- >> for those trying to give up, for those struggling with covid-19 -- >> reporter: reverend willard westonng for mercy from the coronavirus. >> a proper understanding, have mercy right now in the name of jesus -- >> reporter: begging the lord to keep it from stealing more lives. >> let us understand, lord, it can't be our way, it can't be my way, it has to be your way. and when you have spoken, lord, we must submit ourselves unto thee, amen. >> reporter: at sardis baptist church in dawson, this is what services looked like before the pandemic. and these are services here today, streamed online with only a few people willing to sit in the pews. families are still worried that if they come to church, they could get sick and die. even the wednesday night bible studies now broadcast from the pastor's home. >> god wants you to be blessed. >> does it surprise you to know that your county is on the list of one of the hardest-hit places in america? >> when this was going on, i can't say i'm -- it was surprising then, but right now? no, i'm not surprised, because it was happening so frequently. i'm

. >> reporter: reverend willard weston in terrell county, georgia, says that church services here have never been this empty. so now he livestreams them online, on some nights from his home. >> god wants you to be blessed. >> reporter: families still worry that if they come to church, they could get sick and die. the coronavirus hit this rural community hard. 33 people were killed during the height of the pandemic. does it surprise you to know that your county is on the list of one of the hardest hit places in america? >> no, i'm not surprised because it was happening so frequently. >> reporter: abc news and our abc-owned stations across the country have taken a close look at the data, and it shows the 100 counties in the u.s. with the highest rate of death. what many of they have in common -- most are rural, poor and have limited access to quality health care. the hardest hit -- gove county, kansas. >> and it's been hard because we have cared for them so long. >> reporter: in south georgia, there were so many g funerals, the ministers here had trouble clearing the red georgia clay fro