We believe that “God works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph. 2:11). When many are tempted to fear and panic, we know our hope is in Jesus Christ. Though we are never promised physical security, we find eternal safety through faith in Christ. As Paul said, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things” (Rom. 8:32).
We want to keep you up to date with the latest announcements as our lives are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Please check this page regularly for information about special announcements and resources. If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].
STAY HEALTHY AND INFORMED
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS?
A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
A diagnosis with coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43, or HKU1 is not the same as a COVID-19 diagnosis. Patients with COVID-19 will be evaluated and cared for differently than patients with common coronavirus diagnosis.
HOW DOES THE VIRUS SPREAD?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in many affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?
Visit the COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment page to learn about how to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID-19?
There is information for people who have had close contact with a person confirmed to have, or being evaluated for, COVID-19 available online.
SHOULD I WEAR A FASK MASK OR COVERING?
In light of data about how COVID-19 spreads, along with evidence of widespread COVID-19 illness in communities across the country, CDC recommends that people wear a cloth face covering to cover their nose and mouth in the community setting. This is an additional public health measure people should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in addition to (not instead of) social distancing, frequent hand cleaning and other everyday preventive actions. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer, but may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. This would be especially important in the event that someone is infected but does not have symptoms. A cloth face covering should be worn whenever people must go into public settings (grocery stores, for example). Medical masks and N-95 respirators are reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
IS IT SAFE TO GET CARE FOR MY OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS DURING THIS TIME?
- It is important to continue taking care of your health and wellness. If you have a chronic health problem, you may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Below are some things you can to do to take care of your health during this time.
- Continue your medications, and do not change your treatment plan without talking to your healthcare provider.
- Continue to manage your disease the way your healthcare provider has told you.
- Have at least a 2-week supply of all prescription and non-prescription medications. Talk to your healthcare provider, insurer, and pharmacist about getting an extra supply of prescription medications, if possible, to reduce trips to the pharmacy.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about whether your vaccinations are up-to-date.People aged 65 years or older, and those with some underlying medical conditions, are recommended to receive vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease as soon as your provider tells you that can.
- Call your healthcare provider
- if you have any concerns about your medical conditions, or if you get sick.
- to find out about different ways you can connect with your healthcare provider for chronic disease management or other conditions. Ask about phone calls, video appointments, use of the patient portal, emails and mailings. Learn more about telehealth hereexternal icon.
- Do not delay getting emergency care for your health problems or any health condition that requires immediate attention.
- If you need emergency help, call 911.
- Emergency departments have infection prevention plans to protect you from getting COVID-19 if you need care for your medical condition.
- Continue to practice everyday prevention: wash your hands often, keep space between yourself and others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around other people, cover coughs and sneezes, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTONS OF COVID-19?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.
Read more about COVID-19 Symptoms.
HOW CAN I GET TESTED?
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests. A viral test checks for a current infection. An antibody test checks for a previous infection.
If you think you need a viral test, call your healthcare provider or state or localexternal icon health department and tell them about your symptoms and how you think you may have been exposed to the virus. Your healthcare provider can let you know if they offer viral tests at their office. Your state or local health department can provide local information on where testing is available. See Testing for Current Infection for more information.
If you want an antibody test, call your healthcare provider to see if they offer antibody tests and whether you should get one. You can also visit your state or local health department’s website for local information on antibody testing.
WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Based on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:
- People aged 65 years and older
- People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:
- People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
- People who have serious heart conditions
- People who are immunocompromised
- Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
- People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥40)
- People with diabetes
- People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
- People with liver disease
7.1.20 | ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES UPDATE
Most of you have probably seen the significant spike and record COVID-19 cases reported in the past days in the DFW area. On June 22, we opened our offices up to our staff, and since, we saw two staff members exhibit COVID-19 symptoms and one of their family members has tested positive.
Out of an abundance of caution, we have closed our office as of Wednesday afternoon, July 1, until further notice. In the meantime, our staff will resume working from home and can be reached via email. In addition, our staff will be observing the Independence Day holiday on Thursday, July 2nd, returning to work remotely on Monday, July 6th.
Please be in prayer for our staff and their families during these difficult times.
6.26.20 | WELCOME HOME POSTPONED
In light of the increasingly high volume of new COVID-19 cases and the guidance of local government officials, we have decided to postpone our return to in-person worship. As we have said before, WE are the Church, no matter where we meet. But out of the care and concern for our member's health and safety, we feel it only appropriate to postpone moving forward with our plans to gather together this Sunday.
With that said, we invite you to grab your coffee, get back in the comfy spot on your couch, invite your friends and family, and join us online for an amazing word from our Senior Pastor. We will continue to keep you up to date on our latest safety precautions, and we can't thank you enough for remaining prayerful, faithful, and flexible during these uncertain times.
