LightHOP COVID-19 Meeting Policy, Updated 4/27/2020
In light of the recent extension of the “Stay At Home” order made by Governor Whitmer, through May 15, 2020, we want to make sure to communicate our meeting policy during this time. Executive Order No. 2020-59 includes an exemption (item 16) to penalties for churches that reads:
"Consistent with prior guidance, neither a place of religious worship nor its owner is subject to penalty under section 20 of this order for allowing religious worship at such place."
We are thankful for the leadership in our State for recognizing the Sovereign nature of the leadership of the church. We see interceding in prayer for ourselves, our families, our city, state and country as an essential service. While we know that not everyone will see the necessity of Jesus’ intervention, or the necessity of our meeting together to request his intervention, the same way we do, in humility, we cannot ignore what we have already seen God do in our own testimonies. Michigan needs a miracle. We will request that in love.
While we recognize that the State of Michigan has provided this exemption, it is our responsibility to go forward in a way that values not just the spiritual life of our church and those we serve and live near, but also the physical realities of loving people in practical ways. With that prayerfully in mind, LightHOP will continue to observe reasonable social distancing, sanitation, and meeting-limitation measures. We see in the Bible that physical gathering, even in small numbers, invites the presence of Jesus and the agreement of heaven with our petitions:
Matthew 18:18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Thankfully, we are a small church of less than 50 people with a meeting space that can accommodate a much larger congregation. In an effort to reasonably limit our exposure to one another and the public while still ministering to God, we will refrain from inviting the general public to our meetings.
Thankfully, LightHOP is already fully online. So, anyone can still stay connected while our existing congregation continues to honor Jesus’ words that we physically gather and agree together in love as a witness to the world that calling on Jesus is powerful for bringing our community under His leadership.
More than ever, we believe in a Savior who is sovereign over sickness. A sign of following Him is healing the sick. Let us all pray for the grace to release healing where it is needed.