COVID - 19 Stories from the Church

The vast majority of people in the United States have been ordered to stay at home as the novel Coronavirus threatens to cripple our healthcare system and take thousands of lives. Throughout this crisis TogetherLA will be bringing you stories of how God is moving in the midst of so much uncertainty.

Rudy Rubio, Pastor
Reformed Church of Los Angeles, Lynwood, CA

*Rudy pastors a church plant with a small budget and a predominantly lower socioeconomic, ethnic minority congregation. The size of his staff and budget have posed some unique concerns that some churches of larger size and budget are not directly encountering.

TogetherLA: What is your congregation dealing with in this COVID-19 crisis? 

 Rudy Rubio: Lack of "in-person fellowship” is a big concern. We've got tons of Zoom calls, but it just isn’t the same. We've become a very tight knit group. We've also lost approximately $35,000 of funding which is huge, because we're already in an under-resourced area.

TogetherLA: How are you doing church differently right now?

 Rudy Rubio: We have a lot of Zoom calls, texts, phone calls, social media interaction, and drive-by encounters. Our congregation care has exponentially increased to remind our folks they are not alone, that they matter, and that we've not forgotten them. We've had church family drive to our house, we sit down in our yard and they stay in their car and we hang out while maintaining social distancing.

 TogetherLA: Do you foresee carrying any of your current virtual church activity into your post-COVID-19 church behavior?

Rudy Rubio: No, we've adjusted and adapted only temporarily. For a church plant this is a killer. We need to gather. We need a lot of physical interaction. All we've done and are doing by force is just to get by but definitely not longer than needed.

TogetherLA: Has your church applied for federal stimulus funding? 

Rudy Rubio: Yes, we’ve applied for Disaster Relief and the Paycheck Protection Program but neither one has come through nor acknowledged as being in process. 

TogetherLA: How are you seeing your church body rise up and love Jesus well in this season through their actions?

Rudy Rubio: One prime example of how our team has stepped it up in caring for each other. On Good Friday my wife received a note from the Women's Ministry. They sent a pair of hands cut out of construction paper with a piece of ribbon connecting them. The instructions said, “Place one hand on each shoulder and receive this hug from your sisters.” The following morning on Saturday, in what seemed a game of "ding dong ditch" 2 bags of goodies were dropped off for my teenage kids as gifts from their youth leaders. And on Easter Sunday, after service, our Kids Ministry leader and her team had scheduled parents to drive through to pick up Easter baskets as their Sunday school teachers waved at them and held large colorful signs expressing how much they're loved and missed. 

Another example is that our church was a catalyst in helping bring together another church, city government, school district, and community advocates to help feed hundreds of families who don't qualify for stimulus checks, unemployment, or other government benefits due to their legal status. More and more people continue to partner with us by donating money, food, clothes, and gifts cards. 

TogetherLA: Do you see any parts of this season as a blessing? 

Rudy Rubio: YES! There is a big silver lining. Families, including mine, have been able to get back to family worship. And leaders, like those mentioned above, have taken more ownership of church and various responsibilities on their own. 

TogetherLA: How is this crisis changing you as a pastor?

Rudy Rubio:  It is tiring; super tiring. As a church planter we don't have a staff or a big budget. We have to raise 60% of our budget outside of the church and it is pretty exhausting. We've had to learn very quickly how to get better at using social media, live stream, and video editing tools. 

TogetherLA: What lesson should the Church capture from this crisis for a post-Coronavirus world?

Rudy Rubio: To preach the Word... faithfully. Don't focus on bells and whistles. Don't focus on Sunday concerts. Preach the Gospel faithfully. Don't forget the basics. People don't need self-help speeches, they need the Gospel. That is the only thing that gives us hope. 

TogetherLA: What scripture has been near to you lately?

Rudy Rubio: Lamentations 3:22-23, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.