For the first time since social distancing measures were instituted by Governor John Bel Edwards parishioners of Victory Church on Airline Highway in Metairie were able to gather for Sunday services.
Victory’s Senior Pastor Frank Bailey says they only learned of the relaxing of the distancing mandates at the last minute.
“This was just a spur of the moment we decided to do this,” Pastor Bailey says. “I didn’t know about it, I didn’t even know it was allowed. I looked on some news site and saw the link and there was a letter from the Fire Marshall saying it was OK to do this. So last minute we decided to do this today.”
The gathering is important in the Christian Faith:
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Corinthians 12:13.
Parishioners were filled with excitement and joy as gathering for worship was restored under the sunny skies of a warm Sunday morning:
“Online services they were great, but it’s just not the same as meeting together… …the church is not the building, the church is the people, and we come together… …there’s nothing like gathering together, with your church family… …we need to be in the presence of the Lord, the presence of God changes everything.”
Victory live streams Sunday Services and presents church meetings and teaching sessions on Zoom with interaction from the parishioners.
“We’ve been able to provide services online for the past five-six weeks now,” says Pastor Chris Monnerjahn. “But there’s nothing like seeing folks. In the Kingdom of God, there’s nothing like gathering with church members and other church families—it’s powerful.”
Pastor Frank Bailey estimates one quarter—roughly 250 of the flock—attended Sunday’s service. He looks forward to when he can re-open the church’s worship hall for the same numbers and more.
“You know the Bible talks about assembling together,” Bailey says. “And there’s something special, a uniqueness, a unique presence that happens when Christians come together. You can’t recreate it on social media.”