How
COVID-19
transformed houses of
Story by
Emily Patrick
FAITH
worship
I t is often said religion is not necessarily found in a
church, it lives in the people who practice it. COVID-
19 put that statement to the test when churches were
urged to shut down in the wake of a global pandemic.
Sunday services and regular weekly traditions were
challenged, and church leaders quickly began to brainstorm
on how to bring church into the homes of members.
For Richmond Mayor Robert Blythe, pastor of
First Baptist Church, keeping the familiarity of formal
church was the most important goal to achieve.
“I dress as I always dress,” Blythe said, referring
to his unchanged routine of dressing in a suit and tie
to address his congregation. “Sunday morning, we’re
going to do what we do and have always done.”
During his weekly sermons via Facebook Live,
Blythe preaches to a virtual congregation from the
pulpit at First Baptist. Blythe said he has heard from
church members that they enjoy the continuation of
a formal church service because “when (they)
watch, it looks like church.”
Blythe shared while the church might
be empty of bodies, it is not empty of
spirit.
“A gentleman asked what
it’s like preaching in an
empty space. I simply
responded, after
laughing, I said
‘Sir, it’s not empty,’” he said.
In March of 1995, Blythe and other
members of the church said a prayer
for the building. That prayer was: “Lord, let your spirit
fill this place.” According to Blythe, that prayer was
answered.
And surprisingly, the longtime pastor has found that
switching to internet services has led to something
unexpected — a congregation that defies the barriers
of city, state and even country.
“(We get) comments from lots of places. The shares
on Facebook draw in new members,” he said. “(We’re)
reaching people we may not have ordinarily met. …
that’s a success if there ever was one.”
Moving forward, Blythe said serious discussions will
be taking place regarding when the church will once
again welcome its members. He pointed out that “easily”
60% of members are older than 60-years-old,
some even into their nineties. For those who
are older and unable to watch live over the
internet, Blythe said the church records
his sermons and delivers DVD copies
to those members. A practice
that not only helps the elderly,
but also those with
other health issues
which do not allow
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Madison Magazine June- July 2020