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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 4:17:12 GMT
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/mar/23/34-tied-arkansas-church-test-positive-coronavirus-/"Nearly three dozen people connected to a church in Cleburne County have tested positive for covid-19, according to a deacon of that church. Donald Shipp of First Assemblies of God Church in Greers Ferry said Monday that 34 people who were in attendance during a recent children’s event at the church had tested positive for the virus, and that more were awaiting test results. Of those who tested positive for the virus, 31 are on staff at or are members of First Assemblies, he said. The remaining three are two evangelists who led the children’s event March 5-8 and a child who was visiting for that event." I can't say this enough. You can't pray it away. Science gonna science. Viruses gonna virus. STOP BEING IN LARGE GROUPS. In typical fashion of many who don't care or won't listen until something affects them PERSONALLY, Pastor Mark now gets it: " This virus is highly contagious and it is no respecter of persons. It seemingly picks its victim at random, so it’s best to remain very vigilant in hygiene protocols to the very best of your abilities… … I would love to have you take this medical threat more seriously. Maybe you assumed that it couldn’t happen to you, just like I did. Please adhere to the social instructions that you are receiving locally and nationally. We must keep the affected population to as low a number as possible. Our singular act of stubborn independence can have far reaching effects on someone else’s life. [March 19] … … There was very little in my training for the ministry that covered the full measure of what our church family has dealt with in the past few weeks. The intensity of this virus has been underestimated by so many, and I continue to ask that each of you take it very seriously. An act of wisdom and restraint on your part can be the blessing that preserves the health of someone else. [March 22]"
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939 
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Mar 25, 2020 4:30:05 GMT
Yeah, lockdown sucks, but it does feel good to do our part to slow the spread of the virus.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 4:51:15 GMT
We closed up our church as soon as it seemed to go crazy. Churches were exempt from the large gathering rule but we decided that we needed to do our part and start immediately.
And of course we received quite a bit of criticism for that. People thought we were overreacting, claiming we didn’t have faith in God. It was infuriating.
And then things got crazy that week and everyone followed suit for the following Sunday.
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Post by ntsf on Mar 25, 2020 5:28:58 GMT
I was arguing the first week of march we should cancel services.. but no. they had to meet one more week. they should have listened. though no one seemed to have gotten sick..
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Post by dewryce on Mar 25, 2020 5:31:31 GMT
But by all means let’s open all churches again in time for Easter.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 6:33:26 GMT
If you think that is bad in my area those damn AOG’s in my area allowed open church service for two of their campuses that total at least 6,000 members even though my city had a limit on public gatherings for under ten. Now the head of their church is in ICU and he spread it to several members. We have community spread. I am in the next state over from Arkansas. The AOG has a public prayer going around that this is the end of the world and the Lord is coming. A nursing home in my area has been hit and we lost three. My Mom and her friends know many of the residents there. I know some of them. This loss is unbearable. I will never forgive this church for what they have done. They are also some of the biggest panic buyers who are also hoarding.
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
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Post by used2scrap on Mar 25, 2020 9:19:50 GMT
Dang I have family members in the area...up until a week ago they were all posting on Facebook about it being a hoax, hysteria, and a conspiracy’s for media control over our lives. Sigh. I hope they are doing ok now.
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Post by ~KellyAnn~ on Mar 25, 2020 9:26:22 GMT
But by all means let’s open all churches again in time for Easter. Today, the archbishop of the Catholic churches in the Milwaukee Diocese (southeastern Wisconsin) canceled all Masses and every service leading up to and including Easter Sunday. |
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Post by auntkelly on Mar 25, 2020 13:45:15 GMT
It's easy to point fingers now and say the church shouldn't have had the event on March 5-8, but I'm one state over from Arkansas and I can vouch that life was going on as normal here at that time. We were told "the virus was coming, but it isn't here yet." Our public schools were open, our colleges were open, our movie theatre were open, we were having NBA basketball games, so I'm not surprised that church was open and hosting a children's event. In fact, I think almost everywhere in the country life was going on as normal around March 5-8.
