Coronavirus Update

June is going to be an exciting time for Indian Rocks – because we are gearing up for the RELAUNCH of on-campus gatherings on the weekend of June 6 and 7!

Check out the RELAUNCH Weekend page for all of the latest info for the RELAUNCH of on-campus gatherings!

 

IndianRocks.org/RELAUNCH

When will in-person gatherings resume? As soon as possible. While we expect our phased approach to opening to line up with the phases that have been laid out by the government, everything hinges on the health of our community and the CDC’s recommendations. We have to be more cautious about how we reopen due to the size of our gatherings, so we’ll likely open a little later than other local businesses and churches. We will only advance through these phases as Pinellas County meets the government’s benchmarks to continue reopening.   Will regular activities look different? While we expect our in-person gatherings to feel the same when we reach Phase 4, like the rest of society, we expect that the way we interact with each other will look a little different, at least for a while. The survey results assured us that everyone is excited to come back as quickly as possible, with the consensus that we have confirmed our plans to take some specific precautions to keep everyone as safe as possible. We’re going to continue to modify the parts of our services that required physical contact before (such as passing offering plates and greeting each other with handshakes), and we’re doing everything we can to keep our facilities clean and safe. Even if you see more face masks (and a lot more hand sanitizer), when we gather together again in-person, we hope it will feel like coming home.   What about regular yearly events? In the near term, some of our events will gather as an online-only event, and some may still meet in-person (but look a little different this year). Our annual Memorial Day service is a good example; we had to make the difficult decision not to host our regular service in-person and move it to an online experience. We have planned a unique service, and we hope that you can join us on Monday, May 25, at 10:00 am. You can watch live on the website, or in the Indian Rocks Baptist Church app.   How can we gather together right now? In-person gatherings may be on-hold for a little while longer, but we’ve got several great ways to gather digitally every week. Check out our schedule here, and make plans to join us as often as you can. CLICK/TAP TO VIEW LARGER (PDF)

We are canceling all of our on-campus weekend services in April and continuing to suspend all activities on campus through Thursday, April 30, 2020.

 

Pinellas County has issued a “safer at home” order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of residents and to preserve the ability of our healthcare system to serve all in need. Our local Emergency Management and public health officials believe that the situation will quickly worsen without this intervention. We are continuing to follow the advice and recommendations of our Federal, State, and Local governments so we can help stop the spread of COVID-19. We are hopeful that we will resume regular services in May. With that hope in mind, we will continue to monitor the situation, follow health officials and guidelines, and make sure that we are keeping our community safe.

 

Through all of these decisions and changes we have to make, you can rest assured that we will keep you updated. Make sure you follow us on social media and download the Indian Rocks Baptist Church app and enable push notifications.

 

Connection Group Update

Did you know that many of our Connection Groups are meeting each week via Zoom? It is incredible to see people connecting that way! If you need help plugging into a group for the first time, Pastor T. Jay is starting a large Connection Group that will “meet” virtually via Zoom on Thursdays. If you want to join in, you can sign up on the website www.IndianRocks.org/Thursday-Zoom-Group!

 

We are also posting lots of online video resources via Facebook. Devotionals from our pastors are posted every day, Monday through Saturday, and Pastor Jeff is teaching a bible study devotional on Wednesday Nights at 7:00 pm. You can find all those devotionals and studies on our Facebook page. Please make sure you also join us at 9:00 am Sunday for the Live Stream of our service on our website, Facebook, YouTube, or one of our apps (iOS, Android, AppleTV, and Roku).

 

We Care About You!

We are continuing to make calls to our church family and asking how we can help and pray. If you would like to reach out and share anything that is weighing on your heart, or you are having trouble getting out and about for necessities, we want to help! Email PastorJeff@IndianRocks.org or call his office at (727) 595-3421 ext. 3411 to let us know how we can be God’s hands and feet in your situation.

 

New Website!

