New York church founded weeks after 9/11 responds to coronavirus
Pastor Ron Lewis recording his sermon as Every Nation NYC moves strictly to online broadcast. Photo courtesy of Every Nation NYC.
NEW YORK — On Sept. 13, 2001, as Ron Lewis was driving through the eastbound lane of George Washington bridge, the smoke from the remains of the then World Trade Center billowing, he heard a still small voice.
“Out of these ashes, I will build a great church,” the voice said, according to Lewis.
The multicultural congregation Lewis started now draws about 300 people to its weekend services. The senior pastor was recounting the memory on a Saturday night, looking into the lens of a Sony digital camera. He and about 10 members stayed up late into the evening recording a full church service, replacing the next day’s Sunday gathering.
“I’m so reminded of the season of 9/11,” he said, noting the reality of the past week when the novel coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.
At the time of this report, more than 16,800 people in New York State, more than 11,000 of them from New York City, tested positive for COVID-19, less than three weeks since the city confirmed its first case of the coronavirus. The number of coronavirus cases in the state make up about 5 percent of the world’s confirmed cases.
All residents are mandated to stay at home except for essential travel. Churches have canceled physical services.
Lewis noted that though social distancing is important, “social avoidance is not okay.” All of the church’s activities have moved online, from Bible study groups to donations and evening prayer meetings.
“I know this about our lives, we’re here on a mission, we’re not just here for ourselves.” Lewis continued. “We’re gonna get through this.”
Bruce Ho, one of the Every Nation pastors, has a sister-in-law who tested positive for the coronavirus in Indonesia. The family stayed in touch with her every day, encouraging her and praying for her over the phone. She is now recovered from the virus.
Ralph, 25, was just baptized on Feb. 2 at the Every Nation church office. He watched the pre-recorded service streamed at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the church’s YouTube channel andFacebook Page, times when the physical services were usually held.
“[It was] like how our usual Sundays are like,” he said. “I know our leaders are also battling with what’s going on but they never fail to give hope to all of us—especially for me [since] I’m new.”
Razzel hosting her “connect group” Bible study, which usually meets on Wednesday, virtually for the first time. Photo by Vivian Bobis.
Razzel, who leads a weekly Wednesday night group meeting for women and works for Every Nation NYC as an office manager, said that despite the changes and the reality of a viral pathogen rapidly spreading, her members are still very open and excited to come together, from a distance.
“[What is] very important is you make yourself available, where anytime they can message you,” she said.
Razzel keeps herself visible to those she mentors by continually reaching out to them, usually on Facebook Messenger or text messages. This week would be the first time her Connect Group—Every Nation NYC lingo for a Bible study group—would go online, and because anyone can join remotely, the group had three women join for the first time. “It’s opening doors. We’re not limited to people that we get to see,” she said.
When they ended, one of her members posted a screenshot of the virtual meeting on Facebook, inviting more people to join.
As the public health crisis is inevitably leading to a financial crisis, with industries requiring a bailout to survive and wage workers losing hours, the church is cognizant to the needs of its members—more than half of whom are immigrants—beyond the spiritual.
“We are preparing to help minorities and people who are struggling financially,” said Lewis.
Days before Every Nation NYC would close its physical doors and the city began suggesting self-quarantine, the church’s senior leadership reached out to members who are in the high-risk category to COVID-19, asking them to stay home for their safety. The church is also arranging to deliver care packages to those in need and WhatsApp messaged members to find volunteers who could house NYU students forced to move out from their dorms.
“Historically, the church has thrived in persecution and plague,” Ho said. “We’re embracing this time. We’re not here to just survive until we get to meet again as a church. We’re the church now.”
“Our goal in this moment is to create massive personal growth in the lives of our congregants,” said Nathan Lewis, Ron’s son and the pastor of the church’s evening service, attended mainly by people in their twenties and thirties.
The 35-year-old pastor led the production of the online service.
The worship line-up for the week consisted of just two selections: the 19th century hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” and the popular 2010 gospel song “One Thing Remains,” with the repeating refrain, “Your love never fails.”
Caleb Galaraga is a freelance writer and journalist based in New York City. He is an alumnus of the Columbia Journalism School (Class of 2019) where his master’s thesis focused on the increasing antisemitic activity in New York colleges and universities. He has been published at The Jerusalem Post, the Times of Israel, Rappler and The Algemeiner Journal. He’s been a member of Every Nation NYC since 2008.