As we continue to evaluate the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it is our desire to follow the recommendations of all governing and health related organizations. Ridgecrest Staff has been hard at work preparing to resume on-campus worship as soon and as safe as possible. The governor’s office released a document this week providing information for churches to safely resume on-campus worship. Ridgecrest will begin a phased reopening strategy beginning June 7. Below are the general guidelines and information regarding Phase 1:

General Guidelines for Everyone Throughout All Phases
This section provides general guidelines for all phases. A good practice is for individuals to assume they are infectious and that others are infectious as well, regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms.

Individuals (Including Employees, Volunteers, Church Members, and Regular Attenders)
Use Physical Distancing Whenever Possible
While on Ridgecrest property, stay at least 6 feet away from others not from your household whenever possible. Remember “farther is better.”

• Non-contact greeting only (No handshakes, hugs, etc.)
• Masks are available at welcome center.
• No handouts (bulletins, flyers, etc.)
• No meals, food, or self-serve coffee stations.
• Giving stations will be available but offering plates will not be passed.
• Multiple services will be offered to allow for social distancing (9:00AM & 10:30AM, beginning June 7).

Continue to Practice Good Hygiene

• It is strongly recommended (and at times required per the phase guidelines) that you wear a cloth face mask when unable to consistently maintain 6 feet of physical distancing while on campus.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer stations that are located throughout the church.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Dispose of tissues after a single use.
• Ridgecrest will regularly disinfect frequently used items and surfaces using soap and water or EPA-registered household disinfectants.
• Hymnals and Bibles will be removed from the pews.
• Pens and Connect Cards will be removed from the pews.

People Who Feel Sick or Have Been Told to Isolate/Quarantine Should Stay Home

• Temperature check on all staff and volunteers (Anyone with temperature 100.4 or above will be asked to return home).
• Stay home if you feel sick or have been told to isolate/quarantine due to potential exposure, illness or while awaiting test results.
• If you are concerned about your health, contact and follow the advice of your medical provider.

Higher-Risk Individuals
While this document provides guidance to allow our church facility to reopen, individuals must consider their personal risk and determine whether to increase their interactions at church as the phases progress. Throughout all phases, higher-risk individuals are strongly encouraged to follow the guidance specifically for them. In Phase One and Phase Two, this means to stay home as much as possible. In Phase Three, this means resuming public interactions with physical distancing. Higher-risk individuals are encouraged to attend the 9:00AM service in an attempt to prevent them from coming in contact with someone who has been exposed to COVID-19.

Higher-risk individuals include those age 65 and over, and those with serious underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised.

Phase One (Beginning June 7)
Phase One will include all the general guidelines, but will also include the following:

• Families will sit at designated spots to ensure social distancing.
• Attenders are encouraged to reserve their seat on our website, app, or by calling the church office.
• No food or coffee stations.
• Only bathrooms outside worship center will be open for emergency use only.
• All rooms will be limited to 50% capacity (Worship Center, Chapel, etc.).
• Life Groups will continue meeting via virtual platforms or will meet off-site adhering to social distancing guidelines (Outdoors up to 20 people as of 5/20).
• Preschool, Children and Student Groups will continue meeting via virtual platforms or will meet off-site adhering to social distancing guidelines (Outdoors up to 20 people as of 5/20).
• Masks are required for all volunteers and staff.
• Masks are strongly recommended for all attenders.
• Doors under steeple and to the right will be used as entrances.
• Doors to the left of the steeple to circle drive will be used as exits.

We will continue to follow guidance from local and national authorities on appropriate next steps and necessary precautions our church should take. We appreciate your partnership in order to maintain the health and safety of our Ridgecrest church family, and any new information will be communicated promptly to you.

To access the complete plan for employees, volunteers, and all phases the button below.