My husband went to the emergency room on March 14th with cororona virus symptoms. They couldn't test him for the virus because they were only testing people at that time whose symptoms were so severe they needed to be hospitalized , but the doctor said "You haven't travelled recently. The virus isn't here yet. I think there is very little chance you have corona."
I'm sure that doctor would probably say now that the medical community was wrong and it had hit our area earlier than they realized.
Not every victim of the virus deserves to be shamed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 13:54:29 GMT
It's easy to point fingers now and say the church shouldn't have had the event on March 5-8, but I'm one state over from Arkansas and I can vouch that life was going on as normal here at that time. We were told "the virus was coming, but it isn't here yet." Our public schools were open, our colleges were open, our movie theatre were open, we were having NBA basketball games, so I'm not surprised that church was open and hosting a children's event. In fact, I think almost everywhere in the country life was going on as normal around March 5-8. My husband went to the emergency room on March 14th with cororona virus symptoms. They couldn't test him for the virus because they were only testing people at that time whose symptoms were so severe they needed to be hospitalized , but the doctor said "You haven't travelled recently. The virus isn't here yet. I think there is very little chance you have corona." I'm sure that doctor would probably say now that the medical community was wrong and it had hit our area earlier than they realized.
Not every victim of the virus deserves to be shamed.No not all do. But the ones who think it's no big deal until it happens to them, as he admitted he did, do need to be held up as a warning sign/cautionary tale. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 13:55:42 GMT
We attended my grandson's first birthday party Sunday, March 8. I don't think anyone thought it could be a problem at that time -- things really weren't out in the news about limiting group functions until just a couple of days after that. We were lucky. It's crazy how quickly this thing turned into a catastrophe and how, looking back, it seems like everyone should have known. That's why I'm telling my friends who feel safe in "unaffected" areas to prepare themselves, stay inside, get a thermometer, use hand sanitizer, etc. Now that we know, we can at least warn others.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 14:00:28 GMT
"To the police officers who came to the porch of his Baton Rouge church to order it closed, to the White House liaison who called him, to people slamming him across social media, Baton Rouge Pastor Tony Spell has a response: What about Planned Parenthood? What about Target?.... “There is a real virus, but we’re not closing Planned Parenthood, where babies are being murdered," he said. “If they close those doors today, we’d save more lives than will be taken by the coronavirus.” Spell said he received a call Wednesday from Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Christian advocacy group Family Research Council, who Perkins said was representing the White House. “He said, ‘We’re not asking you to close, we don’t want you to close, but how can we help you? "“We’re a Pentecostal denomination, and when we gather and pray the Holy Ghost comes in the midst. There are healings, signs, wonders, some things done together in the church that can’t be done in a live stream," he said." www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/20/church-tony-spell-coronavirus-life-tabernacle/ |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Mar 25, 2020 14:04:22 GMT
I agree that on March 5-8 things were still "normal" in most places. Now, the Louisiana mega church that just had services this past weekend--they deserve to be shamed.
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Post by bianca42 on Mar 25, 2020 14:24:03 GMT
I went to a wake on 3/9. She was young and had a huge family, so the funeral home was packed and I shook/held a ton of hands on my way through the line. One week later I was packing up my office to work from home.
I grew up in an AOG church and my father/step-mother still attend. They were one of the first churches in our area to switch to online service only.
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Post by auntkelly on Mar 25, 2020 14:25:46 GMT
It's easy to point fingers now and say the church shouldn't have had the event on March 5-8, but I'm one state over from Arkansas and I can vouch that life was going on as normal here at that time. We were told "the virus was coming, but it isn't here yet." Our public schools were open, our colleges were open, our movie theatre were open, we were having NBA basketball games, so I'm not surprised that church was open and hosting a children's event. In fact, I think almost everywhere in the country life was going on as normal around March 5-8. My husband went to the emergency room on March 14th with cororona virus symptoms. They couldn't test him for the virus because they were only testing people at that time whose symptoms were so severe they needed to be hospitalized , but the doctor said "You haven't travelled recently. The virus isn't here yet. I think there is very little chance you have corona." I'm sure that doctor would probably say now that the medical community was wrong and it had hit our area earlier than they realized.
