ONLINE WORSHIP

The faithful cannot attend church services this Easter but you can still be part of the great festival, thanks to online innovation

- DUENNA MAMBANA

EASTER is the most important Christian festival, a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is usually a sacred time when families come together. But this year it will be a much more intimate celebration for the faithful.

With South Africa under lockdown to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, church services have been suspended, along with most other activities. Yet many churches are planning to live-stream services online for congregants, while others have created WhatsApp groups to worship together.

The SABC and DStv have agreed to make room for a dedicated channel to broadcast Easter services, said Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, minister of communications.

“People are heartbroken that they won’t be able to stand on the pulpit and do what they do best over the Easter weekend. These sermons will be streamed live for those who cannot go to church because of the lockdown. They can have church from the comfort of their homes,” she said at a media briefing.

The way believers worship will change, hopefully only for a short time, but, advises Christianity Today magazine, it is important to “hold tight to what is sacred and hold everything else loosely”.

LIVESTREAMING SERVICES

Many churches are using technology to stay in touch with their congregants and to let them continue worshipping. These are some of the churches you can find online to attend an Easter service.

Hope Restoration Ministries

This Kempton Park church live streams its main service, as well as Sunday school services, on their YouTube channel.

The church has pledged R1 million to help the poor during the COVID-19 crisis. Its founder and senior pastor, Reverend Chris Mathebula, said the funds, donated via the People Matter Foundation, would go a long way to help the poor.