By Casey Johnson
Pastor of Vision and Mission, Redeemer City Church

As I write this, we are a month into the Stay at Home order in the state of Wisconsin and many of us have resorted to working from home. 

For myself as a pastor, I have transformed our guest bedroom/wife’s craft room back into a home office reminiscent of the early days of our church plant before we moved into our current building in Fitchburg. From here I have conducting many Zoom calls, recorded devotionals, and even preached Sunday sermons. 

This is the life many of us have come to know and will continue to know for the next month or so. 

One point of encouragement in this season is seeing the unity of the pastors of our Fitchburg churches. Daniel Owen, pastor of Blackhawk’s Fitchburg campus, organizes a prayer group which during this time this has morphed into a Zoom connection. It is a strange time for all of us and I deeply appreciate the way our pastors desire to continue to connect and unite despite being very different churches. 

We have ethnic and white churches; English and Spanish; conservative and liberal; charismatic and traditional; older established and newer church plants; and several different denominations including the United Church of Christ, Evangelical Free, Foursquare, and Lutheran: ELCA, Wisconsin, and Missouri Synod. Yet, our love for the gospel and service to our city trumps our differences!

I have been encouraged by this group through prayer, fellowship, discussing COVID-19 related topics, and looking for ways we might bless our city. 

For many of our churches we have not met in person for over a month, but even when opportunities arise, we are cognizant of following the governor’s orders and how our actions might appear to our community. 

Whether conducting small weddings, thinking of ways to engage our churches and communities, or even planning future worship gatherings, the safety and the good of our city are at the forefront. 

It’s been fun to not only dream with this group but encourage one another to be a positive example for our community. 

However, if there is one area where we might throw caution to the wind it is in the area of serving. It’s in times of need that our churches don’t isolate but are present (albeit with safety precautions). 

Our churches are helping those who are hungry by delivering food in partnership with Badger Prairie Needs Network and other food related services, (including helping local dairies get food out and provide meals for essential workers). Other churches are pressing in to help those in domestic violence situations while others are counseling and coming alongside those with grief and depression.

 I’m encouraged because our churches are not withdrawing during this season but are looking for ways to serve. 

I’m grateful to see that in a time like this the coronavirus has not isolated and divided us but seems to have brought out the best in us. May we all continue to love one other and unite for the good of our city and beyond.  

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