It’s been five months since the novel coronavirus emerged as an obstacle to your ministry. And now, though you may have resumed Sunday morning worship gatherings, COVID 19 continues to influence most other aspects of congregational life. Most network churches have yet to resume in-person, on-campus children’s ministry and worship attendance remains far below pre-pandemic numbers.
If your church is like most across GTBN, you have risen to the challenge using the latest technology. You livestream worship so those not yet able to return may participate remotely. Leaders for small groups, youth and children likewise rely on the tech for continued ministry engagement. I expect many of these efforts to continue, even after we emerge from the pandemic.
So, we’re five months in. How are you doing? And, have you completed your mid-course assessment yet?
“What’s that?” you ask. Follow my thought. A sailor sets his course, but as the winds and ocean currents beat on his ship, he must regularly assess his position and adjust his heading if he’s to reach the desired destination.
The same is true for your church. As COVID 19 hit, you set a course for navigating your church through this unprecedented season. Since then, executive orders gave come and gone, as have directives from the CDC, NHS, and M-O-U-S-E. So how are your ministry adjustments holding up? And what changes are necessary to fulfill God’s mission until all the orders and protocols expire? That’s what the mid-course assessment is about.
Let me suggest asking three questions. The first two originate from pastor John King at 2nd Baptist Church, Conway, Arkansas, as described on the Established Church podcast available through Church Answers. The latter I’ve added.
First, consider your content. Look back at the message you have communicated through your worship services and other on-line devotionals. Are you simply supplying spiritual content, filling the void until church returns to normal? Or are you teaching God’s word to shape His people in the image of Christ for the purpose of Christ? My point is that your on-line teaching should be as directed by God’s purpose for His church as when you teach live, in living color.
Second, assess your connections. How are you connecting with the people you shepherd during this season. If your small groups are not meeting, what are you doing to strengthen the interpersonal relations between members? How are you engaging those who have yet to return to worship? Since the church remains the church gathered nor not, how are you supporting the personal bonds among people?
Third, look at your community. Since the church calendar has been scrubbed by COVOD, how has your church engaged the community to elevate Christ and serve in His name? How have you mobilized God’s people to engage their friends and neighbors in the age of social distancing?
On the latter two points, Jeff Christopherson, former Vice President with North American Mission Board and church planter, instructs his small group leaders to contact their groups regularly, asking two simple questions. First, how are you? This is the connection and pastoral care question. Second, how are your neighbors? This helps to direct their mind away from themselves to their personal mission field. I like it.
While I pray we are past the peak of the pandemic and on the path toward regular ministry rhythms, it’s likely that COVID will continue to influence day to day ministry for a while yet. Given this, a mid-course assessment and corresponding corrections will help your church in your continued service to our Lord.
Blessings!
Bro. Jim
If your church is like most across GTBN, you have risen to the challenge using the latest technology. You livestream worship so those not yet able to return may participate remotely. Leaders for small groups, youth and children likewise rely on the tech for continued ministry engagement. I expect many of these efforts to continue, even after we emerge from the pandemic.
So, we’re five months in. How are you doing? And, have you completed your mid-course assessment yet?
“What’s that?” you ask. Follow my thought. A sailor sets his course, but as the winds and ocean currents beat on his ship, he must regularly assess his position and adjust his heading if he’s to reach the desired destination.
The same is true for your church. As COVID 19 hit, you set a course for navigating your church through this unprecedented season. Since then, executive orders gave come and gone, as have directives from the CDC, NHS, and M-O-U-S-E. So how are your ministry adjustments holding up? And what changes are necessary to fulfill God’s mission until all the orders and protocols expire? That’s what the mid-course assessment is about.
Let me suggest asking three questions. The first two originate from pastor John King at 2nd Baptist Church, Conway, Arkansas, as described on the Established Church podcast available through Church Answers. The latter I’ve added.
First, consider your content. Look back at the message you have communicated through your worship services and other on-line devotionals. Are you simply supplying spiritual content, filling the void until church returns to normal? Or are you teaching God’s word to shape His people in the image of Christ for the purpose of Christ? My point is that your on-line teaching should be as directed by God’s purpose for His church as when you teach live, in living color.
Second, assess your connections. How are you connecting with the people you shepherd during this season. If your small groups are not meeting, what are you doing to strengthen the interpersonal relations between members? How are you engaging those who have yet to return to worship? Since the church remains the church gathered nor not, how are you supporting the personal bonds among people?
Third, look at your community. Since the church calendar has been scrubbed by COVOD, how has your church engaged the community to elevate Christ and serve in His name? How have you mobilized God’s people to engage their friends and neighbors in the age of social distancing?
On the latter two points, Jeff Christopherson, former Vice President with North American Mission Board and church planter, instructs his small group leaders to contact their groups regularly, asking two simple questions. First, how are you? This is the connection and pastoral care question. Second, how are your neighbors? This helps to direct their mind away from themselves to their personal mission field. I like it.
While I pray we are past the peak of the pandemic and on the path toward regular ministry rhythms, it’s likely that COVID will continue to influence day to day ministry for a while yet. Given this, a mid-course assessment and corresponding corrections will help your church in your continued service to our Lord.
Blessings!
Bro. Jim