The closure of schools and universities in Mexico due to the swine flu crisis has brought the ministry of CMS missionaries there to a grinding halt.
As reports continue of churches deserted in Mexico and other countries, the Rev Dr Mark Gilbert of Evangelism Ministries suggests Sydney churches should prepare to carry on church life and Connect09 should a similar scenario occur here.
In Monterrey, Mexico, Sydney Anglican, the Rev Peter Sholl, is running school for his three children at his dining room table after the Mexican Government ordered the closure of all schools and universities in the country last Sunday night.
The closure, which will officially last until May 6, has also affected Mr Sholl, who has been learning Spanish in order to head up MOCLAM (Moore College in Latin America).
His language classes have been cancelled, and he doesn’t yet know whether his church will meet on Sunday.
With at least one death and at least 10 reported cases of the flu in Monterrey, Mr Sholl says the city " which is 700kms north of Mexico City " has gone into ‘lockdown’ mode and everyday life is noticeably different.
“Perhaps the most notable change is the way people greet each other. Mexicans do lots of kissing and hugging and handshaking when saying hello and goodbye. This is now not happening at all. It’s more of a wave or a ‘virtual kiss’ or a ‘virtual handshake’,” he says.
Yet Mr Sholl says the handful of Christians he has been in touch with this week have been “pretty casual and not easily put off”.
Meanwhile in Mexico City, the closures have put the brakes on ministry for CMS missionaries Charlie and Kathryn Fletcher and Tess Holgate " who work with Compa, the Mexican arm of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.
CMS-Australia's federal secretary, the Rev John Thew reports that while they are well and happy, the Fletchers and Ms Holgate have taken an impromptu holiday in a smaller city nearby.
Mr Thew also says there are no plans to move CMS workers out of the country at this stage.
"We've had a fair bit of experience with SARS and bird flu, so we listen carefully to the World Health Organisation " they ring alarm bells early " and we're monitoring the situation all the time," he says.
"If you encourage people to leave, the risk is possibly much larger because they're getting on a plane in a confined space with other people they don't know."
The plan at this stage is to "watch and pray" that missionaries and those they work among will remain healthy, and will soon be able to return to their posts, Mr Thew says.
"This has affected ministry - but you've got to stay alive to do your ministry."
Will swine flu stamp out Connect09?
As the World Health Organisation raises its flu alert and declares a pandemic "imminent', the Rev Dr Mark Gilbert is urging Sydney Anglicans to consider how to continue Connect09 if the swine flu forces closures in Sydney.
Focused prayer for people "outside our own backyards" is one obvious and crucial step, he says.
However Dr Gilbert " a former general practitioner (GP) " also says Sydney Anglicans need to consider how they can connect with people whose needs for company and compassion could change dramatically.
"When people are quarantined for a week or two they often become quite frightened, especially if they are unwell or caring for unwell children or elderly people," he says.
"A supporting neighbour to take meals around, do the shopping or even just chat on the phone can make a big difference."
Churches should also consider options such as podcast or vodcast sermons, Facebook groups and messageboards in the event that public meetings are not possible, Dr Gilbert adds.
Further, churches could consider how they could support hospital chaplaincy in the event of a full-blown pandemic.
Whatever the strategy, Dr Gilbert says churches must think about a "pandemic plan' now, "rather than waiting till it is too late".
Photos courtesy Sarihuella and Eneas
