the temptation to create your own resources, but rather offer links to good resources that are already available online. Through these initiatives and reaching out to the wider community, one church leader has been receiving calls from people who simply want to confess their sins.

The BUV COVID-19 Resources page is updated regularly with the latest information and resources, including translated materials. Please see link here.

2.      Don’t rush.

In the face of lock down and extreme isolation, some leaders acknowledged how quickly their minds went to creating new things. However, many of the leaders acknowledged the need to slow down and take time to identify the needs – particularly as situations change daily. Identify how you are being changed personally by the situation. Take time to address your own fears and confess them. Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, based in North America, acknowledges in a recent Christianity Today article, “When fear comes, there is a temptation to frenetically chase activity. We are quick to jump on what we think we should be doing or to follow the crowd when the tipping point is reached. Yet instead, it is critical in this time to instead stop and step back. Take time to think through what fears are at work in your heart and in your community. Write them down and think through how best to respond in ways that are constructive and God-glorifying.”

Both either rushing to create something new and or doggedly maintaining old paradigms can distract from emerging needs, while also draining the capacities of leaders. Carey Nieuwhof, recently wrote “5 Predictions about the future church while everything’s still unknown”, in response to the pandemic, says that “leaders who have the energy, passion and agility to change now will end up advancing their mission in the future.”

You can find helpful leadership resources and training from Carey Neiuwhof here.

3.      Find alternatives when the internet becomes clogged.

Ron Anderson, who is leading a church in Spain noted that the internet is overloaded, diminishing live-streaming capacities. This has led some church leaders to preach from the rooftops. A vicar in the UK has taken to the streets. For those continuing to meet online, Whatsapp has become a popular application, requiring less data than other options.

Lacey Lengel, of Shepparton, has been running English classes for new arrivals. She has recently moved her classes online, choosing WhatsApp for connection, as it is very popular with communities that have access to limited Wi-Fi and technical support. Read more of her story here.

Information on how to set up Whatsapp can be found here.

4.      Smaller is better.

Many church planters in the most devastatingly affected parts of the world said that small gatherings were now the focus of their gathering work. They are seeking to create more environments for connection and going smaller. They are going from “preaching to people to preaching with and being in community.” In Italy, almost five weeks after isolation measures were introduced, people are desperate to see each other more and more. The best platforms for this engagement have been WhatsApp and Zoom, with its break-out facilities.

Information on how to use Zoom can be found here.

5.      Shepherd the people.

Since draconian measures were introduced in Italy in early March, live-streaming has been well utilised by churches. But some have found that the scramble to live-stream, whilst necessary for the gathering church, had detracted from the intentional shepherding of the people that have been entrusted to church leaders. Some leaders are now calling people non-stop every day, checking in on their needs to encourage them. Their service to their people has become more like chaplaincy – providing spiritual support and strength. One church planter, Justin Valiquette, generated a list of all those people who were relationally connected to the church for the last two months. He said that now “every single person is accounted for and being pursued and cared for individually outside of the group [gatherings].”

Rev Gayle Hill, head of BUV’s Mission Catalyst Team has written a helpful article on the effort needed to connect meaningfully with individuals, and helping those individuals connect with others. In addition, the BUV has created a template for people making phone calls through to encouraging one another during the pandemic. This might be a useful tool for your church to use as it gives a framework for connecting with the congregation and community.

You will also find useful tips about connecting through social media here.

6.      Focus on home dynamics.

There are grave concerns over social isolation increasing the prevalence of domestic abuse. In response to this, one church planter launched a chat service for people to connect with believers about their situation at home. They have paid for advertising on Google, Facebook and Instagram, encouraging those who are experiencing tension and difficulty in the home environment to use a chat service, where people on the other end can offer encouragement.

Useful information are available on the Domestic Violence Victoria website and eSafety Commissioner website.

7.      Pray, pray, pray.

A church pastor in regional Spain, spoke of rising prayerfulness, with virtual prayer meetings at three times the capacity of their usual face-to-face prayer meetings. Another leader has set up intercession teams, where six people connected regularly with one another, all of them bringing three names to commit to prayer. Each gathering of six was covering 18 people in prayer.

Miguel Castillo, based in Italy, implored listeners that this is a huge opportunity to pray: “We are agents of hope in this place where panic and fear have set in. We are going to choose faith over fear. We are not going to choose paralysis by analysis. We are going to love with the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The BUV, along with many other churches and organisations, is also calling its family to prayer during this unsettling time.  From Monday 13th April (Easter Monday) – Sunday 19th April we are asking churches to join with us in a focussed week of prayer. Click here for more information.

Our BUV's Partnership Development Pastor, Andrew Naylor is a professional musician and has recorded his version of 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' (originally written by Isaac Watts) as a video. Andrew has made this available to any church that would like to use it this Easter in whatever setting you like. If you need a download link for church service use, please email andrew.naylor@buv.com.au.