19 LESSONS CHURCHES ARE LEARNING BECAUSE OF COVID-19
We are all learning lessons and discovering insights as we live, lead, and serve. I am been blessed to witness how God is at work through SBC of Virginia churches, pastors, and lay leaders in these days.
I have to admit that I wondered how we would all minister in the midst of restrictions on meetings. I wondered how churches would respond to the sudden shock of grappling with the challenges of a worldwide health crisis. God is at work through His people as ministry is happening through His church!
Recently Rusty Small and the SBCV revitalization cohort of pastors discussed lessons and insights they are learning as pastors walking through the COVID-19 crisis. The list is in no particular order and certainly is not meant to be exhaustive. This is merely what pastors are discovering so far in this crisis.
19 LESSONS CHURCHES ARE LEARNING BECAUSE OF COVID-19
The importance of a quality website and a social media presence along with an up to date email and call list for church members.
The potential for the development of small off-site groups due to this time of social distancing that could form the basis of thriving small groups in the future. Strangely, the church is coming to terms with genuine community in a time of social distancing.
Churches are learning the best practices of online worship services such as good sound and video work. Also, churches are realizing that an online service should not be constructed like an in-person service. The audience is not in the room. This service must be oriented to the viewing audience on the other side of the camera. A worship service, as a rule, should be shorter (45 minutes max). Ministers and worship teams must say/sing more with less time.
Churches are discovering the potential for leadership development while leading closely through a crisis time. Also, new leaders are stepping up to meet the demands of this moment so leadership identification and development can and should happen during this time.
Online worship services have a greater outreach than in-person worship services, thus a greater possibility for evangelism. Many unchurched people will listen to an online worship service. These views can sometimes be traced and followed-up on.
Longer intentional phone conversations are creating a unique pastoral connection between the pastor/ministry leaders to the congregation at large.
The slowing pace of ministry and the forced reduction of ministry offerings are allowing an opportunity to evaluate ministries of greatest importance. This is causing some pastors to think about simplifying the ministry offerings on the other side of this crisis.
Online ministry and teaching happen beyond the Sunday morning message. Shorter online vignettes can often create more Gospel touches and online engagement.
Creative ministries are growing during this time. For example, drive-in diaper give away, drive-through prayer, drive-in services and new means of mercy ministries like feeding and clothing are happening. Further, some churches and denominations can make and donate medical equipment such as masks.
The need for secure and easily utilized online giving is a must during this time. Churches are learning the need to have financial margin in their budget and the development of a rainy-day fund. Churches are also learning that church staff needs flexible responsibilities and skill sets especially in times like these. Financial margin and flexible staff are critical in a crisis.
Ministers are learning the need for proper financial planning including their own emergency fund and appropriate savings. Ministers are having to contemplate financial sacrifice as the crisis lingers on.
In the midst of a slower pace, ministers are personally reflective concerning their own calling and areas of convictions when things begin to go back to normal. Ministers are directly or indirectly experiencing the “COVID-19 sabbatical.”
This crisis is allowing a new context where church cliques and trivialities are set aside for partnership and community contribution. These new behavior patterns could hold beyond this crisis.
The forced social media use is merging virtual groups with actual groups. This could be the start of a largescale blending of virtual and actual groups such as in-person groups having members who attend virtually after social distancing is over.
Ministers are being given a unique time to teach families in their church the discipline of family devotions. Further, ministers are being given a unique opportunity to teach individuals about quality personal devotions. Church members are reporting more time for Bible study and prayer as they feel more compelled to do so in this time of crisis.
Churches are learning about the possibility of leading evangelistic and discipleship opportunities in an online platform. This potentially will cause us to see the online platform as a key area of evangelism and discipleship. A potential new staff position will be the ministry of online ministry where primary and ongoing engagement will happen online.
This time allows for unique alignment in the philosophy of ministry between pastor, staff, and ministry leadership in this interruption when ministry is not happening as normal.
A potential pitfall is that members are learning how to participate in church online and potentially will continue to attend church online while multi-tasking other activities when schedules return to normal. The church will need to learn how to mitigate against this phenomenon. Another possibility is multi-site churches could continue to explode in numbers due to the familiarity all church members will have to watch “the pastor on a screen.” Further, multi-site allows for the church community with social distancing in small. The “packed room church” will be resisted for a while after the crisis is over.
Churches are strangely becoming more connected because now on Sunday ministers and churches can binge-watch church services. Pastors are now more aware of what is happening in the churches in their communities.
You may have more to add to the list. Let’s keep sharing with each other the lessons and insights we are learning. You are not alone!
Your brother in Christ,
BRIAN AUTRY