We have launched our NEW website early, and we can’t wait for you to experience some of the features and upgrades that we have implemented. One of our favorite new additions is the all-new Prayer Wall, where you can send in Prayer Requests, and our church family and staff can pray with and for you. Another great addition is our NEW giving experience. You can easily give online, and many people are starting this for the first time. If you have any questions about getting this process started, please contact our Church Administrator via email at Tim_Ferguson@IndianRocks.org or call (727) 593-8754. Lastly, we are also setting up a giving drop-box at the entrance of the Worship Center. This box will allow you to “drive-thru” the over-hang and drop your tithe in the box. We are hoping to have this installed on April 6.

 

While we are not physically meeting, God’s presence is still surrounding us, and we will continue to lift you and your family in our prayers. Just like Pastor Dean said during the service last week, the church meets in a building, the building is not the church. Indian Rocks Baptist Church is a church that is now meeting online. This change can be challenging, but we are expecting great things to come from this.

 

We will keep you updated as things change and as we are monitoring guidelines from state and federal updates. We will be updating our website (www.IndianRocks.org/coronavirus) with this update as well as future updates and resources as they are available.

 

MARCH 17, 2020 7:13 PM

At this time, we are canceling all of our on-campus weekend services in March and continuing to suspend all activities on campus through Friday, April 3, 2020. While we hope to resume regular activities as soon as possible, we are excited to share some very unique live stream services these next two weeks, and we can’t wait to share that with you.

 

While we are currently remaining flexible in our plans and how we will proceed with weekend worship experiences and as we plan and adapt upcoming events like our Easter Egg Hunt and our Good Friday service, we remain grounded that through this time, God’s plan will prevail. He never changes, even as the world seems to change by the minute. We are praying for you, and we trust God’s hand to guide us every step of the way. Through all of these decisions and changes we have to make, you can rest assured that we will keep you updated. Make sure you follow our social media accounts, and download the Indian Rocks Baptist Church app and enable push notifications.

 

We also have some exciting things that we are going to be launching this week to help you and your family connect with God’s Word in some unique ways. If you’ve got kids stuck at home, our Kids Ministry has some great resources for you to help your child learn God’s Word in a fun way!

 

• Our staff and volunteers are going to be contacting every member of our church and asking how we can pray for you, and how we can be of help in this trying time. If you would like to reach out and share anything that is weighing on your heart, or you are having trouble getting out and about for necessities, we want to help! Email PastorJeff@IndianRocks.org or call his office at (727) 595-3421 ext 3411 to let us know how we can be God’s hands and feet in your situation.

 

• Our Kids ministry team is curating activities and lesson plans so that your child can continue to hear God’s word and learn about His plan for their life. We will be posting those resources on our website and sharing it via social media soon, and there are already resources available via “Drive-Thru”!. Make sure you are following our Facebook page, Indian Rocks Baptist Church, for those updates.
  
• We are excited to live stream a very special worship experience this Sunday from our NEW Kids Building, giving you an insider look in the middle of construction! On Sunday at 9:00 am, we will be LIVE from the Kids Building with a unique acoustic worship experience and a message from Pastor Jeff. Make sure you join us at 9:00 am Sunday morning for the Live Stream on our website, Facebook, YouTube, or one of our apps (iOS, Android, AppleTV, and Roku).

• We are launching our NEW website, and we can’t wait for you to experience some of the features with upgrades to how we keep you up to date, and an all-new Prayer Wall where you can send in Prayer Requests and our Church Family and Staff can pray with and for you.
• Our Pastoral staff is going to be LIVE on Facebook every day, Monday – Friday, sharing a quick devotional that you can watch live or go back and catch anytime. Make sure you like our Facebook page to see those videos!

 

While we are not physically meeting, God’s presence is still surrounding us, and we will continue to lift you and your family in our prayers. We will keep you updated as things change and as we are monitoring guidelines from state and federal updates.

 

We will be updating our website (www.IndianRocks.org/coronavirus) with this update as well as future updates and resources as they are available.

MARCH 12, 2020 5:23 PM

Dear Church Family,

 

We want to take a few minutes of your time to update you on what’s happening at Indian Rocks Baptist Church as we navigate the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community.

