In light of global precautions for the COVID-19 Coronavirus, and to ensure we are adhering to the direction of our leading health and government authorities, effective immediately, all church activities, gatherings, auxiliary ministries, including Sunday Service and Wednesday Night Bible Service, are postponed until further notice.
well I guess I get started.this it’s
like it’s enough people for me to first
of all say good morning to everybody I
hope you’re doing well that the Lord
continues to bless and prosper you and
to strengthen you and strengthen your
families you have been the subject of my
prayers
quite a bit here lately I know that our
country in fact our world is going
through a very new experience with this
call twelve coronavirus it’s whatever
you choose to call it it is shocking and
challenging and definitely a paradigm
shift for the world and for the country
it has definitely some negative
components to it but there are some
positive components as well I wanted to
take a few moments to talk to you about
this virus I’m not a health professional
so I don’t want to start dismissing a
lot of health advice and things we are
my expertise but as a scholar and
student of the word in a and a minister
of the gospel and a participant in the
community I wanted to reach out to you
there’s much to alarm you when you take
the issues that you have in your own
life that we all have in our lives and
in our families and in our other jobs
and the stress levels that we’re getting
from every aspect of life from imagining
managing budgets and bills and kids and
marriage or the light thereof you find
yourself with this new additional CDC
crisis breaking out creating quite a bit
of alarm and distress and I want to warn
you you may not have contracted the
virus but you may have ingested distress
and that’s easy to do just bombard it
with all
kinds of information that is disturbing
perplexing and confusing and often
contradictory can be quite stressful I I
laugh because now we’re having to learn
how to greet each other another kind of
way new terms and I have never heard
before like social distancing are now a
common part of our vernacular in a
society where we see so much distance
already now we are physically distant in
a world where there is so much
loneliness now we’re facing self
quarantine and isolations and elderly
people who are at risk the most
vulnerable part of our community people
who have given their lives to raise us
and rear us and care for us now have to
be very careful how they move in and out
of crowded buildings crowd of people who
touches you right down to your grandkids
that’s it’s pretty tough it’s a lot to
deal with every day and I thought I
would get on here and encourage you in
the midst of all this going on in the
world today too
I just hold on to your faith and to hold
on to God and to know that God’s got you
and to encourage you to understand that
believing in God does not mean that you
legate common sense and help you to
understand that some people are using
their faith as if it were a shield
against a virus it may be but I don’t
think that we want to ask God to do
things that we can do for ourselves
common sense practices are very very
important during this time just to add
an extra layer of Defense my phone has
been bombarded with clergy who are
facing many of the state’s our state
included is in a state of emergency and
our city has placed legal consequences
on groups gathering above 500
the church is not prepared for the act
it doesn’t work that way it’s not
designed when we’re not zero so we’re
not a B and we’re not NFL we’re not the
NBA we’re not designed with billions and
billions of hours should stockholders
that would sustain us through this kind
of turbulence a lot of churches are
struggling already other churches have
the buildings and the mortgages and
things they won’t wait on the virus to
pass to go away and yet we have to weigh
those needs against the needs to protect
the sheep I believe above everything
else were called to protect the flock of
God and you can never go wrong going
right and I encourage every leader out
there to think seriously about whether
to proceed it depends on the region
you’re in and and how you proceed is
very very important we have had to
become very creative of late to come up
with a way that we could really be
effective at providing ministry I don’t
think that the voice of the church needs
to be snuffed out right now I think that
we are a calming factor I think that we
are a place of strength and ministry I
think that we feed the flock of God and
it’s very very important that we find a
way to do it but we want to find a way
to do that without jeopardizing the
livelihoods of our employees our
volunteer staff and also in terms of
protecting our congregations so we have
worked to do that and we will continue
to work to refine that we are going to
be providing online services it will not
be at this point a repeater of some
warmed-over sermon that we already had
it’s going to be fresh it’s going to be
