50 STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION: Healthy outreach, amidst a pandemic

Frontlines.

50 years ago, they were guarded by brave soldiers, armed in the depths of a Vietnam jungle.

30 years ago, they were occupied by innovative minds and cutting-edge software developers.

20 years ago, they were protected by valiant first responders, battling the repercussions of terrorism outside a devastated World Trade Center.

Today, the frontlines are dotted with healthcare professionals, working amidst an unpredictable virus and global pandemic.

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In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, many of these frontline, medical heroes belong to the Church of the Good Shepherd, a church led by Pastor Darius Nable and affiliated with the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey.

“Most of my members are part of frontliners – especially during this pandemic,” said Nable.

“There are 45 of our church members in healthcare, 22 of them are in the frontliners – all nurses. The rest [are] either in different capacities or in the hospitals, but we all consider them essential workers and praise God that we are able to recognize them.”

Before going into full-time ministry, Nable worked in hospitals and with medical technologies for 20 years.

“I can relate with them – with what’s going on – and totally understand what they’re suggesting. [I] always get an update from them, on top of what’s going on in the community and the news. I get direct information from those nurses that work at the hospital,” said Nable.

This direct information has allowed the Church of the Good Shepherd to outreach and minister to their community in ways they never have before.

“A lot of them [members who are health care workers] are telling me about the opportunity for them to continue to minister to those patients, and not only to the patients, but even those on staff. They know they are believers and can share the gospel, too, in this moment,” said Nable.

One Good Shepherd member shared with Nable about an opportunity she seized to minister to one of her patients.

“Because she [the church member] is assigned to the Intensive Care Unit – and it’s very concerning…this is the only facility they allow visitors – [and] through that she was able to minister and pray over the patient…not only the patient, but the parents of the patient as well,” he explained.

“What a great testament! Even though it seems like it is very hard to minister during this moment, we know for a fact this is an opportunity for all of us to shine.”

Another opportunity to share the gospel arose for the members of the Good Shepherd when one of their youth leaders started collecting funds to help local healthcare workers.

“This encouraged one of our youth leaders to start collecting some funds of their own and be able to send – I believe – some food [to] the hospital here in Cooper,” said Nable.

The youth leader was also able to share with the healthcare workers that he is a part of the Good Shepherd youth ministry.

“What had happened…helped encourage the healthcare workers of our own… and then they go beyond that,” he said.

Nable shared one way his congregation members went beyond for their community was by taking meals to those they knew were sick.

“They shared them [community members] to me – and they’re not from our church, these are connections from the nurses or people that work in the hospital that found out that they were quarantine – and we brought some meals. We informed them that we were just going to leave it by their door, and they can get it from there.”

Although the pandemic has opened the doors for many Good Shepherd members to share God’s love, it also has come with its fair share of challenges.

“It’s hard…It’s hard for us, especially concerning our healthcare workers,” said Nable, noting church is very different these days.

“By the second week of March we go online – virtual worship – and then we resumed in July. We started picking up, and then by the second week of December we went back [to] virtual,” he said.

One of the families in his congregation became infected with the COVID-19 virus, he said, which led to the church remaining cautious and online.

“We’re praying that by next month we will go back to live in the building,” he added.

Appropriately, The Church of the Good Shepherd has positioned their focus on Romans 12:12 for 2021: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, and be persistent in prayer” (CSB).

“We’re done with year 2020, and we’re going to focus on 12-12 – Romans 12:12. That’s what we want to continue to lift up in prayer, knowing that God is still on His Throne,” said Nable.

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Frontlines.

Today, they are lined with doctors, nurses, medical technicians, respiratory therapists, healthcare specialists, nursing home aids, first responders, and all who have risked their health to provide essential services.

Today, they include members from the Church of the Good Shepherd and thousands of other dedicated Christians.

Tomorrow they may change, in weeks they may be modified, and in years they won’t even look the same.

Frontlines will change, but the One who goes before them and empowers them never will.

*Thank you to all health care professionals, first responders, and essential workers for your dedication, hard work, and willingness to serve in such a risky and challenging time. We are praying for you!

Listen to the podcast interview:

The “50 Stories of Transformation” series, told in honor of the Baptist Resource Network’s 50th anniversary, highlights the many ways God has moved throughout Pennsylvania, South Jersey and beyond.  Your generous support of the Cooperative Program  makes this ministry possible and fuels  evangelism and outreach  in our local churches and all over the world! Thank you!