The 21st Century "Tsunami": Church survival with an "Ancient/Future" solution... (pt. 2)

Seven Steps you and your congregation can do after the quarantine.

Last week in this Blog, we explored eleven major, profound changes and one foundational societal shift as part of the “Tsunami of Issues” battering us from every side.

They were grouped into three areas: 

• Digital/Tech/Knowledge Revolution,
• Personal/Family Struggles and
• Social/Political/Global Issues.

                  (Read that Blog here.)

Such times of overwhelming crisis have faced us before.  The church in particular, and “religion” in general, have offered a place to stand, some “holy ground” on which to gain a new identity and to be renewed in God’s Holy Spirit.

It is from these ancient roots that the “new” solutions to our challenges will arise...  

Below are the Ancient traditions of Contemplative Prayer, Christian Conferencing and Spiritually Accountable Small Groups.  

They are rooted in the issues and concerns of the 21st Century, the tools of Mission / Vision / Core Values Clarification and rely on Digital Media for networking and caring.

How many of these steps have you taken in your local congregation?

1. Listen to God: Alone – Deepen your prayer life and sort out the changes you need to make in your life, the changes made evident by our recent ”isolation.”

• • If you haven’t already expanded your prayer life into times of silence, reflection on scripture and listening to God, now is a great time to start.
  • Find a relevant devotional input that speaks to your heart.
  • Start (or deepen) a regular, silent prayer time to just listen.
  • In additon, Question your values. Question your life choices. Question the effectiveness of your ministry.
  • “What ‘things’ from my pre-pandemic life do I want to eliminate?
  • “What ‘things’ from my time in quarantine do I want to keep?”

2. Listen to God: Together - Examine your church life together.

• • The world will soon return to its deafening roar in our lives. We can offer an alternative.
  • Gather your leaders and co-leaders about listening to God together.
  • Start a hybrid prayer/share time: Gather as many of your leaders as you can, bring in more via Zoom.
  • In focused scriptural reflection and “Christian conferencing”, ask the hard questions about church:
  • What brought you to church in the first place?
  • Why do you think you (and others) need a faith and philosophy?
  • What is our congregation doing to help us all be better disciples?
  • What have we learned about church life from this time of pandemic?

3. Re-Vision your purpose together:

• • Start with your Mission / Vision / Core Values.
  • Are they still as relevant to your community?
  • Study together what “The Gospel of Jesus Christ” really is. (Mark 1:14-15, et. al., The parables of the ‘Kin(g)dom’, The gift and life-changing reality that God, Christ and the Holy Spirit is with us always... Isn’t that heaven?)
  • Is our congregation serving the deepest hunger for meaning in life?
  • Are we addressing the deep lack of trust in the world and the loneliness that is epidemic in our society?

4. Rebalance the Church Ministries together:

• • On the basis on your faith study of your Mission/Vision/Core Values:
  • Is your church organized for maximum participation in God’s Kin(g)dom?
  • Is your administration lean and effective?
  • Is your management strategy clear and shared?
  • Is your “Vitality Blueprint” affirmed and supported by all your church leaders? (Are you all using “12 Keys...”, 7 Effective Practices, Missional Renaissance, or ??)
  • Do you have an easily understood “Discipleship & Membership” plan for new AND long term members alike?

5. Form Small, Passion & Interest centered Spiritual Growth Groups:

• • In the face of all the multiple concerns and threatening forces moving like a Tsunami, explore which particular issues are on the hearts of your leaders and co-leaders.
  • Reclaim the vision of Small Groups as a Ministry that has equal weight to the Worship Life and Administrative life of the church. (i.e. is the attention and energy equal among all three?)
  • Discern in each other as leaders what particular interest God has placed on their hearts to help start or renew a small group that is centered on a specific concern. (For help in this, see the webpage: “Resurrection Families”)

6. Be a “new” center for your immediate neighborhood

• • Studies show that within a 10-20 minute walk of your congregational “home base” 40% of the population is lonely and feeling left out. This overlaps with 51% who have no organized religious affiliation. How are you responding to this great, epidemic of isolation?
  • The Covid Pandemic has shaken if not rearranged our values. There will be tendency to slip back to “normal”, but major changes have happened to prevent that.
  • What is your congregation doing to be a presence in the community again? Can it ring its Church Bell every day at noon?
  • What invitations and tickets to community events at your church location be passed out in the neighborhoods?
  • What Classes and Small Groups be offered that speak to their deeper, life challenging needs? Be creative!

7. Expand your digital understanding and competency

• • We’ve all been thrown into a new way of relating via digital means. What will that mean for your congregation?
  • Can you encourage “mini-churches” in the homes of your congregation?
  • Will you add large screens and computers in your conference/meeting/adult classrooms to allow greater participation?
  • Do you have the leadership and skilled volunteers to upgrade and maintain the technology needed to be in the digital age?
  • Will your worship change in order to maintain and expand upon the connections you’ve developed?

(NOTE: It's important to do the work of the first six steps in order to be ready with a significant spiritual offering when you expand your efforts to get the word out in step seven.  Today's seekers are looking for depth and quality as they move deeper with God.)

 

 

I hope you see a pattern here. 

Reflection, Connection & Hope!

Our world has been through a major shock! The body of Jesus Christ, the church, can help it recover in new and healthier ways, in more spiritual and meaningful ways.  The world can find its soul again.

Everything we’ve complained about can be examined, questioned and seen in the light of God’s will.

We’ve had times of spiritual malaise before.  And we’ve had times of “Great Awakenings.” God has given us an opportunity to be awakened once again.

Let’s explore this gift of Unconditional Love, Graceful Forgiveness, Eternal Living Now and Radical Service together!

Pastor Terry Van Hook

www.agapejourneys.com