Mar 20

God is in Control

by Ann Freedman

David Freedman, Southern Union Chief Financial Officer, discussed business continuity guidelines on Monday, March 16, 2020, with the staff and employees. The office is closed until April 22, 2020.

R. Steven Norman III

The staff bowed in prayer to ask God’s protection for everyone in our Union and world. Everyone is asked to pause for prayer at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m.

R. Steven Norman III

Alicia Wilson, Southern Union Department of Education administrative assistant, packs boxes of materials she will need while each Union employee is serving the conferences and members from home.

R. Steven Norman III

He is always there for us. While we are staying home to prevent spreading or catching the COVID-19, we are still able to be a witness for Him.

Isolation is difficult, not only for our elderly population but also widows/widowers, single parents, etc. Here are some ideas to reach out and minister to our friends in these groups, while visiting is discouraged or prohibited.

  • Call, text, or email on a regular basis — try to talk about things other than the current pandemic. Share Scriptures and encouraging words.
  • Encourage them to be prayer partners with you — you can text throughout the day with encouraging verses. I am always encouraged to know someone is thinking of me and praying for me.
  • Mail notes of encouragement, pictures your children have drawn, or pictures of your family.
  • Remember members with special needs in our congregations. Make sure to check in on them.

These are precarious and anxious times for children. They hear the news, adults talking, schools and parks are closing, and disrupting their daily lives. Be mindful of the conversations you have near the children. They can hear you even if they are engaged in play or other activities, and are looking to see if you are anxious.

  • Remember family worship, emphasizing trust in God.
  • Assure our children that we are taking care of them and keeping them safe. Talking with them on a regular basis will help ease their anxieties.
  • Validate their feelings, then give them answers.
  • Use age-appropriate language. Talk about germs, why we wash our hands, cover our sneezes/coughs, and don’t put our hands in our mouth or touch our nose.
  • You can make a game of hand washing — how many times did you wash your hands? Keep a log outside the bathroom where they can put tally marks or stickers each time they wash their hands.
  • Children need routines, especially now that they are out of school. Set up a schedule for chores, crafts, board games, reading, writing in a journal, or notes to family far away.
  • There are many websites that have activities for children. One that I really like is TeachersPayTeachers.com — they have many free activities, and you can select grade and subject matter. Many schools have reading/math websites already in place that students can use.

I hope these suggestions will help you navigate these challenging times. Remember to stay calm and put our trust in Jesus. God is our “present help in times of trouble,“ Psalm 46:1. He will guide us through these times by His strength and power. He has blessed and protected us in the past, and we need to continue to trust in His leading going forward. Please stay safe and healthy. Minimize your exposure and follow the Center for Disease and Control’s guidelines as expressed on their website.

God bless!


Ann freedman, Southern Union family/Disabilities Ministries Associate Director.
Southern Union | March Special Issue 2020