Antioch churches adjust to COVID19 

Antioch has been adapting to the challenges of #COVID19 by using a mixture of physical gatherings and online meetings.

Antioch church plants have moved from physical gatherings in places such as a wedding venue, restaurants, community centres and homes to largely online meetings at the worst of Lockdown. More recently, Antioch has mixed physical and online gatherings depending on the latest Government and Diocesenal guidance, and we simply cannot keep updating this site with changes occurring sometimes almost every few days.

Here are some of the creative ways Antioch Churches have responded to this crisis...

At the height of Lockdown, various members of the Network were leading live Night Prayers via our very own YouTube channel and encouraging people to log on and join us in praying for different parts of the Diocese of Manchester. We combined Anglican liturgy with interview-based videos, as below.

Secondly, Antioch recently completed an online Alpha Course, allowing people to use the Zoom Conference Call app to explore the meaning of life and the Christian message whilst asking questions and making new friends. More information on this is available on this link.

Thirdly, our church plants have been holding online church gatherings using the Zoom app so that people can log in, see each other's faces, share and pray together and explore the Bible.

YouVersion is a Bible app which allows people - even during Lockdown - to interact with each other over the Scriptures, to ask questions and share insights and God has really used this during Lockdown, especially with Oldhams Church Bolton.

We are using other creative measures to try and balance the need to stay safe with the need to advance the mission of Jesus and to retain that sense of Gospel community.

Co-Founder and Diverse Director John Brett often sends pre-recorded talks to those in his church (Hope Church Longsight) ahead of their gatherings, and then they interact with each other at the usual gathering time.

This is a challenging time but we are rising to meet the challenge. If you pray, please pray that God will use us even at this strange period of time. 

More content is to follow on our YouTube Channel, and you can keep up to date also by following us on Twitter or Facebook.