As we continue to evaluate the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it is our desire to follow the recommendations of all governing and health related organizations. As a shelter-in-place order has been instituted by Governor Reeves in the state of Mississippi, Ridgecrest Baptist Church will take the following actions:
 

• All Ridgecrest Baptist Church employees will work from home during the shelter-in-place order. While churches are considered essential as long as they meet CDC guidelines, we want to ensure we are taking every precaution to protect our staff, their families, and people in our community.
• Office phones will be forwarded to cell phones of employees. While Ridgecrest will not have available office hours during shelter-in-place, you may still reach a staff member by calling the church phone number (601.853.1090) and accessing the dial-by-name directory or the employee’s extension. You are also free to contact a staff member through email using the staff member’s first initial and last name followed by @ridgecrest.net. If you or someone you know is in need during this time, please do not hesitate to contact a staff member.
• We will continue to offer only an Online Service, each week on Sunday mornings (Including Easter) at 10:30AM as we adhere to all CDC recommendations and guidelines.
• While Easter will look different this year, our staff is working very hard to make the most of this season. One resource that will be available will be Easter Unpacked. This digital booklet provides daily devotions and activities to participate in each day as a family or individual. This one-week devotional will allow you to reflect on the “I Am” statements of Jesus leading into Easter Sunday.
• We are planning a project following Easter that we need everyone’s help with. On Easter Sunday, please take a family photo before, during, or after the livestream and share to social media using #easterwithridgecrest. We will be collecting all of these photos for a special project.
• Serve Opportunity: Our Ridgecrest Family has been stepping up in countless ways during the coronavirus. One of our Ridgecrest members has been ministering to two young pregnant women and was providing weekly discipleship and bible study prior to the outbreak. However, due to the Coronavirus, their schedule has been altered. A special event that we had planned was to host a baby shower, but once again Coronavirus has changed these plans. Instead, we are having a digital baby shower for these ladies. Ayanna, who is having a girl, has created a registry that can be accessed by clicking here. While Kanisha has not submitted a registry, she is having a boy, and is specifically in need of a bouncy seat and infant car seat. Ayanna and Kanisha both will be in need of diapers as they are currently hard to come by. Let's work together to show the love of Christ to these two women and support them anyway that we can. Any items that are purchased, can be dropped off at the church office after the shelter-in-place orders.
• In addition to all of the digital content we are offering through preschool, children, student and adult ministries, we encourage you to access various studies on Rightnow Media. We have identified several studies for you to watch during your quarantine. One of these is a brand new study entitled Overcoming Anxiety During COVID-19. If you do not have a RightNow Media account, you can set one up for free at RightNow Media invitation. 

As we continue to evaluate the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it is our desire to follow the recommendations of all governing and health related organizations. As mass gatherings continue to be discouraged, now among groups of 10 or more, Ridgecrest Baptist Church will take the next steps:

• Next Steps U (Wednesday Nights) for the spring semester have been canceled. However, we would encourage individuals to access Rightnow Media as a way to participate in various Bible studies, as well as access many resources for students, children, and preschoolers. One study that was scheduled for this semester that you may access is Psalm 23 by Matt Chandler.
• We will continue to offer an Online Service only, weekly on Sunday mornings at 10:30AM as we monitor new recommendations and guidelines.
• We are encouraging life groups to maintain contact with one another by calling one another and checking-in to identify any potential needs. If you know of a specific need, please contact Brian Wright.
• We are coordinating with local schools in the area to determine how we can partner to provide meals to the children on free and reduced lunch. We are also seeking additional opportunities Ridgecrest can serve our community.
• Additional Digital Resources
  • Follow our various social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) for additional discipleship tools for students, children, and preschoolers.
  • Our staff will produce a life group discussion video on Friday. You can watch this and discuss it together as an opportunity to participate in relational discipleship as a family.
  • We will coordinate with our Adult Life Group leaders to provide digital opportunities for facilitating life group.
• As we continue to Know God, Serve Others, and Reach Our World during this time of crisis, we will continue to rely on the generosity of the church to support the ministry of Ridgecrest. Giving is not payment for activities conducted at the church, but an act of worship conducted by the Church as overflow of what God has provided us. While we are not gathered to collect checks and cash, we encourage you to give online, on our church App, or by texting the word “GIVE” to 601-853-1090.
• To ensure we are good stewards of what we have, we have begun reducing facility costs by turning off lights, air conditioning, heat, and other non-essential electronics. As with all other decisions, this will be monitored carefully with wisdom and prayer.

