Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 3-31-20

Feature
Church Defies Separation Order To Stop Spread Of Virus
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
While most churches are adhering to the social dis- tancing order, one mega church leader has chosen to defy it. Currently, the attor- neys representing the church are in contact with the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice in an attempt to resolve the matter.
On Sunday, The River at Tampa Bay Church, 3738 River International Drive, was packed with worship- pers, despite the Executive Order for social distancing is- sued on March 20th. The order clearly states that gath- erings, including faith-based gatherings, should limit the number of people to less than 10.
Hillsborough County
Sheriff Chad Chronister
said in a press release, “The Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office has spoken with the leaders at The River at Tampa Bay Church regarding Sunday’s services that were held in direct violation of the President’s guidelines for America, recommendations made by the CDC, and orders from the Governor and the Hillsborough County Emer- gency Policy Group.
“The Sheriff’s Office has advised church leaders of the danger they are putting themselves and their congre- gation in by not maintaining appropriate social distancing at a time when COVID-19 cases are unfortunately still on the rise in Hillsborough County.”
The Church posted the following statement on its
Facebook Page:
Revival Ministries International and The River at Tampa Bay
In a time of national cri- sis, we expect certain institu- tions to be open and certain people to be on duty. We ex- pect hospitals to have their doors open 24/7 to receive and treat patients. We expect our police and firefighters to be ready and available to res- cue and to help and to keep the peace. The Church is an- other one of those essential services. It is a place where people turn for help and for comfort in a climate of fear and uncertainty.
Therefore, we feel that it would be wrong for us to close our doors on them, at this time, or any time. In a time of crisis, people are fear- ful and in need of comfort and community, more than ever before. Even people who do not attend church regu- larly, or perhaps never go to church, need to know that there is somewhere for them to go when they need help.
The River at Tampa Bay is doing, and will do, everything in our power to support the
Church
efforts of our wider commu- nity by cleaning and sanitiz- ing surfaces and take any other recommended meas- ures to protect our people and keep them healthy and safe. If anyone is either not feeling well or would prefer to take the precaution of re- maining at home for their own health, we encourage them to do that and to con- tinue to watch the services online.
We feel that it is very im- portant, at this time, that we keep our doors open for any- one who needs prayer or ministry and to make our- selves available to minister hope and healing and com- fort to them. We are the Body of Christ and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We be- lieve God‘s Word to us, which says to trust Him and to not be fearful but to have faith in Him. We are praying—as are our fellow Christians around the world—and we know that God answers prayers.
People everywhere are looking for their leadership - both natural and spiritual - to
The River At Tampa Bay
be calm and strong and to lead them through this. Be- cause we will eventually come through this, as we have in the past. The last thing we need, in a time of crisis, is for people to be spreading false rumors and looking for some- body to attack, or a place to allocate blame. Right now, we need to rather all be working together to get through this.
We hope and trust that all media outlets would be able to hear from the President and his medical advisors and properly and correctly report the information and advice given by them. And to resist the temptation to report in such a way as to exacerbate people’s panic, fear, and anx- iety.
A word of encouragement to you, wherever you are: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His Word and healed them, And deliv- ered them from their de- structions.”
Psalm 107:19-20.
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020