Pastoring Through a Pandemic

The First 90 Days of Crisis Leadership

Pastor R. D. Bernard

• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781638144953

"We all prayed at the altar at about 2: 00 p.m. We had to pray because we were bitter. I know my people, and several of us were hurt at the sheriff being called—on a church. A couple of members were even bitter with me for cancelling service this Sunday. It was a mess, and all we could do was pray" (pastoral journal entry, Thursday, April 2, 2020).

Pastoring through a Pandemic captures, in detail, the first ninety days of the historic, once-in-a-generation, worldwide pandemic of 2020 as experienced by the pastor and people of the historic King Solomon Baptist Church of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The Pastor and people defied state and local ordinances to have in-person worship services at the height of the pandemic. Read of the harrowing tales of members, old and young, who sought answers for their own personal crises as they "sneaked to meet" while discovering a newfound strength and spirituality in the midst of their quiet defiance. See the four pillars of leadership in action from the pastor, who in the very midst of his personal battles with fatigue, fear, and nascent faith, kept a day-to-day journal of the church's struggles and triumphs.

Pastoring through a Pandemic will be studied for years as an example of how one faith community responded to the early days of the pandemic while also navigating its way through a historic time of political and social unrest.

Pastoral Journal Entries

Wednesday, March 11, 6:22 a.m.

Tuesday was a good day. Valerie had an early morning doctor’s appointment. She came home and cooked breakfast for us. I had already cooked ribs for the boys. I also taught David and Daniel how to shave.

Covenant Books e-mailed me and said I would have my new book We Are King Solomon by close of business today (Wednesday). That made me happy.

The men at the church put up the blood-drive banner yesterday. I also had a short but pleasant conversation with Pastor Buckles, thanking him for the plant that First Baptist sent as a gift for our 160th church anniversary.

Lots of people outside the church community in Vicksburg know of King Solomon. I received bits of news from Mother Barbara Faye Williams and Deacon Nichols about those who have noticed our work. I was feeling good about our upcoming church anniversary.

Everyone was in a pleasant mood at the church. Considering it was the opening night of our pre-anniversary services, I guess I was underwhelmed at the number of worshippers. We had lots of food left over. Not many people seemed interested in the old footage from the 1994 church anniversary that we showed prior to the pre-anniversary service.

The tribute to the late Mother Terrell was nice. Bennie Terrell and his daughter were there. He talked some about his mother—it was emotional. Worship was over by 9:00 p.m. I helped the young men clean up, by giving directions! The cleanup crew was Donovan, David, Daniel, Josh, and Frank.

The Bernards left for home at 10:15 p.m. or so in three separate cars. We got into bed about midnight.

Friday, March 13, 9:03 a.m.

Thursday I was at the church by 9:00 a.m. I did not leave until after 10:00 p.m. I was a bundle of energy, in possession of my first copies of our book We Are King Solomon. Sister Turnage (my administrative assistant in Clinton) and Sister Sandles (my administrative assistant in Vicksburg) were both late.

I could not think ahead enough to focus on Bible study preparation, so I delivered books to those who ordered them. Then I began the debacle of trying to get my car fixed at the service station. Of course, I needed a new tire because they could not patch the hole I had. Then they could not take the tire off because it had a lock, and I didn’t have the key. I took it to Nissan where Michael Sullivan (one of our members) helped me get the locks off each tire and bolts put on.

Between times, Sister Sandles picked me up, and we took a book to Lorelei Books to review. My wife had an 11:00 a.m. hair appointment. The three of us had lunch a little after 2:00 p.m. It was pleasant, but by then, it was too late to go home before the second night of the pre-anniversary services. The service was well-attended. It was spiritual. The sanctuary, even with the extra seats, looked alive, robust.

I met briefly with Deacon Sandles after the service about several issues, including the erosion around our sanitation system in Vicksburg and where we are in our planned purchase of additional square footage for our second location in Clinton.

Saturday, March 14, 9:18 a.m.

The world is gone mad with coronavirus. All eight public universities are closed for an extra week of spring break and will finish the semester with online classes. The Clinton Public School District cancelled classes for the upcoming week. The Vicksburg-Warren School District cancelled school for Monday, so far. Many churches are deciding not to meet.

Friday, Cynthia and Mark got to the church in Vicksburg a little after 5:00 p.m. from the University of Southern Mississippi; then I left for the Clinton Church. David and Daniel and the rest of the youth ministry did not start back from their trip to Memphis until 7:00 p.m. I was glad they got a chance to go. Fears among the volunteers almost led to a cancellation.

