Updated March 27, 2020 8:58 a.m.
In response to social distancing restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Baptist and other Christian organizations are offering free resources to help individuals, families and churches remain connected to the Word and to each other.
LifeWay Christian Resources is offering “LifeWay Kids at Home” to temporarily supplement Sunday School from home. LifeWay Leadership also developed a free training course to assist pastors and church leaders, available at ministrygrid.com/coronavirus. Both are included in a full page of resources on LifeWay’s website, in addition to a prayer guide and list of relevant articles and reading recommendations. LifeWay Women also compiled a list of Bible reading plans and online Bible studies.
Generosity by LifeWay opened its digital giving platform to all churches with no set up or monthly subscription fees, and LifeWay Worship is offering free licensing to churches for its more than 300,000 audio tracks.
O.S. Hawkins, president and CEO of GuideStone, announced GuideStone is giving all participants in a U.S.-based Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield plan access to Teladoc at no co-pay through June 14.
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) published a similar page of resources and articles covering topics such as the U.S. government’s response to COVID-19, how to talk to children about the coronavirus and prayer for the crisis. ERLC President Russell Moore started posting daily “Reading in Exile” videos on IGTV, in which he walks through books of different genres as a way of helping viewers engage reading material and each other from home.
The North American Mission Board’s Send Network hosted a free webinar March 18 on how to live stream sermons. The recorded webinar will be available for viewing at any time beginning 4 p.m.
SmallGroups.com will host a free webinar March 19 for small group leaders, ministry leaders and pastors on discipleship in a time of social distancing.
RightNow Media published tutorials on how to upload videos, as well as an introduction to RightNow’s app. The organization is also offering free access to a library of select content for a limited time.
In North Carolina, the Baptist Aging Ministry created extra resources for Hope Line staff and volunteers to serve the elderly in a time of increased isolation. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina developed a webpage of resources for pastors, churches and ministry leaders on ministering to members and their communities.
