Safety and academic success were the top concerns addressed in 新奥尔良 浸信会神学院 and Leavell College’s initial response to COVID-19. Soon, maintaining community connections and spiritual health from a distance became a priority.
After initial hope that the alternative delivery methods would be temporary, state and local officials began calling for stricter social distancing measures. 结果是, NOBTS and Leavell College leaders began looking for ways to foster community and growth while maintaining physical separation. Students and faculty members have responded with their own grass-roots efforts to maintain connections.
Dew每日更新
The most vital connection point for the seminary family has been the daily video updates featuring Jamie Dew, NOBTS和Leavell学院院长. Dew has been recording and posting daily updates (Monday through Friday) for the campus community since March 16. 除了为宝盈APP登录提供重要的更新, 教职员工, Dew has used the videos to encourage the NOBTS family with scripture readings and devotions.
最近几天, 这些视频解决了宝盈APP登录的紧急经济需求, 求职信息, and tips for maintaining emotional and spiritual health during this time of isolation. 露和他的妻子, 塔拉, recently posted an update with ways to help families cope with the challenges of COVID-19. 为不太具体的校园更新和鼓励, Dew在他的“毛巾和盆”播客上发布了新的剧集.
远方的社区
With the stay-at-home order in 新奥尔良 extended until at least April 30, additional campus connection efforts have developed – both official and grassroots.
The Student Life Office and the Cafeteria launched the idea of a “social distancing picnic” on March 26. The cafeteria cooked hamburgers and the student life staff created a safe “grab-and-go” distribution method. 各家各户都被鼓励打包食物, return to their residential area and eat their picnic in the green spaces near their apartments while maintaining a safe physical distance from others. 教师家庭在他们的前院享受野餐. The picnic gave seminary families much-needed opportunities to dialog with others while staying safe. 4月2日, the cafeteria and student life offered the seminary’s famous red beans and rice as “grab-and-go” meals and encouraged the seminary family to eat outside again.
为了打破单调的居家秩序, many have been sharing activity ideas via the seminary’s campus life 脸谱网 group. After a few families began creating chalk drawings on campus sidewalks near their residences, 这个想法很快传遍了校园. 而有些画是抽象和简单的, many were elaborate and most included messages of hope from scripture. Mothers who live on campus also have been sharing child-friendly and family activity ideas through the 脸谱网 group. One of the most frequent contributors in the group has been 塔拉 Dew, the president’s wife. She has shared multiple indoor and outdoor ideas for homeschoolers that can be done while maintaining social distance and a number of ideas designed to foster family spiritual growth during this unique time.
网上灵修、鼓励和联系
三月二十四日(通常是礼拜堂日), the school posted an encouragement update from the scheduled chapel speaker – Dustin Turner, 新奥尔良古教堂的牧师. NOBTS/Leavell College has requested similar videos from each scheduled chapel speaker. These will be posted in order to help students maintain spiritual health during the time of isolation.
直接听取宝盈APP登录的意见，了解他们的需求, Dew scheduled a video prayer meeting using BlueJeans software during the scheduled chapel time on April 2. 更多的 than 70 students participated in the first session and were able to discuss their needs with Dew. Many of the students expressed growing financial challenges as well as concerns for friends and extended family members who have been diagnosed with the virus. 事工是祷告的另一个主要关注点. Many of the students serve as pastors or ministers in local churches and have seen their roles expand during the pandemic. Several students asked for prayers for wisdom and strength regarding their response to the needs of their congregations. 一位与会者, 持牌咨询师, offered to assist any of the students who are in need of counseling related to this time of stress and isolation. Based on the initial response to the meeting and the number of needs expressed, Dew said plans are underway for additional student video prayer meetings in the coming weeks.
Women’s ministry leaders and faculty wives have also used social media to encourage student wives and women students during this time of isolation. Each day a women’s ministry leader posts an encouraging video in the campus life 脸谱网 group to foster community and spiritual health from a distance.
虚拟咨询服务
在4月1日的视频更新中, Dew announced that the Leeke Magee Christian Counseling Center on campus will soon launch virtual counseling options for students and other members of the seminary community. 因为州和地方的居家令, the center closed for face-to-face counseling sessions in mid-March. Dew said the staff has worked diligently to create a virtual counseling model while will begin in the near future.