We will continue to follow guidance from local and national authorities on appropriate next steps and necessary precautions our church should take. We appreciate your partnership in order to maintain the health and safety of our Ridgecrest church family, and any new information will be communicated promptly to you.

As we continue to evaluate the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, it is our desire to follow the recommendations of all governing and health related organizations. The Mississippi Department of Health has updated their recommendations for individuals and organizations. One of such recommendations is to cancel any mass gatherings with 250 people or more, therefore Ridgecrest Baptist Church will take the following steps:

• On Sunday, March 15, 2020, Ridgecrest will offer an Online Service only. Life Groups, Corporate Gathering, and Sunday PM activities will be cancelled for this Sunday. We encourage everyone to tune into our Online Service and know that while we are separated we still have the opportunity to worship together in Spirit.
• The Parent Night that was scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2020 will be postponed to a later date.
• These precautionary measures follow Spring Break in which many individuals traveled to potentially affected areas and will allow us to monitor the situation closely to make the best decisions for our Ridgecrest family and community.

We continue to recommend the following to keep your family healthy during this time:

• All volunteers and church attenders should greet one another and guests with a friendly wave instead of a handshake;
• Please stay home if you are not feeling well. If your child has a fever or other flu/cold symptoms, we ask that you please keep them home as well. If you choose to stay home, we’d love for you to join our online service;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Maintain proper hygiene by thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your home using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe;
• Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s guidelines. The CDC has guidelines regarding travel, facemask, hand washing, and other key measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will follow their recommended guidelines and continue to adjust our policies as needed. For an exhaustive list of CDC guidelines visit their website;
• If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow immediate guidance from the CDC.
• If you are considered at-risk for COVID-19, we understand if you choose to remain home during this time, and we’d love for you to join our online service;

We will continue to follow guidance from local and national authorities on appropriate next steps and necessary precautions our church should take. We appreciate your partnership in order to maintain the health and safety of our Ridgecrest Church family, and any new information will be communicated promptly to you.

At Ridgecrest Baptist Church, we want to care for our congregation in all respects, including the physical well-being of our community. As of late, COVID-19 (coronavirus), has gotten our attention and has prompted us to be in prayer for the communities and nations throughout the world that have been directly impacted by it. In earnest, we are asking God to heal those who are sick, to protect those who are at risk of contracting the virus, and to pour out His wisdom on the doctors, nurses and medical professionals who are tirelessly caring for those afflicted.

Knowing that you may have concerns also, we want to put your mind at ease by sharing with you that Ridgecrest Baptist Church is monitoring the situation closely and prepared to take whatever precautions necessary. While we always focus on providing a clean environment, our staff will be extra vigilant to ensure all areas are cleaned and sanitized.

We also recommend the following to keep your family healthy during this time:

• All volunteers and church attenders should greet one another and guests with a friendly wave instead of a handshake;
• Please stay home if you are not feeling well. If your child has a fever or other flu/cold symptoms, we ask that you please keep them home as well. If you choose to stay home, we’d love for you to join our online service;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Maintain proper hygiene by thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your home using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe;
• Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s guidelines. The CDC has guidelines regarding travel, facemask, hand washing, and other key measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will follow their recommended guidelines and continue to adjust our policies as needed. For an exhaustive list of CDC guidelines visit their website;
• If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow immediate guidance from the CDC.
• If you are considered at-risk for COVID-19, we understand if you choose to remain home during this time, and we’d love for you to join our online service;

While Mississippi currently has no recorded cases of COVID-19, we will continue to follow guidance from local and national authorities on appropriate next steps and necessary precautions our church should take. We appreciate your partnership in order to maintain the health and safety of our Ridgecrest Church family, and any new information will be communicated promptly to you.