Perseverance and PRODUCTIVITY Despite PANDEMIC PANIC

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.”
2 Corinthians 4:8
 
The Need for Adaptability and Innovation Amidst Disruption and Disaster
Like many millions of people around the world, our plans and programmes have been disrupted by a spate of cancellations, closed venues and closed borders. Planned missions to Kenya and Sudan are now postponed because of international travel bans and country lockdowns. A number of conferences, seminars, services, workshops and education history tours have had to be cancelled in response to government regulations and venues cancelling on us. Yet, despite the extraordinary international reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, we have been busier than ever, as we seek to respond to the changing situation and new challenges with adaptability and initiative. “Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past.” Isaiah 26:20

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Evangelism Despite Epidemic
We have already run out of our Spiritual Diseases tract which is being prepared for reprint. Click here for Spiritual Diseases in a PDF tract form, that can be printed for distribution, or forwarded digitally. Lenora and I dealt with the Coronavirus Crisis in a From the Frontline podcast: Pandemic, Panic, Propaganda and Priorities. Please listen to it and share it through your social media.

​Missions in a Time of Mass Hysteria
You can view a video of our Reformation Society presentation: Pandemic, Panic, Propaganda and Priorities on our Vimeo channel, click here. You can read the Frontline article, Is the Coronavirus God’s Judgment on a Sinful and Godless Generation? on our www.FrontlineMissionSA.org website. You can listen to my sermon: A Biblical Response to Pandemics on Sermon Audio, click here. We have many Evangelistic and discipleship tracts available for download, or forwarding, on our www.LivingstoneFellowship.co.za website, including in Afrikaans, Danish, French, German, Netherlands and Russian languages.

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New Evangelistic Resources from Living Waters
We have screened the new Living Waters film from Ray Comfort, Pandemic. You can view this excellent, topical and most relevant evangelistic film, Pandemic, here. Ray Comfort has also produced a Living Waters tract: 7 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus, click here to download for printing and distribution. In South Africa you can obtain Way of the Master materials from Living Waters Africa (email: admin@livingwatersafrica.co.za, website: www.LivingWatersAfrica.co.za).
 
The Importance of Hygiene, Body, Mind and Spirit
Hygiene is always important. Not only physical, but also mental, emotional and spiritual hygiene. A renewed emphasis on the importance of regular and thorough washing of hands with soap and water is to be welcomed. We should also be concerned for cleaning our belts, bags, computers, cell phones, accessories, boots, shoes, car, home and work place. Physical hygiene is important.

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Mental Hygiene
However, mental hygiene is no less important. The books we read, the magazines we subscribe to, the websites we visit, the emails we receive, the films we watch, the education we receive, or pay for our children to receive. Beware of ideological diseases like secular humanism, situation ethics, evolutionism and Marxism. The Coronavirus may have killed thousands, but Communism has killed well over 100 million, just in the 20th century. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things… and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
 
Emotional Hygiene
We also need to be concerned for our emotional hygiene. The music we listen to, the art we display in our home, the friends we have. What we see influences what we think. What we listen to and look at influences our emotions. How we think and feel influences how we act. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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Quarantine Survival Strategy
As part of our quarantine survival strategy, we need to audit and evaluate where we are and address all issues of contamination. This is a good time to detox, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8
 
Spiritual Hygiene
Beware of spiritual diseases. Beware of bad influences, false teachers, false shepherds and false prophets.

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Redeem the Time
We have constantly been complaining that we do not have enough time. Well, now we all have more time than we had planned for! Amidst cancellations, shut downs and lock downs, we now have time to put first things first. Revive our Quiet Time. Bible before breakfast. Scripture before supper. Do a thorough job of Repentance and Restitution. Read. Clean up. Tidy up. Sort out. Plan and prepare. This is a time for Reflection, Repentance, Reformation and Revival.

