What would happen in your neighborhood or your church if an unusual number of people were hospitalized? What if a pandemic like the H1N1 virus (formerly known as swine flu), a natural disaster, or an act of terrorism hit your community? Would you seek safety, or would you take risks in order to help others? Most of us would rather not think about scenarios like that, at least not right now. But governments and municipalities are creating plans to be prepared for each of these crises.

Shouldn’t we, as ordinary people of faith, be spiritually prepared? Why not know before the crisis what kinds of actions and attitudes are most consistent with our faith? How is God calling us to be good stewards of the future?

For several years, medical authorities have been warning that the world is due to suffer a flu virus on a global scale, equal to or greater than the international pandemic of 1918. They warn that, despite our advanced medical technology, thousands of people will die, and many more will become sick. People will fear for their health. Naturally, people will want to protect themselves.

How will the church respond to a flu pandemic? Do we have a plan? Will we retreat in fear, or are we ready to be God’s light in the midst of suffering?

This book has been written not to raise our fears, but to do the exact opposite: to prepare the church to shine as God’s light in the midst of such crises, to respond to our call to be people of healing and hope. During four sessions Christians can learn how they can prepare to be God’s light in the midst of pandemics, natural disasters, and other crises.

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