COVID-19 forces some churches to find alternative means of worship Easter Sunday

(WPDE) — The deadly coronavirus has forced churches across the Pee Dee, Grand Strand, and border belt to find alternative ways to worship.

Many churches, like First Presbyterian Church in Florence, are live streaming their services.

The church's associate pastor, Rev. Chris Handley, said they've been live streaming since the pandemic, and it's really gone well.

“Certainly, this is an interesting season. We will be streaming live our service and so people in their homes will have an opportunity to watch. That’s the plan. A part of being in the church is being together. So, it is difficult to be separate like this. But, I guess what I’m finding the church is figuring out how to be together during the season even though they aren’t all in the same room. The message is getting out. The word is being preached, people are tuning in," said Handley.

Rev. Jerrod Moultrie is the lead pastor at Oak Grove Baptist Church in the Fairmont community of Robeson County.

Moultrie said he plans to hold his services outdoors. He added they've done in recent weeks and turnout has been great.

"We tried to abide by all of the orders that Governor Cooper, of course, has given to us. We reduce the size when we were in the sanctuary, and then he told us to move out to the parking lot. We did that. We will have a worship experience. But, we will have it in the parking lot. We will have a drive-and-worship service in which our parking lot ministry will ask everyone to park the cars, make sure that everyone is six feet apart. Make sure that everyone is staying in their vehicle. We never stop having church because I believe that the church is the only hope that the community has right now. And when that hope is gone, believe because we have to stay home and pray, and people are not going out shopping, and the children are out of school. There’s a whole lot going on. People are being laid off. They are frustrated right now dealing with the silent killer but I believe that the word of God is the only message of hope," said Moultrie.

Pastor Marsden "Jay R" Alexander, II is the co-pastor of Greater Highway Church of Christ in Florence.

Alexander said they will hold resurrection services, as usual, in the church.

"We have followed the Governor's Executive Orders and given heed to that. He himself has come out along with the attorney general to convey that a lot of those orders do not apply to churches, and so we've are still meeting, business, as usual, letting our saints galvanize their faith by gathering. We trust that God can heal us from anything or deliver us from anything," said Alexander.

He added they'll practice social distancing, but that's something they've always done.

Alexander said they always encouraged members to stay at home if they're sick, wash their hands and practice a safe distance from other parishioners.

He believes Sunday's worship service will be an experience like none other.