Coronavirus Update

9/13/23

Though the pandemic is officially over, we understand that there are those who are still concerned for health and safety for a variety of reasons. We at Church Builders make every effort to make all feel comfortable in our meeting space. Though not required and there are no current guidelines from the Kent County Health Department, please feel welcome to wear a mask for your comfort and safety. We also have an air filter we run during meeting times.

3/1/22:

We are pleased to say we have resumed meeting in person without restrictions. Our healthcare system is back to normal capacity and coronavirus numbers are at an all-time low.

1/5/22:

Due to the continued strain on our healthcare system with high coronavirus numbers, we will meet with caution, requiring masks and coronavirus screening for in-person gatherings.

12/24/21:

On Monday, December 20th, members of the Kent County clergy partnership prayed for the frontline workers of the healthcare systems and the patients for which they are caring. Currently, our healthcare systems are still over capacity entering into the Christmas holiday season of travel and festivities. In this partnership, we have pledged to fully support and pray for our health professionals and our healthcare system, doing all we can to stop the spread of coronavirus.

What that means for Church Builders Bible Training Center:

• Our free Christmas tour, Journey of the Magi, has been changed to be a fully self-guided outdoor tour.

• We will pause in-person gatherings, resuming on January 5, 2022.

• We will continue to pray for our healthcare system as they maneuver through this public health crisis.

Being a part of the community, we can sense the exhaustion with covid prevention guidelines from the people of our community. To you we say, be encouraged, stay the course, run the race until the end. We are all in this crisis together. There is so much we can do to help support both our businesses and healthcare workers. Let’s do all we can to be the hands and feet of Jesus, supporting them with our words and actions.

Have a safe and healthy holiday, remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12/01/21:

Kent county has risen to case numbers for coronavirus larger than we have previously had throughout the entire pandemic with a positivity rate of over 20 percent. We are averaging 4 deaths per day, 28 deaths per week. For context, that is one full classroom of people dying every single week. This is information is startling and it creates a need for focus and vigilance. Please see the graphic below provided to community clergy by Spectrum Health Hospitals. Also, you can find the current statistics on the Access Kent website.

What does this mean for Church Builders Bible Training Center? Our stance currently remains the same. While we do not support mandates, we fully support and cooperate with our local health department and healthcare systems during this public health crisis. Further, we will not turn a blind eye to the overwhelm and suffering of others for the comfort of ourselves. Our leadership has volunteered to tour Spectrum Health to see this crisis for ourselves. We will update you and report back what we hear and see. In the meantime, please be diligent and pray for our State for the health, healing, and safety of the most vulnerable among us. Our youth and seniors need our support. Seek instructions from the Holy Spirit as to what actions you can take to help end the suffering of so many.

8/10/21:

Our county has seen a rise in coronavirus cases over the last 30 days. You can find the current statistics on the Access Kent website.

Therefore, for our in person meetings, out of an abundance of caution, we will be providing masks and removing the tables, using individual clipboards instead.

With all the debate surrounding vaccines and masks, our ministry will take the words of Paul the Apostle to heart as inspiration from the Holy Spirit to teach us:

"Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him. Who are you to pass judgment on another's servant? Before his own master, he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind." - Romans 14:1-5 NET

Here, Paul is clear, not to pass judgment on your brother for differing personal convictions. This is sound doctrine. To apply it to vaccines and masks, the bolded text would read like this:

“The one who does not get vaccinated or wear a mask must not despise the one who does get vaccinated and wears a mask, and the one who does get vaccinated and wears a mask must not judge the one who chooses not to get vaccinated and wear a mask. Who are you to judge God’s servant? Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.” - Adaptation for vaccines and masks, Romans 14:1-5

This debate will stop hindering society and our communities when church building disciples show the world how to handle differences of opinion and convictions. Whichever opinion and conviction you choose, Jesus is Lord. Here, we will suffer each other with love and patience and show the world, and our fellow man, how it’s done.

6/26/21:

As of 6/22/21, all Michigan epidemic emergency orders have been rescinded. For details, you can read the order here. That being said, we honor and respect the right of all persons to do what feels safe for them and their household. This is what our ministry is doing to accommodate our community:

​We have both an in-person study on Tuesdays and an online study available on Wednesdays. For those who choose in person, we have touchless hand sanitizers and a medical-grade air filter. We also sterilize all surfaces and chairs before every in-person session.

For those who choose, you are welcome to continue wearing your mask and maintain social distance, we welcome you and respect your decision to do so.

4/1/2020:

We are in full cooperation with the Kent County COVID-19 Church Response Task Force through the Urban Church Leadership Center. For more information about this task force, please visit their website. We as a ministry have chosen this affiliation because:

We believe, as a part of the body of Christ, our role is to operate in strong compassion for our community at large, especially those who are most vulnerable--our elderly, our widows, and orphans.

We strongly support our first responders and healthcare staff, who are experiencing the worse of the coronavirus crisis. We minister to them by enacting the health department policies and recommendations to support them and lighten their load as they minister to the sick.

Though there has been a tremendous debate in the Christian community regarding what is necessary to serve believers and the community at large during this coronavirus crisis, we have chosen to adhere to recommended guidelines without being in judgment of others. In our view, this is not a matter of fear or faith; rather, it is a matter of walking in the love of Christ with the brethren and our neighbors.

Our decision to return to meeting face to face will be based on:​

Kent County Health Department guidelines for facilities for public health concerning coronavirus and our ability to adhere to them;

The safety, health, and well-being of our Older Americans and those most vulnerable among us who attend our services; and

Our ability to maintain OSHA guidelines for coronavirus for our ministry leaders and volunteers.

We are faithfully working to successfully meet these three metrics to reopen our facility. Until such time, we are currently choosing to continue to meet online.

With this decision, we do not ignore the burden of isolation that has plagued many in our communities. Therefore, we are responsively adding all possible online services, and actively reaching personally to all who need more interaction.

Please contact us with your prayer requests, questions, comments, or concerns.