The first episode of this podcast was released on Good Friday 2020, and our first anniversary is fast approaching! Good Friday; a year later, we are visiting with our first guests and providing an update on our topic. It's time to talk about COVID-19 One Year Later!
Special guests Pastor Reginald Byrden of Grace Fellowship Church of Columbia and Pastor Jeff Phillips of Woodfield Park Baptist Church possess over 30 years of experience as ministers of the gospel. Both churches are located in Columbia, SC. During this powerful discussion, they share great information about the church's state then and now, what they and their congregations have learned during the pandemic, what's next for the church, and more. You do not want to miss this conversation!
The Pastors share their thoughts about the state of the church one year after COVID shut our doors.
* “The opportunity that was there last year is still there.” – Pastor Jeff Phillips
* “We got to be dependent upon the Holy Spirit, and we got to hear Him, and we got to follow Him.” – Pastor Jeff Phillips
* “We’ve seen the church move from the building to the pavement.” – Pastor Reginald Byrden
* “All of us were like first-year pastors.” – Pastor Reginald Byrden
The Pastors share what lessons they and their congregations have learned during the pandemic.
* “Whether you had a church with 100 people, 50 people or you had a church with 5000 or 10,000, when it came to this pandemic, everyone was in the same boat.” – Pastor Reginald Byrden
* “You got to trust your people to make their own decisions in their lives, and you got to respect their decisions.” – Pastor Jeff Phillips
The Pastors advise pastors who may be tempted to end their online presence now that churches are opening back up.
* “It took me too long to learn it to give it up.” – Pastor Jeff Phillips
* “I do think the shine has kind of wore off to a certain extent, but the opportunity is still there.” – Pastor Jeff Phillips
* “The online presence is just God’s gift.” – Pastor Reginald Byrden
* “How do you just walk away from that audience?” - Pastor Reginald Byrden
The Pastors share their thoughts about what’s next for the church and how we move forward.
* “God has thrown us a curveball, and we got to learn how to hit it.” – Pastor Jeff Phillips
* “I believe the church that we all knew prior to the second Sunday of March 2020, I think that church is gone and now we must embrace what God is doing.” – Pastor Reginald Byrden
Relevant Links & Resources
* Connect with Pastor Byrden and Grace Fellowship Church of Columbia on Facebook, grace8.org, or call Pastor Byrden at 803-629-0183.
* Connect with Pastor Phillips and Woodfield Park Baptist Church on Facebook, Youtube, woodfieldparkbaptistchurch.com, or call Pastor Phillips at 803-542-2482.
* Follow us on Instagram.
* Connect with your host Sherry Jones. Follow her on Facebook & Instagram.
* Support Sherry and this podcast by buying her a coffee.
Take care, be blessed, be safe, and remember the church is not a building. We are the church!
