You can also download a printable PDF version.
Advisory
March 14, 2020
Dear saints meeting in every church,
The leading brothers in the church have been prayerfully monitoring the developments related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). On Thursday, March 12, the entire Metro Manila was placed under “community quarantine” for 30 days and raised the alert level for Covid-19 to Code Red sub-level 2.
The community quarantine, which is essentially a lockdown, will commence at midnight of March 15, 2020 and last until midnight of April 14, 2020. During this time our responsibility is to pray and stand for the Lord’s interests (Eph. 6:10-20), to watchfully shepherd the flock of God (Acts 20:28), to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31), and to cooperate with governmental authorities (Romans 13:1).
As believers, we are a people who meet together, and we will continue to do so until the Lord returns (Heb. 10:24-25). Yet we must exercise foresight before both God and man for what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men (2 Cor. 8:21). We thus urge the churches to take the following interim modifications to our meetings for the remainder of March or until the situation warrants normalcy:
- Lord’s Day meetings will take place throughout the churches by small groups. We recommend gatherings of approximately 15 to 20 saints per home or meeting venue, with each venue not being too crowded to observe social distancing. The local halls and districts will announce where their respective gatherings will take place, including childcare arrangements.
- Prayer meetings will have similar adjustments which the brothers will announce in each respective hall and district.
- Saints should physically attend meetings only if they can sustain the attached health guidelines. Those who do not meet the guidelines are asked to stay home and make arrangements to participate via video-conference or thru chat group channels.
- Any home that hosts a meeting must follow the cleaning guidelines attached. (See Guidelines)
We feel it is both sovereign and opportune for us to use these coming weeks to meet in smaller gatherings throughout every region (Acts 8:4), and we expect the word of the Lord to grow and prevail throughout the churches (Acts 19:20). Let us all give ourselves to the Lord to freshly experience Him for His advancement in the churches during this time.
We joyfully remind all the saints that our true residence is “..a land which Jehovah your God cares for; always the eyes of Jehovah your God are upon it,..” (Deut. 11:12). Because we are practically joined to Christ as the reality of the good land and are enjoying His riches, God’s eyes are upon us continually, causing us to enjoy God’s presence and making us the object of His care.
Standing firmly in the Lord,
The co-workers
in the Philippines
Guidelines
COVID-19 – Interim Guidelines for the churches
(updated as of March 14, 2020)
Definitions
- Church meetings: includes Lord’s Day meetings, prayer meetings, pursuance/Life Study meetings, small group meetings, YP meetings, children’s meetings, coordination/service meetings, group MR; church meetings that will involve many saints participating in one place.
- Church meeting places: includes meeting halls, enclosed rooms, corporate living facilities, homes.
- Social Distancing: a fair gap between persons of about one meter.
Health Guidelines for Attending Church Meetings
- If you are experiencing or having symptoms of fever (regardless of the measured temperature), colds, cough, or shortness of breath, you should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. You should avoid participation in any church meetings until you have been completely free of symptoms for 48 hours or you have been cleared by your doctor.
- If you have recently traveled to an area that has a high prevalence of COVID-19, please do not attend any church meetings for a minimum of 14 days after arriving back in the Philippines. Refer to the CDC website for the most up-to-date list of affected countries: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html
- If you have recently been in contact with anyone who has traveled to a high-risk area or has a confirmed case of COVID-19, please do not attend any church meetings for a minimum of 14 days.
- If you come to a church meeting and exhibit symptoms or meet any of the above criteria, you may be asked to return home to prevent potential spread of infection.
- If you are over 65 years old or have any chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart, lung, kidney, liver disease), you should strongly consider using video or teleconferencing to participate in meetings, rather than attending in person, to minimize your risk of being infected. If you need technical assistance please consult your local responsible brothers.
- If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, please notify your local leading brother.
Guidelines for Hosting and Conducting Church Meetings
- Limit the size of all church meetings to no more than 20 saints, based on existing small group meetings. If the church meeting place is small (e.g. small home or apartment), consider limiting the number of saints to only that which can comfortably fit in that space and allow social distancing. We recommend all love feasts being temporarily suspended.
- All church meeting places should provide adequate supplies for good hygiene. As much as possible, this should include: hand soap and clean water, paper towels, hand sanitizer/alcohol, tissue, disinfecting/bleach wipes, disposable face mask.
- All commonly touched surfaces (counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, trash cans) should be disinfected with an EPA-registered disinfectant, bleach wipes, or 2% chlorine bleach solution before and after church meetings. Meeting places should not be used if any occupant of that meeting place is ill or quarantined.
- The Lord’s table: following the breaking of the bread, the ushers (with freshly washed hands and wearing gloves, if possible) will prepare the elements at an adjacent table for the saints to self-serve, or serve the elements directly to the saints. Ushers should avoid passing of elements through multiple hands. Elements may be purchased from the grocery store (e.g. matzah bread and 100% grape juice). All plates, pitchers, and utensils that are used shall be thoroughly washed with soap and hot water immediately before and after usage. The use of disposable cups for the grape juice/wine is a must.
Health Guidelines for Hospitality
- The church will not arrange hospitality for any visitors until the risk for community spread of infection is pronounced to be under control.
- Individual families are advised to do the same.
Guidelines for Practicing Good Hygiene and Avoiding Infection
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coming from public places or public transportation, after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Do your best to eliminate all physical contact with other saints, including shaking hands, hugging, etc.
- Avoid going out to public places / commercial centers or taking public transport, as much as possible.
Listen to and cooperate with the guidance given by the due authorities.