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Coronavirus Resources for the Church

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HDI tools to help your church faithfully prepare, not fearfully panic.

This is a dedicated resource page to help churches better prepare for responding to the coronavirus and what it may bring in the future. This page will be regularly updated with essential tools, resources, and information as this public health crisis unfolds.

COVID-19 6-Month Impact Report

Over the past 6 months, HDI has reached over 603 million people and trained 29,620 people around the globe. We recently released a new six-month report detailing the impact of our COVID-19 response, which began nearly two weeks before the declaration of the global pandemic on March 11, 2020.

Enroll in our revised online Spiritual First Aid Certification Course

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Our newly redesigned Spiritual First Aid Certification Couse will equip you with all the training and tools you’ll need to help those around you who are struggling. We’ve packed 25 years of frontline spiritual and emotional care experience into an online 8-session certificate course that you can take alone (on-demand) or with a facilitator-led group. The course includes videos, workbooks, role plays and 20+ practical resources to help you confidently serve others who are in distress. Enroll now and start your journey towards becoming a Spiritual First Aid responder.

Download Our Manual & Planning Template

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To help your church plan and prepare for the impact of COVID-19, we have created this practical, 28-page manual, Preparing Your Church for Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Step-by-Step, Research-Informed and Faith-Based Planning Manual. 

With biblical wisdom, research insights, and quick, actionable steps, this manual equips all traditions and denominations with a 6-step guide for addressing the coronavirus challenges. After downloading, you can edit and save directly in the manual as you prepare your plan.

You can also download the Coronavirus Church Planning Template.

See below for translated & adapted editions.

Sign Up For Our Free Webinar Series

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COVID-19 Church Webinars

Hosted by Jamie Aten, PhD. and Kent Annan, MDiv.

In partnership with the National Association of Evangelicals 

National

View webinar archives>>

Mental Health Handbook

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Our new Mental Health Handbook covers a range of topics that live at the intersection of COVID-19 and mental health. This 195-page resource brings to attention the myriad mental health needs COVID-19 has brought to the surface while also suggesting ways to cope, move forward, and become more resilient. Explore some of the most important and recent research and insights from great researchers around the world.

Studying During the Pandemic: A Guide for Christian College Students

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As students across the country return to the classroom this week both virtually and in person, our latest guide geared toward Christian college students provides detailed, practical suggestions for learning during the pandemic.

Returning to Teaching During COVID-19: A Guide for Christian College Professors

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This brief ebook shares lessons learned by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute faculty and staff and M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership students from Wheaton College who participated in one of the first on-campus college classes to be taught in the U.S. during this new school year as a week-long intensive dual modality course.

The Black Church in Action Against Racism During COVID-19

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As our country faces both a global pandemic and racial unrest, the importance of the Black Church as a catalyst for social change has never been greater.

Our new guide, "The Black Church in Action Against Racism and COVID-19: A Practical and Biblical Guide to Prophetic Ministry While Protecting Health" (created in partnership with Healthcare Ready and World Impact, Inc.) offers practical ways for church leaders, particularly Black church leaders, to respond to systemic vulnerabilities, become collective agents of change, develop productive partnerships, and not get weary in well-doing while also protecting health during COVID-19.

Deciding When & How You Should Return to Church In Person

Manual with title Deciding When and How You Should Return to Church In Person

Churches across the country are deciding when and how to restart in-person gatherings. Just as leaders have been wrestling with the questions of when and how to go back to church safely, individuals also need to answer these questions personally. Our new manual will help you make a faithful, well-informed decision for you and your family during COVID-19.

You can also download one-page decision tools for individuals and churches and a Checklist for Church Members Returning to In-Person Services

Guide to Reopening Church Services

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There are no one-size-fits-all prescriptions when it comes to reopening church buildings; every church has its own unique context that needs to be considered. That’s why we’ve developed a new manual, "Guide to Reopening Church Services: A Step-by-Step, Biblically-Based and Research-Based Approach to Resuming In-Person Ministries."

Download it free at reopeningthechurch.com, our new website in partnership with the National Association of Evangelicals.

Access the Spiritual First Aid Online Summit

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HDI partnered with Food for the Hungry, NavPress, and Outreach, Inc. to present the Spiritual First Aid Online Summit. It's not too late to register to hear from dynamic speakers, receive free tools, and learn about other catalytic initiatives designed to activate and support your church (and you as a leader) in providing spiritual, physical, and emotional care in response to COVID-19.

Children & Family Resources

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This children's book, written by Gena L. Thomas with her four-year-old daughter Juniper, is designed to spur conversation between parents and children about coronavirus and its impact on our daily lives. Each page includes a reflection question and a drawing challenge to complete.

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To help parents and leaders understand the unique perspectives of the younger generation, we’ve put together this toolkit with articles, books, tip sheets and more to help you understand what your kids are going through and give you ideas about how to connect with them.

Devotional: When Your Whole World Changes – COVID-19 Special Edition

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HDI partnered with Biblica to create this new devotional to help people deal with the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, available now in 31 languages.

YouVersion Reading Plan: Spiritual First Aid

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Our 7-day YouVersion reading plan introduces the BLESS method, a biblical- and evidence-based resource to help care for ourselves and others experiencing a crisis. BLESS (which stands for Belonging, Livelihood, Emotional, Safety, and Spiritual needs) helps us be attuned and offer humble help.

Access the COVID-19 Church Online Summit

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It's not too late to access the COVID-19 Church Online Summit from HDI & the National Association of Evangelicals.

hashtagUse #covid19church to share how your church is preparing, any questions you have about how to prepare, and to connect with other church leaders.


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