How many visitors to Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) were shocked at the volume at which members sang? I have heard over and over while there; sing loud and smile! Go to the WOFF website and there are pictures of members with mouths wide open giving it their all. While I was a member, I didn’t see this as annoying. It was just what we did to serve God.

Today, I will direct you to a choir practice all the way across the country from early March which included 60 people practicing for an upcoming performance. This was just as information about COVID-19 was beginning to circulate in Washington.

March 29, 2020- Los Angeles Times- by Richard Read – Seattle Bureau Chief- “A choir decided to go ahead with rehearsal. Now dozens of members have COVID-19 and two are dead”

“With the coronavirus quickly spreading in Washington state in early March, leaders of the Skagit Valley Chorale debated whether to go ahead with weekly rehearsal.

The virus was already killing people in the Seattle area, about an hour’s drive to the south.

But Skagit County hadn’t reported any cases, schools and businesses remained open, and prohibitions on large gatherings had yet to be announced.

On March 6, Adam Burdick, the choir’s conductor, informed the 121 members in an email that amid the “stress and strain of concerns about the virus,” practice would proceed as scheduled at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church.”

The story goes on to say 60 members showed up and were offered hand sanitizer at the door. The members were trying to keep their distance from each other.

“After 2 ½ hours of practice they ended at 9 pm. At the time of the article, 45 were diagnosed with COVID-19 or ill with the symptoms, at least three had been hospitalized and two are dead.”

Later interviews with eight attendees revealed “nobody there was coughing or sneezing or appeared ill.”

The article outlined the World Health Organization stressing the virus is spread by “respiratory droplets,” While other research includes evidence that the virus could spread through “can be transmitted through aerosols — particles smaller than 5 micrometers that can float in the air for minutes or longer.”

The critical part which can apply to activities all the way back in North Carolina:

“One of the authors of that study, (New England Journal of Medicine) Jamie Lloyd-Smith, a UCLA infectious disease researcher, said it’s possible that the forceful breathing action of singing dispersed viral particles in the church room that were widely inhaled.

“One could imagine that really trying to project your voice would also project more droplets and aerosols,” he said. (emphasis added)

“With three-quarters of the choir members testing positive for the virus or showing symptoms of infection, the outbreak would be considered a “super-spreading event,” he said.”

The article goes on the warn about attending public events and sharing how quickly several of the choir members started showing symptoms.

What is the point? The concerns for the safety of our friends and loved ones inside WOFF is not about permanently taking away their freedom of religion or protected religious practices.

However, considering the very high transmission rate among the small choir that can’t project their voices as loud as WOFF members; would it be unreasonable to expect for the health and safety of all members that you temporarily discontinue gatherings above the State mandated number which include the practices of loud prayer and singing?  

Does the adage apply here- “better safe than sorry”? Will we learn from the mistakes of others?

Yes, for some, it may be too late. Will you consider starting today?

This is good information for any church considering the options for meetings or celebrations this weekend.

Follow here: Twitter – @religiouscults #exposeWOFF, #exposeWordofFaithFellowship

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

YouTube- religiouscultsinfo.com

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation) This is post number 678.