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Restore your Relationship with God and Revive your Devotional Life
The first mission I worked for, Hospital Christian Fellowship, repeatedly proclaimed: “More people pass through the hospitals of the world than through its churches!” HCF Founder, Francis Grim, often declared: “When we are sick, God has our attention. In a hospital bed you are looking in the right direction – Up!”
 
Refocus Your Energies
We all have important books to read. Recommended films to view. Important letters to write. Projects which have been procrastinated - for far too long. That can now be completed. Especially around the home. Work through every Book of the Bible. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

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William Carey Bible Institute Resources Available Online
The William Carey Bible Institute is a Reformed, Evangelistic, Biblical and practical Leadership Training Programme with a treasure trove of great resources freely available online. This includes audio lectures, video presentations, lecture notes, manuals, E-books and much more from the WCBI faculty which includes Dr. Al Baker, Ray Comfort, Col. John Eidsmoe, Dr. Robert Fugate, John Gilchrist, Rev. Walter Gschwandtner, Dr. Phil Kayser, Prof. Shai Mulder, Gerhard Nehls, Dr. David Noebel, Rev. Erlo Stegen, Dr. Philip Stott and contributing materials from Rev. Bill Bathman, Dr. Kurt Koch and Dr. Francis Nigel Lee, as well as from myself and other Frontline missionaries.

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​Free Online Study Courses
WCBI offers courses in: Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Discipleship, Evangelism, Biblical Worldview, The Great Commission, Biblical Law, God and Government, Reformation Studies, World History, Church History, Missions History, Ministering to the Persecuted, Apologetics, Muslim Evangelism, Child Evangelism, Conflict Resolution, Eschatology, Biblical Preaching, Creation Science, Discernment, Spiritual Warfare, Leadership Training, Christian Action, Security and Survival, Christian Journalism and Revival. We are continually uploading new resources and upgrading the online exams.

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Reaching and Teaching Remote Regions
WCBI is ideal for home educators, missionaries and evangelists. Originally designed to provide online resources for Persecuted Christians in Restricted Access Areas, WCBI is pleased to make these valuable resources more widely available, particularly in this time when so many are restricted in travel. You can access an entire educational programme of video presentations, audio lectures, lecture notes, workbooks, manuals, textbooks and inspiring examples of excellence from history, in the comfort of your own home. “Expect great things from God! Attempt great things for God!” William Carey.
 
The Great Commission is Still in Force
Those of us who are under government mandated lockdown may have our travel curtailed, we may not be able to engage in door to door evangelism, sidewalk counselling, ministry in the Mall, but the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ is still in force. We are commanded: “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

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How are we to Convince, Rebuke, Exhort, Teach and Preach in a time of Quarantine?
We may be restricted, but the Word of God is the power of God for the Salvation of all who believe. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. By God’s grace and because of modern digital technology, many of us have access to the internet and can use social media to communicate with friends and family and even with strangers far away. Let us use all the social media platforms available to us. You will find great resources available on the Frontline Fellowship, WCBI, ACA, Living Waters Africa, Livingstone Fellowship and other websites, to use and apply in your situation and to your network. By email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook messenger and postings, you can share suitable and relevant audios, videos, pictures, posts, Scriptures and through prayer and correspondence, reach people that you may not have been able to reach in any other way. We may be confined, but the Spirit of Almighty God is not limited. There is power in prayer and the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12). This is an opportunity for us to spend more time studying the Word of God, interceding and communicating with a lost world in confusion and fear. My prison experiences taught me that even when physically confined, we can experience spiritual Revival in our devotional life and greater fervency in intercessory ministry. “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

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Thank You
Thank you very much for all your prayers, encouragement and support, without which none of our ministries would be possible. May God continue to be your joy and strength.
 
Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
www.WilliamCareyBI.com

For those who want to prayerfully and financially partner with us in ministry:
Our banking details:
For South African supporters:
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship
First National Bank – Rondebosch
Branch code: 201509 

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