6.13.20 | WE'RE COMING BACK HOME
The rapid spread of Covid-19 brought dramatic changes to the way people work, communicate, learn, and gather. We the Elders of NDCBF know that there are those who are very concerned about returning to worship and we understand; we are there with you. We also know that there are those who desire to return as soon as possible; our hearts are with you as well. With this in mind, our first priority is the safety of all as we fulfill the will of God in this season of ministry. Please continue to pray for us as your elders, as we pray for you all, and we ask that all members of NDCBF seek the wisdom of God. This wisdom has led us to the plan we now place before you. Please know that we have labored and toiled over this plan and believe, based on all data that we have received from other churches, state and local government offices, CDC, and medical professionals that this plan is the right one for us at this time. With the guidance of the Spirit of God, our plans are as follows.
We will continue to pray and adjust as we move forward. Thank you for all of your prayers, patience and support. May the love of our Father and the grace of His Son, continue to guide us all by the power of His Spirit.
Blessings and shalom upon us all.
Pastor Dames
4.27.20 | A MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR
Greetings my NDCBF family,
For the past several weeks we have been in unchartered territory; but be assured in this, that God has seen all things from the beginning, sees all things now and has all things worked out at the end. In other words, God is in control.
I am personally praying for you all daily and have full confidence that He who began the work within us is faithful to complete it. The world, as we knew it, has changed but our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are the church and will always be here for each other, especially in times of crisis. If any of you are in need of assistance at this time, whether physical or spiritual, please reach out to us and let us know. Our staff and servant leaders are still on duty ready to assist wherever they can, so we encourage you to reach out to your church family. The cluster leaders in your area are also ready and willing to help. To reach your cluster leader, please see the emails below:
Allen: [email protected]
Carrollton: [email protected]
Dallas: [email protected]
Frisco: [email protected]
Garland: [email protected]
McKinney: [email protected]
Mesquite/Rowlett: [email protected]
Murphy: [email protected]
Plano: [email protected]
Richardson: [email protected]
For additional assistance you may contact the church by phone at (972)-437-3493 or by email at [email protected], and copy [email protected].
God has truly been good to NDCBF and even during this crisis, He has sustained us. With that said we have not stopped the movement with our plans. We believe that the Lord is doing a work within the body of Christ and we are preparing for our part in His service. Thank you for being “All IN” with us as we move forward. Even though things may have paused for a bit we are still on track to fulfill the mission which the Lord has placed before us. Our financial situation is still in a good place because of your faithfulness in giving despite today’s predicament and by the grace of God we aim to keep it that way. Our plans to relocate is still in effect and we have now obtained our broker and began the process of marketing the building.
I know that this is an exceedingly difficult time for many of us, but God has a way of doing great things when we least expect it. I believe that He is about to do something great within our local body.
Thank you for being so faithful to the call of God and the ministry to which He has called you. Blessing and God’s shalom upon you all, until we all meet face to face.
Your servant in Christ
Pastor Dames
3.22.20 | CHURCH OFFICE CHANGES
NDCBF Family,
In light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our area, we have determined what we believe is the best course of action for the upcoming week and wanted to alert you as soon as possible.
This week our administrative offices will be closed, and our team will begin working from home as our cities are calling for us to stay home as a way to decrease the impact of this pandemic. We will evaluate this closing on a week-to-week basis and will keep you updated as necessary. All staff members and servant leaders will be available by email, and our voicemail will be monitored daily.
If you have a need, we want to remind you to contact your Cluster captain assigned to your area. Below is a list of contact information for each cluster:
Allen: [email protected]
Carrollton: [email protected]
Dallas: [email protected]
Frisco: [email protected]
Garland: [email protected]
McKinney: [email protected]
Mesquite/Rowlett: [email protected]
Murphy: [email protected]
Plano: [email protected]
Richardson: [email protected]
Since the office won't be physically open this week, we ask that you would give your tithes and offerings online at https://www.ndcbf.org/give or mail it to our physical address at 2801 E. President George Bush Highway, Plano, TX 75074.
We have been continuing to monitor federal, state and local advisories regarding this outbreak and will notify you immediately as modifications are made. As the next week unfolds, our team will reconvene to discuss how we will move forward. For the latest on our response to the Coronavirus visit our website at https://www.ndcbf.org/coronavirus. Please join us in praying for our country, leaders, communities, and those affected.
3.21.20 | UPDATES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Blessings to all,
I want to encourage you with the words from the psalmist that states, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, my refuge, and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” As we go through this crisis know that you are not alone, I am here for you and your entire church family is here for you so even though it may be a bit uneasy right now, remember that you are a child of the King and He will never leave nor forsake you. I have been praying for you and your family daily. If you need prayer, please let us know at [email protected].
There are a few things I would like to share with you to keep you informed of our present situation. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of every week until otherwise stated, we will gather for a 30-minute prayer call at 7:00 am. The dial-in number is 267-930-4000, and the participant code is 465-642-892. When you join the call, be sure to mute your phone to avoid background noise. As stated earlier, if you have a prayer request, please send it to [email protected]. As we continue with our online worship, please join us live online at 9:30 am, and 11:30 am for our Sunday worship, and on Wednesday, at 6:45 pm for our Wednesday Bible Study. You can tune online at https://www.NDCBF.org/watchnow, on Facebook Live at facebook.com/NDCBF, or on YouTube by searching NDCBF. Online worship is our opportunity to stay connected. I want to remind you that Giving is a fundamental part of our worship and reaches on beyond a specified location. I want to encourage you in this area to in all that you do, honor God with your first fruits (income), and He will do all that He has promised for those who are faithful. You may give online at https://www.ndcbf.org/give, or you can mail it to the church, 2801 E. President George Bush Hwy, Plano, TX 75074, or drop it off at the church during our office hours M-TH 9 am-5 pm. Thank you for your continued faithfulness.
