Churches across US continue holding large gatherings despite coronavirus warnings

Many churches across the country altered their services Sunday to adhere to orders from state and federal officials. Others, meanwhile, ignored directives and had services in front of dozens of hundreds of people.

Americans have been urged to consider social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Some states have orders in effect not allowing church gatherings.

A pastor of one of the churches still holding gatherings said Jesus is the way to handle the pandemic, while another said the country’s reaction to the virus is an attack on the church.

Life Tabernacle Church

More than 1,800 people attended services for this Louisiana church Sunday, according to WVLA. The service was held despite Gov. John Bel Edwards’ executive order that gatherings should be limited to 50 people or less..

The church was also under pressure last week when it held a Tuesday night service with more than 300 people in attendance, according to The Advocate. The pastor, Tony Spell, said the government could not mandate an outdoor event, The Advocate reported.

At his service last week, Spell told his congregation, “Keep going to church! Keep on worshiping God! ... The church is a hospital for the sick! It’s a place of healing for the brokenhearted,” CNN reported.

Spell continued to hold services Sunday, where he told the gathering “the way to handle a pandemic is through the healing hand of Jesus,” according to WVLA.

Word of Life Church

There were around 200 people gathered at the Pennsylvania church Sunday, according to TribLive.com. The senior pastor, Tom Walters, said the church stayed open and went on as scheduled because the country’s reaction to COVID-19 “could possibly be, disguised In everything else, a direct attack on the church,” TribLive.com reported.

The church also shared a live stream of the service, where people left many comments — both negative and positive.

“Obviously no responsibility to your church members or the community,” one woman said. “Instead of calming fears you have created more for your community.”

“Thank you Pastor Tom for bringing the Word and encouragement that we can hold onto,” another woman said.

The pastor also preached in his sermon about healing people of coronavirus.

“If there’s one person in this place, or two people, three people, perhaps, who may be carrying coronavirus, we declare you’re healed in Jesus’ name. Hallelujah,” TribLive reported.

Solid Rock Church

The same day Ohio governor Mike DeWine ordered residents to stay home, this Cincinnati area church held two services, according to Cincinnati.com.

Congregants stood next to each other and microphones were shared, Journal-News.com reported.

A live stream of their service was deleted off Facebook after receiving hundreds of comments, according to the Journal-News.

The church wrote on its website Monday that the First Amendment guarantees their freedom of religion, expression and assembly.

“It specifically forbids congress from restricting an individual’s religious practices. Therefore, the government ban on large gatherings does not apply to religious worship,” a statement on their website reads. “There is no pressure from Solid Rock Church to require anyone to come our services. We are respectful of every individual’s right to choose either to come to our service or to watch online.”

Miracle Mission Full Gospel

There were around 25 people who attended this Buffalo, New York, church on Sunday, according to The Buffalo News, despite the state having the most coronavirus deaths in the country, according to livescience.com.

Most of the churchgoers sat 6 feet apart from one another and hand sanitizer was sprayed on each congregate’s hands upon their arrival, The Buffalo News reported.

The publication stated Pastor Zandra Lewis told the congregation they were “trusting God” to come together. “Being a person who stands on the faith and promises and trust In God, we feel like we are covered and protected by the Lord,” Lewis said.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Churches across US continue holding large gatherings despite coronavirus warnings."