Durham church holds first in-person Easter service since pandemic

There was a full room at World Overcomers Christian church Easter Sunday.

Something Pastor Andy Thompson said he hasn’t seen in two years.

"It is a new beginning for us. It’s a new beginning for the church," said Thompson. ”For a pastor there’s something about seeing people come together in the room."

And that’s exactly what he saw Sunday. People coming together in celebration of their faith.

”You can feel the energy in the room," said Thompson. "Everybody's just glad to be in the room especially on Easter

The church hasn’t had Easter service in two years because of the pandemic. Previously, they pre recorded and streamed online.

”To go through a two-year period where you’re preaching to the room empty to now see service and every seat full it’s just it’s encouraging," said Thompson.

He said it has been difficult, but they’ve seen their way through.

While preaching from a casket his message for Easter Sunday: We always look for life in places where there is death.

”This is an amazing time for us to decide to be resurrected as a country, resurrected as a community and resurrected post the pandemic," said Thompson.

Thompson said during the pandemic they learned that they can definitely worship God outside of the building, and their streaming numbers did very well, but it’s just so great to be back amongst the community.