(Revised March 1, 2021)
Background
The Mid-South Great Banquet provides an opportunity for guests to develop a deeper, life-saving relationship with Jesus Christ and is a source of spiritual renewal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are isolated from family and friends, and suffering from job loss, financial crises, illness and loss of worship community. The Board of the Mid-South Great Banquet believes it is of critical importance to minister to others through the 3 Day Great Banquet Weekends in this time of great need. To do so as safely as possible, the Board has developed these guidelines to minimize COVID-19-related risks for the guests and teams. The guidelines recognize a need for social distancing and mask wearing to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Participants
To allow for social distancing, the number of guests and team members will be limited. Guests and team members must be willing and able to wear masks during the weekend.
All registration forms will be completed online and payments will be made via Paypal or checks will be mailed to the post office box.
Weekend Activities
Registration
Prior to leaving home, guests, sponsors and team members should check their temperature and if it is greater than 100.4⁰F, they should do one of the following:
Guests should notify their sponsor and stay home.
Sponsors should notify their guest and make alternative transportation arrangements for their guest.
Team members should notify the Assistant Lay Directors and stay home.
Masks must be worn by all team members, guests and sponsors. Hand sanitizer will be available. Team members and guests with up to 2 sponsors or community members will check in at one of several stations where they must sign in, answer screening questions, and have their temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature > 100.4⁰F will be sent home and not allowed to return during the weekend. Additionally, anyone who rode in the same car as someone with a temperature > 100.4⁰F will be sent home and not allowed to return during the weekend.
Guests will be helped to settle in their cabins by a team member and then socially distanced seating will be provided for team members, guests, sponsors or community members.
Daily Activities
At the beginning of each day, all guests and team members will answer screening questions and have temperature taken. All guests and team members should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. Any guest or team member with a temperature > 100.4⁰F or other symptoms (such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea) will be sent home and not allowed to return during the weekend.
Guests and team members will be assigned to groups of 5. These groups will sit together for the daily activities and will be assigned to the same cabins to limit the risk of exposure. The groups will be encouraged, but not required, to sit together for meals as well.
If weather permits, many activities will take place outdoors.
Conference Room
Masks will be worn in the Conference Room. Hand sanitizer will be provided for all tables including the snack table. Snacks will be individually packaged even if homemade.
Meals
Grace will be sung at the tables while masks are worn. Masks may be removed while seated at the table and eating. Tables will be set for no more than 4 to a table.
Hand sanitizer will be provided at dining tables and the drink station. Kitchen team and Kitchen helpers must wear masks and gloves.
Chapel
All guests and team members must wear masks. Chairs in the chapel will be spaced for social distancing.
Hand sanitizer will be placed in each participant’s hand before approaching the communion table. Communion elements for all services will be prepackaged cups with juice and wafer.
Sleeping Arrangements
Guests will be assigned to sleeping areas by their groups to minimize exposure to others.
Spray bleach will be provided so everyone can spray before and after they shower. Clorox wipes will be provided so everyone can wipe sink before and after each use. Hand sanitizer will be provided in the bathrooms.
Closing
Socially distanced seating will be provided.
Masks must be worn by all team members, guests and Community members. Hand sanitizer will be available. Community members will check in at one of several stations where they must sign in, answer screening questions, and have their temperature taken. Any Community member with a temperature > 100.4⁰F will not be allowed to attend Closing.
Hand sanitizer will be placed in each participant’s hand before approaching the communion table. Communion elements for all services will be prepackaged cups with juice and wafer.