Latest News- March 21st

Hey Everyone,

Here’s the latest from DCF-

1. Join us Online for our Sunday Morning Service- 10:15am on Facebook live @ https://www.facebook.com/dothancf/. We’ll be moving our services to online only and we’ll also be posting (including live-streams) encouraging updates to the DCF Facebook Page on a regular basis. Stay tuned.
2. We’ve added a “Covid-19 Update and Resource Page” to our DCF Website page @ http://dothancf.com/covid19/. Go here for general info and resource links to govt. agencies, local food-banks and other helpful information. We’ll keep this updated regularly.
3. We have canceled our Thrive Conference for April 17th-18th. We’ll reschedule at a later date. We’ll contact everyone who registered with refund details.
4. We have suspended all small group “physical” meetings. However, we encourage everyone to continue to connect even if you can’t be in the same room together. The church was never a building, it was just the place the church could meet. We’ve just moved the meeting place to online (at least temporarily). Take advantage of technology to stay connected (even if you’re old-school, smart phones still have a “phone” option).
5. Contact us at admin@dothancf.com if you have a need, would like prayer or simply need encouragement. 

Church Online

Join us Online for our Sunday Morning Service- 10:15am on Facebook live @ https://www.facebook.com/dothancf/.

This is just the beginning. We’ll be gearing up in the coming weeks with new ways to connect and meet needs as we move to online church. We’ll be offering several options throughout the week moving forward, including updates, testimonies and even some live-streaming options for whoever may be available. Stay tuned to our facebook page for more info.

Share your testimonies! 

We’d love to hear how God is breaking through in your circumstances. Send testimonies to admin@dothancf.com.

Prayer Requests

We’re in uncharted waters and that’s sure to bring up some potentially challenging needs. Our Prayer Team would love to pray with you. Send your request and contact info to karen.hale@dothancf.com and we’ll get in touch by phone to encourage you in prayer.

Finance Team Update

We’ve taken several steps to reduce our operating expenses as a church including auditing every area of spending and eliminating anything deemed non-essential. However, our mission will continue- both internally, to equip and meet the needs of the church family, and externally, to reach out in an unprecedented way to those in need around us. There has never been a more relevant  time to see “Lives Transformed by Grace & the Holy Spirit”.

There are currently 3 ways to give–

1. Check By Mail- 2054 John D. Odom Road, Dothan, AL  36303
2. Online- www.dothancf.com/give
3. Set up online auto bill pay from your own bank (contact your individual bank for details)

The Finance team would love to help in other ways as well- If you need assistance with updating your budget, or just have questions regarding your finances, they’re here for you. If they can’t answer a question, they’ll point you in the right direction. Contact admin@dothancf.com to arrange a call.

POSTED: MARCH 17, 2020

Dear DCF Family and Friends,

We wanted to follow-up about our next steps as a church-

1. We are suspending all small group “physical” meetings. The State Department has advised everyone to avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people until further notice. Small Group Leaders may connect their groups in alternative ways. Stay tuned for communication from your group leader. Please stay in contact individually in other ways- text, call and encourage everyone as often as you can. Community has always been important but even more so now.
2. We will begin Live-Streaming our Sunday Morning services next Sunday, March 22nd at 10:15am. Stay tuned for more details.
3. We have asked our Leadership Team, Small Group Leaders Grace Team Leaders, etc. to be praying for and connecting with all of you. 

• Please let someone know if you’re in need, even if it’s just to talk, receive encouragement or prayer.
• We have people who are willing to pick up groceries/ prescriptions, etc. for those who are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness and shouldn’t be out and about.
• For arising needs, please contact admin@dothancf.com or your small group/ grace team leaders.

Proverbs 22:3 says “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” 

We put our faith in a faithful God and we don’t entertain fear or allow worry to control our lives. At the same time, God has called us to be prudent so let’s make wise choices and follow the guidelines of our federal, state and local leaders as we join together to combat this virus.

You may feel apprehensive about what the next few weeks/months hold. But let me assure you that we’re going to rediscover God’s goodness and His great faithfulness to us as a congregation, city and nation. God is on His throne and has been for every crisis that has come before. He is faithful and His people will prevail.

Don’t hesitate to be the church in this season. Pray for the sick, offer help in time of need, present a spirit of calmness and  kindness when given the opportunity, especially when things are tense. Don’t offer platitudes, but really listen to people’s hearts.

When sickness presented itself, Jesus reached out and healed those who were ill and had no hope. He’s the same today as He was back then. He also met practical needs. Let’s do the same. Let’s be the church to the world when the world needs it the most.

Christian author and speaker, Jon Acuff has said, “fear is an emotion, afraid is a choice”. We can’t help when the emotion arises, but we can choose to not be afraid. If you’re struggling with fear, reach out to someone who can encourage, pray for you, and even help to meet practical needs. Scripture says that “… love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” 1 John 4:18 NLT 

Please remain faithful-