We are working diligently to keep in contact with all of you, especially those who are most vulnerable during this time. With this in mind, we have begun checking in with all of our seniors to make sure they do not require any immediate care. If you know of someone or you need help during this time, please contact your cluster leaders. Below is a list of the different areas and the email contact for each area. If you live in an area listed or close to it, please feel free to contact us via email and someone will respond to your request. Please note that we are still operating as the church; this situation has only made us grow stronger in our resolve to show forth the love of our Savior.
Allen: [email protected]
Carrollton: [email protected]
Dallas: [email protected]
Frisco: [email protected]
Garland: [email protected]
McKinney: [email protected]
Mesquite/Rowlett: [email protected]
Murphy: [email protected]
Plano: [email protected]
Richardson: [email protected]
Finally, our youth and children’s ministries have developed creative ways to say connected; please take advantage of these resources. Though things may feel a bit unstable at this time, remember that our God is always in control. Thank you for your faithfulness during this time of unrest, and may our God and Father continue to keep you and bless you all your days, till we meet again, may the grace of our Savior be upon you and your families. Blessings and Shalom be multiplied upon you all.
Sincerely
Pastor Dames
3.13.20 | SERVICES WILL BE ONLINE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
NDCBF Family,
As we continue to follow the most current information concerning the seriousness of this health crisis our nation is facing, we are praying and believe God for full restoration, while also using wisdom to care for each other not only spiritually, but also physically and mentally.
After much prayer and in response to the precautions given by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) we have decided to suspend in-person worship for this Sunday, March 15. We will broadcast our services online at 9:30am with a rebroadcast at 11:30am. You can join us on our live stream, Facebook Live, and YouTube. You will also be able to give online using the link below or mail to our physical address at 2801 E. President George Bush Highway, Plano, TX 75074.
Live Stream: https://www.ndcbf.org/watchnow
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ndcbfplano
YouTube: Click Here
Online Giving: https://www.ndcbf.org/give
Below are the changes to our normal programming, classes, and events:
- All rehearsals and classes are canceled for Saturday, March 14.
- No in-person worship or classes on Sunday, March 15.
- The building will be closed to all evening activities next week.
- Our offices will be open Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and our staff will be on-hand for assistance.
Our building will be undergoing a deep cleaning, as we are intentional about providing a safe environment. We will continue to monitor federal, state and local advisories regarding this outbreak and will notify you immediately as modifications are made. As the next week unfolds, our team will reconvene to discuss how we will move forward. For the latest on our response to the Coronavirus visit our website at https://www.ndcbf.org/coronavirus. Please join us in praying for our country, leaders, communities, and those affected.
Important Links
Updates: https://www.ndcbf.org/coronavirus
Live Stream: https://www.ndcbf.org/watchnow
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ndcbfplano
YouTube: Click Here
Online Giving: https://www.ndcbf.org/give
3.12.20 | CORONAVIRUS – OUR RESPONSE
To the members and visitors of North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship (NDCBF) we want you to be aware of how we are responding to this issue and the measures we have in place to continue ministry and to safeguard our congregation and those we come in contact with. While we encourage you to come and join us for worship, if you are unable, we invite you to stream the worship service online at https://www.ndcbf.org/watchnow and take advantage of the opportunity to give online through our secure portal at https://www.ndcbf.org/give!
Our Response:
At this time, all events scheduled at NDCBF (worship services, prayer meetings, classes, ministry meetings, etc.) will take place as scheduled. However, we are suspending, indefinitely, off-site ministry activities at possible high exposure locations. This includes our ministry activities at Union Gospel Mission, Center of Hope, nursing homes, prisons, and Foreman Elementary School. We will reassess these activities as the current uncertainties surrounding the virus become clearer and we better understand the safety measures taken by the organizations that we serve. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution for our members and those who we minister to.
Measures:
We are asking our congregation to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to help stop the spread of Coronavirus:
· Avoid contact with people who are sick
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and discard the tissue
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
· If you are not feeling well, seek medical attention and refrain from coming in contact with others
· Wash your hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds
In addition, NDCBF is doing the following:
· Increasing the frequency and number of surfaces that are being disinfected
· Placing more hand sanitizer bottles in public areas
· Encouraging members to greet one another with an elbow bump or fist bump as opposed to shaking hands and hugging.
We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local advisories regarding this outbreak and will notify you immediately if there are modifications to our current plan as stated above.
Above all, we ask that you pray that God will graciously intervene and eradicate this virus as quickly as possible. Again, if you are unable to join us for worship, we invite you to stream the worship service online at https://www.ndcbf.org/watchnow and take advantage of the opportunity to give online through our secure portal at https://www.ndcbf.org/give!
CONGREGATIONAL UPDATES