Not every victim of the virus deserves to be shamed.No not all do. But the ones who think it's no big deal until it happens to them, as he admitted he did, do need to be held up as a warning sign/cautionary tale. He did put himself out there as a cautionary tale, so good for him. I don't know the guy from Adam. He may be a total jerk who only cares about himself and told his entire congregation the government was lying and the corona virus was no big deal. On the other hand, he may be saying, (like my husband is now saying). "Logically, I knew anyone could get the virus, but somehow I just didn't think it would happen to me, and if it did happen to me, my symptoms wouldn't be so severe. I was worried about family and friends who were high risk, but I it never occurred to me that I would get the virus and I would feel so bad when I did." |
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Post by workingclassdog on Mar 25, 2020 14:29:12 GMT
My Arkansas friend is still out running races with her friends.. and you can tell from her pictures they are not six feet apart.. they are not three feet apart. I even said, wow I can't believe you guys still have races going on.. she laughed it up. This was just this past weekend. I still don't think they think it is serious.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Mar 25, 2020 14:40:07 GMT
Atheists noticing this thread like:  |
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Post by busy on Mar 25, 2020 14:47:40 GMT
🤐🤐
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 15:06:44 GMT
Okay, if this was later in March then I would have been like those idiots.
BUT this was the beginning of the month when we were still at normal level of life. So they get a pass.
Large gatherings were still happening. Schools were still in session. Casinos were open. Grocery stores were running as normal.
Hope they all get over it!
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,177
Member is Online
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Post by naby64 on Mar 25, 2020 15:24:03 GMT
I am in AR and I am the church/financial secretary. I cannot even go into all the kickback from our pastor to cancel services. They were canceled last Sunday and this coming Sunday. We have canceled everything through April 1. The itch for this man to get back in the pulpit on Palm Sunday is just about to put me under. He was going for an outdoor service for both Palm Sunday and Easter. "Oh and if it rains we will just open the gym and let all the families sit together and have everyone space themselves apart. Well, for that matter, we could do the same in the sanctuary." People, our congregation is 85% over the age of 80. What common sense does that man have? I voiced the option of an in-car service to my Minister of Music and how we could tune our radio to a certain frequency. The pastor could be outside in the memorial garden and we can all be in our cars. If it is raining, set up one of our canopies. This idea has been taken.
Oh and our staff of three are still working in the office.
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naby64
Drama Llama
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Member is Online
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Post by naby64 on Mar 25, 2020 15:30:57 GMT
It's easy to point fingers now and say the church shouldn't have had the event on March 5-8, but I'm one state over from Arkansas and I can vouch that life was going on as normal here at that time. We were told "the virus was coming, but it isn't here yet." Our public schools were open, our colleges were open, our movie theatre were open, we were having NBA basketball games, so I'm not surprised that church was open and hosting a children's event. In fact, I think almost everywhere in the country life was going on as normal around March 5-8. Yes, I am in the town that the 1st patient tested positive in on March 11. We even went to a handbell festival on March 14. We have come a long way since that day. |
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,905
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Post by tracylynn on Mar 25, 2020 15:46:13 GMT
We attended my grandson's first birthday party Sunday, March 8. I don't think anyone thought it could be a problem at that time -- things really weren't out in the news about limiting group functions until just a couple of days after that. We were lucky. It's crazy how quickly this thing turned into a catastrophe and how, looking back, it seems like everyone should have known. That's why I'm telling my friends who feel safe in "unaffected" areas to prepare themselves, stay inside, get a thermometer, use hand sanitizer, etc. Now that we know, we can at least warn others. Then people weren't paying attention. The news about the Life Care Center outbreak in the Seattle area came out in February. People just didn't listen. (not you OP, just quoted you because of the bolded sentence). |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 16:08:09 GMT
