A Personal Word from Pastor Gene Tyre

WHY DID PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH, RICO CANCEL CHURCH FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

THE SAFETY COMMITTEE OF OUR DEACONS MADE THE DECISION TO CANCEL
CHURCH SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. I WANT EACH OF YOU TO
UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS A DIFFICULT, BUT A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION TO MAKE. I SUPPORT THIS DECISION AND AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR
SERVANT LEADERS WHO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE WELL-BEING OF OUR
PROVIDENCE FAMILY. THE FOLLOWING ARE REASONS THIS DECISION WAS MADE:

1. THE CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC IS VERY SERIOUS. I AM VERY MUCH AWARE
OF THE MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS BEING EXPRESSED CONCERNING THIS
MATTER. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE MUST LISTEN AND HEED THE
ADVICE OF OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO
THIS WRITING, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DECLARED THIS TO
BE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. OUR STATE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE HAS
ENCOURAGED CHURCHES TO CONSIDER CANCELING SERVICES.

2. PERSONS OVER SIXTY YEARS OF AGE AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING
HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE IN THE HIGHEST RISK CATEGORY TO CATCH THIS
VIRUS. PROVIDENCE CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH MANY SENIOR ADULTS.
EACH DAY THEY BRING BLESSINGS TO OUR FELLOWSHIP AND WE MUST
PROVIDE AND PROTECT THEM DURING THIS CRISIS.

3. WE ARE NOW IN WHAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE CONTAINMENT STAGE
OF THE DISEASE. THIS IS NECESSARY TO STOP THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE
DISEASE. THIS MORNING ON NATIONAL TELEVISION DR. ANTHONY FAUCI
MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT CONTAINING THE DISEASE IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE. TAKING CONTAINMENT SERIOUSLY AT THE PRESENT TIME
WILL PLAY A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SLOWING DOWN THE SPREAD OF
THE VIRUS. THE CANCELING OF OUR CHURCH SERVICES IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN THE CONTAINMENT PROCESS.

4. DR. FAUCI ALSO ENCOURAGED SOCIAL DISTANCING. THIS SIMPLY MEANS
THAT WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO BE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH ONE
ANOTHER. THE FELLOWSHIP OF OUR PROVIDENCE FAMILY WOULD MAKE
SOCIAL DISTANCING VERY DIFFICULT.

THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME IN ALL OF OUR LIVES. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT
NOTHING, NOT EVEN THE CORONAVIRUS CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S
LOVE. EVEN THOUGH WE WILL NOT BE ASSEMBLING OURSELVES TOGETHER,
LET US REMEMBER WE ARE STILL THE FAMILY OF GOD ON MISSION IN THE
NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. DURING THIS TIME, LET US REMAIN FAITHFUL IN OUR PRAYING, IN OUR GIVING AND IN OUR STRONG CONVICTION THAT “WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US.” 

CALL ME IF YOU NEED ME. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS MATTER. I THANK GOD FOR THE BLESSING OF BEING YOUR PASTOR.

DOC