TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Pastor Richard Ledford usually spends his days preaching at Restoration Place in Tallahassee, but lately, he's taken his sermons online.
"I need every one of you like never before to join your faith, with me and for our church," said Ledford.
Ledford was diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks ago, along with Guillain-Barre, an immune disease that attacks your nerves.
He's having trouble walking and speaking but it's not stopping him from walking in line with God.
While Restoration Place has been streaming its services since the pandemic started, Ledford has been doing Facebook lives to spread God's Word from his hospital bed while he's in quarantine.
He says it's his job.
"Keep the faith," Ledford said. "You know what, there are lots of people going through this right now. We need to stand together, pray for one another, and believe God for the best."
"It's really kind of making us lean on our faith and stand on the promises of God knowing we have the victory and He's going to heal him and just trusting and knowing that God is going to do what he has to do," said Ben Copeland.
Copeland has been attending services at RPT for about three years and is the technical director for their services.
Copeland says the situation isn't all bad.
He believes, with social distancing, it's actually widened their audience online, now that they get thousands of viewers on their Wednesday and Sunday services.
"It's actually made us more intentional about connecting with our members and just making sure we're doing what we need to do to be one body of believers and not separated by this pandemic," Copeland said.
While they focus on adjustments, Ledford is focusing on healing as fast as he can and staying as positive as he can until he can get back to work in-person.
"I've seen God bring me through so many different situations, heal so many people at church," said Ledford. "I know what his Word says."
After 14 days at the hospital, Ledford is being transferred to a rehab center where they hope to help him walk again.
