Way back in April I identified and articulated six major changes that I considered to very likely to our culture as a result of COVID-19. I began sharing them with the leaders of my church as well as other local church leaders. To me, these are dramatic psychological and cultural changes that churches must wrestle with as a result of the present pandemic. I began unpacking them individually in this forum in May, however I lost steam in June because pandemics are exhausting!
Having now had a little bit of R&R, it’s time to resume the unpacking. In the two months since I originally proposed them, it’s clear that I was much right-er than I ever imagined back then. I have been shocked by just how drastically different the world is becoming, despite having predicted it. The world is NOT going to ever revert to “normal” as we defined it in January, 2020. We will continue to work our way through a rapidly changing series of “normals” for the foreseeable future.
To briefly recap those changes I’ve already shared here:
- In-Person gatherings will be precious, smaller, and different. Yup, yup, and yup! Our church has gathered to worship in person five times, plus heldd a couple of outdoor gatherings and we’ve seen all three of these words in play every time. People are thrilled to be together, to see friends, to share an experience of God’s presence and praise complete with social distance and face coverings. But only some people. We’re still running about 25-30% of our pre-COVID numbers in person. The rest are online. I don’t think that’s going to change anytime in 2020, particularly as several states are visibly exploding with COVID-19 cases.
- Digital participation is, and will remain, important. Yup and yup for the very reasons described in #1. As a church we’re investing in audio and video equipment that will be an important part of our digital strategy for the next several years.
Change #3: Real Community Will Be More Vital Than Most Previously Realized. Churches Should Provide It Through Small Groups.
This is probably the most important change and it provides an incredible opportunity for the church in North America! Americans, particularly those of us in the Washington, DC-metro area, were fairly lonely people to begin with. We seldom knew our neighbors well, seldom developed deep friendships, and often lived far from our extended family. We used to be able to numb ourselves to this reality with busyness. If we spent enough time commuting, worked enough extra hours, had a large enough circle of casual acquaintances, and spent enough time on social media we could almost convince ourselves we weren’t lonely. Then we all had to stay at home…
Now we work from home, go to school at home, and vacation at home. Many sit at home alone and afraid to even go outside because others aren’t afraid. We don’t shake hands, don’t hug, and can’t even smile at a stranger and be seen behind our masks. Many people are desperately lonely. This pandemic has already inflicted great pain and much of it will last for years: physical pain, emotional pain, financial pain, and spiritual pain. It’s too much for people to bear alone, and those who try are likely to eventually succumb to loneliness, grief, despair, and depression.
We need to be in community. We need to minister to one another, encourage one another, love one another, and bear each other’s burdens. This is fundamentally true. It’s biblical. It’s sociological. It’s anthropological. It’s true.
Unfortunately, our increased isolation will continue in the “new normal” (there’s the phrase again!). Many will work from home permanently. Many will go to school from home for at least the next year. At the same time, there are fewer and fewer places to go. There is less eating out, less going to the movies, fewer clubs, and fewer bars. What sociologists call “third spaces” (gathering places which are neither home nor work) are mostly closed, awkward, hemorrhaging money, or simply dangerous.
People need community and have fewer places to find it. This is where the North American church has the incredible opportunity it’s been dreaming and praying about for years! The church was meant to be community (begin by checking out Acts 2:42-47 to confirm). We were supposed to be made for this situation, though unfortunately, many churches are not. This is where we must pivot! Every church must learn to excel at offering community. The church should become the “go to” place for lonely people to find community. However, that community won’t be in large gatherings in church buildings. No way!
Churches must offer desperately needed community through small groups: 8-12 people at most, meeting regularly on decks, in private homes, at patio establishments, and online. Groups where people can gather, get to know each other deeply, laugh and cry together, discuss and pray together. Groups are where we should grow together and grow strong together.
There are likely to be ongoing and fluctuating restrictions on large gatherings, full of constraints and capacity limits. The best way to provide community consistently will be in small private gatherings with open invitations and open hearts to welcome and love hurting neighbors. Small groups must become the best and most reliable way for churches to offer fellowship, ministry, and even worship together online.
As a church (and as the church) we must aggressively encourage every Christian, whether they live locally or have joined the congregation virtually from a great distance away, to find community in a small group. At our church, these are called Thrive Groups. These are where followers of Christ gather to thrive in community, care, friendship, fellowship, and growth.
Small groups should become the place where sharing Christ easily and naturally takes place. These are safe and easy places to invite friends and neighbors to get to know Jesus. Groups should become the place where serving Christ and the church takes place, as groups tackle the challenges of our hurting and falling world. Groups are a great place to minister side-by-side to clear and present needs like hunger and racial injustice.
New rhythms of life are forming for all of us. However, they will continue to be regularly disrupted by the changing face of the coronavirus pandemic. This means that every church has a precious window of time when people are more flexible and adaptable because they’re already being forced to change frequently. For those willing to embrace this change, 2020 is an incredible opportunity to both minister and form new and healthy habits of life in community, life as Christ meant it to be lived.