By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Special to California Black Media Partners

We are nearly two years into this pandemic. Many of us will remember where we were two years ago when we first heard of COVID-19, when we first realized that our lives were going to change.

Things in Oakland have improved since those tumultuous days of March 2020. Our children came back into schools, crowds gathered again, and at some of our churches, congregations have returned to in-person worship services.

But it’s a fragile normality. The virus is still with us, and now the Omicron variant poses a new danger. We cannot afford to become complacent. The virus won’t take a break, even if we might want to.

Of late, we’ve seen record cases here in Oakland and around the country. With a disease spreading, we can never be too careful when it comes to keeping our loved ones safe and healthy. The death rate resulting from COVID-19 is 15% higher for Black Californians than the statewide average, according to numbers from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Black pastors across California recognize the urgency of this threat. We have accepted the responsibility of this fight, and we understand as faith leaders in our communities that we must combine faith with action. Prayers for healing and health must be backed up by a plan for protection and prevention.

That is why dozens of faith leaders across our state have worked together to open the doors of our churches for free, convenient COVID-19 testing. Some sites also offer vaccinations. This effort to keep our congregations and our neighborhoods safe has been made possible with the support of our testing partner Color and the California Department of Public Health.

The pastors in our network, their congregations, staff, and volunteers at our churches and in our community have done an excellent job. Their effort has contributed in no small way to the high COVID-19 vaccination rate and low positivity rate we now have in California. We are truly proud and grateful.

As we enter this second year of the pandemic, we can be thankful that Oaklanders can now safely get together with people we love to reflect, celebrate, give thanks, and to ask God for grace and wisdom. We can do that because of the community’s hard work, and because free testing and vaccination allow us to prioritize safety, especially for those among us who are aging or otherwise vulnerable.

As our campaign slogan goes, “Don’t guess, get the test.” That applies when visiting the vulnerable or congregating in public spaces. Look up one of our centers in your community to get vaccinated and tested in Oakland. It is the surest way that we can stem the spread of this virus while doing the things we love.

The Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church has worked hand in hand with our congregation and community in Oakland since 1954. This pandemic is a crisis like no other we’ve faced in that history – and we have the tools to end it right here. Join us today.

Bishop Joseph Simmons is pastor of the Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland.

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