Dear North Hills Family,
 
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic. We know many of you have ongoing concerns about this situation as it has come close to home here in the Bay Area. We want to inform you that we are closely monitoring the situation and we are doing our best to implement proper safety precautions to protect our North Hills family during this time.
 
Our major concern is safety and not taking any unnecessary risks. While we do not want to panic, we want to exercise wisdom. For those who are especially vulnerable and at risk, we have a responsibility to do what is best and loving for them … and everyone at North Hills.
 
Measures already taken …
Throughout our facilities, we are regularly checking bathrooms to ensure they are adequately supplied with hand soap. We are also providing (as best we can) hand sanitizer at various locations across campus. We have increased our diligence in cleaning all touched surfaces with a bleach solution to ensure all germs are eliminated. We will be paying extra attention to our children’s rooms to ensure they are safe and clean. For the time being, all toys will be removed from the Crib Care room in the Worship Center (for children under two years old).
 
We have been in contact with our cleaning service to verify they are paying extra attention to the cleaning of all touched surfaces. We are frequently checking on the CDC guidelines and we are posting signage provided by the CDC throughout the campus which provides information to decrease the spread of the coronavirus in our homes, school, workplace, and commercial spaces. We also receive all Alert Solano messages from the Solano Public Health Department.
 
Moving forward  …
It is with a heavy heart the following decisions have been made. Effective immediately, the Upward Basketball season has been canceled. Families can put their registration fee toward next season or they can receive a full refund. Players will not be asked to return their uniform. Please see the message at the bottom to read what was communicated to players and their families. In addition to this, the K-12 Band Concert, Easter Eggstravaganza, and Preschool Easter Chapel will be canceled due to anticipated heavy attendance. In regard to the upcoming Philippines Mission Trip, due to the ever-increasing health restrictions in the provinces and towns where we would be serving, we have been advised by Mango Tours and local believers not to come. Upon receiving such information, a decision has been made to heed their counsel – we will not be going and the cost of airfare is being refunded.
 
North Hills Christian School / North Hills Christian Preschool
As many of you may recently have heard, public and charter schools in Solano County will be closed for two weeks, effective March 16. For our K-12 school , we have been preparing for the possibility of transitioning to 100% online learning if it was deemed having school on campus is not in the best health interest of students and their families. Please go here to read the letter from our K-12 Superintendent for further information. As for our  preschool , a decision has been reached to suspend all classes over the next two weeks, starting March 16. If you are the parent or guardian of a preschool student, you will be receiving information from our director following this communication. We realize the burden this places on all our families having the campus of our schools closed, but we feel this is in the best interest of our students, their families, and our staff.

Sunday morning …
We consider the Sunday morning worship gathering to be an essential part of the Christian life and will only cancel as a last resort. As of now, our regular Sunday morning Worship service (10:30 a.m. - noon) and Bible Study / Sunday School (9 - 10 a.m.) will continue as normal with certain modifications. At North Hills, we observe the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of every month. On April 5 (and afterward if needed), we will distribute self-contained bread and juice for everyone in attendance. During our weekly worship services, we have suspended our regular greeting time and will be instructing our greeters not to shake hands or give hugs until further notice. While we want to be a friendly church, we also want to be wise. For those who choose to stay at home (which we understand), we are going to be live streaming the entire service on Facebook Live and Zoom video conferences. You can access Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. by utilizing this link. Additionally, you can always watch the sermons on our North Hills YouTube Channel on Monday.

Wednesday night …
We are closely monitoring our Awana Children’s Ministry as well as our Fusion Student Ministry which meets on Wednesday nights. These ministries will continue but we are going to be diligent to ensure students are washing their hands and each room is clean and sanitary. We will make modifications to these ministries to ensure the safest possible environments for our kids. Additionally, we will provide further communication and inform you if anything changes.
 
Life Groups …
For the time being, we encourage all Life Groups to meet online (or be canceled, if in the best interest of the group). North Hills has a subscription to Zoom video conferencing that is available for you to use during this time or any time. Please contact Pastor James to make arrangements. Concerning the Taal Volcano fundraiser the College and Career group is organizing, because it consists of homemade food, it has been canceled. If you still would like to donate toward the cause, please consider doing so.
 
Everyone …
To help ensure the health and safety of our entire North Hills family:
 
(1) Wash your hands frequently and diligently for at least 20 seconds throughout the day.
(2) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
(3) Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
(4) When at North Hills events, please refrain from shaking hands or hugging others (find other appropriate ways to remain friendly).
(5) If you are sick or have acute respiratory symptoms (i.e., cough, shortness of breath), please do not come to the North Hills Campus or any events until you are asymptomatic for at least 24 hours.
(6) Stay Calm – the COVID-19 outbreak is creating understandable worry for many. Let’s pray, stay composed, and do what we can to prevent the further spread of the virus.
 
Closing comments …
Over the last few days, things have rapidly escalated and numerous major events and organizations have either been canceled or temporarily closed. Many might ask, is this an overreaction? Is this situation really that dire?  Proverbs 27:12a   says,  “The prudent sees danger and take refuge” (NIV). The Southern Baptist Convention, as well as our national, state, local governments, and health care organizations, are encouraging everyone to take this situation seriously and do whatever needs to be done to avoid risk. We want to make prudent decisions and do what is best for the entire North Hills family, especially those who are at a higher risk. After much prayer and discussion, we believe the current steps being taken constitute the best course of action to ensure the safety of everyone. 
 
Lastly, stay informed. These organizations are continually updating their sites as new information becomes available:
 
 
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take necessary action as more information becomes available. Thank you for your cooperation, understanding, and prayers during this time.
 
North Hills Leadership Team


 
 
*Communication sent to Upward Basketball Players and Families 3/12/20
 
Good evening Upward Families. This is Kelly DeSilva.  

My husband Gordy and I want to thank you for choosing to join the Upward Basketball League.  
 
The NH Leadership Team met today to discuss the current global pandemic and to evaluate all the activities that take place at NH. After much prayer they have made the decision to cancel the remaining Upward Season effective immediately.
  
Although we are very disappointed, we appreciate their prudent decision and agree that this is the best way to protect all of our players and their families. We pray that this situation will all be behind us long before the next Upward season comes around.
 
In light of the cancellation - 
We are offering all families a full refund of fees that were paid or credit for next season.
Our commissioners and coaches will continue to pray for your families.
 
I would like to leave you with a Bible verse that we would have shared with the players in week 6.
 
Philippians 4:4
Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful!
 
Bottom Line : You can have joy no matter what’s going on.  
 
We love you all and hope we will see you next season.