How will the church respond after the pandemic?
As we seem to be nearing the end of the most severe restrictions, at least in North America, I am wondering where the church has been during the pandemic?
With a few notable exceptions where churches have been pushing the bounds of local public health rules for the sake of gathering, the church has been:
… INVISIBLE
… SILENT
… SCATTERED
I firmly believe that COVID did not cause anything in the Church.
It merely revealed what was already there.
Weaknesses and issues that were below the surface were blatantly exposed by the unexpected restrictions and extended lock-downs.
I am referring to a few critical shortcomings of many (most?) churches, that became major issues during the pandemic.
Here are four big ones:
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Sunday (morning) centric: everything revolves around the holy hour when the church gathers
-
Deficient discipleship: especially in the area of self-feeding and self-care
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Weak connections within the church: our fellowship between believers is shallow than expected
-
Limited visibility with the community: our churches where not widely seen as key resources within the community, whether it was for hope, answers or comfort.
Again, COVID did not cause them to happen but it certainly made these issues very obvious.
We are all planning our return.
How will we re-engage and re-gather and re-unite after months and months of forced separation and on-line experiments to re-create some version of these things?
Here are just a few of the important shifts to consider into your plans:
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CONNECTING OVER GATHERING – intentionally create environments where real connections can be nurtured.
-
MISSION OVER PROGRAMS – stay focused on the mission of the church – why we exist – instead of the things we are used to doing
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CHRIST-CENTERED OVER SUNDAY-CENTERED – focus all our talents, gifts, resources and prayers on drawing people to Christ and not simply coming to our event(s)
-
ENGAGEMENT OVER ATTENDANCE – a handful of committed and engaged members on mission will always be more effective and exciting than a large audience of (passive) consumers
It’s been said that a good leader never wastes a good crisis.
Use this opportunity to inject a fresh vision and start on a new path towards the mission of the church, which remains unchanged and unaffected by any virus or public health mandate.
Don’t just re-open. Re-launch!
Come back STRONGER!
How will the church respond after the pandemic?
As we seem to be nearing the end of the most severe restrictions, at least in North America, I am wondering where the church has been during the pandemic?
