When it comes to hopelessness and fear, the pandemic did not discriminate. It stormed in as an invisible equaliser and stomped the rich and poor alike. Death was at the world’s front door, and for the first time in our generation, experts were in a seemingly endless tailspin to get ahead of a virus that was snatching lives like a thief in the night. The news media dished out up-to-the-minute servings of ominous predictions, as scientists, medical professionals, conspiracy theorists, and politicians competed to frame the narrative.
Mandatory quarantining was undoubtedly a fool-proof way to prevent the spread of the virus but it meant that the church buildings were shut down, likewise threatening to prevent the spread of the gospel. Electronic communication became the order of the day, but due to the technological divide that exists, only those with access benefitted. People were isolated. Some were dying alone – in many cases, without access to pastoral care or ministry at a time of existential spiritual needs, and before giving their lives to Jesus.
While people felt the despair of the day, our local church responded with an understanding of the times, like the tribe of Issachar. Under the Leadership of Bishop Dr M. Raphael Massiah, the First Assembly of God Wortmanville (FAOGW) Church took a militant stance on ministering during the pandemic by launching an equally aggressive campaign. It was simple, really. If the people couldn’t come to Church, then the Church would come to them. Virtual church services met the spiritual needs of hundreds in Guyana and across the world. Suddenly, there was room for everyone to attend services – virtually, but a gap remained for those without access to the internet.
This gap took the innovators back to the drawing board, fast-tracking the restart of the Street Evangelism Ministry, a pre-pandemic initiative that had been in the pipeline for some time. And who better to spearhead this ministry than the energetic evangelist, Rev. Dr Marcel Hutson. In November 2021, as the gathering restrictions eased, he and a small team of equally committed believers hit the streets with their microphones and stand-alone speakers to declare the Word of God. This ministry has been a game-changer for many communities who would otherwise not have an opportunity to receive the Gospel of Truth and hope in these dire times. Through this ministry, many have come to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Like many of the initiatives launched during the pandemic, this format of street evangelism ministry is foreseen to snowball into a long-term, substantial community outreach programme as we fulfil our mandate to ‘go and tell’. This programme has tremendous potential for the growth and expansion of the kingdom and should be seen as a social service to communities plagued by the ills of suicide, abuse, and loss of lives.
It’s fair to say that the pandemic did not restrict the ministry of the FAOGW fellowship, who, rather than cower and close (the doors), stood firm in faith, and acted on their belief that THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS AND THE DARKNESS HAS NOT OVERCOME IT – (John 1:5).
