unsplash/Mike Labrum Dear Ecumenical Global Partners and Friends, Warmest greetings to you from The Church of Christ in Thailand, CCT As we have all seen, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has suspended public life around the world. Many countries are being violently shaken by the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus is spreading fast, all around the world including Thailand, for instance, public services, schools and all non-essential shops are being shut down and pretty much all public life, including religious services have been suspended. Many events have also been cancelled. The governments all over the globe are working hard in an attempt to stop the pandemic. In Thailand, more and more people are infected. April is expected to be the peak point of infection. The Thai government has announced a curfew nationwide, from 22:00-04:00 hr. and has promoted a 'stay home to stop infection for the nation' campaign, in order to reduce the burden on medical services. However, please stay at home to be safe for our nation. The Church of Christ in Thailand is committing to combat the Covid-19. We in collaboration with other churches, and people of other faiths encourage our churches strictly follow sanitarian guidelines of the government. Midst of this critical situation, all our major events and programs have been postponed. The CCT encourages our churches to do Sunday worship through the electronic media, i.e. Facebook and online live, so that the church members who stay a home can have worship together. Furthermore, we also arrange a special life insurance to the staffs; reduced and rotated the working time of the staffs for reducing the risk of virus outbreak. In addition, we have had the opportunity to help the communities who live around our office by providing rice and food for people without income during the time that the government ordered to stay at home. This year, April 12 is an Easter Day; the resurrection day of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will celebrate an Easter without going to church, but silently cerebrate it at home. Easter reminds us of “the many times in history where the light of hope from the tomb has shone with dazzling brightness amidst dark times of infectious disease and societal upheaval.” As an Ecumenical global partner and friend, who is living in this state of emergency, we, the CCT is concerned and care about human beings, who God created with dignity and value. We hope that the power of the resurrection and the peace of the powerful love of Jesus Christ will recover all humankind and all creation again. We would like you to know that the CCT has been thinking of you, we pray for God’s grace to strengthen you, that you will have a deeper experience of the presence of the Lord, so that you will know He is there with you through the struggles that you face, and know He will never leave you alone without His love and grace. May the Lord, the Living God protect you all. Sincerely yours, Rev. Sayam Muangsak General Secretary The Church of Christ in Thailand |