Valerie had choir rehearsal at 5:00 p.m. in Clinton, so I had the house to myself. I watched television to try to take my mind off some of the madness. I also got the idea that the church in Vicksburg needs to be feeding school children on Monday. Since the schools are closed, a lot of kids will go without that needed meal.

Valerie got home, and we had a pleasant meal of Chick-fil-A. We discussed choir rehearsal, the feeding plan I came up with, and wondering how much longer it would be before the children made it back from Memphis.

Sunday, March 15, 6:35 a.m.

I am tired. I was a ball of nervous energy on Saturday because of the coronavirus. I slept late but got up to all the church closures and questions about whether King Solomon would close, so I put a post on the church’s public Facebook page regarding our services, saying that we will not be closed. Then I was led to write “A Time Such as This” from Esther 4:13–14. It took me a while because everybody was up and moving around the house.

I got Daniel to cut the grass. David was busy lifting weights. We ate at home rather than take our usual Saturday outing. I need to be working.

I called and set up a 4:30 p.m. meeting with Sister Thuha, Sister Blue-Jones, and Deacon Sandles regarding the menu for Monday’s lunch for the community kids and adults. Thought I would catch me a nap, but I went to the store instead. It was crowded, with no paper or cleaning products.

Daniel, Valerie, and I went to Vicksburg where I met briefly with my team and then made the video about giving out lunches that has now been shared over two hundred times. I also finished an article about fear for the Vicksburg Post. John Surrat from the Vicksburg Post called and wanted to know if the church was having service since the governor has recommended that churches not meet. We left the church about 6:30 p.m. and went by Baskin Robbins.

Monday, March 16, 5:44 a.m.

For a church anniversary, Sunday was different. I sat through three different services while other ministers preached. It was hard for me to worship with coronavirus overshadowing everything. The 8:00 a.m. service in Clinton was lightly attended. I guess churchgoers, including ours, got the governor’s message.

The 11:30 a.m. service in Vicksburg had a robust number in attendance. Service ended around 1:00 p.m. The guest evangelist did not preach exceptionally long.

Many of the members hung around and ate sandwiches until the speaker for the afternoon service arrived. This pastor seemed at peace and joyful though he had just funeralized his brother the day before. He also came to preach! Service was about two hours.

I have been a ball of nervous energy about coronavirus and the possibility of not having church. Many churches closed their doors and livestreamed. The CDC has dropped gathering sizes to fifty or fewer. I am beginning to wonder how long this will last.

Tuesday, March 17, 8:09 p.m.

Tuesday was not quite as long as Monday because I did not have to go to deaconesses ministry meeting like I did Monday night. Sister Powell and Sister Thuha joined the meeting for the first time. I did not stay for the whole meeting. I showered while they prayed, headed home, took a sleep aid and enjoyed me some sleep!

I did not get to Vicksburg until shortly after 10:00 a.m. today (Tuesday). Sister Sandles was only there until noon or so. She picked up Johnny Williams III from the hospital, at the curb, and took him home. Only the sick and employees are allowed in hospitals. Wow!

Not many vehicles dropped by the church for meals, and we had a hard time giving them away, until we took the church bus to various neighborhoods. We finished around 3:00 p.m. or so, not as much fun or excitement as Monday. Feeding people is hard work!

WJTV 12 sent a reporter out for the 4:00 p.m. news, but I do not know if the segment played. Vicksburg Daily News aired us yesterday.

Thursday, March 19, 6:52 a.m.

The last few days have been long and wearisome. We had our first Bible studies yesterday (Wednesday) since the COVID-19 hoopla kicked in—in earnest. I gave speeches at the beginning of both studies that emphasized the facts that we (1) would continue to meet, (2) would not criticize those who do not meet, (3) will not stop a meeting if law enforcement shows up and tries to stop it.

I got up yesterday morning and washed clothes, cooked chicken and rice for dinner, and baked hot wings and fries for Daniel.

I handed out assignments to David and Daniel. David got groceries and the car washed. Daniel had to take out the garbage and clean the restrooms.

Then I got on the road and found an empty church at 11:30 a.m., just prior to our noon Bible study. Sister Sandles was the only one inside. Attendance at the noon study was light, but the teaching was impactful. We met until almost 3:00 p.m. Afterward, Brother Jennings grilled on the big church grill. I also ran to the barber shop around 5:00 p.m. to get Jeff Johnson to cut my long nappy-looking hair with the bald top.

My premarital counseling session prior to the 6:30 p.m. Bible study went well. We let the kids run around outside at 6:00 p.m., almost like a picnic. The Bible study was well-attended and lasted until 8:20 p.m. People are all nerves about the coronavirus.

Friday, March 20, 7:12 a.m.

Thursday was a day of progress. Valerie and I rode over to Vicksburg for a 10:00 a.m. meeting with our ban...