The Effects of COVID-19 on the Island of Puerto Rico
Noble Vater

Iglesia Bautista Bereana (Berean Baptist Church)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
April 25, 2020

Tomorrow will mark our 6th Lord’s Day in which, along with the rest of the churches on the island (both true and false), we have not gathered together as a church. However, like many others in the island and in the States and other places, we have used the technological means available to “preach”/teach the Word and to maintain contact with one another. Due to not being as technologically advanced and as organized as some are, up till now we have been limited to Facebook, broadcasting live the message at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Those messages stay available on the church’s page for those who may want to listen later. This may not be much, but we are thankful we have this and that there are people who benefit from this.

We also connect by “Skype” (a few men on Monday nights and in the a.m.) and by “Zoom” for prayer on Wednesday nights and for a Bible study on Friday nights. Also, before the Lord’s Day messages there is a time of prayer, Scripture reading and singing in which a few participate. It is impossible to sing together via Zoom (audio delays), so all the microphones get turned off and we follow the lead of our brother and his wife who have organized this. We see the words of the hymn, hear the melody, and in our own families we sing. We give thanks for what we have.

We know that there are many in the island who love the Lord and preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in truth. It is true that some of the ways that worship is conducted does not seem very biblical to some of us, but there are reasons to think that the message relating to the salvation of sinners is biblical, that they are not turning God’s grace into an excuse for licentiousness, etc. We give thanks for that. There are quite a few Baptist churches preaching a clear biblical message of salvation. Also, there are a few Pentecostal churches persuaded of the doctrines of grace, as well as a few Presbyterian churches and some independent churches. This is the Lord’s doing.

Our book distribution ministry has been affected by the “quarantine” as we are not open to the public and our regular workers are not at the bookstore. Even so, we have found some ways to help some who are looking for books to study.

There seems to be some willingness among unbelievers to accept invitations to listen to online sermons and Bible studies. We are praying that the Lord will save people in all nations and build up His church. Please pray for us and for PR.