Some churches around New Zealand will be running very differently today in response to the coronavirus.
Photo: 123RF
Gatherings of more than 100 have been banned to protect people against the community spread.
'Buildings may be closed, but the church is not' was a message echoed by many church leaders across the country.
Many of the country's larger churches like Life, City Impact, Arise and Equippers, Elim, Grace Vineyard, Harmony, were streaming services online.
Equippers church Wellington Pastor, Byron Marchant said church goers would be gathering in smaller numbers in home bases or watching from home.
He said teams of people from their 21 church campuses were making regular phonecalls to check in on their elderly members, who made up at least 15 percent of their Wellington congregation.
Following the announcement of those over 70 years old, having to stay in self-isolation, they said they would ramp up efforts to foster a sense of community and connect with people so no one is forgotten.
They are doing this by dropping home packs with essential foods for their older members in isolation.
Meanwhile, in a message to inform their 10,000 members online about the cancellation of church at their physical locations across the country, Arise Church Lead Pastor John Cameron said this sunday would look a little different.
"Lots of people are going to be hurting and we want to get ready to mobilise church to be a part of the answer in our community," he said.
