COVID-19 has disrupted our daily lives significantly, affecting how we connect and interact with one another. In this series of snippets, Cell Group Leaders Angie Saw, Helen Gianchand and Venetia Phua share with us some of the creative ways they connected with their members despite physical limitations during this season.
Angie Saw, 2019, Singapore
I lead a youth cell group (CG) with ages ranging from 13 to 24. Half of them are in secondary schools, one quarter is studying in a Polytechnic or Junior College, two are in the university (including myself) and one is a working adult.
Angie and her cell group after a weekend service in Suntec before COVID-19
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the CG attempted different ways to keep the fellowship going. With hardly any physical meet ups, we became creative in our online meetings.
We’d have themes for CG meetings, such as: Bubble Tea Friday, Friday Blue, Beach Friday, to name a few. We also celebrated birthday parties online, held an online tea party did exercise workouts online, conducted study groups online and even had an online games night. Once the restriction eased, we did physical watch parties for CG and weekend services.
Bubble tea Friday
Online birthday celebration
Meeting online has it pros and cons. During pre-COVID days, we had a few members who couldn’t join us for our Friday CG. Ever since our meetings have been held online, we usually have close to full attendance most of the time. In the midst of COVID, we even managed to integrate two boys from HarvestKidz who have since been joining us regularly. I also have a member who was not doing well spiritually in the first quarter of 2020. He wanted to leave the CG and the church. A friend and I reached out to him and by the grace of God, instead of wanting to leave, he has been joining us every single week for CG meetings and weekend services. He also started playing the guitar for our online CG meetings and has been actively integrating the two new additions to the CG.
Although COVID-19 has disrupted our routine, not all changes are negative. No matter what happens, God is with always with us.
Helen Gianchand, 2010, Philippines
I am one of the Filipino cell group leaders. My cell group (CG) consists of Filipinos, most of whom have had to leave their families to work here as engineers, nurses, in IT, teachers and domestic helpers.
Helen’s cell group meeting with audio set up
During the first few months of the Circuit Breaker period, we made temporary arrangements to hold our meetings and celebrate birthdays online. However, as the number of COVID cases increased globally, we realised that we had better do some long-term planning. The first thing we did was to improve our online meeting set-up, starting with the audio for praise and worship. Without the physical atmosphere of a corporate gathering, we wanted the members to be able to encounter the presence of God online. I gathered all the connect group to pray for wisdom and direction for our online meetings. Few days after, somebody bought a sound interface, another bought a mixer, condenser microphones, rotating microphone stands, and one member even blessed the CG with a Martin guitar. The members really rose to the occasion to pitch in.
During Phase 1 and 2, our focus was to give attention to members who were suffering from sadness and depression. Due to Covid, they were apart from their families back home. Some of the members even decided to just resign and go home for good because of separation anxiety. Apart from tending to these needs, we also arranged couple’s fellowship; fellowship for the married, as well as for the singles; ladies’ meeting; men’s meeting; painting sessions; and cooking/baking sessions. When the restrictions eased, we were able to organise cycling and picnic by the beach, and home fellowships in small groups. Members would play games, watch Netflix, and cook Filipino dishes together. For birthday celebrations, a maximum of 5 could gather to celebrate for the birthday boy or girl, while others would join in via Zoom. Apart from all these gatherings, we also did food deliveries to members during Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Surprisingly, during this pandemic, our CG has done more missions works online to the Philippines. We have been supporting children in Negros Island in their studies, and sending groceries and rice to indigenious families in Bacolod. We sent financial help, blankets and old clothing to the victims of 3 consecutive typhoons in the Philippines. We also did online mentoring in various churches in the Philippines; resulting in some of these church workers joining our CG meetings regularly. What was most meaningful was that we started reaching out to our member’s families. Most of them invested in stable Internet connections in the Philippines and got their spouses, children, parents and relatives to attend our CG via Zoom. It really helped our members to overcome their depression of being physically apart from their family.
As a result of our outreach, most of our members’ family received Christ through our online CG. Glory to God!
Venetia Phua, 1995, Singapore
Venetia’s online cell group meeting
I lead a cell group (CG) of working adults and the unique thing about my CG is that it’s transnational. Half the CG comprises of Indians and the other half are Malaysians and Singaporeans. Many of them grew up in church together with me and we are very closely knitted.
During the Circuit Breaker period, as a CG, we struggled with the changes. To ensure that the members were coping well, I connected with at least one member daily for 6 months. We had communion and I prayed for them. We also held prayer meetings, worship nights, games nights, married and singles meetings, as well as ladies and men’s meetings. We also did food deliveries to members on different occasions.
As we resumed activities in phases, we started having on-site cell groups and fellowship in groups of 5. Meanwhile, I continued my visitations to touch base with my members. Sadly, during this time, two of my members’ mothers passed away. Despite the restrictions, everyone took turns to go down to the wake to support our members in their time of grieving. With an increase in COVID cases in India and Malaysia, the CG also took time to pray for our members’ families.
Easter CG with the members’ children
During Easter, we held an Easter CG to engage our members’ children. We told a short story and made Easter eggs with the children. For Mother’s Day, we had a surprise high tea in groups of 5 for the mothers; and for Father’s Day, the children put up a performance for the fathers via Zoom. It was indeed heart-warming.
In the beginning of 2021, Pastor Kong preached about the Fruit of the Spirit. One of the projects we embarked on as a CG was to focus on one fruit per month. The CG coordinator and the members who were anchoring that month had to choose a fruit of the Spirit and share Bible verses, devotions, quotes, songs or anything uplifting with the rest of the CG. The members were constantly being reminded and inspired through the sharing. Members who encouraged others, were themselves strengthened in their faith.
CG members prepared cards to encourage the CG
The Bible says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” In pre-Covid days, it was quite difficult to get members to join the Bible Study Classes due to family commitments. During Circuit Breaker, 17 of the members attended at least 3 rounds of Bible Study via Zoom. Praise the Lord!
No matter the circumstances, if we love God and His people, we can trust that He is working for our good.