Our “This Sunday” series will be another a Corona Virus edition. For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Pray for small businesses.
I
I saw an CNBC News article that stated the following:
Yelp on Wednesday released its latest Economic Impact Report, revealing business closures across the U.S. are increasing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic’s economic toll.
As of Aug, 31, 163,735 businesses have indicated on Yelp that they have closed. That’s down from the 180,000 that closed at the very beginning of the pandemic. However, it actually shows a 23% increase in the number of closures since mid-July.
In addition to monitoring closed businesses, Yelp also takes into account the businesses whose closures have become permanent. That number has steadily increased throughout the past six months, now reaching 97,966, representing 60% of closed businesses that won’t be reopening.
Wow. 60% of businesses that’s closed won’t be reopening. That’s people’s jobs and also capital that is lost.
The article goes on to say:
Yelp has also noted that businesses already well suited for takeout, such as pizza places, coffee shops and delis, are treading water better than other restaurants. The types of restaurants with the highest closures include breakfast and brunch places, sandwich shops, and Mexican restaurants.
This makes me quite sad. Again I’m sad for not only the business owner but also the employees’ lost of jobs in light of lost of small businesses. We are more interconnected than we realize.
Hear Romans 13:8: “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”
If we are to love one another, realize some of those small business leaders are part of the family of God; we should pray for them. We should pray for them if you know them in your church this Sunday. I think also there’s a place for praying even for nonbelievers’ small business leaders for their business. Also pray for God to bring people to know Him through this as well.
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We will pray, Jim, for the owners, employees, and the attached service contractors (e.g. delivery guy) of these small scale businesses. We will also pray for the world economy that nations won’t fall hard in recession or worse, depression. GOD is in control.
Thank you for your prayers; I noticed this week more than other weeks of certain stores and businesses that are closed around my city; I imagine you see similar things in Manila?
Yes, I’ve heard and seen in the postings and news. Despite certain degree of easing in going to malls, restaurants, and other stores, a lot of smal and medium scale businesses have folded up; many workers went home to the provinces. Online selling and independent delivery contractors are increasing. We pray that business owners will find new ways and capital.
It’s sad to see how many business have closed down permanently. There are many in my area.
Praying for God’s will to be done and for many to be saved.
I am praying the same and not just for the situation here in the US but also where you are at in Australia. Were you guys able to do evangelism this past week?
Thank you for your prayers.
We did go out on Friday. We encountered some interesting situations including a person trying to scam us. Praise God for discernment.
This grieves my heart so much that it becomes hard for me to talk about with Nathan and my mom. For restaurants a lot of servers are single moms with kids and older women. This is tragic, it breaks my heart. I am getting teary just writing this response. So yes, I will pray for small businesses. Thank you for this!
Dear Lord,
We pray for the businesses in Pennsylvania. We pray for the surviving businesses would be able to hang on; not for business sake but for the employees and owners means of living. We pray for God to provide for the single moms and older women. Lord we pray for the leaders of our city, county, state and country have wisdom to mitigate the risk and wisdom to balance concern for virus and for the economy, give them incredible wise insight and ingenuity. in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Amen and Amen! Well said, Brother! Thank you!!
We are praying brother. Our God is a God of breakthroughs.
Blessings.
My wife and I were talking just yesterday about this economic tidal wave confronting small and big businesses. These are such difficult circumstances, with many people still avoiding social contact as much as possible (with valid reason). Some businesses are doing quite well in the pandemic, like Amazon, the manufacturers of paper products, and large breweries. So many lives affected long-term by these business closings.
Thinking of why breweries are doing well made me sad. I imagine the virus and the rioting didn’t help the already difficult economy in your area; this is soo sad that I just prayed for your area. And also for the churches for your place to be sound and biblically healthy. People need it. If you ever need a church zoom service for this unusual time you are welcome to join our zoom service
Thanks, brother! The pandemic has obviously been detrimental for the entire national economy, but Western New York’s economy was already in a tailspin before C-19 hit. The economic numbers have to be brutal.
Thanks for the Zoom offer my friend! We’ve actually been watching Alistair Begg’s service live on Sunday mornings for the past 6 weeks. So far no quotes from Chesterton or Mother Teresa. I would like to eventually go to live services again after the virus clears, but solid churches are few here in ROC.
Reblogged this on a simple man of God and commented:
I help a friend manage an independent coffee shop. Thankfully, his shop is doing well! We actually saw sales more than double after the initial shutdown!
However, just this past few weeks saw three stores around us close permanently. A few dozen other businesses I know of have closed permanently in the past six months, and I have known some of those owners and several of their employees.
Let us lift all of these people up in prayer.
Daniel
Great article and amazing advice for everyone. Each person is looking for help in some way. We can each find a person to serve in some way🙃
Amen and Amen.
Still praying for your part of the country too; I hope you are not living alone at this time but you are with family with these storm?
I was and am near for Beta. Family is so good to me thru Christ Jesus. You take care with those fires and smoke.
Lot’s of companies closed here. Folks are striving to see stuff over Facebook. Filipinos are resilient but resiliency is not enough. They need Christ. Lets pray for them.
Nitoy I am praying for the Philippines tonight before heading off to sleep. I love the Flipinos I know in the states, and also those whom I served with in the military, resilient spirit you are right about that and the joyful smile and humor in adversity! Praying for also many to come to Christ. I hope you are also hanging in there financially….
Thank you. I work for the govt and my wife still have work.
Thanks for sharing Jim. The economic and financial misery continues to create a widening fallout, and potential layoffs may await municipal workers as local and state governments evaluate the need to trim their starving budgets down the road.
Earlier this year I tried to raise funds on social media for people who had lost their businesses in the riots, but I may have been the only one who contributed. 😦 I think you’re right, they need PRAYER first!
I’m sorry to hear that the fund raiser didn’t go the way you expected it! I also tried something similar and sadly there wasn’t much of a turnout. But I supposed that means we pray more! Good point and good example I’m encouraged to hear your desire to do good deeds sister!
Thanks. It may have been at least partially my reaction to hearing about some of the Hollywood celebrities bailing out the rioters/arsonists.