When Will In-Person Bible Studies Be Safe Again?

Coronavirus cases have been coming in waves ever since the beginning of the pandemic. Although there’s still a risk of contracting Covid-19, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci believes the U.S. is through the worst of it. Cases may continue to go up and down for a while, but there should never be as many people sick nationwide again.

During the worst of the pandemic, lockdowns prevented people from coming together to study God’s word. Since then, many church and study groups have adopted precautions like social distancing and wearing masks so members feel safe. Here are five steps to take before your Bible study meets in person again.

1. Invest In Your Health

Now is always the best time to invest in your health. The human body has an amazing ability to heal and protect itself. However, emotional and physiological stress can hijack your body’s immune system, increasing your risk of getting sick. The more you invest in your health, the better prepared your body will be to fight off any kind of disease you encounter.

Although making healthy choices isn’t easy, it is straightforward. People operate best with 7-9 hours of sleep a night. You should also drink plenty of clean water and eat organic fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly to fight stress and reduce the amount of sugar and processed foods you eat. Your choices directly affect your body’s ability to fight off disease.

2. Talk to Your Members

Before meeting in person, talk to the other members of your study group and find out what they’re comfortable with. Although federal regulations have been lifted, the CDC still recommends wearing masks if you’re meeting inside. Ask your study group how they feel about masking or meeting outside over the summer.

Some people have weak immune systems and might still be uncomfortable meeting in person. To accommodate them, you could always consider having a hybrid study where people can join both online and in person. Although you shouldn’t collect personal medical information, you can give each member an opportunity to communicate with you before meeting in person again.

3. Know When You’re Sick

If you do decide to start meeting in person, ask members to stay home when they don’t feel well. Symptoms of Covid-19 include a headache, fever and chills, cough, body aches, sudden loss of taste or smell and a sore throat. If anyone in your study starts experiencing these symptoms, they should stay home. Currently, the CDC recommends isolating for five days after the onset of symptoms.

This also applies to members who know they were recently exposed to Covid-19. Thankfully, new variants don’t seem to be as harmful as the original coronavirus strain. However, it’s never kind to purposefully expose another person to an illness, coronavirus or otherwise. Members can take a rapid test to confirm their symptoms.

4. Watch Local COVID Cases

If Covid cases are rising in your area, you may want to hold off on meeting in person. This is similar to staying home during flu season – you don’t need to cancel plans forever, but temporarily canceling can reduce the spread of illness. Check local news sources to learn about the number of cases near you.

You can also talk to study members about their preferences during a rise in cases. If your members are all vaccinated or have already contracted Covid, they may still be comfortable with meeting together. Keep an eye on the number of local cases and stay flexible. Hopefully, cases will continue to drop and exposure will become less of a concern.

5. Prioritize Social Relationships

Regardless of whether you meet in person, it’s essential to prioritize connecting with other Christians. In Genesis 2:18, before God created Adam’s wife Eve, he said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Since then, many individuals have experienced the negative effects of isolation.

Even during times of isolation, it’s important that your Bible study find ways to connect with each other. If a member is at home sick, give them a call and offer to bring over groceries. Use Facetime or Zoom to bring them to your Bible study or send them a get-well-soon card from the group. Connection is too important to put on hold until safer times.

Encourage Each Other

During this time of fear and uncertainty, you can have peace. God’s word tells us that he is both sovereign and kind. It also emphasizes the value of coming together – Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

Invest in your health and talk to your study members about meeting together in person. You can also check local Covid cases and discuss when members should stay home. Whether or not your Bible study starts meeting in person again, you can make Hebrews 10 your goal – to encourage each other toward love and good works.