Welcome To The Ridge!

In light of the ever evolving situation involving the CoVID-19 pandemic, the deacons and Bro. Bob met Tuesday evening to prayerfully deliberate how Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church should best respond in these difficult days. We considered arguments from all points of view, and in the end we have been led to make a decision that, while painful, we feel is in the best interest of our church family. With rapidly new information coming from the CDC and state officials, and with the utmost concern for the health and safety of our faith family and community, we have decided to limit our normal Sunday morning and Wednesday evening gatherings to an online platform for the remainder of the month of March.

Utilizing Facebook live, Bro. Bob will broadcast a Bible study on Wednesdays at 6, and on Sunday mornings, we will be led in some worship songs and Bro. Jonathan will share a message beginning at 10:30. We encourage everyone that is able to join us online as this is a wonderful opportunity to create a family altar experience where you worship as a family in your home. John chapter 4 teaches us that true worship does not take place because of your physical location but rather takes place in the heart as we worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. We will continue to worship and to draw strength from our community growing in faith online through the faithful preaching of the Word of God. For Sunday mornings, we also intend to create CDs of the service for those who do not have the capability to join us on Facebook, so please let Bro. Bob or one of the deacons know of anyone whom you are aware may need or desire this provision.

That said, our church is not closed nor is it closing. While we will not be assembling corporately for live services, the doors of the church will be opened on Sundays for those who desire to come at their convenience after the online service to spend time in private prayer or devotion, or for those who desire to bring offerings of gifts or presence as an act of worship. During the week, Bro. Bob and the deacons will continue to be available to help address needs in the congregation.

This decision has not been made lightly, nor was it made out of fear. We strongly affirm that the God we serve and worship is Almighty and Sovereign, infinitely stronger than this viral crisis. Rather, this decision is a Gospel-centered response based on compassion and concern for the souls under our care who are susceptible or at higher risk due to aggravating factors such as age, underlying health conditions, or compromised immunity. We love our congregation and want to affirm their self-care decisions. This temporary suspension of corporate gatherings is in no way a submission to fear or a lack of faith but rather is an affirmation of our trust in God that he has provided governmental leadership that will help us to weather this situation. We are thankful that God has given us leaders who are earnestly working to “flatten the curve” and protect the vulnerable among us, and we believe it wise to follow their advice for the time being. On Sunday, March 29, the deacons and Bro. Bob will meet once again to reassess the situation to determine next steps. We are praying that the crisis will have turned by then, and we will communicate updates as we have them.