 

We have decided to temporarily suspend activities on our church campus through March 18, 2020. This decision from our church leadership stems from an abundance of caution and a deep concern for the well-being of our community. Below you can find information on how you can experience church in a whole new way via our live stream, and resources for your kids.

 

Online-Only Weekend Services

This weekend, March 14 and 15, our services will be held online only. Service times will remain the same at 6 pm Saturday, and 9 & 10:45 am on Sunday. We are blessed to have the technology and infrastructure to “bring church to your home,” and you can still invite your friends to join you virtually! Please make plans to join us for this fun and unique way to experience church together. If you’ll be watching the live stream on Facebook or YouTube, we encourage you to share it on your social media feed. We also encourage you to join in the comments to let us know how we can be praying for you and your family. If you’ll be watching on our website, consider inviting someone to join you by sending them the link.

 

Live Streaming Links

To watch the live stream on our website, click here

To watch on Facebook, click here

To watch on YouTube, click here

You can also watch our live stream on our iOS, Android, AppleTV, and Roku apps. Search “Indian Rocks Baptist Church” in your app store.

 

Mid-Week Programs 

Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily suspending all on-campus ministry activities through March 18, 2020. We will evaluate this decision early next week, as the situation in our community continues to unfold. In the meantime, we will be providing alternative ways for you to grow closer to God and learn more about Him.

 

For Families with Kids

Please know that your families will continue to be in our prayers as we navigate these circumstances together. We have a great resource of online curriculum for your kids through RightNow Media, which we highly encourage you to utilize. It’s super easy to register and is a great way for kids to do church online along with the rest of your family! We provide anyone who calls Indian Rocks home free access to this service. After you register, you’ll be able to see all of the curriculum available in the Kids section. There are several videos and series for kids with optional discussion questions and activities that are downloadable.

 

To register for RightNow Media, click here

To login to your existing account, click here

 

As we share information via social media, please help spread the word and share it with your friends. Please remain in prayer for everyone that is being affected, and we will keep each of you informed as we move forward.

March 12, 2020 10:00 AM

Dear Indian Rocks Church Family,

 

At Indian Rocks, we want to care for our congregation in all respects, including the physical well-being of

our community. To that end, we are asking you, our congregants, to take precautions to keep yourself and

others safe, especially in light of recent developments with the coronavirus (COVID-19).

 

Please be mindful of the guidance from the Florida Department of Health and the CDC, including:

• Stay home when you are sick. If you are experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat,

runny nose, and/or shortness of breath, we ask that you not attend any church gatherings or

functions. While you are out, you can access the sermons by Monday afternoon each week at

www.indianrocks.org/messages/ or you can watch live at www.indianrocks.org/live-stream.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the

bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

 

We request that all individuals who have traveled internationally – for work or personal reasons – to

comply with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommendations:

• Travel to CDC Level 3 Countries: Mandatory 14-day self-quarantine upon re-entry into the

United States

• Travel to CDC Level 2 Countries & All Cruises: Practice enhanced precautions, including

postponing non-essential travel, and if you experience any symptoms, we ask that you not attend

any church gatherings or functions. CDC recommends travelers, particularly those with underlying

health issues, defer all cruise ship travel at this time.

• If you were on a cruise in the past 14 days:
• Monitor your health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to

the United States.

• If a case of COVID-19 was reported on your ship during the cruise, stay home during

these 14 days, and practice social distancing.

• Stay home if you feel sick with fever, cough, or have trouble breathing and call ahead

before you seek medical care.

 

The uncertainty of this outbreak is creating anxiety in our workplaces, schools, and day-to-day activities.

Yet we remain confident of God’s steadfast presence and careful attention to all that is happening. Please

join us in praying for those who are affected by this illness, as well as their caregivers and those who are

working around the clock to minimize the impact of this virus.

 

We will continue to keep you updated as new recommendations are given, and new information comes

forth. Thank you for being a part of Indian Rocks, and we pray this situation subsides and does not affect

us.

 

For more information and resources go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html