COVID-19 UPDATE

COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS STATEMENT UPDATE)
5-26-2020 3:00PM EST

Greetings Evangel Family, Friends and Partners,

With the increased awareness and public concerns regarding the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to assure you that public health and safety concerns are our highest priority. As a church, we are in full agreement with the decision made by Governor Cooper.

Here at Evangel Fellowship, we are very intentional about providing a clean, sanitary, and safe environment for people to meet and worship God together. We have thorough cleaning procedures which includes daily cleaning of all restrooms and touch points, door knob handles, water faucets, and hard surfaces. In addition, our teams will continuously clean throughout and between each service, along with a weekly deep cleaning provided by a CDC certified organization.

As we continue through Phase Two of the COVID-19 reopening plan, we will be taking the time to train our auxiliary teams during the month of June. Each team will be notified by text or email with further details. Through prayer and counsel, we have decided to reopen to the public with a gathering limit of 100 attendees starting July 5, 2020. Each attendee will be required to sign-up prior to service attendance.

We will continue to closely monitor this situation and will communicate any changes regarding services as new information becomes available. If you and your child/children are ill please be sure to get some rest by staying home and watching our services online at evangelword.org. Join us Sundays at 10am and on Thursdays at 7:30pm as we broadcast on Facebook Live (@evangelfellowship), Youtube (Evangel Fellowship Church), on the Evangel App, and at EvangelWord.org

We’ve also added the Proposed Reopening Plan and Questions for your review at evangelword.org/covid19

Thank you,

Evangel Fellowship Leadership Team

When fear and anxiety move into our hearts, remember that God is not a God of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). 

HERE’S WHAT WE’RE DOING AS A CHURCH STAFF

TRUSTING GOD
Keeping perspective and not panicking apply here, just as they do for all risks we face as creatures in a finite world. No matter how dire circumstances get, the Lord remains our refuge and strength, “an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). To trust in the Lord amid trouble is to experience and bear witness to the power of Christ.

PRAYING
We must pray for the sick and the scared, for public health officials, for doctors and nurses, for researchers, and for caregivers. As Christians, we believe prayer has power, so we seek help from the Lord.

STAYING INFORMED
We’re following a reliable list of information for educational, planning and management purposes.

 CDC on COVID-19: The US Center for Disease Control’s up-to-date resources on coronavirus.

 CDC Resources for Community and Faith-Based Organizations: The CDC has also created resources specifically for faith-based organizations to respond to influenza pandemic, which are applicable in this situation. As a church, we’re implementing this guidance.

 Managing Anxiety Around Coronavirus Coverage: The American Psychological Association created this resource to help manage anxiety around coverage of COVID-19.

 Addressing Mental Health Issues: This resource from the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network provides guidelines for addressing mental health issues that may arise, and offers advice for messaging, including among children, older adults, people with disabilities, and those in quarantine.

PREPARING
Because COVID-19 likely spreads like the cold and the flu, personal hygiene is very important for all ages. We’re also doing the following:

We’ve established a staff team that is meeting regularly to review all of our efforts in response to COVID-19.

COVID-19/RESOURCES

Hairdressers at Heart – Licensed professional hairstylists and nail techs to salon owners and educators can apply to receive one of 200 relief checks totaling up to $1,000 each to assist in their pandemic relief and recovery. Apply Here

Professional Beauty Association – The PBA COVID-19 Relief Fund will provide $500 to licensed beauty professionals who are unable to work due to COVID-19. The funding, if awarded to you, is intended to be emergency aid for short-term immediate needs such as food and bills. Funds are limited to donations in hand and they expect to receive an overwhelming number of applications. Apply Here

City of Greensboro
Office of Equity & Inclusion
300 W. Washington Street
Greensboro, NC  27401

FOOD/GROCERIES

Evangel Fellowship: Drive Thru Pop Up Pantry for those who are in need, every Thursday from 11:00am – 12:00pm

2207 East Cone Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27405

Publix: Announcing senior shopping hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7am – 8am

Grandover Village, 6029 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27407

Walmart – Announcing the one hour shopping every Tuesday for seniors aged 60 and older

5611 W. Friendly Avenue / 2107 Pyramid Village Blvd / 4424 W Wendover Ave

1050 Alamance Church Rd / 3738 Battleground Ave / 121 W Elmsley St

Whole Foods: Senior shopping an hour before store opens for ages 60 and older (daily).

