Ministers of Jesus Christ
Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith
Atlanta, Georgia - USA
Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer
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Ministers of Jesus Christ Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith Atlanta, Georgia - USA Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer |
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Date: May 31, 2020
To all the Saints of God,
Grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World. As this
Coronavirus Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the Saints of God
that we are obeying the magistrates and following the guideline of the health
and governmental authorities for the safety of all people.
"In accordance with Georgia Governor executive orders in the United States of
America,
starting June 1, 2020, you can have gatherings of more than twenty-five people
in a single location if you have at least six feet between each person.
Now, many churches and
religious institutions are beginning to reopen their doors for traditional
services, and we ask Georgians to continue to heed public health advice if they
decide to attend in-person.
"In
this executive order, we continue to strongly encourage all Georgians and
visitors to wear face coverings in public and use social distancing, wash your
hands, protect the elderly and medically fragile, and prioritize your health.
Thank you again
to the faith leaders who answered the call and held remote services as we
battled the spread of coronavirus. Your leadership saved lives. "To protect
vulnerable populations, the executive order is requiring the medically fragile
and elderly Georgians to continue to shelter in place through July 12, 2020 and
is now recommending that all Georgians get tested with or without symptoms.
To accommodate
all Saints, we are planning to implement these services:
on Sunday June
14,2020 Sisters Department meeting and Church Services from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm,
on Sunday June 21,2020 Brothers Department meeting and Church Services from
11:00 am – 2:00 pm,
on Sunday June 28, 2020 Youth Department meeting and Church Services from 11:00
am – 2:00 pm,
on Sunday July 5, 2020 Executive Board meetings and Church Services from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
All services will
take place on Sundays only from 11am until 2pm to allow for proper cleaning and
disinfecting all surfaces. No night services during the week due disinfection
procedures. Baptism, pray and tarrying service, will continue each Sunday
following all safety protocols including the use of personal protective
equipment.
As we obey the
Magistrates, we have complete faith that God will continue to hear our prayers
and provide a way for us through these uncertain times.
Romans 13:2-4 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
TITUS 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no
brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
This week’s encouraging words of growth focuses on:
Walking
by Faith and not by sight
To walk by
faith, I cannot become overly concerned about the most popular opinions or the
most popular proposal or the most accepted politically correct stance to look
good in the eyes of crowd pleasers, I must look at the word of God and the
facts. Faith does not teach us to
overlook the facts. Faith does not teach us to overlook the truth. Faith is our
trust in God, and belief is what we hold to be true.
Because we believe in God and trust in God, we are committed to live by
his word.
JOB19:25 - 26 For
I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my
flesh shall I see God:
ROMANS 3:3 - 4
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect? God forbid: yea,
let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be
justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
MATTHEW 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
JOHN 14:15 - 18
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I
will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth
me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Faith is
confidence or trust in God and in the doctrines or teachings of the Bible.
To God fearing people faith is
confidence based on the promises of God. He
promised to be with me always even to the end of the world. He said the Spirit
of Truth would be in me and he would not leave me comfortless.
This is what we should walk by and live by each day of our lives.
Faith means conscious knowledge and acceptance of the divine authority of God leading to obedience and the practice of good deeds required for living a righteous life and obtaining spiritual growth. Faith involves more than outward obedience to the commandments of God but must also lead to increasing our personal understanding and application of religious teachings. Without understanding the result can lead to teaching for doctrine the commandments of men to uphold communal traditions and religious showmanship to set up our own way of holiness.
Walking by faith is indeed doing what is good for all mankind not open defiance to the health and safety of all people. It is truly amazing to see how many individuals would do a thing that can cause harm to others and call it righteousness and holiness. Even openly ridicule the safety protocols put in place for the health and safety of all people and call it faith in God. We must be sound in faith and recognize the actions that are not good for our health and well being.
Faith refers to
a serious commitment in the practice of the Godly teaching (commandments) and
trust in the word and promises of God.
Commitment does not imply "blind faith", because the trust in God is
based on his said words and revealed truth in the receiving of the Holy Ghost
with the evidence or sign
of speaking with tongues as the spirit gives utterances giving us a real
experience with God.
MARK 16:17 - 19
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands
on the sick, and they shall recover. So
then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and
sat on the right hand of God. And they
went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming
the word with signs following. Amen.
LUKE 6:39 And he
spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both
fall into the ditch?
ACTS 1:08 But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth.
