Since the Covid pandemic began last spring many church consultants have predicted that a number of churches would be forced to close their doors. Most of these are expected to be smaller congregations often led by bivocational pastors. One reason these churches are expected to close is because these churches closed down when people were being told to stay at home and did not offer online services as other churches did. In some cases, those with primarily older members may not have resumed services yet due to the higher risk Covid presents to persons in that age bracket. Many of these churches are waiting until things return to "normal" at which time they will reopen. This may be nothing more than wishful thinking on their part.
As I have written before on this blog, we will have to find a new normal. Covid and the fear it has generated among many will be with us for a long time. We are now seeing even larger numbers of Covid cases across the country leading many states to issue new guidelines. In my home state churches are currently exempt from the new guidelines issued this week, but that doesn't mean that we will continue to be if the pandemic grows worse. Nor does it mean that everyone will feel comfortable attending worship services. In fact, we currently have about three times the number of people watch our service on social media than we have in attendance in our sanctuary. I wonder how long those churches who have remained closed believe they can continue before closing their doors permanently. Fortunately, this does not have to happen.
It's past time for the pastors and lay leaders to quit waiting for normal days to return, and it's past time for them to argue that no one in the church knows how to air their services online or that no one would watch them. A Facebook account, a sound system, a laptop and a camera with video capabilities is all you need. Yes, other equipment might make for a better production, but you can get by with the above listed items. Chances are someone in the congregation knows how to use the video on their phone and can record the service and then air it on your Facebook account. If no one in your congregation has that capability, I'm quite sure some of them have grandchildren who can teach people how to do that.
The church where I currently serve as Transitional Pastor airs our service live on our Facebook page, and that afternoon it is downloaded on our FB page and website for people to view any time. As I mentioned above, about three times the number of people view it online than attend the service. We are in the process of encouraging those viewers and others in the community to contact us with their prayer concerns and seeking other ways to reach out to them.
Churches do not have to twiddle their thumbs while waiting for the Covid to go away. Even with social distancing and other limitations there are ways to continue to serve our congregations and communities. Sunday school classes are meeting on Zoom. So are mid-week Bible studies. We just finished our Bible study on Zoom. Our last leadership meeting was held over Zoom. There is no reason for your church to shut down just because there is a pandemic. In fact, there are some in your community who need your church even more.
While no one wants to see a church forced to close its doors, if it happens it happens because the church made the decision to close. Now is the time to become creative, to think outside the box, to throw the box away and find new ways of provide ministry to those your church is called to serve. Bivocational ministers are entrepreneurs, and it is an entrepreneurial spirit that is needed right now. I regularly tell churches that their best days are ahead of them if they choose for them to be their best days. I hope you'll make that choice.
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