innovative and it’s going to deal
starting this Sunday with what’s going
on and and how we as a believer can take
a stand about what’s going on other
people are opening the doors of their
church but many people in my area have
shut down their services some of them
are streaming online like we are we’re
going to be a bad
if you have not downloaded the TD jakes
app I encourage you to do so
if you have not subscribed subscribe to
our YouTube channel take a minute and go
do that because that may be the best way
for us to communicate for a moment I
think it is only for a moment but I
don’t know how long it’s going to be and
so we’re doing a lot of things for you
to familiarize yourself with our a
church family and familiarize yourself
so that you can continue to get the word
word for us is like therapy it’s like
medicine and some medication it’s our
food it’s our daily bread it’s our
sustenance it’s not some optional form
of entertainment that we could have like
to go to a dot go to the word said Jesus
speaks our spirit in their life and so
they’ve not been minimized by Corona if
anything it’s been intensified by Corona
there are more people who are dealing
with it
worrying about their elderly parents and
nursing homes there are people who are
going to work in the morning nervous
because they are physicians or
caretakers or health workers we want you
to be covered we want you to know that
we’re praying for you we want you to
know that we’re standing beside you and
as long as there’s a way in the world to
provide ministry to you we will continue
to do that in whatever format we can but
we also want to be concerned that we do
that without being here responsible it’s
a funny thing being a church leader no
matter what decision you make it’s kind
of like we Elizabeth Warren said about
whether advanced her or whether her
losing the nomination had anything to do
with her being a woman she said either
way our answer the question I’m gonna be
in trouble if I say no and had nothing
to do with the woman she said millions
of women are gonna wonder what planet is
she on if she said yes then the other
group is gonna say you’re whining it’s
the same thing being a church leader if
you don’t close down your church when
there’s a crisis like this especially a
large church then you are criticized
castigated go through all kinds of
things
like Joel Olsteen just got through going
through on TMZ attacked just because he
had my clothes of his church on the
other hand he then got a mandate from
the city and I don’t know whether that
was the impetus but he ultimately closed
down his church and then you get
criticized because they said where is
your faith we need the church the church
should stand against the world how do we
let the work so either way you go you’re
going to get opposition I’m not whining
about that I understand that I expect
that that comes with the territory I’m
strong enough I’m tough enough and you
have to be too if your pastor listening
at me a leader listening at me or either
a mother deciding whether to or not to
send your kids to school either decision
we make often in life creates
controversy and criticism but just
because you criticize don’t doubt your
decision you have to make a wise
decision for that that is responsible
that is a reflection of your values that
you have to consider very carefully as a
church leader you also have to consider
liabilities and the possible suits of
negligence you get if I warn you that
something coming and you don’t put the
proper things in place to take care of
it you have got a problem on your hands
legally and even those people who are
criticizing you and say then the church
have to be open they say that till they
get sick if they get sick because they
came to service then their lawyers are
gonna be talking to you so you got a lot
to deal with the smaller churches have
an even more difficult issue you’re
talking about mega churches it’s not
just mega churches you don’t have to be
in a massive crowd of people to contract
the virus sometimes the smaller churches
have a even bigger responsibility
because they are by nature
family-oriented touchy-feely hugging and
kissing and touching your neighbor and
and Holy kisses and all of that kind of
stuff we have to rethink gates of entry
for about this virus might use us or our
customs or our traditions as a host when
it comes to travel it’s affecting every
aspect of travel so
when it comes to conferences events and
things like that you have to think
carefully about you know how many people
are going to be traveling and how long
are they gonna be in the air to make the
appropriate decisions I say a lot of
people are logging on from Abuja from
Lagos from different places like that it
seems like the level of infection um
overall though on the continent of
Africa is relatively low
I pray it stays that way we don’t need
you to get sick we don’t want anybody
else to get sick the amount of deaths in
the country of the US has been alarming
but not nearly as staggering at some
