The Owensboro Church of Christ is aiming to bring Sunday prayer by phone to those who can’t access online services or are unable to attend church because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Church of Christ launched a free dial-in worship line Sunday and had several people call in to “Worship by Phone.”
The number for the phone service is 1-888-444-7484 and people can call now and press one to receive a callback whenever services begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
“Probably in the last several weeks, we recognized that there are people who were hungry to come back to worship in the building,” said the Rev. Jimmy Bunch.
He said the church recognized a need because of the coronavirus pandemic, adding the service was set up to primarily support the elderly or shut-ins.
“There are senior citizen followers who don’t have internet access, who have been left out in the cold where they can’t watch an online service,” he said. “It serves a population that would be very grateful to be able to have this service.”
Deacon Roger Whittaker, who handles IT for the church, said he got the idea from Saints Joseph and Paul Catholic Church, which also offers the same service.
Whittaker said one person who used the service told him that it feels nice to be a part of the church again.
“We knew there was a need there, and so I think that really encapsulates everything that we’re trying to do is to have more people feel like they’re a part of the church even though they may be isolated during the coronavirus,” Whittaker said.
The Church of Christ will open for in-person church service on June 7.
