CAMPBELL, N.Y.(WENY)--With COVID-19 restricting mass gatherings, churches have had to move to online masses to be able to still reach their congregations. This has taken a toll on not only church goers spirits, but also the leaders of the churches. So to keep their pastors spirits high and to keep her company, a few members of the Campbell Methodist Church congregation set up a surprise in the pews days before Easter Sunday.

"A couple of young girls who didn't want me to have to preach to empty pews brought in pictures of all of the congregants and put them in the seats and they even social distanced them so that I would have them social distanced," says Pastor Veronica Seeley, Campbell United Methodist Church.

Seeley came in a few days before Easter to start getting ready and setting up for her live broadcast and when she went out into the church, she was brought to tears of joys. 

"I cried that first morning because I came in and there was something in the pews for me to talk to and it makes it so that I'm not, I feel like I'm actually reaching people because I can see their faces."

Even though her members are not physically there, this little act of kindness made a huge difference to the pastor. Seeley said this truly showed that her congregation does not need to be in a room together to show love.

"Our church isn't empty, it's deployed."

Seeley said she hopes to be able to see all of her members soon, but until she does she wishes them well and thanks them for following guidelines they have been given.