other places like China like Italy these
places are up under siege what we’re
doing is trying to work together in a
concerted effort to make sure then those
numbers don’t happen in the US but we do
have examples to point to the show
then if the situation is not handled
correctly then then it can happen here
it can happen anywhere mother’s think
carefully elderly people think very
carefully pregnant people think very
carefully people who are HIV positive
people who have heart disease and
diabetes think very carefully this is of
just for a moment your enormous being
disrupted and I understand that’s
unsettling but I want you to know that
we have a God who specializes in
settling unsettled situations my mind
went back to Peter steering the ship he
was trying to do leadership in the
middle of a storm and every leader every
business owner every CEO is steering the
ship in the middle of a storm you’re
trying to maintain the budget keep the
people employed keep everybody healthy
obey the laws of the land which is
biblical and still be
a resolute in your commitment to God
those are tough polarities to work
within and if you’ve never been saddled
with that way to avoid criticizing
people because until you have carried
that cross you don’t know anything about
the Splinter said they take in just
because they step up to the plate all
you can do is all you can do arm
yourself with good information get the
best information and hold on Peter was
steering the ship the ship was going
through a storm it must have been a
storm of unprecedented level because
Peter was an experienced fisherman he
was used to being on the water and he no
doubt seen his share of storms about
this one this storm right here seemed to
destroy or compromised everything that
he had ever known or done and he
wondered in himself what all people
wonder in themselves when they face it
when they’re faced with something new do
I have what it takes to get the people
where I’m trying to get the middle door
how should I handle that what should I
do and God was saying absolutely nothing
you know the story as well as I do that
Jesus was sleep in the bottom of the
boat and they were dealing with a storm
just like we’re dealing with a storm
right now
and they wondered does God care and
that’s what people always do whenever
hardships it did they question the
resolve of God and then they wonder what
to do and what to say and how to go
forward but he won’t Jesus up and Jesus
rose to the bow of the ship and said
peace to what Peter could not calm down
and be steel to what Peter could not
resolve and I don’t think it’s gonna be
long before God says peace be steel to
the winds and the waves and I don’t
think it’s going to be long before he
says peace be still to you and your
circumstance in your situation and I’m
challenging you today to let that peace
rise in your heart right now and the
comfort you hysteria never saved anybody
anxiety never helped anybody being
nervous insomnia yelling at the dog
kicking the cat will not fix the
situation so let’s just calm down
take a deep breath keep ourselves
abreast of as much information as
possible any information that I get
that’s pertinent I’m going to put it on
Facebook on Twitter on Instagram I’m
going to include it in this Sunday’s
message and so I want you to go to
YouTube and we’ve got a YouTube station
there and subscribe it’s totally free
totally free cost you nothing cause you
nothing costs you nothing to subscribe
to our YouTube channel it’s absolutely
free you can download our app call so
absolutely nothing I’m trying to create
ways where I can stay in touch with you
regardless of what tomorrow may bring
the reason I think that’s important it’s
because your piece is important your
anxiety is important your blood pressure
is important your health is important
and most importantly your soul is
important we cannot just take off and go
away and be derelict of our
responsibilities I think you’re gonna be
quite pleased at what we got prepared
for you this Sunday and I’m continuing
to push the limits on innovation to all
of the pastors and leaders that are out
there our pastors and leadership
conference has not been cancelled at
this point it is 60 days away I’m
believing God that’s that we’re going to
see a break in this order before the end
and we’ll make a decision at an
appropriate time and deliver a message
in an appropriate way but right now all
systems go I hope to meet you in
Charlotte North Carolina on schedule I’m
excited about it I’ve got the best group
of speakers you could imagine coming to
pour into you as a leader as an
entrepreneur as a pastor as a person
it’s just going to be absolutely amazing
our registration numbers are going crazy
and and we’re excited about it somebody
said leaders need to get to the front of
the line and that’s true
but you have to have something to say
when you get to the front of the line
and this is something new for everybody
and leaders are people too
and you have to understand that a leader
