Churches reflect on the past year in the wake of COVID-19

As people begin to gather again for worship and fellowship in the age of COVID-19, News 25’s Toni Miles goes behind the scenes with some faith leaders who say there is always a silver lining somewhere if you simply believe.

Westminster Presbyterian Church Pastor Will Shurley said, “When we first spoke about churches adapting to COVID-19, I remember saying I don’t want to be a televangelist, but for about four months, we were only worshipping virtually here at Westminster Presbyterian Church.”

What a difference the year makes. This time last year we dropped in at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport as they and others grappled with finding new ways to fellowship and worship beyond the four walls of the church in the wake of the COVID pandemic. “A year later, we are seeing our attendance levels come back up to where they were pre-pandemic. One thing good we had that came out of this experience, we had people who were able to connect with us via our virtual services, people who would have not been able to darken our door otherwise, so now we are starting to see new faces in worship.”

And people of all walks of faith will be coming together next Thursday for National Day of Prayer, something that was sidelined to solely online last year. “Any time people are able to gather together and pray for our country, our neighbors, our elected officials, and to ask for God to grant them wisdom, I think is a wonderful thing. As people are able to gather as they are getting vaccinated, as they are able to gather safely, I think this is a wonderful thing, and I look forward to seeing a lot of fruit born out of the National Day of Prayer this year.”

Also on Thursday, there will be a public prayer rally on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagoula, starting at 9 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said, “I’m a firm believer in the power of prayer, and I am very thankful to have the opportunity to get out and pray with my fellow Christians. There’s a lot going on in our country right now, and I think people have come to see the need to have prayers.”