GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Wednesday morning, the state's health department’s new restrictions went into effect, temporarily closing for three weeks high schools, colleges and universities, and indoor dining at restaurants and bars, all in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The department said they’re closing places where contracting COVID-19 is at high risk, mainly place where large crowds gather like arenas, theatres and bowling alleys. So, a group of churches decided to voluntarily do the same by closing in-person services.
“Many of them have made that decision early on and have actually been closed,” said Rev. Khary Bridgewater who attends Brown Hutcherson Ministries. “When we say closed, they’ve been digitally meeting on Zoom and other methods. So, we say the church isn’t closed, it’s deployed.”
Rev. Bridgewater is a part of the Kent County COVID-19 Church Task Force and they announced that 61 pastors have decided to close their church buildings for the three weeks the restrictions will be in place. That means no weddings, baptisms, and other events will happen during that time.
“We’re all on the same page. In fact, there’s more churches that didn’t sign on because of the timing of it,” Rev. Bridgewater said. “But, we have quite a number of churches in our community that are all standing in solidarity, supporting our health system.”
Rev. Bridgewater said the task force has been meeting with the health department’s officer Adam London and deputy officer Teresa Branson weekly since the pandemic began back in mid-March, getting advice from them on how best to fight COVID. Now, with cases spiking they recently met with Spectrum Health president Dr. Darryl Elmouchi and also Dr. Mark Kooistra who recommended that they close.
Rev. Bridgewater said the churches gladly complied.
“They’ve done such a fantastic job working double shifts, putting themselves at risk on our behalf,” Rev. Bridgewater said. “So the churches just said you know, 'we believe in them, we care for them.' We believe in our doctors, our nurses, all of the frontline staff, and this is our way of saying we support you.”
Rev. Bridgwater added that they’re closing to also protect their congregations. Some of their own members have been impacted by the virus.
“We as pastors have the privilege of being with people in the best and worst times,” said Rev. Bridgewater. “So, we are with those families that have members that are hospitalized, with families that are actually, unfortunately, burying loved ones. So, we get it. We want to encourage our frontline staff.”
So far there hasn’t been any pushback or resistance, he said. All the churches will be closed and after the three-week period, pastors will decide individually if they’d like to re-open.
“It’s sort of like if there’s a hurricane, you want to see the weather before you go outside. People are making those decisions,” Rev. Bridgwater said. “So if we see success then I think churches will begin to tentatively see what it looks like. But, everyone I know is trying to be very cautious and thoughtful because they too want to take care of their members.”
Pastors and churches temporarily ending large in-person gatherings of over five people:
1. Rev. Nathaniel Moody (Co-chair Kent County COVID-19 Church Task Force) – Brown Hutcherson Ministries
2. Rev. Miguel A. Toro (Co-chair Kent County COVID-19 Church Task Force) – Iglesia de Cristo Misionera
3. Rev. Jeff Manion (Co-chair Kent County COVID-19 Church Task Force) – Ada Bible Church
4. Rev. Miguel Abreu – Iglesia de Cristo Misionera
5. Rev. Carlos Aranguiz – Iglesia Belem Grand Rapids
6. Rev. Joy Bonnema – Madison Square Church (North Campus)
7. Rev. Perfecto Brown – The New Breed Church
8. Rev. Suzan Brown – The New Breed Church
9. Rev. Dr. Ron Carter – King’s Bible Church
10. Rev. Kevin Crisostomo – Iglesia Cristo Misionera
11. Rev. Robert Dean – New Life COGIC
12. Rev. Darrell Delaney – Madison Square Church (Square Campus)
13. Rev. Dr. Howard C. Earle, Jr. – New Hope Baptist Church
14. Rev. Troy A. Evans – The EDGE Urban Fellowship
15. Rev. Juan F. Flores – Belen Casa del Pan
16. Rev. Dr. Eula C. Gaddis, Jr. – Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church
17. Rev. Dr. Willie A. Gholston II – First Community AME Church
18. Rev. Adam Green – New Dimensions Victory Center Church of God in Christ
19. Rev. Dwight Gutridge - St. Luke AME Zion
20. Rev. Julian Guzman – Iglesia Vida Plena
21. Rev. Dr. Timothy Mark Harris – Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church
22. Rev. Severino Hernandez – Iglesia Fuente de Vida
23. Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Hoskins – Alpha Omega Ministries COGIC
24. Rev. Michelle Jackson – Church Builders Bible Training Center
25. Rev. Jay Jones – The Pentecostals of Kentwood
26. Rev. Joe Jones – Brown Hutcherson Ministries
27. Rev. Dr. Kizombo L. Kalumbula, Jr. – Tabernacle Community Church
28. Rev. Brad Knetsch – Madison Square Church (Franklin Campus)
29. Rev. Dallas Lenear – Journey Church Grand Rapids
30. Rev. Thea Leunk – Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church
31. Rev. Nygil B. Likely – Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
32. Rev. Artie M. Lindsay, Sr. – Tabernacle Community Church
33. Rev. Marcus Little – Berean Baptist Church
34. Rev. Ernestine Lockett – Bread of the World Church
35. Rev. Deborah McCreary – Eastminster Presbyterian Church
36. Rev. Sandra McGlothin – Women of Faith Ministries
37. Bishop Dennis McMurray – Renaissance Church of God in Christ
38. Rev. Jorge Morales – Iglesia Casa de Oración
39. Rev. John Mondi – African Community Fellowship
40. Rev. Daniel Oglesby – Living Word Christian Center
41. Rev. Carl A. Pace, Jr. – True Light Baptist Church
42. Rev. Daniel Parker – Kingdom Life Ministries
43. Rev. M. Wayne Peters – 4 Fires Ministries
44. Rev. J.R. Pittman – Ignite Fellowship Church
45. Rev. Anna Radcliffe – City Chapel Grand Rapids
46. Rev. Ron Radcliffe – City Chapel Grand Rapids
47. Rev. David Reynoso – Iglesia Sanando las Naciones
48. Rev. Isaura Rivas – Mt. Zion Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church
49. Rev. José Luis Rivas – Iglesia Cada de mi Padre
50. Rev. Jose Riveron - Iglesia Bautista Reconciliacíon
51. Rev. Leatha Roberts – Changing Point Church
52. Rev. Robert Roberts – Changing Point Church
53. Rev. Charlie Selmon, Jr. – Wellspring Church of Grand Rapids
54. Rev. Raycheen Sims – Dream Builders International Church
55. Rev. Robert Sims – Dream Builders International Church
56. Rev. Dr. James C. Stokes – New Life Tabernacle COGIC
57. Rev. Leroy Tolbert – Macedonia Baptist Church
58. Rev. Robert Trice – Relevant Church Grand Rapids
59. Rev. Willie E. Waver II – No Greater Love Ministries
60. Rev. Theda Fields White – Pinnacle Crest Ministries
61. Rev. Tim Wilson – South Harbor Church