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How are you doing at week #18 of our COVID journey? I trust that you have a support network of close friends and other leaders. I have prayed for you today!
Our COVID journey is turning out to be far more than anyone could have imagined. There are 60% of churches in America that are now open with precautions in place. Re-opening is proving to be far more complex than anticipated. There are many factors that are contributing to this fact of which in my opinion is the intellectual dishonesty of our national reporting about the corona virus. This has left people confused as they attempt to navigate their lives through this national fog. It seems the real culprit is that we struggle to make “data informed” decisions over “emotionally charged” decisions based upon speculations.
That being said 18% of Pastors stated they will not reopen until next year. Again, some churches have re-opened and then shut down because of virus outbreaks within the church and then re-opened a 2nd time. Again, because of disinformation and uncertainty some have declared they will just wait it out until 2021.
Church attendance continues to struggle in that we are measuring current trends against pre-COVID attendance. Currently 43% of churches stated they are down; 30% stated they are the same as pre-COVID; and 27% stated they are up. As I mentioned in a previous podcast and blog articles that I have prepared the question has been discussed if attendance is the correct metric to measure Kingdom work?
What we can state clearly is that connecting with people is more important now than ever before. SPIRITUAL – EMOTIONAL connection is more important than ever before. This level of human connection is the top priority as we move through this pandemic. The current data for Pastors & Leaders is revealing, showing that spiritual/emotional health is severely lacking. Only 12% state their emotional wellness is excellent; 13% state their relational wellness is excellent; 18% state their mental clarity makes it easy to grow and learn during this pandemic. What is the bottom-line concern with this data?
Leaders are leading from an empty tank!
It seems that everyone is in a near state of “melt-down”!
Small Group Ministry is absolutely KEY right now! It is at this granular level that real relational/spiritual ministry will occur. Therefore, investing in leadership development is at a premium. Do not become afraid to set large goals in front of people, especially our students. Large goal thinking communicates more than survival, it communicates conquering!
Speaking of communication, here a few thoughts.
•Communication is not digital or analog (Cards & letters) – it is both/and
•Don’t engage in emotional manipulation – 50% of millennials have not engaged in any form of church during this pandemic because of manipulation
•Be aware of the MILLSTONE EFFECT for misleading people
•Clear and concise communication with parents about student ministry is at a PREMIUM
•Use technology to communicate by showing up when and how people are using it – not when you think they should use it
•Beware of the idol of a 1hr/week facility-based service as the only way to communicate Christ’s gospel message.
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Leadershift by John Maxwell
Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com
Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!
So many people are “afraid” to use technology to stay connected, so often they just “give up” trying. I agree that small group fellowship is what is going to keep the church going, but for those that are still hesitant to gather, they really need to be connected online. What do you think would be the best way to reassure someone that they are not a “technological dummy” (as I have so often heard)?
Thanks Angie for the comment! Great Question! I believe the answer is simple – Help people learn how to do something new or unfamiliar. Assuming that people will automatically get online because we assume that everyone knows how to access digital media. Small Group leaders could be invaluable at this point. As a small group leader myself, I have taken the time to help people get on ZOOM calls and other forms of digital media.