How the Local Church Can Minister Up Close in a Remote World

As a coach and consultant to pastors and leaders across the nation, I am observing a new area of paradigm conflict among secular businesses and local church ministries. In this post-COVID world, we can all recognize significant shifts have occurred in how we operate, and many of them are permanent. This is not a temporary moment, but a transformation in how we will effectively achieve our assignments and fulfill our responsibilities.

Church trends have changed, and some people believe the church will never be the same numerically. I am not arguing with polls and surveys, but I am pursuing the exception to the rule. During COVID, I had the unique privilege of working with churches that pre-pandemic were averaging over 5,000 members down to churches the size of 60.

Two things happened with the pastors who gave me the distinct honor of serving them and walking through a time of unexpected challenges and unknown circumstances.

We Processed Not How to Take Care of the Church, but How to Take Care of the People

Relevant and valuable principles and priorities emerged. We recognized that the Sunday experience was no longer king, but engagement and community became the heartfelt needs of the people. Once we shifted our focus to the people and outreach, we were able to focus on how:

The Church Is a Place for People

If we can’t see our people, how will we know if they need ministry?

We as a church have to figuratively put our hands on our people. We have to see their behaviors and their faces. If their voices on the phone won’t tell us they’re struggling, their weary eyes will. Statistically, people who are actively involved or engaging in community are happier, healthier and better for it.

Rosaria Butterfield explains it well in her book The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in a Post-Christian World. The premise is so simple: be hospitable. She describes, “A hospitality house speaks for itself. Look at all the cars parked outside. Look at the lights on. Look at the kids playing on the tire swing. Look at the neighbors already gathering. Look at the open door. It’s here for all to see.”

It’s time to turn on the lights. Give the people the playgrounds and the rooms and the space. Invite them in, and when they cannot come to you, go to them. There are so many ways to facilitate community going forward, but I would start by asking some hard questions:

— How do we increase our traffic not just on Sundays, but Monday through Saturday?

— How do we increase our engagement and interactions not with other staff, but with congregants?

— How do we ensure our pastoral care is at the highest quality for those who are sick, hospitalized or have lost a loved one?

— How can we be accessible so that if someone needs to, they can have access to us and “touch the hem of our garments?”

— How do we live with our disciples rather than just preach to them? (Jesus did.)

There are certainly more questions to ask, but questioning our focus, engagement, access and quality will be the foundation going forward. Asking the people in our church and our community and practicing the art of active listening will help us lead wiser, better and certainly longer.

It’s time to get back to the people business. Today.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to listen to this episode of the Strang Report podcast with guest Maury Davis at this link. Subscribe to the Strang Report and God and Cancel Culture podcasts on the Apple Store or on your favorite podcast platform. {eoa}

Maury Davis served as the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Nashville, Tennessee for 27 years. He now travels the world coaching and consulting pastors, business professionals and individuals like you on how to experience personal growth and how to take your church or organization to the next level. Find him at .

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