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We are now into our 15^th week of the COVID journey in our world. We have data that is showing the various highs and lows on this 15-week journey. What is emerging is the Hybrid Church – a combination of In-Person and Online church services. For me this has been a fascinating study of the changing emotions of church leaders. For example…..

•Week #1 – 50% of Pastors believed that Covid-19 would increase the faith of worshipers. 

•Week #15 – 24% of Pastors believe that Covid-19 will increase the faith of worshipers. This is a 26% drop of optimism in 15 weeks.

•11% of Pastors are now saying that faith will decrease in the lives of worshipers. This was not even a thought 15 weeks ago.

•Week #1 – 10% of Pastors stated their overall attendance would decline as a result of Covid-19.

•Week #15 – 47% of Pastor state their overall attendance will decline as a result of Covid-19.

We need to realize that pre-COVID the Millennials and Gen-Zers were already getting their spiritual content from a variety of churches. Covid did not create the opportunity – they were already in the digital marketplace. The truth of the matter is that all Pastors realize on some level the need to have a growing digital presence coupled with In-Person services. 

What is most intriguing presently is that some American Pastors are now asking after 15 weeks of our COVID journey; “Did we miss our opportunity as churches and leaders for repentance and reimagining the church? The trending of data seems to indicate thatchurches are attempting to just get through this crisis without any thought of what then church has become.

Consider the often-overlooked fact that “Faithful Church Attendance” pre-COVID was only 1.7 times per month. Let this sink into your spirit – less than two times in thirty days was given to attending the Body of Christ. Now that we have had 15 weeks of new habits it is not hard to see that church attendance is going to suffer. We were barely hanging on before this pandemic. Pastor Saul’s of Christ Church in Nashville, Tennessee stated they are only running one-third (650) of their attendance currently. However, there online attendance is in the thousands.

What is the Lord of the Harvest saying to us as Faith Leaders that is new and fresh and not old and same? This is a window of importance for the souls of mankind not just the existence of a local (little “C”) church. Rather it is time to reshape the BIG “C” Kingdom narrative!

Digital Technology, COVID-19, and How we have displayed church has brought us to a crisis discussion of Discipleship! Can we effectively make Biblical disciples in a digital church format? The question itself represents a tension between how we have traditionally operated church and technologies presentation of how church can be done. A closer examination of the Biblical pattern of disciple-making and study of our current methods can open the door to new-innovation. However, make no mistake how church will be accomplished moving forward will change. ”NORMAL” left 15 weeks ago.

I close this podcast with a reminder that leaders on all levels of society are fatigued and borderline discouraged. Even the anarchists are fatigued suffering from “outrage fatigue” and “Out-rage exhaustion.” You cannot keep a clinched fist forever. Darkness cannot dispel darkness – only LIGHT! That LIGHT starts as soul-care for the leader and then the church and society. Learn to be GOOD to yourself!

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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!