(ChurchLeaders) To encourage parishioners to get vaccinated against COVID-19—and return to the pews safely—First Baptist Church (FBC) in Dallas is hosting a vaccine clinic after worship on Sunday, May 16. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the Texas megachurch, has spoken out about the efficacy and safety of the shots, saying they’re “nearly 100% effective” and “the best way for churches to fully open.”
Jeffress and FBC executive pastor Ben Lovvorn, who’ve both been vaccinated, say the clinic is a form of outreach, not pressure. “But if you’re one of those who desires to get the vaccine and you just haven’t had the opportunity to do that yet,” says Lovvorn, “you will have the opportunity to do that here.”