On Sunday September 13, several members of Bethel became infected with the Covid virus. Obviously, none of us were aware at the time that we had come in contact with the virus. Later that week, I began to show signs of what I thought at the time was an upper respiratory infection. We had already been notified by a member that they had tested positive, so we immediately shut all our public services down. The following Sunday, September 20, I preached two services, not knowing at the time I was infected, however, I did know I was running a fever.
The following Monday, September 21, I went to our local urgent care to be tested. Although it took several days for the results to come in, I knew from others that I had the symptoms, fever, fatigue, body aches, loss of taste and smell, among others. Meanwhile, several other church members tested positive, some being hospitalized. Eventually, my condition worsened, and on September 30 I was taken to the hospital for treatment double pneumonia, and other Covid related symptoms. There were many others from our church who not only contracted Covid, but had to be hospitalized. Some are still hospitalized.
On Sunday morning October 4, I was notified that one of our dearest and most faithful members, Bro. Wayne Shirk, had passed away in the hospital due to the virus. Wayne was well loved by all of us here at Bethel, and he will be sorely missed. What I loved most about Wayne was his love for the Word of God, and the excitement he would show whenever he would ask me if God had shown me anything new. A Vietnam Veteran, Wayne was a true patriot who loved his country. His wife Jan is asking that in lieu of flowers, a donation could be made to the Wounded Warrriors Project. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
It is sad to say but our first service after being out so many days will be streaming Bro. Wayne’s funeral service. Please pray for Sis. Jan. She and Wayne looked forward to the many days spent in their RV together. At this point in their life, she said, “we were supposed to travel and have fun together.”
Putting all politics aside, I can truthfully say that the Covid virus is one of the worst I’ve ever experienced. I have never been this sick before, nor have I seen something so easily transmitted. It has devastated our church and many of it’s families. Avoid catching it if at all possible, and pray for all those families affected.
pastormikehoggard 