Congregation of Sanford church exposed to COVID-19 after three pastors test positive

1Hope Church, in Sanford, wrote on Facebook that around a dozen people in the congregation showing symptoms of COVID-19. A handful have now tested positive, according to a spokesperson with the church.

Church officials said they learned of the positive cases on Friday, Aug. 13. The church decided to hold online services Sunday as a result of the exposure.

"As soon as we found out that we had it and others had symptoms, we shut down all in person gatherings," church officials said in a message to WRAL News.

A WRAL viewer said his elderly parents tested positive after attending church last Sunday. The pair are ideologically opposed to vaccinations, he said.

Gregory Davenport, head pastor of 1Hope, preached a sermon from home while sniffling and with a scratchy voice. He and his wife tested positive, he said in the sermon posted to YouTube and Facebook.

"We're really not feeling that bad," he said.

Photos from Davenport's social media show that he attended a large, unmasked gathering in Florida hosted by the Assemblies of God last Monday.

"We are not afraid, we are not backing down, we are not giving in, we are overcomers, trials and tests are no problem for the Lord," Davenport said in his sermon. "By his stripes we are healed."

Davenport said in his sermon that last week two people were converted to Christianity.

"The enemy does not like this! Put your armor on Saints. Let's pray," he wrote on his Facebook page.

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