I am in AR and I am the church/financial secretary. I cannot even go into all the kickback from our pastor to cancel services. They were canceled last Sunday and this coming Sunday. We have canceled everything through April 1. The itch for this man to get back in the pulpit on Palm Sunday is just about to put me under. He was going for an outdoor service for both Palm Sunday and Easter. "Oh and if it rains we will just open the gym and let all the families sit together and have everyone space themselves apart. Well, for that matter, we could do the same in the sanctuary." People, our congregation is 85% over the age of 80. What common sense does that man have? I voiced the option of an in-car service to my Minister of Music and how we could tune our radio to a certain frequency. The pastor could be outside in the memorial garden and we can all be in our cars. If it is raining, set up one of our canopies. This idea has been taken. Oh and our staff of three are still working in the office. I’m church admin and we’re down to just myself and our two treasurers. Even the pastor has said he’ll stay home. Our Board meets once a week to discuss any needs. We had a few small groups, maybe 10 people, use the stage for worship practice and to try out our new sound system. Turns out one of the team members entire family got sick shortly after. Our chairman was there that day and he said it’s time we close the doors to everyone other than essential staff. It’s too easy to cross contaminate and get someone sick. We don’t want our building to be ground zero. We’re seeing church members who are dealing with a sick child, none of them can get tested so we don’t know but I can’t help but think for those that are getting sick, they’re not taking proper precautions. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 16:26:16 GMT
We attended my grandson's first birthday party Sunday, March 8. I don't think anyone thought it could be a problem at that time -- things really weren't out in the news about limiting group functions until just a couple of days after that. We were lucky. It's crazy how quickly this thing turned into a catastrophe and how, looking back, it seems like everyone should have known. That's why I'm telling my friends who feel safe in "unaffected" areas to prepare themselves, stay inside, get a thermometer, use hand sanitizer, etc. Now that we know, we can at least warn others. Then people weren't paying attention. The news about the Life Care Center outbreak in the Seattle area came out in February. People just didn't listen. (not you OP, just quoted you because of the bolded sentence). I just looked back on your posts because I was curious. You yourself posted, a week after March 8, that you were still going out to restaurants. So I guess you were also one of the "people" not "paying attention." In a situation that we are not prepared for, this can be said for most of humanity. Let's practice compassion instead of blame. Less 20/20 hindsight, less high horse, more compassion for our fellow humans. |
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,905
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Post by tracylynn on Mar 25, 2020 16:40:02 GMT
Then people weren't paying attention. The news about the Life Care Center outbreak in the Seattle area came out in February. People just didn't listen. (not you OP, just quoted you because of the bolded sentence). I just looked back on your posts because I was curious. You yourself posted, a week after March 8, that you were still going out to restaurants. So I guess you were also one of the "people" not "paying attention." In a situation that we are not prepared for, this can be said for most of humanity. Let's practice compassion instead of blame. Less 20/20 hindsight, less high horse, more compassion for our fellow humans. First of all, I wasn't attacking you - as I stated, I simply copied your post because of the highlighted statement. I went back and found the post you are trying to "gotcha" me with - and while I might not have said it in my post there, let me clarify NOW. Those were drive through meals. I haven't eaten in a restaurant since the February 24th. Hope that makes you feel better. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:07:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 17:52:20 GMT
Then people weren't paying attention. The news about the Life Care Center outbreak in the Seattle area came out in February. People just didn't listen. (not you OP, just quoted you because of the bolded sentence). I just looked back on your posts because I was curious. You yourself posted, a week after March 8, that you were still going out to restaurants. So I guess you were also one of the "people" not "paying attention." In a situation that we are not prepared for, this can be said for most of humanity. Let's practice compassion instead of blame. Less 20/20 hindsight, less high horse, more compassion for our fellow humans. Some call it "blame". Some call it "learning". The latter is essential for human survival. |
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