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Fresno Pastor on COVID-19: “You’re Gonna Get It, Eventually”
Churches are supposed to move all their worship services outside under state COVID-19 rules for counties, like Fresno, in California’s ‘purple’ reopening tier.
‘The Well Community Church‘ said it will continue meeting indoors this weekend, but will require people who attend in person to wear masks.
In a video posted to Instagram, lead pastor Brad Bell admits he and his church elders are not health experts, but they can’t let the virus get in the way of their mission.
“COVID’s not going away by the way. Can I just be honest with you? You can’t hide from it. It’s a virus. You’re gonna get it, eventually.”–Brad Bell, Lead Pastor of The Well Community Church
“COVID’s not going away, by the way,” says Bell. “Can I just be honest with you? You can’t hide from it. It’s a virus. You’re gonna get it eventually.”
Bell says he doesn’t mean that to sound flippant, but he says getting a virus is not a matter of if, but when.
GV Wire℠ reached out to Bell for comment but has received no response. The city of Fresno tells GV Wire℠ there has not been any official contact with the church ahead of the weekend.
Bunker Analogy
“We could all lock ourselves in a bunker for 6 months and then come out and we’d all get it (COVID-19) then,” said Bell.
“It’s not just a health issue. Because, if it was just a health issue we’d all bunker up, we’d all shelter in place, (and) we’d never meet in public again ever,” he said.
Spiritual, Mental, Relational Needs
He says that’s not a way to care people’s spiritual, mental, and relational needs.
“When we look at all those issues together, our elders are saying we will continue to pray for governing authorities. We have no desire to be rebellious against governing authorities. But we’re going to continue to meet indoors,” explains Bell.
Cynthia L Quintana
November 21, 2020 at 6:52 am
And what will you do when many within your community become ill? Try being relational from the ICU. I am sure these “elders” could be more creative than that. “Elders” are supposed to be wise. Holding services indoors is irresponsible.
Sam
November 21, 2020 at 8:17 am
A pastor is supposed to guard his flock not place them in harm’s way. That being said, the church members can make up their own minds to follow or not follow a fool.
Laura Foerster
November 21, 2020 at 12:19 pm
I think this is being selfish to those that obey the law. I hope you get a huge fine for meeting in doors. This dose not seem to be a Christian act of kindness or love disobeying the states orders.
Pete Mumbas
November 21, 2020 at 1:11 pm
Ignorance does not benefit the faithful.
Ellen
November 21, 2020 at 4:10 pm
“We have no desire to be rebellious but…..” we are going to do whatever we want and to heck without the rules! Shame on you!
Jeff
November 21, 2020 at 9:07 pm
First, if I’m “gonna get it anyway”, I’d prefer to be exposed AFTER I have as chance of getting vaccinated, and when there might be more ICU beds available.
Second, let’s stop saying “never”, and “lockdown”, and “bunker” – these PARTIAL restrictions we are operating under will lessen. Until then, we can get by.
Third, it seems like this church might be trying to mimic the exposure likelihoods that we might expect from a lengthy stay in a busy grocery store or big box store – masks, possibly limiting the number of indoor attendees, social distancing, managed entry and exit, ventilation, etc. They MIGHT be able to do that, but at this time it is NOT responsible to ADD another venue for spread of the virus when the church cannot control the spread of any virus from their services as churchgoers leave the church and go about the rest of their lives The church’s decisions affect more than just their members, and they should consider that as part of their role in our community, if not part of their faith.
MGomez
November 22, 2020 at 9:23 pm
Scared of Covid and don’t want to attend service?
Then stay home. In the meantime, shut up.