Keeping things going: Finding new ways to deliver the Message in Horry County in COVID-19
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Horry County Coronavirus Diaries
The coronavirus has upended life for everyone. Here is a look at the toll the virus’ impacts have had on our neighbors in Horry County. A nurse, a waitress, a pastor, a retiree and a family grappling with job loss all tell their stories.
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A Rubbermaid bin of palm tree leaves sat outside the front door of St. Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Little River. Only the slight breeze moving through the warm spring day causes the leaves to move.
That is until Rev. Johnathan Greene reached his gloved hand in to pluck out a branch.
In typical years, he might have looked up and handed the palm to church members on their way inside for them to hold high on Palm Sunday. The kickoff to 2020 Holy Week was anything but typical. The red-cushioned pews in the church sat empty. There was no choir behind the purple draped altar. The sunlight provided the only illumination inside the church.
Coronavirus wreaked havoc on the church’s plans, but like many aspects of life in 2020, the congregation adapted.
Instead of handing the palm to those on the way in, Greene turned around and walked away from the door and the church. The pastor’s finger held the palm leaf, his palm held a single-serving communion cup. He was heading away from the church and towards the line of cars in the parking lot.
“You look like you’re going to church!” the pastor exclaims, running around the front of a car to hand the driver a palm and the single-serving communion.
Palm Sunday became drive-by communion day at St. Paul’s. A line of masked people wearing their Sunday best waited in their cars for the pastor to visit. An odd look in 2019, but entirely the style of 2020.
Greene handed them the palm, maybe exchanged a pleasantry or two. He then gave the communion explaining how it worked as those in the car took the bread and wine.
“You’re dressed up to go nowhere,” the pastor yells to another car.
Coronavirus forced the Highway 17 church to change how it operated on Palm Sunday and throughout the pandemic. An older congregation had to adapt to technology and holding church and class virtually.
Greene detailed those changes during the pandemic. But, Palm Sunday was technology-free, back to shoe-leather preaching, running from car-to-car handing out palms and communion.
“Go in love!” Greene shouts as a car pulls away. “Go in love!”
March 27 - Technology cometh
Our Story: Coronavirus is starting to spread in Horry County and the government is ordering the closure of more businesses. Georgetown County joined other municipalities in shuttering its hotels. Across Horry County, the number of cases is relatively small with 24 people infected.
Rev. Greene’s Story: The Southern preacher’s baritone voice booms louder where it’s easy to imagine the man stands 6-foot-9 instead of his 6-foot-even. Greene has led the congregation at St. Paul’s for 11 years, it’s a church of about 150 regulars. The members have been reluctant to adopt technology when everything at the church is just fine.
Slowly, Greene introduced some changes as televisions now hang in the church and they started a radio program.
Coronavirus, though, has forced more changes for the congregation. As St. Paul’s closed its doors, maybe for the first time in its 150 year history, the church had to figure out how they were going to hold service, without meeting in person.
Greene says he plans to tape himself preaching and post on YouTube on Sunday morning, two days away.
They have also switched to holding bible study classes through Zoom. So like so many of us, the tiled screen became their meeting place. Greene says some of the older congregation had trouble logging in, which has led to classes that are a third of their standard size.
Everyone is doing their best to make the shift to virtual church.
“It’s been positive,” Greene says. “They try to make it interactive.”
March 30 - ‘More heartbreaking’
Our Story: It’s now been 15 days since Horry County had its first case, and the virus continues to tighten its grip on activities. Businesses are trying to navigate the recently passed $2 trillion stimulus and keep their lights on and pay employees. Many are wondering when the next paycheck will come.
Rev. Greene’s Story: Greene posted his first virtual service two days earlier for his congregation, or anyone, to watch. The camera is a bit fish-eyed and distorts the picture and is a perfect demonstration of how the church still struggles with technology.
Greene’s taped sermon focuses on healing. It had to be. It’s a thought on many minds as the virus spreads.
“We must pray God will strengthen us during these trying times,” the pastor instructs his listeners. His cadence picks up speed as he encourages everyone to think about how they treat each other in the tough days.
“When these difficult days have passed, I still want you to live in harmony with one another.”
It’s an older preacher trick, and this one is no different, to end on the positive and encouraging note.
Looking back, Greene quickly says he thought the first taped service went well. Though, preaching in front of the empty church reminded him of when he was learning to become a pastor.
“I felt like I was back in Seminary,” the father of two says.
Greene’s duties go beyond the camera on Sunday and include bringing comfort to the ill and hospitalized. Coronavirus has changed that too as Greene can’t go into local hospitals, a decision he says is more “heartbreaking” than anything. But, he quickly shifts to talking about putting on the most positive face when he does speak to them.
“You want to put the best forward.”
