The challenge facing us with the onset of the coronavirus epidemic is not one that many of us would have anticipated. And in a society which prides itself in its technological advances, self-improvement, and evangelical realism, life's vulnerability has come as a shock. We are no longer seemingly invincible, but afraid.

How wonderful that the Gospel is so counter-cultural. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians: "But, thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." And that knowledge of Him brings peace, not panic. We have an everlasting hope that goes beyond the grave, and a God who intimately cares about our lives.

The spread of Christianity in the early church is often attributed to the Plague of Cyprian, Rome. At the height of this plague up to 5000 people died per day, and although many people fled the city the Christians stayed, seeing the plague as a time of testing. Apart from the hope the message of the Gospel brought to those dying, the Roman writer Dionisus commented: "Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbours and cheerfully accepting their pains,” It was the giving of their lives in the care of others that was the catalyst for revival.

What a challenge for us as Christians to not only have serenity in the midst of this unknown scenario, but to be prepared to love and serve our neighbours in a way that shows the Gospel in action. So in a digital age, how can your church use its website and social media to show Christ's love to your community?  

1. Provide information on your church's website on how you can help

It has been so encouraging to see how our Church Pages churches have risen to this current challenge and are maximising their websites to keep their congregation and community informed. However, we also know of many churches who have leafleted their entire area to let people know that there is help available. Obviously this offer of help needs to be accessed and so the churches have pointed people to their contact form.

There are different ways in which the contact form can by used. The easiest way is customise it so that people can choose what help they want to access from a list. Alternatively it is possible to set up a number of contact forms for each area of help that you offer as a church. This may be particularly useful if you have different people in charge of each area and you want them to be emailed directly with the contact form.

2. Join your area's Facebook page and offer help there

Your local area will have a help and information page on Facebook. This is a fantastic place to let your community know how you can help them. Whether it's shopping, picking up medication, phoning for a chat, or offering prayer, Facebook is an excellent way to let people know that you are there to love and serve them and the whole community.

3. Add information on your Facebook page

If your church has a Facebook page this is also an ideal place to promote how you can help during this difficult time. Then encourage your congregation to share the page with their friends so that your entire community is aware that you are there to provide support if required. Even if no one responds, the fact that you are there willing to serve your area will help to change people's negative perceptions of Christians and the church.

3. Use Instagram

With nearly 24 million people using Instagram then this is also another way to let your community know what you are doing to serve your community. Obviously you need to be sensitive, and honouring to the Lord, but Instagram enables you to add captions to your images and even create stories that last for 24 hours. This might be a new area for you as a church, but there will almost certainly be young people in the church who can help you with this. As we've mentioned before Instagram is a way in which people find their way back to church.

4. Provide information on services, shops, and schools on your website

As we all self-isolate, we primarily only have the internet to help us access information. This therefore presents the church with a perfect opportunity to act as a central hub for information for your community. So why not create a folder or page on your website with links to other information pages. For example to local schools, your local supermarkets with their opening hours, the post office, GP surgery, dentists, opticians, etc. Make sure that you give the page a Google friendly title e.g. Current Information on Services, Schools & Shops in Crawley, and add in your optimisation tags so that Google knows what the page is about.

If you are aware of other groups who can help e.g. Food Bank etc then provide information and links to these organisations on your website, so that your community feels that you are thinking of their needs.

5. Let your community know that you are praying and are offering prayer

It is often in times of crisis that people start to consider the deeper questions of life. The early Christians did not consider the danger that they faced when they tended the sick and dying because they already knew their eternal destiny. As Christians we have an amazing Gospel and we can have a peace that the world cannot give. The coronavirus is not something that many of us would have expected to face in our lifetime, but how wonderful that we can offer those around us the peace that we have come to know in Jesus. And this peace should be what marks us out as different from the world because where there is panic we can bring hope through the message of God's love and compassion. So let your community know that you are praying, that there is prayer available, and that you are there for them as they ask the deeper questions of what life is really about.

Conclusion

Just as the early church brought hope to those suffering in Rome, the church has an opportunity to be the lifeline to their community via their website and social media. There is no better time to show care and compassion to those in your community than now. As Jesus commanded us: "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34