Connecting to Christ During COVID-19 Crisis

March 28, 2020
By: Bill Conger

During this unprecedented time in the country, people are experiencing a range of emotions from frustrations to fear as they struggle to live with the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical and mental health care workers have provided advice on how to cope, but many people are also looking for spiritual answers.

This week we begin a new series where we talk with area ministers, starting with Chad Ramsey from Smithville First Baptist Church.

Bill Conger: What effect have you seen this pandemic have on people either in general or members of the church?

Chad Ramsey: I have seen a variety of emotions and responses from our church members. It has ranged from people wanting to crawl up in a bunker with a pallet of Lysol disinfectant spray to people who are upset that everything is shutting down. The same is true with people outside of the church. Most people just don’t know what to do. They want to be safe and smart, but they are worried about paying bills and surviving day to day. Many people are searching for answers about COVID-19, and they don’t know who to trust or what information is accurate. Right now I would say most people are staying relatively calm, but it is still early. I would expect the longer this virus stays around the more restless people will become.

Conger: This is a period of uncertainty for a lot of people, and many people have a lot of worry and stress. What does the Bible say about what people should do when experiencing these trials?

Ramsey: The main question I have received from people during this time is what does the Bible say about everything that is happening. The Bible does not actually talk about disease like this in the form of prophecy. However, the Bible does make it clear that we are to only fear God and God alone (Luke 12:5). At the same time scripture tells to have a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We must not live in fear, but we must also make wise choices.

Conger: What can be said to people who focus their hurt and anger on God for this issue?

Ramsey: That is a great question. There have been diseases and plagues in this world throughout history. The first thing I would tell these people is God is big enough to handle all your concerns and complaints. At the same time when we read the book of Job we see God responding to Job’s complaints. God will listen to you. God wants us to realize this world is not the end. We have to come to terms that this life is just a flash in eternity. Our focus must be to develop our relationship with God. God wants us to be intimate with Him. He also wants us to understand He has everything under control. God will listen to our complaints, but just as He told Job He has everything under control. The only thing we can control is our own personal relationship with God. I would let people know it is alright to feel upset or hurt because of what is going on right now. I would also let them know the safest place they can be is in the loving hands of God. We all need to surrender control (we never really had it anyways) and give everything over to God. God must truly be our Lord (Master) and Savior.

Conger: In addition to the power of prayer, what pastoral advice to you have for people dealing with the social isolation and the inability to fellowship at church during this time?

Ramsey: Human beings were created to be in relationship with others. Genesis 2:18 says the Lord said it is not good for man to be alone. We have to understand that isolation can be harmful to spiritual well-being. Therefore, I would encourage people to call their family and friends. Don’t forget to talk to reach out to family members who you know are by themselves or are not connected to social media. Reconnect with friends you have not talked to in a while. Share your stories with your families and friends. Use technology such as facetime and skype so that you can actually see your friends and family as you talk to them. Communication is key.

Conger: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Ramsey: I would encourage people to use this time of isolation and quarantine to reconnect to God. Spend time in conversation with God. Many times we ask God for help and aid which is so important. However many times we fail to listen to God. What I mean by this is we usually do all the talking when it comes to prayer. Reconnect to God by taking time to spend in God’s presence. Open up your heart and let God speak to you. Maybe you just need to ask God to surround you with His presence. Let God give you a hug. It might be the only social interaction you will get for the day, but it is also the most important social interaction you can get.

Services at Smithville First Baptist Church can be seen at http://www.smithvillefbc.org/live or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Smithville FBC

Drive-in services will start on Easter at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the church parking lot.

March 27, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County now has 3 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus.

County Mayor Tim Stribling made the announcement in the following statement Friday afternoon.

“I have been notified by the TN Department of Health that there is one more confirmed COVID-19 case in DeKalb County bringing the total of confirmed cases to three as of this date.”

“As I said in reporting the first confirmed case, this is not unexpected. As we ramp up our testing, we expect to identify more cases. But there is still a lot we can do to slow down the spread and protect our most vulnerable but the worst thing we can do is panic. Now is the time to look after our own health to limit the spread. Keep your hands clean and continue to practice social distancing. If you are feeling bad, stay at home. Our elderly need to be staying at home as much as possible and we as neighbors and friends need to keep a check on them,” said County Mayor Stribling.

“We will continue to work closely with the TN Department of Health and all agencies of government at all levels to minimize the impact on the residents of DeKalb County. That has been and continues to be our primary concern. We will get through this together as everyone takes a personal responsibility to do everything they can to protect our county,” he said.

Individuals with specific questions can call the TDH Information line at 877-857-2945 or 931-646-7586.

Meanwhile the DeKalb County Health Department began conducting COVID-19 drive thru assessments Friday, March 27 at the health department on Tiger Drive with help from three members of the Tennessee National Guard.

Drive thru assessments will also be held again next week Monday through Friday, March 30 to April 3 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the same location and each week thereafter until further notice.

“If you have symptoms of COVID-19, we encourage you to stop by our health department for an assessment,” said County Mayor Stribling.

“Per DeKalb County Health Department Director Michael Railing, assisting the DeKalb County Health Department will be the Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard to provide support in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Lee indicated 250 guard members have been deployed statewide. He notes 150 are medically trained. Most will help rural counties staff 35 virus testing and assessment sites,” Stribling said.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html which also has a link to the Center for Disease Control website.

March 27, 2020
By:

Many of Blood Assurances’ partners are limiting their business to “essential activities” only. The FDA has defined blood drives as an essential community activity and Blood Assurance wants you to know it is perfectly safe to give blood at this time. As the U.S. Surgeon General stated in his address to the nation, “You can still go out and give blood…social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement.”

One of Blood Assurance’s longtime partners, DeKalb Neighbors Helping Neighbors coordinated by Jimmy Poss, County Clerk on a regular basis has stepped up to the plate during the pandemic and hosted a blood drive every 8 weeks with Blood Assurance. Not only did repeat donors come out to support their local blood bank on Monday, March 23, but new donors gave the gift of life for the first time, such as husband and wife, Jimmy and Anita Puckett.

Blood Assurance and the hospitals in its community would greatly appreciate your support. Blood drives are vital to maintaining our healthcare system and the health of patients in your local hospitals.

Blood Assurance is taking additional steps to ensure the health of its donors and is closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak nationally and in its service area. Please visit www.bloodassurance.org/coronavirus. In addition to the special protocols already in place, Blood Assurance is encouraging donors to make appointments and use its quickscreen app to answer health history questions in advance. To do that donors can visit https://www.bloodassurance.org/quickscreen.

Blood Assurance will also be giving away an Echo Dot every week to one randomly chosen donor and one 65” smart T.V. will also be given away at the end of March. All donors over the age of 18 are eligible to win.

Donating whole blood takes about 30 minutes and can impact 3 people in area hospitals. An appointment can be scheduled by phone or online. To schedule an appointment at a donor center or blood drive, please visit www.bloodassurance.org, call 800-962-0628 or text BAGIVE to 999777.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids — avoiding caffeine — and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.

About Blood Assurance
Blood Assurance is a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center serving health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. Founded in 1972 as a joint effort of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council and the Chattanooga Jaycees, the mission of Blood Assurance is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to every area patient in need.

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