Local churches move services online
Caden Swearingen
Local churches move to online services after Missouri's ten people rule was put in place after outbreaks of COVID-19 in the state. One church has moved to parking lot services; Gunter Fundamental Methodist Church in Butterfield is one of the churches in the area so far holding that type of service.
“A positive thing that has came out of all this is that we are able to reach people in their homes and we are able to reach those who don’t normally go to church at all,” Doug Henry, Mission Baptist Church Youth Pastor, said.
“Right now people are looking for comfort in this time of uncertainty and being able to reach them online is a way to give them long term hope,” he added.
"Easter will be very different no matter what we do online, it can never be like a meeting together as a family to worship our Savior, Jesus Christ," Donnie Spears, preacher at Corinth Baptist Church, said.
“This year, local Easter services will not be the same. Who says it has to be the traditional way to be a success, though? God is stretching His church right now and we need to show the world that we can still move forward regardless of traditional services being cancelled. This is the perfect time for God to be put back in the home where he has been neglected. Whether we meet in a church or in our home, it does not change the fact that Jesus died and rose again. That is the only hope we have in this time of potential sickness and death,” said Henry.
"An online church service is something we never thought we would have to do. We have had a lot of good feedback, one comment that really touched me was from a friend of mine who lost his hearing. He was able to watch the service on the Corinth Baptist Youtube page with closed captioning. To be able to watch the entire message was very special to him," said Spears.
"Just stay in God's will and all things will turn out for the good," he added.
The local churches listed below responded to our Facebook questionnaire, asking if they provide online services.
For information about their service dates and times, please visit their individual Facebook pages.
• Corinth Baptist Church
• Cassville First Baptist
Church
• Liberty Baptist Church
• Exciting Southwest Baptist
Church
• New Site Baptist Church
• Mission Baptist Church
• Mission Baptist Children
• Mission Baptist Youth
• Hill Creek Church
• Fellowship Baptist Church
• Monett Community
Church
• Calvary Baptist Church
• First Christian Church
• First Assembly of God
Church
• Emmanuel Baptist Church
• Exeter First Baptist Church
• Purdy Full Life Fellowship
• Washburn First Baptist
Church
• St. Edwards Catholic
Church
• Lohmer Baptist Church
• Blessing Heights Worship
Center
• Purdy First Baptist
• Solid Rock Baptist Church
• River of Faith Church
• St. Thomas a Becket
Episcopal
• The Point Baptist Church
• Calvary Baptist Church
• Wheaton United
Methodist Church
• Cassville United Methodist
Church
• Wheaton Body of Christ
Local churches move to online services after Missouri's ten people rule was put in place after outbreaks of COVID-19 in the state. One church has moved to parking lot services; Gunter Fundamental Methodist Church in Butterfield is one of the churches in the area so far holding that type of service.
“A positive thing that has came out of all this is that we are able to reach people in their homes and we are able to reach those who don’t normally go to church at all,” Doug Henry, Mission Baptist Church Youth Pastor, said.
“Right now people are looking for comfort in this time of uncertainty and being able to reach them online is a way to give them long term hope,” he added.
"Easter will be very different no matter what we do online, it can never be like a meeting together as a family to worship our Savior, Jesus Christ," Donnie Spears, preacher at Corinth Baptist Church, said.
“This year, local Easter services will not be the same. Who says it has to be the traditional way to be a success, though? God is stretching His church right now and we need to show the world that we can still move forward regardless of traditional services being cancelled. This is the perfect time for God to be put back in the home where he has been neglected. Whether we meet in a church or in our home, it does not change the fact that Jesus died and rose again. That is the only hope we have in this time of potential sickness and death,” said Henry.
"An online church service is something we never thought we would have to do. We have had a lot of good feedback, one comment that really touched me was from a friend of mine who lost his hearing. He was able to watch the service on the Corinth Baptist Youtube page with closed captioning. To be able to watch the entire message was very special to him," said Spears.
"Just stay in God's will and all things will turn out for the good," he added.
The local churches listed below responded to our Facebook questionnaire, asking if they provide online services.
For information about their service dates and times, please visit their individual Facebook pages.
• Corinth Baptist Church
• Cassville First Baptist
Church
• Liberty Baptist Church
• Exciting Southwest Baptist
Church
• New Site Baptist Church
• Mission Baptist Church
• Mission Baptist Children
• Mission Baptist Youth
• Hill Creek Church
• Fellowship Baptist Church
• Monett Community
Church
• Calvary Baptist Church
• First Christian Church
• First Assembly of God
Church
• Emmanuel Baptist Church
• Exeter First Baptist Church
• Purdy Full Life Fellowship
• Washburn First Baptist
Church
• St. Edwards Catholic
Church
• Lohmer Baptist Church
• Blessing Heights Worship
Center
• Purdy First Baptist
• Solid Rock Baptist Church
• River of Faith Church
• St. Thomas a Becket
Episcopal
• The Point Baptist Church
• Calvary Baptist Church
• Wheaton United
Methodist Church
• Cassville United Methodist
Church
• Wheaton Body of Christ
