Dear Whitewater Family,

I know that many of you are concerned about all things Coronavirus (COVID-19). As people of compassion and faith, we want to be people of faith and not fear. We don’t want to panic, but we do want to be prepared. At Whitewater, we want to care for our congregation in all respects, including the physical well-being of our community. To that end, we are asking you to take precautions to keep yourself and others safe.

At this time, officials are NOT recommending the cancellation of public church gatherings. Whitewater will remain open, and we will continue to have services on Thursdays, Sundays and mid-week programming. If local and state health officials do recommend closure, or we determine it is in the best interest of our Whitewater family to close, we will inform everyone to the best of our abilities through our website, emails, texting, mobile app and social media.

During this time, here’s how we are committed to keeping our campus clean:

• We will sanitize frequently touched surfaces before and after every service such as doors, handles, tables, water fountains, check-in stations, and sinks.
• Our staff and volunteer teams will wash their hands frequently and stay home if they are sick. Also, our coffee team will wear gloves when they serve coffee.
• We will provide additional hand sanitizer stations around campus for everyone to use.
• In addition to keeping our campus clean, we will be taking extra care of our kids’ spaces. Kids’ toys and rooms will be sanitized before and after every service.

We are asking you to help stop the spread of the virus in the following ways:

• Stay at home when you or a family member is sick.
• Please do not drop off any kids or students if they are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue or your arm.
• Get in the habit of NOT touching your face so often.
• Substitute shaking hands at church with a wave or a friendly smile.

If you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19, please let us know so we can find a way to help, pray for everyone involved, and take any necessary precautions here at Whitewater.

Church Online:

If you or a family member are sick or need to stay home during this time, you are welcome to watch services online. We’ve got an open spot for you to watch Online or the mobile app every week starting at 9am on Sundays. Make sure to sign up for online giving no matter what. This virus will undoubtedly affect our in person offerings, and your regular auto giving will help us continue to provide help and hope to others!

If you’d like to share your thoughts, concerns, questions, or ideas with us as we navigate our response to this situation, we’d love to hear from you. Your input and feedback are truly important to us. Please email info@whitewatercrossing.org with any questions or comments.

While we cannot control the virus, the spread, or the impact it has on our church, we’re doing everything we can to make this campus as safe and clean as possible. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that. We must also remember that God has not called us to live in fear, but in faith. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit of God does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” My prayer is that God will fill us all with these three gifts, no matter what comes our way.

- David Vaughan & Team

Helpful Links

Ohio Department of Health

Hamilton County Public Health

Kentucky Family & Health Services

Indiana State Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention