Victorious Family

Family Matters in the Wake of a Pandemic
A look at how Covid-19 has Impacted Families

March 2020 marked the beginning of an alteration of life as we once knew it. The rumors of a deadly virus that originated on the other end of the world made its way to the United States and began its descent upon the entire earth. In a matter of days, the nation was rocked by closures as an act of obedience to a message from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructing every household to isolate themselves. The world was instructed to “shelter-in-place” to save our lives. This 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, officially SARS-CoV-2, made its mark as a global pandemic that impacted everyone on the planet. Two years into this pandemic and we are still masked up and looking for a way out. In fact, we have grown weary and are tired of it.

The need to isolate to protect the physical health of individuals ironically created an emotional impact that threatened the mental health of society and tested the foundations of families.

In the beginning, we heard horrific headlines of multiple members of the same family succumbing to the virus after enjoying a gathering for dinner. We heard of hospitals maxed at capacity due to an influx of Covid-19 patients. We were told multiple times about patients on ventilators dying alone. The news was horrific and full of messages of fear and death. Families were (and some still are) literally afraid to gather as they normally would.

When inquiring about the impact of Covid-19 among associates, the most common feedback stemmed around the issue of mental health due to isolation. Other issues were opposing views on vaccine mandates, income loss, educating children, illness, and death. Covid-19 touched families in one or more of these ways.

In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau as of December 2021, 27% of adults have an anxiety disorder. This is a notable increase from data collected in 2019 showing only 8.1%. A JAMA Pediatrics meta-analysis shows depression and anxiety among adolescents doubled during the pandemic.

Covid-19 is testing our physical, mental, and spiritual health, reveals our strengths and weaknesses, and shows areas in our lives that need pruning and nurturing.

Being in quarantine 24/7 with members of our households was a blessing to some because it brought the nuclear family closer. However, the opposite happened to others. Families could no longer avoid their issues by preoccupying their schedules with activities outside of the home. In addition, 65% of parents felt inadequate to have spiritual conversations with their children. For so many years they had advocated their responsibilities to the local church, Christian camp, or Christian school. During this pandemic families need the church to combat the messages of fear and death. They need support from Christ-followers in a personal way. We all have seasons when we need an Aaron and Hur in our lives to hold our hands up, as they did for Moses so that we can win our battles (Exodus 17:11-12). Parents also need to be intentional in bringing up their children in the way of the Lord (Ephesian 6:4). They need a Plan!

This season is now.

Let’s make a strong family again. Let’s make it a reality by putting faith to action through a generational spiritual development plan designed for you and your family. It’s time to repair the tear in the fabric of America by restoring our families and ensuring discipleship is taking place in the home.

Imagine a generation of your family who knows God with intimate familiarity—who doesn’t just pretend at faith, but actually lives it. Kids who can tell you what they believe and why it matters. Teenagers who handle adversity with the resilient joy of godly wisdom. A family who prays together and worships together, growing into young adults who are equipped and inspired to keep this torch ablaze from the moment their own new families begin. A family whose hope is so strong that even a pandemic cannot shake its foundation because they have been intentional in discipling their children’s lives.

Written By Terence Chatmon and Sommer Vega of Victorious Family.

Victorious Family, a family discipleship ministry spanning more than 100 countries that equips and empowers family champions (parents) to be intentional in bringing their children up in the training and instruction of the Christian faith. His new book “Do Your Children Believe? Becoming Intentional about your Family’s Faith and Spiritual Legacy is a best seller and blessing to parents.” Click the link to order your copy today.