April 3 - Holy week in 2020
Our Story: Coronavirus cases in Horry County sit at 51 and continue their upward trajectory. More businesses are turning off the welcome sign, and in days Gov. Henry McMaster will tell residents it is either “work or home.”
Rev. Greene’s Story: Holy Week is set to start in two days, normally it’s a time with several services and events. COVID-19 has changed that plan.
Greene says he is still trying to figure out how he and the church will approach the week. He settled on holding drive-by communion on Palm Sunday to mark the start of the week, but the rest of the week and Easter is undecided.
“Nonexistent” is how he described his prep work compared to previous years.
In past years, Greene gathered with other congregations in the area to mark the week as well, not in 2020.
“That’s been relegated to the house,” Greene says, his baritone voice letting out a chuckle.
April 8-Doing something for yourself
Our Story: The Myrtle Beach area inches near 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the outbreak started about a month earlier. School employees are testing positive for coronavirus, leading some to doubt the safety of a feeding program. The “work or home” order is also in effect.
Rev. Greene Story: It’s also the first time doubt and frustration creep into Greene’s conversations. It’s Wednesday of Holy Week, one of the few days without a dedicated service.
The church has already spent a couple of weeks in virtual service, so “work or home” is having little impact there. Greene says his congregation hasn’t made any cries to resume religious services.
“When they shelter in place, they shelter in place,” the pastor says.
But, the Florence resident also discussed how people aren’t designed to live just to exist. Humans need to have ways to take care of themselves, find the little luxury in life. Without it, the psyche takes a hit.
“You can’t live, and you don’t want to live, when you are just in the here.”
April 18 - No boredom
Our Story: South Carolina is now on Day 10 of “work or home,” and people are struggling with the monotony. But, April 18 also marks one of the first signs of hope of the easing of restrictions. There are now rumblings the state will soon open public beach access.
Rev. Greene’s Story: In Greene’s life, there is no time to get sucked into the COVID-19 depression. Too many zoom meetings. Too many things to do.
“I have too many meetings to be bored,” he says.
It’s hard to fathom that just a month earlier this church was hesitant to embrace the newest technology, is now fully online. Greene says he had one meeting where other church leaders talked about how they can continue to use technology in a post-COVID world.
The pastor is considering changing to automated giving and streaming services online to help reduce contact.
Coronavirus has pushed the small Little River church fully into the 21st Century, even if everyone wasn’t ready — one of the many silver linings found in Horry County as locals adjust to life with the virus.
April 23 - Reopening frustration creeps in
Our Story: The economic toll is now being measured in Horry County with unemployment reaching levels which rival the Great Depression. The local service industry has been decimated by closure, but people are trying to go on the best they can. “Work or home” remains in place, but more are venturing out to restock supplies, or just for a respite from home.
Rev. Greene’s Story: Greene discusses his frustration with what he saw at a local Walmart. It was the first time he had been to the store in weeks. It was also the first time in a month of conversations the preacher expressed disappointment with others.
Few wore masks at the store, social-distancing was limited at best and people ignored signage directing movement in the aisles. Greene says he thinks it’s too early to reopen, even though leaders are talking about it.
“I think they need to give it a little more time,” Greene pleas. “I hope we’re not doing it too soon.”
Economic health should not go before the community’s health, Greene says. It was almost like you could see his head shaking back and forth, despite the fact he was speaking on a phone.
“There’s a lot of people thinking, ‘I’m going to be OK,’” Greene says. “It was mind-boggling.”
May 6- Opening in a pandemic
Our Story: Hotels and beaches in the Myrtle Beach area reopened and restaurants can serve outdoor seating. Some people think today there will be more openings announced, but the state held off. The openings come as the total number of coronavirus cases in Horry County continues to climb, now sitting at 238.
Rev. Greene’s Story: Greene just finished a run to the grocery store, and while there were limits on what he could buy, he said he got enough to feed his family.
The frustration with the openings continues to come from the preacher. Six weeks earlier, Greene didn’t discuss the closures or wasn’t stressed with the virus coming to Myrtle Beach. Today, though, he talks about the out-of-state license plates he saw and the visitors potentially bringing the virus to Myrtle Beach and furthering its spread.
“I’d think they would want to gradually do this thing, which makes the most sense.”
He doesn’t hold back and bluntly says, “I think you’re going to see a big jump [in cases.]”
But, nobody knows if there will be a second spike. Just like nobody could have foreseen the changes St. Paul’s would experience because of coronavirus.
A church that has been slow to adopt technology is now fully integrated into YouTube, drive-by communion and Zoom bible study. The shift is what the preacher says he will remember the most from his story of the pandemic.
“I will probably remember what adjustments we had to make while being in the pandemic to keep things going. Some of the technological stuff we had to overcome to keep going.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 9:31 AM.