at the front of the line who didn’t know
what to say is more dangerous than being
quiet supposed to thank God some are not
at the front of the line as for me I
thought that this would help and so I’m
doing my part to let you know that
you’re on our minds on our hearts here
in every decision we make your
well-being is its paramount of the
importance to us and we want to create
an experience that is amazing
I want to challenge those of you that
aren’t tech savvy to lose your fear to
come online stream online worship online
give online get involved online because
when you do that you keep the church
going you keep the staff going I have
300 people employed at the ministry I
don’t want to let them off I want to
continue to provide ministry at the
level that we’re operating on with the
effectiveness that we are because not
only are we speaking to our congregation
we’re speaking to all of Texas all of
the United States and people all over
the world there’s many people watching
me right now from other countries as
there are people watching us in the
continental USA so be of good courage to
those of you that are running about my
son yes he did get married and they are
in Hawaii and they’re having the time of
their lives over there before they come
back home pray for them I’m a little
protective I want to see them get back
home safe and sound and so just cover
them with the blood my final talk to you
is this nothing that is happening in
your newspaper wasn’t prophesied in your
Bible that in the last days there will
be wars and rumors of wars and
earthquakes in diverse places unusual
places we’re seeing earthquakes and
perilous times the people have lost love
and empathy fathers against the sons and
mothers against daughters all biblical
plagues all biblical in the last days
who will be one plague after
this whole unsettling that we’re seeing
in our country was prophesied in the
Word of God and so we should not think
it strange that these fiery trials has
come upon us because our Bible has
forewarned us our values as believers
have to go back to the fact that we are
saved to many believers today only value
what God can do for you at the moment to
get you out of some temporary
circumstance they have no concept of
eternity no appreciation for eternal
life no appreciation for the blood of
Jesus that has secured a mansion for us
for Corona and nothing else can go we
have got to get our hearts back to the
gospel rather than just embracing
Christianity and embracing our faith
because we want prosperity or we want a
job or we’re looking for a companion and
we’re trying to see how God can help us
out he does help us well he does all of
those wonderful things but the main
purpose Jesus came was not to get you a
car it wasn’t to get you a bigger house
and when we get you married either it
wasn’t to help you with fertility the
main purpose Jesus came was that your
soul would not be lost thank God through
that and by the blood of Jesus
no virus can take out my eternal life
you should go back to what our
grandmother’s did and start singing
Amazing Grace and thanking God that you
washed in the blood of the Lamb and
trusting him that know whatever no
matter whatever state we may find
ourselves in right now that he is
el-shaddai
the all-sufficient one soon this will
pass over soon the clouds will escape
the sky soon the Thunder will cease to
roll soon the lightning will not flash
soon like Ebola and all the other
plagues we had before Corona will be in
our rearview mirror until the end
they then wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength they shall mount up on
wings like eagles they shall run and not
be weary they shall walk and not for
that is the word of the Lord for the
body of Christ to all of the leaders
that are watching right now and you have
not been duly affected that does not
mean you should not be getting prepared
when you see what’s happening in New
York when you see city center being
quarantined and set aside when you see
dignitaries and congressmen are self
quantanium themselves but when you see
what happened to pastor Craig Groeschel
you are being warned to be prepared to
be prepared it is irresponsible as a
leader not to do the best you can with
the resources you got you may not be a
little bit what other people can do to
figure out if this were to come into my
city and we were to declare it in a
state of emergency how would I continue
to add relevance and service to my city
we’re talking to the city now how we can
serve the elderly what can we do can we
bring food can we leave food on the
front porch and people will say what can
we do to serve this is a time for the
church to rather than show the world
that we are still the salt of the earth
and we are still the light of the world
god bless you may heaven smile upon you
have a wonderful blessed peaceful day
that’s my prayer thank you for allowing
me to invade your face just to share a
word of encouragement with you thank you
I trust in God only Jesus is not coming back the son of man is coming soon.