I was traveling to a mission board meeting in another state when all the federal guidelines to implement "social distancing" were first announced to the nation. Our elders and staff immediately had to make plans via "social networking" to prepare for the coming Sunday gathering, without actually being able to gather. I certainly found it incredibly strange when Sunday arrived to be sitting at a desk in a hotel room watching the first live stream broadcast of a worship service taking place in the church that I pastor. All of it was going on without me being there! But I was also blessed to experience, along with my congregation, true spiritual connecting even as we gathered by means of the internet in a season of "social distancing." I was deeply encouraged to sense that what binds us together as God's people crosses all boundaries of location or isolation. So often, our Lord uses the challenging experiences in our lives to provide deeper experiences with him. It is my sincere hope that this book will be used by our Heavenly Father to bring peace to your soul at times when it seems as if every landmark in your life is being shaken, or even obliterated. It is only natural that in such seasons we experience the very natural emotion of fear. However, there exists a power that can be truly felt in the deepest regions of our soul that is much more powerful and much more real than fear, and that is God's peace. His is a peace that truly surpasses all understanding and that guards our hearts and minds by the power of Jesus Christ himself. (Philippians 4:7) Fear is powerful, like a dreaded virus to our souls, but it is not ALL powerful. That power which reigns over all others is the power of the One who wears the Victor's crown, the Corona Victus. My prayer for you today is that Jesus' victory will be your victory in Conquering the Virus of Fear.

Pastor Sam Polson