#BTColumn – The church can help

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Flloyd N Hall

Once again Barbados is going into lockdown come Wednesday February 3 until Wednesday February 17, 2021.

It is all in an effort to stem the community spread of the coronavirus.

These are bad words to the average Barbadian.  Community spread! They mean that everyone in every community possibly has the COVID-19 virus, or is an asymptomatic carrier.

Of course, in reality this is not necessarily so. But fear, and people’s belief springing from fear is sometimes stronger than fact itself.

At the heart of the matter though, Barbadians were relieved that supermarkets will be open during the lockdown from 8:00 am – 3 p.m. on weekdays, and closed on weekends.

On hearing this, shoppers descended on supermarkets the very next day after the prime minister’s address to the nation.  In spite of her assurance that there was enough food in the country to last for months ahead, and her urging Barbadians not to panic!

But Barbadians are an interesting people who must respond the Barbadian way!

So, even though we and the merchants were grateful that no alphabetical system was mandatory this time around, long lines reappeared outside supermarkets from last Wednesday. This is the Barbadian way but this mad rush of shopping is perhaps a symptom of the much bigger issue of anxiety and fear within the population.

This is where the church must play its role as part of the community, by continuing to give guidance and counsel in these stressful times. Of course, every Barbadian ought to know that the church prays for the nation from Sunday to Sunday.

We have received this mandate to pray from the Lord.  It is a privilege He has given to the church as we partner with Him in bringing about His will and purpose in the world (see 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

And we will not surrender this divine opportunity to pray for Barbados. This is where we were born, and where most of us, have spent all our lives. We perish the thought of our beloved country being decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic as it has done in other countries.

We identify with Solomon as he dedicated the new temple at Jerusalem.

In petitioning God, the king mentioned some circumstances that could devastate the Israelites: famine, plagues (epidemic diseases causing a high rate of mortality – “Merriam-Webster Dictionary”), attacks of locusts or caterpillars… Then Solomon says, “ . . . If your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive (2 Chronicles 6:28-30 NLT).

This is the posture that the church will be taking.

We will present our island to the One who sits on the throne of heaven.

In the meantime, let us also commend the health authorities and all those at the frontlines in the gallant battle against this formidable foe.

And let us not drop our guards, but adhere to the various protocols at all times.

May God’s goodness and mercy rest on us all.