GREENSBORO, N.C. — Nothing can contain faith.
Whether that be the pandemic, distance, or any sort of hardship, nothing can keep a dedicated believer away.
During the pandemic, many hunkered down in their homes. Families took as little trips as possible to protect themselves from COVID-19. However, one family did things a lot differently.
The Mizelles took a vacation of a lifetime, traveling across the country, and carrying their faith with them along the way.
No matter where they were, they went to church. They would sign into services online while they were on the road.
While doing this, the Triad couple was able to visit many places, marking destination after destination off their bucket list.
“No matter where we were, we could still go to church. We would sign in from all over the West. Everything we went to; all these national parks and everything, so we still were connected to the church. Some of the church groups even came out to see us while we were out there, so it was fun no matter where we were. We were still home,” the Mizelles said.
Amid the pandemic, everything was working out the way the Mizelles wanted.
That was until the couple hit Arizona, and Kathy Mizelle suffered a stroke.
Her husband, Tom Mizelle said she spent 76 days in the hospital and underwent five surgeries.
Out West, away from family, friends, and loved ones, the Mizelles only had each other and their church, even though it was thousands of miles away.
“The hardest place to pick up the service was in the hospital, believe it or not,” Kathy Mizelle said.
The Mizelles explained that during this, groups would call the couple and pray for them over the phone.
Now, three years later, the world is no longer on lockdown but the Mizelles still attend church online.
“You hear lots and lots of stories of people that are just not around people anymore because they're so afraid of COVID and I'm sort of one of them,” the Mizelles explained.
Ironically enough, the fear that kept so many people isolated from the outside world during the pandemic, opened up a door for more people to be able to worship right from their own homes.
Daniel Bausum is a pastor at Triad Church.
He’s been in churches for the last 35 years and at Triad Church since 2010.
Before the pandemic, the church would welcome around 550 people every Sunday. Now, their congregation has welcomed nearly 100 new members.
“The new vestibule or the new entryway to the church is not the foyer out by the door. It's the internet,” Pastor Bausum explained.
While other churches may have struggled during COVID-19, Triad Church evolved and grew.
“Part of that, I guess if we're being fair was because we were meeting before some other people did. And so some people who wanted to meet in person but their church wasn't, came here. Now, if I knew that's why people came, I encouraged them. When your church opens back up, go back. But some didn't, and some stayed. And frankly, we lost some people as a result of meeting (in person) when some people thought we shouldn't have,” Pastor Bausum said.
The pastor said the church’s investment in lights, cameras, and streaming software paid off to help those who needed it most.
“Hardly a week goes by that somebody doesn't say to me, 'we weren't able to come last week', or they may tell me before they leave, they said but we were able to watch,” Pastor Bausum said.
As far as the future of online worship is concerned, Pastor Bausum said he believes it’s here to stay.
The Mizelles will keep taking advantage of this service, but plan to get back into in-person service sometime down the road.
“It was amazing how that made such a world of difference because, after 76 days, you’re giving up your feeling like it’s never going to end. It was amazing how that made such a huge difference. It’s all in the Lord's timing. You just have to keep walking until the next thing happens that you’re supposed to be walking into. I’m hoping the next thing that happens is we’re supposed to be walking into and get back to living again,” the Mizelles said.