The input of the congregation to "call out the called" to ministry is vital. The congregation should recognize and celebrate the gifts of ministry given to its members, and take responsibility to encourage those whom God has called to respond to that call with joy and submission.

I suspect the fears and concerns over COVID-19 will pass, but our concern for the lost who have yet to hear the hope of the gospel should never pass. Satan poses a much greater risk to humanity than COVID-19, so we should work together to make the kingdoms of this world the kingdom of our Lord.

A little more than two months ago, SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd introduced Vision 2025, a five-year initiative centered on reaching every person with the gospel in every town, every city, every state and every nation.

Since 1926, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College has been seeking to fulfill the vision that God gave our first president, Dr. L. C. Kelley, to prepare and equip those who are called out by the Lord.

While church assemblies came to a grinding halt by mid-March, it didn't take long for many Kentucky Baptist churches to find a way to connect not only with their members, but with people who may have never darkened the church doors.

Hopefully by the time you are reading this, we'll be well on our way to resuming "normal" life — although I suspect normal may look different in post-COVID-19 times. It remains to be seen how our lives will be changed when the coronavirus doesn't dominate the news.