COVID-19: UPDATE FOR 07.28.2020

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020


We’ve been watching since mid-March as the COVID-19 pandemic has swept across +/-190 nations around the planet. As a church family, we returned to in-person / live worship in mid-May and have been doing the best we can to see to it that precautions are being made, defenses are set, and protocols are followed. Having said that—and in the interest of transparency with our Calvary Chapel family here in NWA—we have arrived at the need to provide another update. This update includes some good news and bad news, followed by some other good news.


Here it is, in short: one of CCO’s families has tested positive for the coronavirus. There’s some good news, bad news, and good news here. Good news: they’re fine—they’re describing it as though they’ve got the flu. Bad news: well, obviously, they’ve tested positive. Good news? They have not been in the building in 10 days, they showed zero signs that they had it when they last attended, they followed protocol while in attendance, and our cleaning team has been diligent all along the way to sanitize our building. We've ALWAYS sought to maintain a high degree of cleanliness in our facilities and we have been working extra hard since the news broke about the virus back in March.


As soon as this family received their positive test results (Monday, July 27), they reached out to me to let me know. The transparency on their part is appreciated. Further good news: they were showing zero symptoms the last time they were in the building (July 19). They’ve spoken with others with whom they would have interacted, and those others are monitoring themselves for symptoms (to my knowledge no one else from our fellowship is showing anything for symptoms).


There’s other good news: there is no reason to believe they contracted this virus while visiting Calvary Chapel; another coworker of theirs has tested positive at their job site. 


What does this mean for us? Several things:


  1. PRAY. Yeah, let’s put this one at the top of the list. Pray for our fellowship’s safety, pray for this particular family, and pray that God will continue to show His good hand of protection over us.
  1. PRACTICALLY, let’s collectively continue to follow the protocols that have been mandated for us.
  1. Let’s be great at washing our hands and applying hand sanitizer when antibacterial hand soap isn’t available (we have all of that here in our facility).
  1. Let’s continue to do what we’ve been doing at CCO: seeking to practice some social distancing while we’re in the building together and “mask up” when social distancing isn’t possible.
  1. Further, please follow the lead of this family: let the church know (office@calvaryozarks.org) if you’ve encountered symptoms and obviously please inform us if you’ve tested positive. The transparency coming and going is needed.
  • contact your doctor if you have:
    • fever,
    • new loss of taste / smell,
    • respiratory distress / shortness of breath,
    • cough,
    • vomiting and/or diarrhea.
  1. Please—super obvious statement here—stay home if you’ve tested positive (or if you’ve tested but are awaiting test results). Plan to stay home for a while if you are experiencing these symptoms and certainly follow the medical advice you receive from your doctor.
  1. Know that the leadership team here at CCO has done our due diligence. We are confident we’ve done all we can and should do, and are continuing to do all we can and should be doing. We have worked hard to make sure we’re doing the best we can to keep you and your family safe physically. Extra equipment is being delivered within the week to help further stabilize our antibacterial and antiviral defenses.
  1. We ARE staying open. Since we’ve done our due diligence, we are confident that it is indeed safe to be open this coming Wednesday evening and of course, Sunday morning.
  1. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, please send us a note. We obviously can’t make any guarantees, but we’d love to see what we can do to help during this season.
  1. Let us know how else we can pray for you! Feel free to send us any prayer needs that you have.


Here's some other good news: WE HAVE THE LORD and HE HAS US. Jesus’ words to the troubled disciples from Mark chapter six are words which should help settle our hearts and minds as well: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” We’re not immune from bad news on this side of eternity, but make no mistake about it: the good news for the follower of Jesus Christ carries with it a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory than does any “bad” news we could imagine.


As I said on Sunday, the recognition of God’s presence should dispel all fear. Allow that to be the case for your own heart and mind. Do what you believe you need to do personally. But make sure to do what we all know we should be doing: staying in God’s Word. Read your Bible. Make time—and spend time—with Jesus. 


It’s growing all the more clear that we (‘we,’ the current citizens of this world) are ever moving towards the end of all things. We (‘we,’ God’s people) know what that signals: Jesus’ second advent. He’s returning soon, and He’s calling His bride home even sooner. Take courage, church, and be diligent by making ready your own heart, setting your mind on things above, and practically being prepared to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ: one who is ready to share the good news of His salvation. 


Any questions about this? Feel free to email the church office. 




Tons of blessing,


Pastor Jeremy