The coronavirus pandemic has impacted 20schemes in significant ways. The months-long nationwide lockdown has had severe effects on Scotland’s poorest communities.
Some of the impacts of lockdown are more obvious. Along with churches across the UK, none of our churches have been able to hold Sunday services. Our church-planting teams have had to put things on hold – including one that had to postpone the launch of their church, which was scheduled for May of this year. Some effects, however, are more hidden.
Problems multiplied
In poor communities like the schemes, mental health issues, domestic abuse, and addictions are already highly prevalent. These realities preceded the pandemic, and they will remain long after it ends. But a lockdown – and the ensuing isolation that comes with it – only serves to exacerbate these already serious problems. Tragically, this means we’ve seen a spike in abuse, suicide, and various mental health issues.
Serving their communities
Having said that, several churches in 20schemes sought to continue serving their communities throughout lockdown. For several weeks early on in the pandemic, members from Niddrie Community Church delivered meals and other essential goods to the most vulnerable who couldn’t leave their homes. One of our church-planting teams in another scheme did something similar. Members of some of our churches volunteered for local pharmacies to help drop off crucial medications to those who weren’t able to go out and pick them up as they normally would.
These are just a few examples of ways that churches have sought to serve their communities practically during these challenging times. In the midst of all the bad news, there have encouraging reports of Bibles being given out, new relationships being formed, and the gospel being proclaimed. Thankfully, a couple of our churches were able to hold a children’s holiday club in recent weeks, where dozens of kids will have heard the gospel.
In the face of devastating despair, people are asking questions about Jesus for the very first time. Please pray with us that God would open eyes and change hearts. And pray that we would remain faithful and diligent in our efforts to bring the light of the gospel to Scotland’s schemes through building healthy churches.