3202 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC 27408

Target: Announcing the one hour shopping every Wednesday for seniors aged 60 and older

2701 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408-4820

1212 Bridford Pkwy, Greensboro, NC 27407-2645

1628 Highwoods Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27410-2048

Grab-and-go meals will continue to be available at dozens of sites throughout the county. These meals will be provided to children ages 0-18 and will include lunch and breakfast. The sites

Will be open from 11am to noon Monday through Friday.

For Grab-and-go meal school locations and satellite meal locations visit https://www.gcsnc.com/Page/64434

Utilities

Greensboro Water Department:  www.greensboro-nc.gov

• Water shut-offs are temporarily suspended through 03/31/2020.  Will evaluate after that date.

GTA Services:

• Will run hourly along normal routes.  This will allow for all buses to be cleaned and sanitized in between runs.

Spectrum/Charter Communications:

Expanding wifi hotspots for public use

• New customers will receive two free months of internet and WIFI to help households with students in Pre-K to 12 and/or college with their remote education.
• Will not terminate residential/business customers for 60 days
• https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/coronavirus-covid-19-information-spectrum-customers

Comcast:

• Offering free access to Xfinity WiFi hotspots for everyone, including non-subscribers, for the next 60 days.
• 60 days of free basic internet service to new customers.

AT&T:

• Suspending termination of wireless, home phone or broadband service.
• Waiving related late fees
• Free access to public WIFI hot spots.
• Consumer home internet wireline customers and fixed wireless internet customers would receive unlimited data

Verizon:

• Waiving late fees and suspending service termination for customers negatively impacted by the global crises.

TMobile:

• Providing unlimited data to all current customers who have plans with data for the next 60 days
• Additional data to mobile hotspot users

Hyundai: The automaker is reviving its Hyundai Assurance Job Loss Protection Program to give owners “peace of mind in uncertain times” as the coronavirus outbreak leads to concerns that Americans will stop buying new cars and trucks. Hyundai said the program will provide up to six months of car payments to new buyers if they lose their jobs involuntarily. It will also provide 90 days of payment deferral on new purchases.

Ford Motor: Ford is offering customers “potential delay of payments to provide relief.” It’s also providing new-car buyers the chance to delay their first payment by 90 days.

Duke Energy: The utility is suspending disconnections for non-payment. “Customers should pay what they can to avoid building up a large balance that will be harder to pay off later,” the company said.

Evictions, foreclosures, utility shutoffs on hold 

• The North Carolina Courts will stop eviction and foreclosure hearings for the next 30 days as part of the latest effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Families

UNEMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

Job Openings:

Carolina Community of North Carolina (CCNC) in partnership with NC AHEC is hitting a Statewide Contact Tracing Team to contact North Carolinians who have been exposed to COVID-19, explain how they can keep themselves and others safe, and connect them to necessary healthcare resources. Join the working to protect North Carolinians from COVID-19 while safely reopening North Carolina. Click here to apply:  Apply Here

The executive order made the following changes for the State of North Carolina:

• Removes the one-week waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs

• Removes the requirement that a person must look for another job during this time when so many potential employers are closed and social distancing guidelines are in effect

• Allows employees who lose their jobs, or in certain cases have their hours reduced due to COVID-19 issues, to apply for unemployment benefits

• Permits applicants to apply for benefits remotely by phone or online

• Directs that employers will not be held responsible for benefits paid as a direct result of these COVID-19 claims

 After filing a claim, it will take about 14 days to receive first payment. The additional $600 in federal benefits will be for weeks ending April 4 – July 31. DES is awaiting guidance for issuing those payments. Benefits owed will be paid retroactively.

Eligibility Requirements

There are FOUR criteria that you must meet to be eligible for unemployment benefits in North Carolina:

•  You must be unemployed due to no fault of your own (DES will make this determination based upon information provided by you and your last employer);

•  You must be considered monetarily eligible (earned sufficient wages to establish a claim);

•  You must be physically able, available and actively seeking work; and  

•  You must register for work with your resident state’s job service office. In North Carolina that service is NCWorks Online

• For more information please visit NC Department of Commerce

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Pray for our community and those directly affected by COVID-19. Pray for the health care workers that are treating the sick and those public health administrators making difficult decisions. Pray that God would protect our students, our teachers and those in the community from further spread of the virus.

Reflect Christ. In these anxious days, the church (all of us) can shine as a light of hope, care, faith, patience and prudence. We can demonstrate for the world how our faith provides true assurance against worry and fear.

Practice recommended personal hygiene. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid contact with the sick. Stay home from public functions if you’re sick.

Encourage your friends and family to like and share our online services!