“Covid 19 and A Preacher’s Love Letters” by Dr. Serenus T. Churn, Sr., was acclaimed by Michael Radon of the US Review of Books, who highlighted that “Each letter is effectively paired with a pertinent Bible verse but often incorporates other teachings or examples from scripture designed to give readers hope and strength to face unprecedented obstacles.”
“Covid 19 and A Preacher’s Love Letters” by Dr. Serenus T. Churn, Sr. is a poignant collection of letters crafted during the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book serves as a means of providing hope, comfort, and encouragement to a congregation that faced unprecedented challenges during these times. Each letter embodies messages of faith, resilience, and positivity, aiming to guide readers through their fears and uncertainties brought on by the pandemic.
Dr. Serenus T. Churn, Sr. was born in Camden, N.J., and was licensed to preach at the age of 15. His formal education preparations include a Bachelor of Arts from Morgan State College, Baltimore, MD; a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University, Washington, D.C.; a Pastoral Certificate from the Foundation for Religion and Mental Health at Grasslands Hospital, Westchester County, N.Y.; and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew University, Madison, N.J. He has also been elected to membership in the Phi Sigma Tau National Honor Society in Philosophy. Dr. Churn’s academic preparation coupled with the anointing has afforded him the opportunity to preach the Word of God across the United States, Great Britain, India, Guyana, Kenya, Jamaica, and South Africa.
He has authored “And I’ll See You In The Morning,” an anthology of funeral messages; “Baptist Born, Baptist Bred,” a study for church members; and “Thorns and Grace, a book of God’s promises of hope and healing for Our Hurts. Dr. Churn is the founder and chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund, which has awarded more than $120,000 to students for college. He is also the Founding and Chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Breakfast and Rally March for the purposes of celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and evoking the spirit of civil rights. Dr. Churn is married to the former Shirly Brown of Washington, D.C., and has two sons, Reverend Serenus T. Churn Jr. and Reverend Starling T. Churn. Dr. Churn has led and continues to lead the Mount Zion Baptist Church Congregation for 36 years.
For communities of faith, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns presented a challenge unlike any seen before. What was the bedrock and community foundation for so many became unsafe and restricted, leading both pastors and congregations alike to look for ways to support each other and stay connected.
The author of this book, as the senior pastor and CEO of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, reached out with regular letters, contacting the parishioners with inspiring scripture and messages of hope, letting them know that they were not alone even in times of isolation. This book preserves those letters, creating a vivid snapshot in time of twelve challenging months from April 2020 to April 2021, helping readers recall just how much upheaval and challenge that year provided, while also serving as an important reminder of how the struggles were overcome together as a community.
The US Review of Books (USRB) recommends “Covid 19 and A Preacher’s Love Letters” by Dr. Serenus T. Churn, Sr. Here’s the review from the USRB that highlights:
“While certainly, the difficult and unpredictable events of the pandemic years are not easy for anyone to forget, it is important to remember the various ways in which people came together to support and keep each other going. This book serves partially as a testament of faith and works and also a historical document of sorts. Each letter is effectively paired with a pertinent Bible verse but often incorporates other teachings or examples from scripture designed to give readers hope and strength to face unprecedented obstacles. Though the specific challenges of 2020 and 2021 have been tackled and conquered, the lessons of those days still have relevance and parallels even now, and this book will inspire its readers to be grateful for the things that kept them going then while also finding the strength to keep going today.”