WARNING: The pain is setting in …

Over the past 18 months, I’ve been diligent to keep the Board of Directors and Prayer Partners for Scott Free Clinic well apprised of what was happening, and what was looming, in the lives of people, pastors, and churches as the global pandemic and other events wreaked havoc across the world. And for several months I’ve been sounding the alarm that in 2021 as we entered into the “new normal” we would likely see an increase in pandemic-related problems.

At this point I must publicly sound the alarm: WARNING! The pain is setting in!

Just as with a major hurricane you first have the storm, then follows the destruction, that is what America and some other countries are experiencing now from the pandemic. The grace of God brought us through, now the wounds and harm are being more clearly seen and more intensely felt:

• • In record-setting mental health issues.
  • In increased conflict within marriages and families.
  • In the negative (even harmful) impact on the lives of church leaders.
  • And in astounding levels of increased strife within churches.

What does this mean for the immediate to long-term future?

• • Loss of life from the pandemic has been tragic, but fortunately not nearly as bad as some originally forecasted it could be; even so, every loss of life is deeply felt and mourned. There’s been massive damage to the economy. But what is likely to be the greatest harm caused by the pandemic is the dramatic impact on mental health and increase in mental illness which will likely have an ongoing impact for years to come.
  • Pre-existing negligence to nurture marriages and family relationships has resulted in significant cracks, wounds, and other harm to marriages and families. Attention to marriage and family reconciliation is an immediate need, and healing for wounds needs to be an ongoing focus.
  • Pastors have been among some of the hardest hit. There has likely never been a time when more pastors are considering leaving vocational ministry than at this time. Mental health issues and mental illness is increasing among church leaders as a result. Pastor Care needs to be provided as a critical service.
  • There were already many churches floundering prior to the pandemic, but more churches that were previously considered “healthy” are experiencing conflict and troubles that require serious church revitalization.

All of us need to be involved in overcoming the hurt and harm from the pandemic. Let me identify three things we all need to do:

1. Pray. The source of getting through the pandemic and other issues was the grace of God, and that must remain our source for overcoming the hurt and harm from the pandemic. Pray for people, pastors, and churches who have been hurt and wounded.

2. Care. It’s easy to pay little or no attention to the needs of others if you are doing well. MANY people, pastors, and churches need the rest to care about their need, and to demonstrate love, compassion, and empathy. I interact with many pastors and I always ask all of them how they have weathered the pandemic. Without exception, every pastor has always first answered by saying only by the grace of God, and then go on to describe how T-O-U-G-H it has been — and for many, it still is. We need to care about the hurt and harm caused to people, pastors, and churches, and love them through a full recovery.

3. Help. You cannot demonstrate caring, love, compassion, and empathy without action. There will be people, and/or pastors, and/or churches in YOUR life you can reach out to with the love of Christ and serve in real and practical ways.

One way you can help is to support Scott Free Clinic’s “Operation Overcoming in the New Normal.” You can find all of the details about this campaign by clicking here. Your support of this campaign will help us provide critically needed services to help people and pastors changes their lives, and to support churches in need of revitalization.

In His Service,

Dr. James Scott, Jr.
Founder & President,
Scott Free Clinic