We are now more than a year into the covid pandemic. All of life and ministry is different and, in some ways, the same.
Almost every pastor I talk to is tired and deflated. They have walked through incredible difficulties at home, church, and school. They have shouldered the weight of not only their own health but also the health of those in their churches. They’ve tried to navigate a contentious political season. Combined with all of this they have tried to continue leading their church.
For many, we aren’t even thinking about the post-covid church. We are simply trying to get through the covid church.
But I want to encourage you: we will come out the other side of this. Whenever that is, there will be a church. But that church will look very different from 2019 and even today.
I believe the churches and the leaders who can prepare for that future will be better suited to step into it.
And while I don’t have a crystal ball, I think there are some things pastors and leaders need to dig into to prepare for what is next.
1. What did we learn about ourselves and our church in the crisis? This crisis is a lot of things, but it is an opportunity to evaluate how you are doing as a church. Hopefully, you have taken some time to take a step back and ask, “What has this pandemic shown me as a leader? As a church?” I think every church learned at least one thing they weren’t doing well that they thought they were doing well.
Maybe you thought your church was great at evangelism but found out they were good at inviting. Maybe you thought you were doing well in the community but found out during 2020 that people aren’t as connected as they thought. It could be that you thought you had a strong volunteer culture, but once covid hit you learned it wasn’t as healthy as you thought. Maybe you learned something about your preaching or staff culture.
This isn’t to pile on to already tired pastors and churches, but this is an opportunity to face what Jim Collins calls “the brutal facts.”
This is a chance to have a reset in many ways as a church and leader. Maybe you learned something about your rhythms or practices as a leader and you want to make some changes.
At some point, as a couple, as a leadership team, sit down and ask, “What did we learn about ourselves in this past year?” Don’t rate them, excuse them or get defensive. List them out.
And not just the negatives, but also list the positives.
Maybe you learned you have a strong discipleship culture, your church is resilient, or that it cares deeply for your city. We learned some great things at our church, and we learned some things we need to work on. They both matter in this season as we prepare for what is next.
2. What do we need to change in our church because of what we learned? Once you have listed out what you have learned about your church, what do you need to change because of it?
Maybe you need to stop doing some things or finally end that program that really isn’t moving the mission forward. This is a great opportunity to stop things, especially if you stopped them during covid and realize, “We don’t actually need that.”
Maybe you need to start some things or add to the things that are a strength of your church.
If you go back to what you were doing in February of 2020, I think that is a real loss as a church. This pandemic has shown us things about our churches, things we like and things we don’t like. And that’s okay. That is helpful and provides opportunities for us to move forward with greater intentionality.
3. What did we try that we want to continue? Every church has experimented in the past year. We have experimented with online groups, digital connect cards, podcasts, daily Instagram lives, prayer times online and a whole host of other things.
I have loved watching churches innovate.
What have you tried or seen someone else try that you want to continue?
Our church has experimented with several things. Some will continue, some will adapt so we can continue, and others will end. And that’s okay.
But sit down and lay out: what have we tried that we want to continue? This last year is an opportunity that God has given to us and it would be a shame if we missed it.
4. Moving forward, what will we focus on? When taken all together, this past year has shown the church what we should be about, what we are called to specifically as a church in our specific location.
And while what you learned and what you will focus on may be just for your church, I think there are some universal things I’ve seen and heard from other pastors.
If I could narrow it down, I think the church’s future will center on connecting and equipping.
Connecting people to each other, themselves and to God. Equipping them to live out their faith and be on mission in their daily lives so that they can help people connect with each other, themselves and God.
Some will say, hasn’t that what the church has always been about? Yes and no.
For me, this past year has shown how important that is and how easy it is to forget and focus on other things.
It doesn’t matter what your answers to these questions are or if they are different than mine. What does matter is that we move into the future of the church with vision and purpose. God has great things planned for each of our churches and ministries. People need the gospel and are longing for hope and connection.
