Harvest Church Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

In light of global precautions for the COVID-19 Coronavirus, and to ensure we are adhering to the direction of our leading health and government authorities, all Harvest Church events and services at all campuses have been canceled until further notice. We are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and will be posting frequent updates here. We hope to resume normal weekend services at our campuses as soon as we are able. 

Join us on Wednesday & Sunday Via Livestream

Psalms 91: 9-11

"Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted from person to person. It is caused by a virus that can also live on surfaces near where an infected person has coughed, sneezed or exhaled. It has spread throughout the world in the first quarter of 2020, causing illness, and, in some cases, death. Its effects in various countries and localities have ranged from cancelations of public gatherings, to limits or bans on travel, to drops in financial markets. 

Like other organizations, Harvest Church must take appropriate health precautions. We also have a special responsibility to care for our members and neighbors. This web page contains information you may find useful. 

We are very intentional about providing clean, sanitary, and safe environments for people to meet and worship God. Our staff has been advised on proper CDC recommended protocols and the importance of ensuring all common preventative precautions. We have enhanced our already-thorough cleaning procedures. This includes a comprehensive daily cleaning of all restrooms and various touch points (doorknobs, handles, water faucets, handrails, etc.). In addition, our facilities staff continually cleans throughout and between each service. The children’s classrooms and toys are disinfected after each service by the Children Church staff and volunteers at each campus. 

Even though we aren’t physically in the office, we want to connect with you! Join your campus Facebook group to connect with your campus family or submit a prayer request if you need prayer. We love you!


CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE TO STAY HEALTHY 

Embrace Best Health Practices

Though there’s much about the COVID-19 outbreak over which you have no control, you can choose to embrace the kinds of practices that will keep you and your loved ones safe. The Center for Disease Control suggests:
  • 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.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Access Reliable Resources

You can choose how you will receive and consume information about the outbreak. If you rely on panicked phone calls from your anxious loved ones, you’re likely to suffer more than if you choose to rely on credible sources. Two reliable sources for health news include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. Also, if you become consumed by breaking news about the spread of COVID-19, you can also choose to step away from media reports for a time.

Share Reliable Information

Another way to care for yourself is to care for others by sharing the best information you’ve discovered. When you find a reputable resource that’s particularly helpful, share it with a loved one. When you learn about practices that keep people safe, let a relative who is vulnerable to illness know. In a culture where people are feeling anxious, you can be a gift to others.

Pay Attention to Your Body and Your Emotions

It’s natural to experience stress and anxiety in the face of a threat we cannot control. Because every person reacts differently, notice what your body and emotions are telling you:
  • Listen to your emotions, noticing any anxiety, sadness, anger, or detachment;
  • Listen to your body, noticing any change in appetite, new aches and pains, or feeling particularly hot or cool; and,
  • When you notice troubling symptoms, pause to care for your body and mind. If you become unable to manage or function well, seek the assistance of a professional.
Practice Self-Care

In the midst of a stressful season or situation, many self-care practices are the same ones that prove helpful in everyday living:
  • Maintain your normal routines.
  • Connect with family and friends.
  • Eat well.
  • Stay active.
  • Get adequate rest.
  • Do enjoyable activities.
  • Employ coping skills that nurture your spirit, like mindfulness exercises or prayer.
Support Each Other

We aren’t created to go through extreme stress alone, so this is also a time as part of God’s family to care for each other. Here are two questions to keep asking yourself:
  • What opportunities do I have to help others?
  • What is overwhelming right now that I should ask someone for help with?
While it feels like there is a lot we can’t control amidst concerns over COVID-19, every one of us can make choices to stay emotionally healthy. 

Other Actions to Consider

Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by the local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19 Coronavirus. If possible, put on a face mask before emergency medical services arrive.

As the news and information about COVID-19 continue to change daily, we are reminded of God’s promise in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.”

If you want to learn more about the COVID-19 virus:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Missouri Department of Public Health

Kansas City, MO Department of Public Health

Kansas Department of Health & Environment