Local churches worry about COVID-19 restrictions

Though Medford First Christian Church has added online options, the pastor worries about what impacts will follow from the two-week freeze restrictions that begin Wednesday.

Home as ámuch as face beyond governor brown's two-week freeze.

Newswatch 12's jayda mcclendon reports.

Medford first christian church has been in the community for decades.

"it's a community that, you know, all 35 of those worshiping folks, uh, pitch in to do something."

The members are mostly elderly.

That's something that's something pastor shelton says is challenging during a pandemic because those who are at-risk can't congregate in person.

The church does group meetings via zoom and streams sunday services through facebook live.

However, not everyone has access to that technology.

"it has affected them, no doubt.

You know, i have a lot of conversations, particularly about loneliness."

Governor brown's two-week freeze doesn't make the situation any easier.

Faith-based organizations can't have more than 25 people indoors and 50 people more than 25 can't have organizations faith-based any easier.

The situation doesn't make week freeze doesn't make the situation any easier.

Faith-based organizations can't have more than 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors.

The church has done outdoor worship, but it's not ideal year-round.

Pastor shelton says these restrictions could have an impact on their growing community.

"i mean that i've had some sleepless nights about that from the beginning of all of this.

Uh, how do you grow when new people can't exactly come."

She says she hopes they won't have to go back to just online worship again.

However, pastor shelton says that's out of her control.

She says all they can do