When people think of blind faith, most refer to being unable to see the omnipresent spirit of God; in other words, God being present everywhere. When people can see a fire, most if not all people will avoid the fire or call the firemen to get water to put out the fire for fear of being burned up. They will not call their fear of being burned up a lack of faith because they have actual knowledge of the destructive ability of fire. They will not walk into the fire saying I have faith in God that I will not be burned up and killed because that would be foolishness. When people cannot see the fire, most do not believe that it exists or is real and they will begin to misapply the natural response of fear. For those of us who were engineers in high pressure steam plants, we know that when steam is at extremely high pressure it cannot be seen with the human eye when leaks develop in the piping but it is there and can kill, so we use leak detecting equipment to prevent injury and to save lives.
Because they cannot see the covid-19 virus, many people dispel the data that shows its location and spread just like the spreading of fire and leads congregations who do not believe that it can harm them into the fiery virus not observing the facts. Then the suffering and dying starts and the virus is revealed by its actions.
For those of us who understands faith, we follow the data that reveals
the presence and location of the virus even doth we cannot see the virus and try
to avoid its damaging effects trusting that God will keep us and provide a way
for us to continue the services of God, like online service and limited
in person service wearing proper personal protective equipment.
We do not take matters into our own hand
then blame the results on God.
HEBREWS 11:7 By
faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world,
and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
It should be clear that some speakers are persuading people to abide by their way of thinking rather than obedience to the word of God. Telling people that if they wear a mask, they have no faith. If they do not continue to open their businesses without the use of personal protective equipment in the mist of the spreading of this virus in defiance of the health authorities, they do not have faith. I have never seen firemen rush into a fire without personal protective equipment. Even civilian people who have no fire protection equipment will try to cover their nose to prevent smoke inhalation if they must run into a burning building to save a child.
No one should be confused about human safety just as no one should be
confused about righteousness. Doing
what is good for the health and safety for all people is the simple definition
of love and example of walking by faith and not by sight.
Since we cannot see the virus, we do what is right to protect all people
by faith in the love of God for all mankind.
ROMANS 1:18 – 25
For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for
God hath shewed it unto them. For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse: Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made
like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping
things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of
their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
The right thing to do is revealed from heaven for all to understand even when the eyes do not visibly see the enemy causing the danger. God is against all unrighteousness. The invisible things are revealed by the action of things that are seen.
Most people have never seen demons and devils, but they can clearly see their
actions and results. We cannot see
the human spirit or human thought, but we see their actions and result.
This is the reason people respond with anxiety when a door begins to make
creepy sounds then close on its own.
They assume the wind has blown the door, an apparition is present, or
someone is hiding in the room because of the action of the door closing without
them physically touching some part of it.
JOHN 3:8 The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the
Spirit.
The Bible
teaches that we can hear the sound and see the results of everyone that is born
of the spirit of God. One of the
reasons why you must test all spirits to see if they are following God, or
appealing to men, or led by evil powers of darkness is because all actions are
not produced by Godly love for your benefit.
1JOHN 4:1 - 3
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world.
We see the
action of the wind, the storm clouds, the moisture, and debris picked up from
the churning or twisting forces of the wind but not the air currents themselves.
We can blow wind using our mouth on to our hand and feel its effect on
our skin, but we cannot see the wind we produced with our own mouth, we only
feel its effects.
2CORINTHIANS 5:4
- 13 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that
we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of
life. Now he that hath wrought us for
the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the
Spirit. Therefore we are always
confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from
the Lord: (For
we walk by faith, not by sight:) We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord. Wherefore we
labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Knowing therefore the terror of the
Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are
made manifest in your consciences. For
we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our
behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and
not in heart. 2CO5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or
whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
Apostle Paul was desiring that the rapture and translation of the Saints take place during his earthly lifetime before his natural death. His desire was that he would not be unclothed as a disembodied naked spirit but that his body would be changed from a mortal body capable of death to a glorified immortal body of everlasting life. Even though he could not see the resurrected Lord in his glorified bodily state, he was assured that he would eventually obtain immortality because of the earnest Holy Spirit dwelling in him. This gave him the faith and confidence of being present with the Lord even if he died before the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ and translation of the Saints of God. So, he labored and endured walking by faith to be accepted of the Lord Jesus Christ knowing that we will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ for rewards.
