A rare total solar eclipse will occur in the United States on April 8th, but it will be the last solar eclipse in the continental United States for the next 20 years. Churches within the Narrow Road say they are ready to point the light of Christ to visitors in each city.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the visible surface of the sun, instantly darkening the sky and making planets and stars visible as if it were night. Nocturnal animals may wake up. Non-nocturnal animals may believe it’s time to go to bed. The temperature will drop.
During this time, which lasts less than 5 minutes, you can see the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.
In the United States, the 2024 total solar eclipse will begin in Texas and pass through parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, before ending in New York. It will leave the United States in England. The partial solar eclipse will be visible across a wider range of states.
You will need solar viewing glasses to see safely.
The church says the event is a great time for outreach and evangelism, and will bring millions of tourists on the path to wholeness. The next total solar eclipse in the continental United States will occur 20 years later, in 2044.
At Driftwood Christian Church in Valonia, Indiana, members will be handing out moon pies covered with words from Jesus. “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will never walk in darkness.”
“God created these things for us to enjoy. He’s just like, enjoy my creation on a grand scale!” –Just the need to be in awe I think there is,” Pastor Daniel Ison told Christianity Today. “Its majesty is amazing, even the fact that the size of the moon and the distance between the moon and the sun would have to be exact for this to exist.”
Hope Church in Brunswick, Ohio, is expecting hundreds of members and visitors to its 10-acre campus, The State of Connecticut reported. He purchased 5,000 pairs of solar viewing glasses for the congregation to give away to visitors.
“We want to be interested in what they care about,” Pastor Sean Brennan told CT. “I think the days of just being there and putting up a sign are over. We strive to intentionally represent the heart of Christ and be an active presence within our community.”
Hope Church Elder David DeFelice said the eclipse is an opportunity to celebrate God’s creation.
“It refers to a creator god who loves patterns of beauty and regularity,” DeFelice told CT. He previously worked at his NASA John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “It shows great work design and we want to show that.”
At Steel City Church in Ohio, the totality service lasts nearly four minutes, during which the church performs baptisms outside in its parking lot.
“We see it as an opportunity for people who have come to Christ to experience an opportunity to come out of darkness and into new life from death,” Pastor Billy Glover told Baptist Press. “Those who are baptized can say, ‘When the world became dark, I did this and came out of its darkness.'”
DeFelice sees similarities between solar eclipses and faith in Christ.
“I try to tell people about my faith, but they don’t understand,” he says. “And it’s the same thing with eclipses. People look at you and say, ‘What’s the big deal?’ And you say, “Just believe me.” It’s an amazing experience. Please wait a few minutes. Just try it. amazing. ‘”
Image credit: ©Unsplash/Abed Ismail
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
