GREAT FALLS — Now that Montana has entered Phase Two of reopening, in-person church services are resuming. After starting up services again last Sunday, Victory Church in Great Falls shared some of their sanitation efforts to keep their congregation safe post-quarantine.
Pastor Gary Hart said in order to keep the congregation safe during service there will be some new measures in place; those include separating healthy churchgoers from those of poor health. “We’re encouraging people who are compromised, who may have immune issues to go ahead and stay home and watch on the online platform,” Hart said.
The church will also forego children’s ministry for the time being. “We’re not doing children’s ministry at this time simply because it’s almost impossible to social distance children. They are welcome to come and watch the service with their families,” Hart said.
All attendees will also be required to practice social distancing. “We’ve got our chairs set up in six foot increments according to the number in people’s party or family,” Hart said.
The staff also decided to take extra during traditional church activities. “We’ve ordered individualized communion cups and bread. our ushers will hand them out to the people as they come into the service. they’ll be masked and have on plastic gloves...and then everyone will have their own individual communion cup to participate with us,” Hart said.
In order to avoid spreading germs while tithing, churchgoers can tithe online or submit their offerings in an envelope. To expand their efforts, the leadership team contacted chemical consultant Dennis Fowler, who gave the church a five-step plan to enhance the facility’s sanitation. Fowler said members of the church can help contribute by being cognizant of the sanitation tools the church has made available to them.
Victory Church is located at 3001 13th Street South in Great Falls. In-person services will continue Sundays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Click here to read the "phase two" guidelines (PDF)