This is true for us
today. Even though we have never
seen a glorified physical body on Earth today, we hold God's word
of the glorified physical body to be true without the sight or physical proof of
seeing a glorified form. We see the
Saints dying and their bodies entering earthly graves, tombs, mausoleums, vault,
crypts., yet we maintain our Blessed Hope of the translation and being in the
presence of God standing on the testimony that he is risen in a glorified form
and the word of God that we shall be like him when he appears, comforted by the indwelling
Holy Ghost continually walking by faith and not by sight.
HEBREWS 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good
report. Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear.
The men and
women who believed God simply obeyed what God commanded, believed in what God
had promised without seeing the future physical fulfillment of the spoken words
immediately before their eyes. They
were obedient and performed the necessary works moved by faith alone!!!!
To see afar off is visual sight caused by faith alone, it means to
envision what will truly happen at a distance or at some future time because you
hold it to be true and not one jot or tittle of God’s word will
pass away until all be fulfilled.
HEBREWS 11:6 – 13
But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah,
being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark
to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir
of the righteousness which is by faith. By
faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he
went. By faith he sojourned in the land
of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through
faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of
a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Therefore, sprang there even of one, and
him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the
sand which is by the seashore innumerable. These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
One of the
reasons that I am so amazed at people who can speak about jumping off a bridge
in faith that they will land on the ground unharmed, yet cannot see or
understand that all that is required is to believe or hold to be true the
commandments and promises of God, then
obey and perform the
work required. There is no
need for drama putting yourself in harm’s way to impress crowds for personal
fame. There is no need to temp God as Satan did, trying to persuade the Lord
Jesus Christ to cast himself off the pinnacle.
JAMES 2:14 - 26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? can faith save him? If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
and one of you say unto them, depart in
peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say,
Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I
will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which
saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and
he was called the Friend of God. Ye see
then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise, also was not Rahab the harlot
justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out
another way? For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
True faith believes that God is going to make a way and does what is necessary
to accomplish the goal or promises. True faith should produce good works not
reckless endangerment to look good in the eyes of crowds.
MATTHEW 17:15 -
21 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes
he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
And I brought him to thy disciples, and
they could not cure him. Then Jesus
answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with
you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he
departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart,
and said, Why could not we cast him out? And
Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith as a
grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder
place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by
prayer and fasting.
This is probably
one of the most abused and misunderstood passages of the Bible.
The Faith to do things that seem to be impossible is acquired when we
finally learn to take our situations to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer because
with him all things are possible.
When we finally stop taking matters that are beyond our humanity into our own
hands and surrender them over to Jesus Christ who is God Almighty.
When we
finally learn to truly walk by faith and not by sight.
I am confident that he will provide a way for us through these uncertain
times because he said that he would never leave us nor forsake us. He is a
rewarder to those who diligently seek him. I
do not have to endanger myself on my own so that people will say how great I am,
and how much faith that I have.
Believe me, you will face enough danger and disappointment without adding to it
or bringing it upon yourself. They
that live holy will face tribulations, betrayals, hurts and pains all in the joy
and security of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The most important thing is to remain true to your convictions in the
mist of disappointments.
MATTHEW 13:20 -
21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth
the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself,
but dureth for a while: for
when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
JOHN 16:33 These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
ACTS 14:21 - 22
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they
returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of
the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that
we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
HEBREWS 11:36 -
39 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds
and imprisonment: They were
stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they
wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,
tormented; (Of whom the world was
not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves
of the earth. And these all, having
obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Some see faith as being persuaded or convinced that something is true when they are presented with adequate evidence that it is true with no reliance on science or opinion. Real Christians believe that true faith in Jesus Christ produces righteous actions resulting in obedience to his word, bringing eternal life with Christ, and results in good righteous works.
True faith does not lead us to be filled with own ways or do ignorant
things and step in front of a moving train saying God will keep me because I
have the faith when he has not told you to step in front of the moving train.
True faith does not change its
conviction when someone laughs at us because we dress modestly to profess
our Godliness or wear mask to protect ourselves and all other people in the
midst of a global virus pandemic killing
many people, but causes us to grow in the grace, love, and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. True faith
is the assurance that what God has promised will come to pass and the
certainty that the invisible things that we cannot see are real or exist. This is how we
make our decisions in life we walk by what we believe and trust in.
PROVERBS 14:14 -
16 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man
shall be satisfied from himself. The
simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from
evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
1THESSOLIANS 5:17
- 23 Pray without ceasing. In everything
give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesying.
