Virus feeding pre-existing problems

Loneliness is among the emotional problems setting in during the coronavirus lockdown, but one ministry is encouraging believers to use the tools available and help people deal with it.

Strife, family arguments, and boredom are among the difficulties resulting from the lockdown, but one of the more frequent problems associated with it is loneliness.

"The loneliness is not so much because of COVID-19," notes Josh McDowell of Josh McDowell Ministries, which serves and equips the Body of Christ in raising generations of purpose-driven Christians who know what they believe, why it is true, and how to live it out. "Three months ago, before we ever heard of COVID-19, research showed that the number-one research in the epidemic, in the world, and every culture globally was loneliness."

So throughout the globe, a good number of people were lonely before the lockdowns and social distancing guidelines were enforced. Loneliness can be deadly for some, and the circumstances of the pandemic increase the number of those impacted.

"The virus feeds right into loneliness, and as a result … when it's over, you're going to see a high intensity of the consequences of two things: Loneliness and depression," McDowell explains.

But he says people have the responsibility to reach out to combat both, and that can be accomplished by utilizing the available tools, including the phone or the computer, to stay in touch with co-workers, friends, and family. McDowell adds that pastors need to be able to preach about loneliness for the everyday citizen, and his ministry provides materials to assist the public in wading through the pandemic until it is over.