While in-person church and worship services have been suspended in the wake of the novel coronavirus, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is making chaplains available to people through phone calls.

The toll-free number will allow people to visit with a chaplain from the Grapevine-based organization and to receive prayer and encouragement, a news release from the SBTC said.

“We just feel like this is the best way we can serve,” SBTC spokesperson Bill Bumpas said. “We want to help people and we know this is a very stressful time. And we feel like this is kind of in our wheelhouse.”

By calling the number, people will be placed in contact with a trained chaplain who can pray with them and provide spiritual comfort, the release said.

The phone number will be available to call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day for as long as the crisis remains. The number to call is 800-921-3287.

“We want to encourage people and help them in any way we can and pray for them and point them to Jesus,” Bumpas said.

To learn more about the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, click here.