I — and I’m sure those at Word of Life Church — believe and hope that letter-writer Dr. Marti Haykin is filled with love, compassion and courage as she attends to her physician duties (“For everyone’s sake, stay home!.”
Those of us in attendance March 22 prayed for this nation, doctors, nurses and first responders, as well as the president and his medical task force and Westmoreland County (“Hempfield church pastor apologizes for open services on Sunday.”)
I feel badly that she cried for our concern and safety and appreciate that emotion. However, many there knew a hedge of protection surrounded them by a loving, concerned God.
At 6 a.m. the following morning at Giant Eagle in North Huntingdon, 200-plus senior citizens piled in, with two double lines 100 feet long, side by side just 2-3 feet apart, waiting to pay cashiers.
Both are life-sustaining venues. However, for now, a church service is expected to be shut down.
Here is Pastor Tom Walters’ letter to the membership of Word of Life: “All I’m telling you is the pastors and ministry staff will be here for Praise, Promises and Prayer. We are considering ‘livestreaming,’ but that would require me to ask volunteers to be here. I am not asking anyone to be here except pastors and ministry. You do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do. Gov. Wolf has given permission for religious organizations to continue to function, but I’m not sure if that means church services or not. We, as the ministry and ministry staff, will be here for Praise, Promise and Prayer.”
Charles Horvat Jr.
Penn Township, Westmoreland County