Andrew and Sally Willett, ministers of West Thamesmead Community Church, explain how the current crisis is affecting the congregation and the community around it:

The devastating effect of Covid 19 has had serious effects our corner of South East London. Many people here are already reliant on foodbanks, not eligible for benefits, often living in cramped tower blocks. For them, lockdown has been especially difficult. Some of our congregation have not ventured outside since before lockdown, fearful of infection in over-crowded outdoor spaces. Others working in the care sector are still risking their lives daily, without adequate PPE. In these strange times, any glimpse of life and hope we can get is crucial for residents in estates like Thamesmead.

West Thamesmead Community Church is a relatively new church plant, and we have been very encouraged by its response to this crisis. From the beginning of lockdown, we have met weekly, through Zoom, for worship. It has been a steep, sometimes exhausting learning curve, but it has been well worth it. We have had new people coming along, who might not otherwise have joined us, and our intercultural congregation has even invited international family and friends from further afield.

We have also been training church members to lead small ‘Life Groups’ to help people make the connection between their church experience and the rest of their lives. We hope will keep on giving, long after lockdown’s a distant memory. ‘God-coincidentally’, the day before lockdown, there had been a perfectly timed Synod training session at our neighbouring Charlton Church, looking at small group leadership.

In addition, we have been able to continue our youth cell, through Zoom, as well as KFC, ‘Kids for Christ’. We are even, with the help of our Synod training and development office, as well as children’s and youth development officer, beginning Zoom training for our young people on how to lead worship, which is a wonderful opportunity.

As you can tell, Zoom has been a gift to this process as many couldn’t attend previously due to childcare and other commitments. We hope to keep using it long after the lockdown has entered distant memory.

This crisis has also prompted us to formalise pastoral care in our church. Until now, as a church plant, we have had no formal structure for this. However, at this time, when we are not meeting face to face in the same way, developing a structure has become vital. We divided the congregation and community contacts between us, as ministers, and our leadership team in order top keep in contact with everyone, see how they are, and pray with them.

We have also divided our church WhatsApp group into two, one to send out notices and church updates, the other for prayer and encouragement. Through this, people have really supported one another, praying, celebrating birthdays, offering help and showing God’s love to the community in so many ways.

Consequently, though we are praying for the end to Covid 19, we are clearly seeing the fulfilment of the promise of God, spoken through Isaiah, to bring precious things, treasures, even in the current despair.

‘I will give you treasures, hidden in the darkness, I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name’. Isaiah 45:3

How has the Covid 19 crisis affected your community? How is your church responding? Please let us know so we can share good news more widely.