Prove all things; hold fast that which
is good. Abstain from all appearance of
evil. And the very God of peace sanctify
you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our faith produces a change in our way of thinking and lifestyle as we acquire a greater understanding of the word of God, we are cautious and examines all things. We grow in faith as we understand in whom and in what we completely trust. Our understanding is built on the foundation of a great cloud of witnesses in the scriptures and on the real personal experiences of believers with God.
This is the reason why
the tarrying room or prayer time; the open praise and testimony service is so
important for this kind of faith comes or increases by fasting and prayer.
The Sermons and preaching are so important because faith cometh or
increases by hearing.
ROMANS 10:13 - 17
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom
they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they
be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.
So, we
say with Apostle Paul, “Hold fast to the sound words, which you have heard from
me according to the word of God, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Keep doing the good things for the
health, safety, and salvation of yourselves and all mankind committed unto us as
we are moved by Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
May the Lord
Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his will, may he
open your understanding that you will come to know that you must repent of your
sins and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins,
then continue in prayer until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the
sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances.
That you will leave the principles of the doctrine and go on to
perfection overcoming the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes and the pride of life and continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s
Doctrine remembering always that he that endures until the End, the same shall
be saved. Amen
With perfect
love,
Apostle Dennis G. Smith
Guide to opening small Church Meetings beginning June 14, 2020
Please be aware that if someone infected with coronavirus comes into the Church
building it may contain infection for 72 hours afterwards unless cleaning is
carried out. Remember that the Church building is being accessed by other
people undertaking essential work such as construction contractors, cleaning and
maintenance personnel so that the proper safety protocols must be followed such
as social distancing, and the use of personal protective equipment such as mask,
gloves, and possibly face shields. Because of the risk of infection, it is
best that you get tested for the virus to protect yourself and others before
attending a small meeting of 25 or less people as the restrictions are lifted.
If multiple people are entering the building, even one at a time they must
maintain the six feet apart social distancing recommendations.
All individuals entering the building must be
warned of the risks to their lives should someone enter not following safety
protocols calling reckless endangerment to others as faith in God which
is absolute foolishness. A record of who goes in the building and
when will be kept with proper regard for the risk of transmission. A supply of
hand sanitizer, mask, and gloves will be kept with the record near the main
entrance to the church. It is best for people to bring their own pens to use or
wear gloves when touching all surfaces including Bibles. A record of who is in
the building and when will be maintained so that if there is an incident at the
Church it will be clear who was the last person known to have been in the
building. Do not listen to those who call safety guidelines lack of faith
or who have a poor understanding of the doctrine on fear. Fear is only
detrimental to your soul when you are afraid to live a holy life because of what
people will say or do to you, or you have no reverence and love for the Lord
Jesus Christ who is God Almighty.
Reports from Churches on covid-19 deaths and attempts to reopen in person
services:
Many churches in New York City have been
significantly impacted, with one losing twelve members to Covid-19. Recently,
two denominational churches in Texas and Georgia reopened services pursuant to
state guidelines but had to stop them because of new infections in their
congregations including the death of a pastor.
ABC News identified at least 33 African American bishops, reverends and pastors
who led various denominations around the country who have died from the
coronavirus, according to an analysis of news reports. There were seven in
Michigan (including two from the same church), seven in Louisiana, six in New
York, three in Illinois, two in Mississippi, two in Georgia, two in New Jersey,
one in Virginia, one in Tennessee, one in Alabama and one in Missouri.
COGIC is reporting the lost seven bishops to the coronavirus.
UPCI is reporting the lost of various Pastors and their wives to covid-19.
The lead pastor of a Church in Harlem said 13 members of his predominantly
African American church died because of the coronavirus.
What Is Social Distancing?
Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It
includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and
maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding
public transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from
home, and skipping social gatherings.
All people should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously
ill or at high risk.
Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.
When to Wear a Mask?
Those who are staying home and have no close contacts who are infected with
COIVID-19 do not need a mask most of the time. However, wearing a nonmedical or
homemade mask may be helpful in certain situations or for certain populations.
• Shopping at essential
businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies.
• While visiting your
health care provider.
• Traveling on public
transportation.
• Interacting with
customers/clients at essential businesses.
• When feeling sick,
coughing, or sneezing.
Because homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the
wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks when
leaving their homes.
This helps prevent those who may be infectious but are only mildly symptomatic
or not symptomatic from spreading the virus to others in the community.
Everyone should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects
me.” By increasing the overall number of people who are containing their coughs,
sneezes, and other droplets, it will help us control the overall spread of the
virus.