Following movement headed by the Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF) World Missions Commission’s (WMC) Task Force of Development and Relief Partners, Pentecostals all over the world are now mobilizing in order to spread awareness regarding COVID-19 in areas where people have limited access to reliable information. Through resource development and the aid of various mass media, it has become possible to disseminate such information to reach more than 100 million church members.
As many high-income countries have worked hard to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has also hit hard towards low-income countries. In many of these countries, the infrastructure for communication is insufficient. In addition to situations where authorities have already been facing challenges in reaching marginalized groups with social support, authorities are now attempting to get correct information out to all citizens in countries containing many different local languages. This means the Church has an important role to play.
As a complement to the information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and respective national authorities, and in the effort to encourage local churches to intensify the spread of information and support work during this time of crises, the PWF has developed informational material with recommendations to churches, pastors and development workers. The material is currently being spread by Pentecostal movements in roughly 100 different countries, as well as by mission organizations and through the partner networks of 11 Pentecostal development organizations.
The informational material is available in French, Spanish, English, and Swahili; and might also be spread in different local languages through church driven radio stations.
As a part of this campaign, the Pentecostal network has also organized a webinar with both the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr. Denis Mukwege from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Dr. Ivan Satyavrata who serves as a Senior Pastor and Chairman of the Assembly of God Church in Mission, Kolkata, as two of the speakers.
“As spiritual leaders, we have a responsibility to care for the flock of God under our charge and care. As such, we must be knowledgeable about the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently ravaging our sheep and our globe,” IPHC World Missions Executive Director Talmadge Gardner said. “The fact that we have the opportunity to glean and be educated on a first-hand basis from noted experts like Dr. Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, pastor, gynecologist, and hospital founder, and Dr. Ivan Satyavrata, author, pastor, educator, and chairman of Kolkata Mission of Mercy, adds credibility and value to this investment of time. Thank you, PWF World Missions Commission team.”
For more information about the upcoming webinar or resources made available by the PWF, visit pwfmissions.net/covid-19-response.
The IPHC is a member denomination of the Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF). Dr. Doug Beacham serves as the PWF’s secretary, and Max Barroso is Lead Team vice-chairman of the PWF’s World Missions Commission.
