Longheath Baptist Church



This a time of anxiety and confusion for many as we follow the advice of the government and self isolate. Food and basic household items such as toilet paper are no longer so easy to get hold of.  News of hospitals across the world struggling to keep up with the spread of the virus can overwhelm us. Many are struggling to keep children entertained or battling with isolation loneliness. And many are wondering where God is in all of this?

"Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay." - Romans 8:20-21

These verse remind us that, firstly, all creation is under God's curse and humanity is responsible for this horrific state of affairs because we live in a world which long ago chose to replace worshipping God with worshipping possessions, power and pleasure. Sadly, you even find this today in churches. When humans abandoned God, the effect on all of us was catastrophic: the world became a place of danger, disease, decay and death. Covid-19, just like other deadly disease such as rabies, smallpox and meningitis, is a powerful reminder that we are not immortal and will one day face our creator. God is in the Covid-19 crisis as He corrects our tendancy to live like we are immortal. 

Secondly, these verses encourage us to hope. The author, Paul, is describing creation as if it were a human with a mind and heart. Creation didn't desire to be cursed but it does look forward with 'eager hope' to a better time of 'glorious freedom from death and decay.' Paul is talking here about the new creation, when God will end this cursed universe and create a new creation without danger, disease, decay or death. God is in the Covid-19 crisis as He coaxes us to focus on the glorious future of the new creation.

Finally, these verses challenge us to recognise that the glorious freedom from death and decay belongs solely to God's children as their inheritance. When we follow Jesus we are more than followers, even more than His disciples, we become His brothers and sisters, sharing in His moral goodness (righteousness), His death, the power of His resurrection and all the privileges of His inheritance for eternity. God is in the Covid-19 crisis as He challenges us to live as His children, free from the fear that neither decay  nor death can destroy us. 

God is in the Covid-19 crisis as He corrects our tendancy to live like we are immortal. So, let's follow the government self isolation and social distancing guidance strictly as the best way to care for ourselves and the elderly and vulnerable around us - and let's reshape how we spend our time, focusing on prayer and fellowship instead of possessions, power and pleasure remembering that all we have that is not eternal will one day be dust. God is in the Covid-19 crisis as He coaxes us to focus on the glorious future of the new creation. So, let's show each other and our unbelieving friends that we are people confident of our future by not acting in a selfish, rude or panicky way such as arguing with our families in the claustrophbic atmosphere of homes in lock down. God is in the Covid-19 crisis as He challenges us to live as His children, free from the fear that neither decay  nor death can destroy us. So let's love each other with encouraging texts, phone calls and zoom meetings. 

Our normal ways of meeting are no longer possible and so we are meeting using an app called Zoom which you can download on your mobile, tablet or PC. All you have to do it sign up and then type in the Meeting IDs below to join any of our meetings. Why not sign up today and join us? 

​DUE TO COVID 19 WE ARE TEMPORARILY NO LONGER MEETING IN THE LONGHEATH CENTRE
Instead we have meetings throughout the week online using Zoom
  • DAILY PRAYER MEETING @ 7:30 pm (Monday to Saturday) - Zoom ID: 425-095-684
  • SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE @ 11 am  - Zoom ID: 625-105-949
  • SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE @ 7:30 pm - Zoom ID: 425-095-684
Download the Zoom app on your mobile, tablet or PC and...
JOIN US TODAY

We also have audio versions of our sermons on this website and soundcloud and 'Bible Snacks' daily devotions on youtube.

Pastor, Arni Pelosi
​Elder, Neil Richardson
21.03.20

P.S. Information on activities throughout the rest of our website reflects what will be happening once the crisis has passed. 

Sunday Morning Service

Traditional Sunday morning service at 11am-12:30pm, All welcome
Communion every 1st & 3rd Sunday
Free Church lunch after service every 4th Sunday morning 

Sunday evening service @6

Modern Sunday evening gospel service
Communion every 1st & 3rd Sunday
refreshments before service at 6pm
Longheath Baptist Church
49A Longheath Gardens
Croydon
CR0 7TD 

5 minutes from the Arena tram stop
5 minutes from the Elmers end Tesco 
10 minutes Monks Orchard Primary School