Posted 338 days ago
Reaching your community in a flu pandemic
from Dave Roberts, “Angels of Mercy,” Christianity Magazine UK (September 2009). Used with permission.
There are several practical things your church can do in the event of your area being severely hit by swine flu. Firstly, gather key people in your congregation and create an outline plan for your life as a congregation and your service to your community.
You could use the list below as a foundation, and expand and add to it with your local situation and knowledge in mind. Once you have an outline plan you should meet with representatives of other local churches and faith communities to ensure that you avoid duplication of effort and to learn from each other’s ideas.
1) Create a flu friends network
The Evangelical Alliance (EA) has called on churches to prepare to set up networks of ‘flu friends’ to care for the sick in a swine flu pandemic. ‘Flu friends’ could visit the sick, collect medication and food, help with child care and generally provide care.
Dr Justin Thacker, a former medical doctor and the EA’s head of theology, suggests churches get vulnerable people to register with them in advance, so that churches can help out if swine flu spreads.
You could create a small postcard to be delivered to every house locally. This could suggest that volunteers can fetch food and medicine for those housebound or made more vulnerable by the illness. The card could suggest a phone number, list local church websites where messages might be left, and include an email address. This type of support is often best given by a friend, so encourage church members to identify people they can help. These people can also let their friends know that the help offered by these individuals is genuine, and help prevent unscrupulous people exploiting the situation.
People in ‘flu friends’ networks don’t need to meet sufferers face to face. They can pick up lists from outside homes, be handed money through letterboxes, and leave food on doorsteps after alerting the householder to their return. Using disposable gloves to handle money and lists will help prevent infection, as will thorough hand washing after errands undertaken for others.
2) Volunteers
In the event that local infrastructures were severely disabled for some weeks due to staff illnesses, would people in your congregation be willing to help with everyday tasks in the community, such as porter work in the local hospital or rubbish disposal? Who are your contacts in local government who could be told of your willingness?
For more understanding of how yours and other churches might interact with local government, read the paper prepared by the government and published on May 1st. The Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu document contains insight for both churches and local influenza pandemic committees and can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/influenzapandemic
Childcare may be a problem if parents become sick. Encourage people who are CRB checked to make up a database of people who could provide childcare. Think about practical ways to support people affected by flu, including healthcare workers who may have to work long shifts. Make contact now with local schools, nurseries and other faith communities.
What other existing networks in your community are flourishing via the Internet? There may be networks for sports fans, recyclers or young mums. In a time of emergency awareness of how your local community connects will enable the church to help and serve more effectively.
3) Research bereavement resources
Conventional flu takes the lives of many each year. They are often deeply unwell and infirm already. The grief that follows their death is real and heartfelt, but their passing away is not completely unexpected. Swine flu may take lives of otherwise healthy teenagers and young adults.
People anguished at unexpected loss will not be ready for trite answers but will need emotional support. While many churches with older members will have some experience of responding to grief, many of the newer churches that have sprung up in the last 25 years will probably not have experienced the need to be ready to give regular support through grief to a significant number of people. As you think about what form that support might take, suggested reading includes:
- Bereaved by Ian Knox (Kingsway Publications)
- Beauty from Ashes by Jennifer Rees Larcombe (Bible Reading Fellowship)
- God on Mute by Pete Greig (Survivor)
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